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Laura Wright 2016 Teacher on the Trail
I arrived courtesy of the Iditarod Air Force at the remote Galena checkpoint yesterday with a slight snow storm heading in. We arrived at the checkpoint where I was greeted by the dedicated Iditarod communications or “comms” volunteers, Kathy Cappa and Meredith Mapes. These ladies are passionate about providing the best hospitality for the …
This afternoon I got the phone call that the Iditarod Air Force was flying in to pick me up and take me to a new checkpoint. I wasn’t sure where I was headed, so I quickly packed up my sleeping bag and grabbed my camera for a few more photos of the town of …
Before flying out of Takotna today, I walked the dog yard and visited with a few mushers who were preparing to head out to Ophir. The Berington twins completed their 24 hour break at the roadhouse and when I caught up with them they were rubbing the famous Iditarod pink ointment on paws and …
[wpvideo U7HEXrNo] Matt Failor and his team came off the Takotna River and into the checkpoint at 12:02pm with 16 dogs on the line. He was in great spirits with a huge smile on his face. Matt injured himself in Nikolai during my stay there when he accidentally cut his leg with a knife while …
The remote village of Nikolai was my first Iditarod checkpoint experience. I remember anxiously waiting with the volunteers, veterinarians, and villagers as the first musher turned the bend and came up the frozen Kuskokwim River to the checkpoint. It was Nicolas Petit! [wpvideo EHYGgImE] He was so surprised to find out he was first …
Skwentna was my first Iditarod checkpoint experience. Looking back I will long remember the hospitality of the “Skwentna Sweeties” that helped make it so memorable for me and all the volunteers and mushers. The checkpoint is actually on the confluence of the Skwentna and Yenta Rivers. I arrived via Iditarod Air Force, and …
The 2016 Iditarod teams are being led by some of the greatest athletes in the world. A lead dog for the Last Great Race on Earth is a strong, thoughtful, and intelligent animal, and students all over the world have been learning about the qualities that make a great lead one. I was curious …
I wanted to bring something special to the Iditarod this year as the 2016 Iditarod Teacher on the Trail™. I always had the vision of giving a children’s Iditarod map to the teachers at the Iditarod Winter Conference, and then to children around the world digitally to print and follow the race in their …
Sitting here in the schoolhouse in the remote village of Nikolai, I have time to catch my breath, connect to wifi, and share some experiences from the last few days with everyone. I spent most of my time at the Willow start in the woods taking great pictures of the dog teams as they headed …
It is an Iditarod Teacher on the Trail™ tradition to ride in the sled of a musher at the ceremonial start. This is something that I have looked forward to since June! I had the thrill of a life time at the ceremonial start as I rode in the sled of Canadian musher Jason Campeau. His …