Terrie Hanke
As the first team to Kaltag, Nicolas Petit received the Bristol Bay Corporation First Fish Award. Petit arrived in Kaltag at 19:45 behind 14 spirited dogs. Insider Commentator Bruce Lee called the team energized and in fantastic shape, even one of the best he’s ever seen at this point of the race. Petit parked and …
The checkpoint of Unalakleet is coming together. The light on the internet modem is solid green, a good omen for communicating race stats. The drop bags have been sorted and are in perfect alphabetical order right behind the checkpoint. As mushers come off the river and onto the slough, their bags are taken down to …
It’s s bright sunny day (Saturday March 10) in Unalakleet. From the photo above, it looks like it’s still snowing in Iditarod. The IAF pilots were eating breakfast early anticipating a busy day of transporting personnel, supplies and dropped dogs. With snow on the Southern route and on the Yukon River, some of the checkpoints …
The best strategies of mushers are only successful if Mother Nature allows. The fickle woman is creating havoc along the Yukon River and the southern section of the trail. Folks dependent on air travel are sitting in Iditarod hoping the persistent snow will cease and visibility will improve to allow the IAF access to the …
The PenAir Saab 340 from McGrath to Unalakleet was mostly filled with Iditarod volunteers. Some were drop dog people, some were vets and some were comms. All will fill a variety of Iditarod support positions in checkpoints along the Yukon River or in Norton Sound Villages. At any rate, we are far ahead of the …
It’s another partly cloudy day with snow showers in McGrath. Population of the checkpoint is down to one. Tom Schonberger and his handsome Siberians will depart at 10:47. Tara Cicatello departed earlier this morning at 08:40. Both are rookies seeing the Iditarod trail for the first time. Tara and Tom spent time during their long …
In McGrath things are winding down. If all goes as anticipated, the final teams well be on their way to Takotna by noon on Friday. The teams that are currently in Iditarod will be moving forward to the Yukon River. The Lakefront Anchorage sponsors the First to the Yukon Award. Chefs will be awaiting the …
Perhaps it’s by necessity but mushers seem to be very ingenious people who are good at designing and building things. In the checkpoint are two such mushers who have interesting stories. Al Eischens and his wife Tanjela operate Cable 17. It’s a sewing and embroidery company named after a dog, Cable, and the fact with …
At 20:28 last evening, Joar Leifseth Ulsom made the half-way checkpoint of Iditarod (mile 432). Tara Wheatland of GCI was there to present the GCI Dorothy G. Page Half-way Award. GCI has sponsored this award since 1994. The award honors the late “Mother of the Iditarod,” Dorothy G. Page. The winner receives a trophy …
Two former JR Iditarod champions are resting in McGrath. Andrew Nolan claimed the JR Iditarod crown in 2017. Noah Pereira became the first non-Alaskan to win the JR Iditarod in 2013. Other JR Iditarod champions that are on the Iditarod trail in 2018 include Ryan Redington (1999 & 2000) and Ramey Smyth (1992 & 1993). …
