The next Iditarod Qualifier Race is currently under way. Its aptly named the Copper Basin as that is where the majority of the race is being run, the Copper River drainage. Home of the Copper River “ Reds “, some of the most thought after Salmon in the world. Several other large Rivers have to be crossed, the Chisto, the Gakona, the Gulkana and one of those has already claims its “ first victim “. 2010 2nd Iditarod Runner Up Hans Gatt scratched after arrival in Meiers Lake, reportedly getting wet crossing the Gakona River, which once again had some open water. The open water is only one of the challenges the Copper Basin 300 throws at mushers. It has earned its reputation over the years as the “ toughest 300 Miles in Alaska. And for exact that reason, it not being an easy qualifier, it attracts a large number of mushers. 43 mushers ended up starting the race, while 45 was the maximum number the organizing committee would let sign up. A few must have withdrawn last minute, as there used to be a waiting list. I had been eying that waiting list myself, thinking I might drive down to give the “ Skunks “ some race experience.
The Copper started in Glennallen and will also finish there after traveling though Chistochina, the Alyeska Pipeline to Meiers Lake. There used to be a checkpoint in Paxson, but Paxson Lodge closed a few weeks back. A few years before that the checkpoint used to be at Summit Lake, but the B&B there also closed. From Meiers it’s a nice climb up a ridgeline which overlooks Paxson Lake to the north and down the Copper Valley to the South. This is exactly the stretch where the front runners are currently running. 2012 Iditarod Rookie if the year Brent Sass is leading the race, followed by 2013 Iditarod 6th place finisher Nicolas Petit. In his relatively short racing career Nicolas has already earned his nickname” Quick Nick “. No wonder as he is running dogs going back to the Redington family with working with Raymie and Barb Redington from Knik. The Redingtons are ever present in Iditarod.
Leading the Copper Basin at this point is relative though, as the CB allows the musher to freely choose their rest beaks in half an hour increments, a total of 18hrs for the 300 miles. Notably Allen Moore and Aliy Zirkle have taken longer rest breaks at the beginning in Chisto with 5hrs as opposed to 4 hrs by the current front runners. This is a strategy with has led Allen Moore to win the Copper Basin many times. I should know how often, but don´t. Also in the CB it has a big impact which starting number a mushers has, as the trail on the first 50 miles is not a regulary used trail and thus often very slow and punch after the first teams have passed, and that despite very much effort the CB Crew has put into the trail. They did an excellent job this year. Iditarod contender and Sheep Mountain Lodge owner ( where the Sheep Mountain 150 used to run ) Zack Steer is the CB 300 Race Manager assisted by a crew of very knowledgeable trail breakers and logistics people. Some of the mushers who posted the fastest run time now to Meiers Lake, traveled a bit slower at the beginning of the race towards the Chisto Checkpoints, as they had to contend with a higher starting position.
The Copper Basin is also a true 300 miles plus this year, with an additional loop from beautiful Tolsona lake Resort up to Crosswind Lake and back. They added this loop to make up for the loss of trail on the Paxson and Summit Lake end. Currently Iditarod Musher Gerry Willomitzer, who calls Whitehorse in the Yukon his home, is running strong in the front with a full team of 12 dogs, he finished 2nd in the CB 300 last year. He posted one of the faster runtimes to Meiers Lake. Allen Moore also has 12 dogs where his wife Aliy is running 11. Yukoner Michelle Philips who has been a top female Iditarod contender in the last years dropped 2 dogs in Meiers and is running a string of 10 dogs. Dropping dogs is never an easy decision for a musher, yet keeping the wrong dog in the team can really slow you down, once you have to load the dog, never mind doing any long term damage with injuries.
While the CB 300 is going on, yet another group of Mushers is gearing up to travel to Bethel in the Kuskokwim Delta. The Kusko has more than 10 times the purse of the Copper Basin. But that comes at a price. It is much more difficult to get to, with having to fly the team out to Bethel. The Kusko used to pay to the 20th place team and thus often only attracted a few more than 20 mushers. This year is different, a huge contingent of 28 mushers are hoping to win the Top Prize. Some are already flying out, as there is only so many flights per day which can only take so many dogs per flight. And not all of those flights will happen on schedule or at all. I got stuck in Anchorage myself a few years back, after my flight was cancelled 3 times in a row and than would have missed the mushers meeting. Traveling early to the K300 is well worth it. The field in the K300 is a bit different than in the CB 300, and I would call it a bit more competitive. Several past Iditarod Champions are signed up with Jeff King, Marin Buser and John Baker. There are the 2nd place Iditarod Teams of Paul Gebhardt and Ramey Smith. With the K 300 being “ off the road system “ there are many mushers who live off the road system are signed up, I counted a total of 10 of them, Mike Williams Sr, and Jr from Akiak, Pete Kaiser and Richie Diehl just to name a few.
For those of you who like to cheer on your favorite Iditarod Musher in the Copper Basin 300, here is a link. www.cb300.com. They have excellent live tracking and real time updates. Next Checkpoint up is Sourdough, a rather remote checkpoint where the mushers in the CB have to sleep outside!. Happy trails. happy arm chair mushing!
Sebastian
