The Iditarod Alphabet 2017
Q is for the Quiet

Quiet is a great word to discuss the Alaskan wilderness.  As mushers and teams make their way to Nome, there is a lot of quiet along the trail.  They pass through parts of the state that is home only to the animals that live there.  When the dogs run, they are quiet as can be.  However, the second the teams stop, they are often barking and jumping because all they want to do is RUN!   Quiet is not the word used to describe the checkpoints.  There is something always happening no matter the time of day at a checkpoint.

Q is for Quiet

This morning Tanana was musher city!  There were dog teams everywhere, and musher talk was all around.  I had the opportunity to talk with Iditarod champion Joe Runyan, and race veterans DeeDee Jonrowe and Trent Herbst.  They were chit-chatting about the cold weather (nearly 55 below zero out on the trail), and Iditarod’s of past.  After that I spent some time out in the dog yard catching up with mushers and veterinarians.  Al Eischens made it in this morning with a frozen mustache and all 16 dogs.  Al made it to Nome last year with all his dogs, and he plans to do the same this year. 

After a short morning in Tanana, I made my way to Ruby.  The communications folks and veterinarians were anxiously awaiting the mushers’ arrival.  As the day went on more and more people arrived in the little community center, and now it is completely packed.  We’ve got volunteers from all over the place here—Virginia, Australia, New York, Germany, and Washington, just to name a few.  People come from far and wide just to be a part of this great race! 

We’ve had two mushers come into Ruby so far—Wade Mars and Dallas Seavey.  Wade arrived about an hour before Dallas and received the Spirit of Alaska Award presented by Pen Air.  Wade received a painting by official Iditarod artist Jon Van Zyle.  Wade and Dallas are now feeding and resting their teams up on the side of the community center.  Dallas said his team is feeling good, but he’s starting to feel his age (Dallas just turned 30 a few days ago). 

A few of the local kids are excited for the race to come through Ruby!

There was also another special honor at the Ruby checkpoint tonight.  Billy Honea, a Ruby resident, was honored by Iditarod and the state of Alaska for his dedication to the race.  Billy has been around the race his entire life, as his dad, Donald Honea, has run the Iditarod ten times, finishing in the top ten three times.  Billy has volunteered for the race for over twenty years, and is still part of it today.  Billy is a true gem of the community and it was a pleasure getting to talk with him today.  Congratulations on your honor, Billy!