Lt Col Snow Dog (aka Roger Lee) pays his entry fee at Musher Sign-up

It was a busy day at Iditarod Headquarters in Wasilla, Alaska. Yes, at one time there were three tour busses in the parking lot but the real hustle and bustle was about the Musher Sign-up and Volunteer Picnic. It’s the event that thanks volunteers from the previous race and records the first mushers to sign-up for the next race. The first chapter for Iditarod XLV has been written.

Al Eischens and Wade Marrs taking care of paper work

Race sponsor Golden Corral of Anchorage catered the picnic. The menu included delicious BBQ chicken, hot dogs, salads, rolls and brownies for dessert. With plates piled high with food, friends gathered together to reminisce over times on the Iditarod Trail.

As an extra treat, wild salmon was grilled and served up by Iditarod Executive Director Stan Hooley and other ITC Board Members.

After the picnic dinner, mushers continued to sign up. There was great incentive to hang around as one had to be present to win the entry fee. Some mushers were even trying on a prototype training parka created by Iditarod Veteran Jamie High who designs and sews mushing gear and clothing.

Race Director Mark Nordman is flanked by Jessie Royer and Dr. Joe Carson at registration

By the close of today’s sign-up, fifty-two mushers were registered for the 2017 Iditarod. The first guy through the line was Roger Lee who grew up in England but now resides in the United States. He’s currently on sabbatical from the Air Force. Roger has found his way to the Iditarod Trail by ski-joring with a husky a few years back. For the 2017 race, he’ll be running a team of Scott Janssen dogs. Lt Col Snow Dog says his favorite race is the Copper Basin 300. We’ll see if that changes after he completes his first Iditarod.

Champions Jeff King and Lance Mackey chat at the registration table

Veteran Alan Eischens joined Lee at the registration table. By the end of the day there are forty veterans signed up along with twelve rookies. Not all were present. Some entries came via postal service or FAX. The majority of mushers are from the United States but the field also has ten international contestants. Roger Lee hails from England. Joar Leifseth Ulsom, Ralph Johannessen and Lars Monson are from Norway. Nickolas Venier of Paris, France and Sebastian Vergnaud or Rious, France have entered. Misha Wiljes from the Czech Republic is racing. Otto Balogh from Budapest, Hungry has signed up. Matts Pettersson from Kiruna, Sweden and Curt Perano from New Zealand are returning. Canadian mushers Michelle Phillips, Hans Gatt and Sebastian Schnuelle round out the current international list.

Arm Chair Musher Sebastian Schneulle is coming out of retirement

Arm Chair musher, Sebastian Schnuelle will be on the trail this year with a dog team rather than an iron dog.  Schnuelle has delighted race fans for several years with stories, commentary and pictures from the trial.  He’s been mentioning the possibility of getting back on the runners since before Iditarod XLIV.  With his registration he’s made it official.  The Arm Chair Musher has come out of retirement.  Schnuelle has finished the Iditarod seven times with four top ten finishes.  He placed 2nd to Lance Mackey in 2009.

The first musher to draw for a bib number at the Musher Banquet in Anchorage on Thursday before the race will be Nicolas Petit. The draw order is listed under the Race Center tab of Iditarod.com. Check the list today but come back often to see who enters in the doming weeks.  Registration closes on December 1st.

Taking a quick look to compare the present field with last year’s top ten finishers, nine of ten are currently registered – Dallas Seavey, Mitch Seavey, Aliy Zirkle, Wade Marrs, Peter Kaiser, Joar Leifseth Ulsom, Nicolas Petit, Ralph Johannessen and Jeff King. Scott Smith is the single 2016 top ten finisher missing.

Race rivals but still friends – Aliy Zirkle and Dallas Seavey

The current field includes defending Champion Dallas Seavey along with other four time champions Jeff King, Martin Buser and Lance Mackey. Any one of these guys could tie Rick Swenson’s long-standing record of five wins. Dallas could also tie Lance Mackey’s incredible feat of winning four in a row. Two-time champion Mitch Seavey is looking to make this his Iditarod triple.

Race Champs – Martin Buser (92-94-97-02) and Dick Mackey (1979)

The annual Volunteer Picnic also marks the exchange of Teacher on the Trail duties. 2016 Iditarod Teacher on the Trail Laura Wright from Austin, Texas passed the sleeping bag and other trail gear to Annie Kelley from Chicago, Illinois. Annie who teaches fourth grade in a private school is very excited to take over the duty of sharing the Iditarod as a theme for education with teachers world wide for the next school year.

Annie Kelley receives the sleeping bag from Laura Wright

John Cooper of Kipmik donated a ladle, bowls and booties for a musher drawing. Misha Wiljes won the ladle, Cindy Abbott claimed the bowls and Karin Hendrickson went home with the dog booties.

Now is the moment everyone has been waiting for. Who will have their $4,000 entry fee refunded? The names drawn for the Kipmik products were placed back in the rolling ticket drum. The drum was spun multiple times – around, around and around. The door was opened and a name pulled out – CINDY ABBOTT. Once again the drum was spun – around, around and around. The door was opened and the second name was drawn – MIKE SUPERNANT. Cindy completed Iditarod in 2015 so comes into the 2017 race as a veteran. Mike completed Iditarod 2009 and also comes into this race as a veteran. Congratulations to Cindy and Mike.

Cindy Abbott and Mike Supernant won their entry fee for Iditarod XLV