Erin Montgomery 2015 Teacher on the Trail

Pictures Tell a Story – Anchorage

Idea for students: What is the dog that is sitting in the picture above thinking? Here is what I think: I am very confused. What is going on right now? I don’t understand why the team left Manley without me and they put me on a plane. I don’t fly, I run. Now I’m stuck …

Where Do The Dogs Go?

I had to spend the day in Anchorage today in order to catch a flight to Galena. Once I get to Galena I will move along the trail. Back in Anchorage at the Millennium Hotel, Iditarod action is still proceeding as normal. Late this morning I looked out back and noticed some people milling around …

Integrity

The definition of integrity is the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles. Brent Sass displayed true integrity last night when interviewed about his recent disqualification from Iditarod 43. In case you missed the news, Brent Sass was disqualified last night from the race for possessing a device capable of two-way communication. According …

Pictures Tell a Story – Nenana

Last night as I was wondering around the Nenana dog lot I saw the cutest interaction between a couple of Dee Dee Jonrowe’s dogs. I sat on the ground and watched the two interact like brother and sister. One sibling was just trying to relax and enjoy the rest while the other just wanted some …

And So It Begins…

At 10:00 a.m., Rob Cooke pulled his hook at the starting the line and the 2015 Iditarod was officially underway. Every 2-minutes mushers and their dogs began their long journey to Nome. The last team to leave Fairbanks was an unofficial team. Dean Osmar, 1984 Iditarod champion, is escorting a Google Earth representative along part …

My Idita-Picks

On February 25, I posted a contest titled Idita-Picks. Idita-Picks is a contest for participants to make predictions on which mushers will make it to certain checkpoints first. We will review the checkpoints. 1. First team to the halfway point – Huslia 2. First team to the coast – Unalakleet 3. First team to the finish …

11 Miles

11 thrilling miles of slush covered roads and trails. 11 miles of the sound of dog paws striking the ground. 11 miles of trails lined with excited Iditarod fans cheering on their favorite mushers. 11 miles listening to sled runners gliding across slush, snow, mud, and concrete. 11 miles I will never forget. This morning …

Bringing in the Snow

It is here! The Ceremonial Start begins tomorrow morning at 10:00 a.m. on 4th Avenue in Anchorage, Alaska. Walking home from dinner tonight the streets are being prepped for the 78 dog teams. The streets are being lined with temporary fences. Tents are being erected for vendors and race officials. The Iditarod start banner has …

Ally’s Make A Wish

“A wish experience can be a game-changer for a child with a life-threatening medical condition.” This quote is part of the mission statement of the Make A Wish Foundation. Just one wish, one dream, can turn into one miracle for a young life. Today while at the IditaRider lunch I met a young child that …

IditaRider Experience

As 2015 Iditarod Teacher on the Trail™ I have the privilege of being an IditaRider. The IditaRider program is an online auction in which bidders have the opportunity to bid to ride in a Iditarod musher’s sled during the Ceremonial Start in Anchorage. The IditaRider is a major fundraiser for the Iditarod. My musher is …