tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24882107053435553992024-03-17T19:03:33.792-08:00Lisbet Norris - Anadyr Siberians BlogTraining, Racing, & Life with Siberian HuskiesLisbethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06066513849980376169noreply@blogger.comBlogger327125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488210705343555399.post-68953169892373629902017-03-02T11:52:00.003-09:002017-03-02T16:57:21.069-09:00Kaltag to Nome... wrapping up Iditarod 2016.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
This last installment has been sitting in my drafts folder for months! Time to get it out there , as I have lots of new exciting things I want to share! After the finish of last year's Iditarod, a lot happened... I moved to Fairbanks, I bought a house with the love of my life, my grandmother passed away, and I started up the ecotourism company I've been dreaming of for the last 7 years. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Wrapping it up....</b></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: start;">
Iditarod 2016 was a tough one for me. For the first time in four years of racing, I didn't have my main leader, Ruby. She suffered a partial tear of her achilles tendon in December & I gave her the rest of the season off to ensure a full recovery. As a result, I entered Iditarod with only two experienced lead dogs: 7 year old Ripp (Ruby's brother) and 9 year old Vader. Ripp made it to Nome for the first time in 2015 and Vader completed Iditarod in both 2014 and 2015. Ravna, Goofy, and Vinnie were the other dogs on the team that had any sort of distance experience. The other 11 dogs: Orro, Princess, Mini Lu, Jasmine, Fly, Hilary, Buffy, Raspy, Barkly, Bitey, and Shelly were all new to distance racing. About half of this group completed the Copper Basin 300. Overall, they were a very inexperienced group of dogs. Although they weren't puppies (Jasmine, at 3 years old, was the baby), I decided to treat them like a puppy team and run a puppy schedule that wouldn't challenge them too much mentally. I decided to run an roughly equal run/rest schedule, and split the first runs of the race into roughly equal portions in an attempt to introduce the dogs to a consistent schedule as early as possible. The first couple checkpoints are not evenly spaced out , either too close or too far away, so we camped beside the trail for the first 200 miles. The first checkpoint we stopped in was Rohn, the place where shellshocked mushers rest, recover, and commiserate about the decent down from the mountain pass over the Alaska Range. Amazing what a few feet of snow can do for a trail. The decent was harrowing, but nothing like the nightmare of 2014. The section of trail from Rohn to Nikolai was snowless, but that was expected. Lots of buffalo poop scattered on and around the trail. I got to camp in the near vicinity of *fan girl alert* Lars Monsen, a famous Norwegian explorer and dog musher & was very amused by the fact that I knew on the GPS tracker that it would look like I was "camping with Lars Monsen." haha. I took my 24 hour rest in peaceful Ophir. I would do it again. It was quiet there, and I feel the dogs rested better with less distractions than you see in busy McGrath or Takotna. I had the opportunity to hang out with mushers I both adore and admire (Monica Zappa and Lance Mackey, respectively) Lance was a hoot, and I was saddened to learn that he scratched there later, though I understood why (damage to his hands was hampering his ability to properly care for his dogs). In Ophir, even after 24 hours of rest, 9 year old Vader didn't seem to be on top of his game, so I decided to send him home and entrust the rest of the trek in the paws of his proteges. </div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
