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Jim Deprez 2021 Teacher on the Trail
If you read my post from yesterday, this is really the continuation of my amazing day yesterday. Let’s attempt to do this in chronological order… After being taken to the airport yesterday with Kathy Chapoton and Sean William’s dad, I was actually able to hop on a flight with IAF pilot, Wes Erb. This …
I know I have said in the past that I have had some pretty amazing days, but today was probably the best day of this entire incredible adventure. There were so many “never in my wildest dreams” moments that I can’t possibly get them all into one post, especially as it’s already way later …
After another late night of posting last night, I was determined to get today’s post done sooner. Last night after my snow machine ride, I met Nina Hansen, head vet for the Yukon Quest. After chatting with her for a while, she started talking about a research project she is working on. Being that I …
Today was somewhat less busy, at least the morning. The first musher of the day didn’t arrive until 12:10 this afternoon. Rookie Joe Taylor started off the day and was then followed by long time legend, Martin Buser. While waiting for Martin to pull in, his wife was telling people in the chute how she …
I know I have said this recently, and I will probably say it again, but today was incredible. But let’s start with a recap of last night after putting up my post. I was able to get into the chute, under the famed Burled Arch on front street for the 5th-9th place finishers, Pete …
Today was simply surreal… After teaching, learning, studying and reading about this event for the past 17 years, standing under the arch in person is indescribable. I walking around town, looking at all of these old buildings and imagining the people that walked these same streets. From Leonhard Seppala to Joe Redington Sr. From Wyatt …
This morning started early. I slept on a couch in the COMMS center in Unalakleet which was quite comfortable! I woke up every couple of hours to check out the window for the Northern Lights, but to no avail. It was still incredible to see who was arriving at the checkpoint in the wee …
After watching the amazing sunset last night, I stayed up to make sure to catch the current leader, Brent Sass, pull into the Unalakleet checkpoint. The name of the town is an adaptation of the Iñupiaq word “Una-la-thliq”, which means “from the southern side”. Being the first one to this checkpoint, he was the winner …
I have been waiting for quite a while to say this… I left Anchorage early this morning and made my way to Unalakleet on the Bering Sea coast. It was an amazing ride through the interior of Alaska. After not seeing the peak of Denali while in Cantwell for the Junior Iditarod, I was …
This is a word that I include in all of my presentations to classes throughout the country. It is an integral part of this great race, sport, and Alaskan lifestyle in general. It’s interesting though, when I talk to classes of all ages, it is very difficult for them to read this word. Some …