Last Minute Preparations for the Ceremonial Start on Saturday Morning

Friday night and I thought it appropriate to catch humans in their final moments before calling it a day. The mushers prepare for the real launch of the race on 4^th Avenue , downtown Anchorage.  

While the ceremonial start is mandatory, it’s largely regarded by the mushers as a formality and a good time.  Rules do not require a full team, rather 12 dogs can be used to transport musher, an Iditarider in the basket of the sled, and even a second sled with a handler.  The ceremonial trail begins on 4^th avenue winds through the streets of Anchorage and terminates at the BLM Campbell Tract Facility.   Time estimates are about 45 minutes to complete what amounts to a sled dog parade.

Colleagues at the Insider are Adaptable, Ready to move on the trail

My colleagues of the Insider crew responsible for tomorrow’s live broadcast at the Insider website decompress.  They are scheduled to be on site in downtown Anchorage early in the morning to complete broadcast preparation .   I took a couple of representative photos to show them in action.   Remember, they have to move with the race.   Their equipment is light and moveable, and designed to be transported by snowmachine (two crews) and by airplane.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Musher Hank Debruin and Siberians prepare for photogenic moment

Hank was in the lot looking after his team of Siberian huskies.   Although most mushers use the hybrid, unregistered Alaskan Husky for racing, Hank maintains the quintessential and often photographed Siberian team.

Interestingly, Siberians generally are not great racers given that they are more genitically inclined to be super cold weather resistant (their extremely thick coat, ironically, is often a disadvantage when the weather is warm) and methodical, but not fast traveling, workers.  Hank finds them extremely durable and able to cope with day after day duty.

One trait is not debatable.  His team may be one of the most photographed at tomorrow morning’s venue.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pat Moon

It was great to meet Pat Moon, technically a rookie in this year’s race.  Pat decided to collide with a spruce tree just outside the Rohn checkpoint, using his head as a bantering ram on last years race.   Fortunately, we can report he has recovered, notwithstanding an airlift to medical care in anchorage and a week on constant monitoring.  By not completing the race, under the circumstances, he is still considered a rookie.

A guy with an acerbic wit, Pat confessed he still gets paranoid ever y time he sees a big tree hovering near the edge of the trail.   Frankly, I can appreciate his concern after hearing the gnarly details.

He and wife Melanie, who will be on the runners of a second sled, will take their entire team of twelve dogs (most mushers take the maximum allowed, which is 16, but the rules allow 12.)    The goal is to wave at the crowd, give the fans a show.   Pat told me he collected and saved used booties all winter, and will throw them to kids—who are adept at conning mushers “throw a bootie!”