Traveling through Innoko River country once again felt ageless and endless. These stretches are beautifully monotonous, interspersed with unique challenges: twists and turns down creeks and icy overflow. Reaching Ruby always feels like an accomplishment. I enjoy running on the river. Leaving Kaltag is another transition in the race. The portage to the coast feels mystical. A historical no-man's land, where the peoples of the different cultures of the Interior and the Coast have touched, traded, fought, and disappeared. </div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
This section is where I started worrying about the team, a feeling that did not dissipate until we made it to Nome. A stomach bug was moving through the dogs. Princess had not been eating well the last few checkpoints. I ended up dropping her in Unalakleet. After we reached the coast (where I had the BEST greeting ever -- thank you Bethany & Kendra Heather!) I also started to have leader problems. </div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
An Iditarod leader is not necessarily the fastest dog or even the smartest dog. They are the dogs with the most drive, the ones that always want to get up and go. The Iditarod is a proving ground for the toughest of lead dogs. Sometimes you discover a leader you didn't even know you had. And sometimes, lead dogs you thought you had turn out to not be such great lead dogs after all. As I crossed the sea ice, it became evident that a couple of the "lead dogs" I thought I had were perhaps not Iditarod lead dogs after all. They liked to go fast, they took commands, but mentally, they weren't serious enough to keep the team lined up after 700 miles. In this instance, Mini Lu and Orro proved to be better team dogs than lead dogs, and Ripp and Vinnie basically led the team to Nome, with Mini Lu and Buffy alternating in supporting positions. I understand now what other mushers are referring to when they talk about "leader troubles." Ruby has been so solid and steadfast for years, on every race with me but two since my qualifying year in 2013; I've never had to worry about having a solid leader. Ripp, her brother, is pretty awesome, but Ruby is incredible. This year I didn't have her, and the anxiety it caused me makes me never want to do another race without another 2 Rubys in the wings. But you know, you don't know you have a Ruby until you run a 1000 miles, so....... looks like I have some work to do. </div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
With my alternating cast of lead dogs, we made our way down the coast. The trail was fast and weather fantastic. The dogs were steady, cruising out of checkpoints. I switched my leaders around regularly in an attempt to not mentally tire anyone out. Vinnie and Ripp were the only dogs with a 1000 mile race previously under their belts; the rest of the team were new to distance racing as of that season. That being said, we never had any problems leaving checkpoints, and we cruised through Golovin, a spot that the dogs always think ought to be a checkpoint, considering it has all the characteristics of a checkpoint along the Iditarod trail (aka vestiges of human civilization), and it is a possibility that a tired or headstrong team will mutiny once they pass through the village and drop back down onto the sea ice, miles of flat trail stretching ahead of them. Many an Iditarod team has stalled on the other side of Golovin spit. We cruised on through, a proud and relieving feeling ! </div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
