Laura Wright 2016 Teacher on the Trail

Three’s Company! DeeDee, Nathan, and Jodi Arrive in Nome

  Yesterday Nome crowds got 3 for the price of 1 when DeeDee Jonrowe, Nathan Schroeder, and Jodi Bailey came in under the arch minutes apart.  DeeDee Jonrowe      10 days 22 hours 29 minutes 13 seconds With much fanfare, DeeDee Jonrowe arrived in Nome.  There was a lot of love for her from the people …

Canadian Campeau Under the Arch

[wpvideo umuwv9Ds] Canada was well represented under the burled arch as Jason Campeau brought his team to Nome in 10 days 4 hours 10 minutes and 35 seconds.  His wife and father were on hand to celebrate this wonderful accomplishment in only his second Iditarod.    Jason first went down the gangline and hugged and thanked …

A Husky Point of View

In my class we have been learning about the differences between perspective and point of view in our writing and in the stories we read, and how they help us understand someone’s experiences in a different and unique way.  We wanted to write about the point of view of the different participants in the Iditarod: dedicated …

Wild and Free in Nome!

    “It was a gut-wrenching 24 hours,” said an emotional Brent Sass under the burled arch in Nome.  With much fanfare and a lot of love from cheering crowds, he and his team trotted down Front Street close to midnight.  [wpvideo YVk7hvap] Brent ignored the crowds and fans and ran to the front of …

Iditarod “P” Patrol

  Arriving in Nome I got right to work with one of the most important and unusual groups in the Iditarod…the “P” Patrol.  These volunteers collect the urine samples from the top 20 teams as they arrive in to Nome.  This is a very important piece of the Iditarod, one that ensures the health, safety, and …

One Day in Elim

  “Well, I guess that bag was meant for you,” Jeff King said to me as he was leaving the Elim checkpoint.  I have been collecting drop bags from each checkpoint as I go along the trail, and I was hoping to have one from him.  The wind was cold and fierce, so his empty …

You’re Brave and Brilliant and Oh-So Resilient

    I arrived in Unalakleet this morning, a small village on the coast of Norton Sound and mile 714 on the Iditarod Trail.  I walked into the musher’s checkpoint off the frozen river, and I was immediately drawn to the beautiful home-made signs showing support for Aliy Zirkle and Jeff King that were taped …

Squid Acres Reunited in Galena

  The two halves of Squid Acres Kennel were brought together today as Paige Drobny pulled in to Galena where her husband, Cody Strathe, was preparing to leave.  The town of Galena continued its hospitality through the night and all day today bringing delicious homemade food for the mushers and volunteers, and even the children …

The Galena Dog Yard: The Leaders Mush to Nulato

    The Galena Dog Yard had become a very busy place today by the time the sun was setting this evening.  Aliy Zirkle and Mitch Seavey worked slowly and methodically to prepare their teams for a ride over the frozen river to Nulato.  They both rested here at the checkpoint for a time, and …

Sass in Second on the Slough

  With great anticipation the Galena checkpoint waited for our second Iditarod musher to come through…Brent Sass.  A short 54 minutes later, Brent whipped in, stopped for 5 minutes, cut open his drop bags, grabbed the food bags for himself and his dogs, and headed out.    They will leave the dog yard from the frozen …