People, Places, or Dogs
It’s clear, frosty and minus 18 degrees in McGrath. The final mushers, six of them, departed the checkpoint in the wee hours of the morning. Monica Zappa hitched up her team of dogs that were definitely ready to be on the trail and departed McGrath around 03:00 this morning. At that hour, she had plenty …
Cindy Abbott was at the dropped dog lot adjacent to the airport waiting with her dogs for transportation out of McGrath to Anchorage. I was pleased to catch up with her to hear her impressions of her run. Abbott attempted Iditarod in 2013 but injured herself at about mile twenty. Thinking it was a groin …
Swiss born Marcelle Fressineau has worked as an adventure outfitter. After learning about Iditarod, Marcelle moved to Whitehorse in the Yukon Territory because it was a good place for dog mushing. She’s been living a life of adventure with dogs ever since. Before attempting the marathon races she’s run mid-distance races in Canada and Alaska. …
John Dixon earned his rookie belt buckle in Iditarod 2000. Fourteen years later he’s decided the time was right for him, for his family and for his dogs to run to Nome again. Dixon, born in Texas always dreamed of living in Alaska. Attending the University of Alaska – Fairbanks, Dixon realized his dream. With …
Monica Zappa is taking her 24-hour layover in McGrath. The space and hospitality of the checkpoint make that wise choice. Zappa who’s been around mushing all her life says that some parts of the gorge made her fearful, “My mouth was dry and I needed a drink of water. When we’d get wedged by a …
Danny Seavey is as cordial and helpful as they come. Back at Skwentna Danny was offering encouragement to Jan Steves as she shared her concern about the Dalzell Gorge. Here in McGrath Danny gave up his Neos over boots to Justin Savidis. The Neos Justin was wearing will never be the same since coming through …
Just a little before suppertime, a two-legged trail user rolled into McGrath. While cycling is my thing, I have no urge or desire to follow in his tire tracks. This cyclist is riding the trail. He started in Willow and how far he goes depends on weather and conditions. He’s made his first goal of …
Landed in McGrath and was mighty happy to be on the ground where the action is. The first person I saw at the airport was DeeDee Jonrowe. DeeDee never lacks for words but today she shared a condensed version regarding her decision to scratch. Before the race, she promised herself and her family that if …
The first musher into McGrath receives the Spirit of Alaska Award presented by PenAir. Wearing bib #70, Sonny Lindner was the first musher to climb off the river and run parallel to the river along the snow-covered road and into the checkpoint. Danny Seybert of Pen Air was in McGrath to present the award to …
Aliy Zirkle and Allen Moore were featured at a meet and greet sponsored by Clarion Suites of Anchorage. The first couple of the Yukon Quest shared stories about past race adventures and gave detailed information about their equipment. One thing neither of the SP Kennel owners talked about was their Iditarod strategy. Just a month …