The biggest challenge of my race came in the last 50 miles. Dropping out of the Toklat Hills into the famed Solomon Blowhole, we encountered the worst coastal winds I've seen yet. It was the middle of the night. The trail followed a lagoon, glare ice blown clear of snow. It was impossible to follow the markers. The sled and dogs had no traction on the ice. We crawled along the side of the beach, bumping over gravel and driftwood. I was a little frightened. I am thankful for my Lupine headlamp. I had OK visibility most of the way, and could spot a reflector from a good distance away. I pushed the sled along as best as I could. Ripp in lead and tiny Mini Lu in swing were working SO hard to keep the team on the trail. The wind was so fierce the front of the team was under tremendous pressure to keep the team lined out. The gusts pushed the sled towards the coast; we traveled in a diagonal line, the front end working hard to keep the team on the trail. Dawn came and the winds faded as we neared Safety, but Mini Lu had developed a limp. The tiniest dog on the team , she had worked incredibly hard against the wind to stay on the trail. I decided she had come this far, and since she was so small anyway, I'd carry her in the sled to Nome. She deserved to cross under the burled arch with the team she had worked so hard to keep on track. While Mini Lu enjoyed her mid-morning nap in the basket, I ran up Cape Nome. </div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
Cresting the Cape and catching sight of Nome is a great feeling. Maybe one of these years I'll be able to cut my run time by half a day and see the famed "lights of Nome." I've approached the town at about the same time of day (mid-morning) three years in a row now and can see the town plainly in the light of day. The race isn't over at the top of the cape however. At the bottom I was passed by Larry Daugherty and Patrick Beals. It was nice to know I hadn't been out in the storm by myself. </div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
As we got closer to town I noticed a blue truck tracking me. I KNEW Nils was in that truck . I was right! He got out at a road crossing & my spider sense was affirmed. So good to see my beau after 1000 miles! </div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
The first two times I ran Iditarod, I knew even before I crossed under the burled arch that I was going again next year. Thinking about ways to improve our performance, situations to train for... This year, I felt a decided ambivalence about the idea of coming back in 2017. Maybe I was shaken up by the windstorm, but I also had new & exciting life prospects coming into focus. That winter I had decided to move back to Fairbanks. I had met Nils shortly after that decision. We were going in on a home together. I wanted to start a business that was centered around my dogs, not me being gone all summer to earn money for kibble for them. I decided I wasn't going to run next year, but the decision didn't sit easy. My life for the last four years had centered around training and racing the Iditarod. </div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
At the end of the summer, Nils and I bought an off-grid property north of Fairbanks with a small timber frame cabin on it. Our home is located in a dog mushing neighborhood and we have access to some of the most fantastic trails in the state. We cleared land, put in a dog yard, and got the dogs moved up mid-fall. By this point, I would have been way too far behind in training to attempt Iditarod. I also didn't have the funds to sign up. So that was that. I waited tables and started developing my business's website. <a href="http://www.arcticdogco.com/" target="_blank">Arctic Dog Adventure Co.</a> launched early this winter and thanks to referrals from friends, we have had some exciting business opportunities. In January, I was able to quit my waitressing job begin focusing on the business full-time. I am so excited about sharing our mushing lifestyle with visitors and am happy with my decision to step back from racing to focus on building up my guiding business. I plan to start training and conditioning the dogs next fall for some sort of mid distance or distance event, what exactly is yet to be determined. The past four years, much of my daily motivation has come from training and prepping for racing; now, I am finding a lot of motivation in becoming self-sustaining and the creator and driving force behind my own dream company. Exciting times! Thank you to everyone who supported us in our 2016 Iditarod & thank you to all of my friends and family who have cheered and supported me in my move from Willow to Fairbanks, and have supported Nils & I in the development of our ecotourism company. Good luck to all the racers in the 2017 Iditarod, I'll be cheering you all on from my "armchair" at home! xoxox Lisbet </div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlRjUKFF9Ni-48WG6LiWjNLVlhTSlqGBh9H_6ClIBVwVqYqfPAaKA0zf1LK7ZGWWvsdRoMI5wMUEmgTCPyIyFAalmJ_4YvEwpAA7OD7gp5u9qgxoX9HYSLu36c6YqTVNu7D9F8nCd1HPE/s1600/IMG_3047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlRjUKFF9Ni-48WG6LiWjNLVlhTSlqGBh9H_6ClIBVwVqYqfPAaKA0zf1LK7ZGWWvsdRoMI5wMUEmgTCPyIyFAalmJ_4YvEwpAA7OD7gp5u9qgxoX9HYSLu36c6YqTVNu7D9F8nCd1HPE/s640/IMG_3047.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcML83yeC8sqcNVSLvipg9rEnOpu47uk-xvpDOAj7pCU_1xcb-e-vv_1txwb_h5XebhZ_T0qXxzW8o7ubPqw4zNKxNQQmyQmhXEgQ1gofhuquJVE2TVXTO6oqsyUAGaXhVuT9MfSYd2AI/s1600/IMG_3057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcML83yeC8sqcNVSLvipg9rEnOpu47uk-xvpDOAj7pCU_1xcb-e-vv_1txwb_h5XebhZ_T0qXxzW8o7ubPqw4zNKxNQQmyQmhXEgQ1gofhuquJVE2TVXTO6oqsyUAGaXhVuT9MfSYd2AI/s640/IMG_3057.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I managed to break the camera lens somewhere around Old Woman Cabin so all my pictures of the coast unfortunately have smudgy spots. </span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzDOHUQu7LXK0uKybpGgdT8ioIaVCX6sXIX5sFhGk-Gvun_wum8bdO7WFrNqLvND8g8utOuTms6PLOfuTC-qVPSFDdS213AVHuVf5CGmKZCvDAfgPpAzXB-5XqpJWqwVTOgrRgfJlgD34/s1600/IMG_3058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzDOHUQu7LXK0uKybpGgdT8ioIaVCX6sXIX5sFhGk-Gvun_wum8bdO7WFrNqLvND8g8utOuTms6PLOfuTC-qVPSFDdS213AVHuVf5CGmKZCvDAfgPpAzXB-5XqpJWqwVTOgrRgfJlgD34/s640/IMG_3058.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS36EhO9PO4CSFr_TM3wF4CdhPZcNvnEgzAm_xepBYNVg4_4H4gGoDEedTLvDODlLtbuBir51osSeEfKuU4N7eEcOnXO9n5P7-34lJOTK0a7K4_dLhyGM1x_i-cFKVDg64oGAXlUrhfYE/s1600/IMG_3064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS36EhO9PO4CSFr_TM3wF4CdhPZcNvnEgzAm_xepBYNVg4_4H4gGoDEedTLvDODlLtbuBir51osSeEfKuU4N7eEcOnXO9n5P7-34lJOTK0a7K4_dLhyGM1x_i-cFKVDg64oGAXlUrhfYE/s640/IMG_3064.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkMRtxQtQwLur-Zd84RyXafBrMqNMdrcutaZYL1z5K_OfCGYIFs8nJpzYrhHoSpVwoWDg8agNP2ZCHTmeZkL6bApM-cyHZo4QHHYkh8dlGhl4NX97wkkpFc9PvxsGcw2lakXhwPC9hwFI/s1600/IMG_3061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkMRtxQtQwLur-Zd84RyXafBrMqNMdrcutaZYL1z5K_OfCGYIFs8nJpzYrhHoSpVwoWDg8agNP2ZCHTmeZkL6bApM-cyHZo4QHHYkh8dlGhl4NX97wkkpFc9PvxsGcw2lakXhwPC9hwFI/s640/IMG_3061.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">One of these dogs is not like the others..... J</span><span style="font-size: small;">ust after Old Woman Cabin, </span><span style="font-size: small;">I came upon a lone sled dog standing in the middle of the trail. I was unable to catch up to her with my team, as she obviously felt we were chasing her and would run away from us as we approached, so I stopped the team and walked to her. She came right up to me, but was quite afraid of the rest of my team. She seemed perfectly sound, and I was not about to carry a 60 lb dog without good reason, so I plugged her into the team and ran her all the way to Unalakleet where her musher was SO happy to see her. The dog's name was Tytte & she belonged to Miriam Oskreder. Miriam had lost Tytte in the confusion of switching out lead dogs in the dark while another dog team passed by. Miriam had been very worried about where Tytte could be, as several mushers had come into the checkpoint without seeing her. She was also able to officially check into Unalakleet, as race rules stipulate a musher is unable to check into a checkpoint without the same number of dogs as they left the last checkpoint with. </span></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS2LYTB3upeb1lXHJ_WiRooaqyEQopvaDQfNkhu1Zd91hgBxnrWqY3p3iOdk9PntJmkXkO_1zcOgsEvT-0OCO6TMz6AtuU6gq2X9y529lm3ARp49xelwt0QDSdFt5BwfN9wMpcHvtQmx0/s1600/IMG_3062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS2LYTB3upeb1lXHJ_WiRooaqyEQopvaDQfNkhu1Zd91hgBxnrWqY3p3iOdk9PntJmkXkO_1zcOgsEvT-0OCO6TMz6AtuU6gq2X9y529lm3ARp49xelwt0QDSdFt5BwfN9wMpcHvtQmx0/s640/IMG_3062.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja0wVlOX65bMlH80-VD3sMq9Zjjs6rjf9dhnkGTAnPHfb4vRJBfUwH_2ggrgKceE8cFnWF5gRn7q7iRT9HP-tzFNmTBL0kB9-hsIbyq1opMiDo5pfKZQvbi9avz4YGV9T6nsxlQ3nSKP0/s1600/IMG_3066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja0wVlOX65bMlH80-VD3sMq9Zjjs6rjf9dhnkGTAnPHfb4vRJBfUwH_2ggrgKceE8cFnWF5gRn7q7iRT9HP-tzFNmTBL0kB9-hsIbyq1opMiDo5pfKZQvbi9avz4YGV9T6nsxlQ3nSKP0/s640/IMG_3066.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Coming into UNK šš !! You guys are the best !</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil4odlaeuEyLhQ4OfHo-O92fXzCmFq-sFd1ry6qqrMQ0yUOOJr4z75eOV_-Pe87KyTN44OAogZDoDLHAxHLeqkPVJq4UpTFLsQ38Xq_3fzQqjZVzXbBMBmVu52W-rhiVqwJ2JhAdxOmFc/s1600/IMG_3068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil4odlaeuEyLhQ4OfHo-O92fXzCmFq-sFd1ry6qqrMQ0yUOOJr4z75eOV_-Pe87KyTN44OAogZDoDLHAxHLeqkPVJq4UpTFLsQ38Xq_3fzQqjZVzXbBMBmVu52W-rhiVqwJ2JhAdxOmFc/s640/IMG_3068.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">BEAUTIFUL SUNSET. but yes, that is GRAVEL we are running on. Iditarod trail marker visible on the right. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhah9e21xXgVS-BSs26NWuIZUZjfml9ckMsIFs0g2T9qQl5tagZlDKB97GyxSWoZgflX6uDWO9Dwj11_7rPwB8hCJOMIMCBaBzi4oeO3OMmpHfhpvHOZz7e7BFsL83-7leu5k6RRpP1Kgk/s1600/IMG_3069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhah9e21xXgVS-BSs26NWuIZUZjfml9ckMsIFs0g2T9qQl5tagZlDKB97GyxSWoZgflX6uDWO9Dwj11_7rPwB8hCJOMIMCBaBzi4oeO3OMmpHfhpvHOZz7e7BFsL83-7leu5k6RRpP1Kgk/s640/IMG_3069.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Unalakleet sunset.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEDUJML5L0tLpQAsQw80LAVkaErnv1JPm54mBBZ6QRWJkJ4aCsxvol7DI-VPo-ZIB0MUlILs3a362_MeXdSgXNPCgReZMEypOjo-1imZddT4o-kLYYIf5evlf3CIUtnTf7_xi7FUCUaGs/s1600/IMG_3071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEDUJML5L0tLpQAsQw80LAVkaErnv1JPm54mBBZ6QRWJkJ4aCsxvol7DI-VPo-ZIB0MUlILs3a362_MeXdSgXNPCgReZMEypOjo-1imZddT4o-kLYYIf5evlf3CIUtnTf7_xi7FUCUaGs/s640/IMG_3071.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Shaktoolik.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3SCjB6j2_-f4vHDSFwHGlnZ3S0V7hc-ADAfO5wW2P2FKfB7SIzZVlilTQc6Yk1tWQsJaa1FR7L251x6DBxEMMX0y00S480-EzbNV889XMoYruASUCY5O_5bfXwpBO6vQzUwMGcEcM7aI/s1600/IMG_3072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3SCjB6j2_-f4vHDSFwHGlnZ3S0V7hc-ADAfO5wW2P2FKfB7SIzZVlilTQc6Yk1tWQsJaa1FR7L251x6DBxEMMX0y00S480-EzbNV889XMoYruASUCY5O_5bfXwpBO6vQzUwMGcEcM7aI/s640/IMG_3072.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Heading across the sea ice to Koyuk. What a niiiiice trail, especially in comparison to last year, where we trudged through snow drifts at 6mph the whole way. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZDhD4VoDvCYbReDJ_yFTgTCE5eOXdjA7gwJqFy4ZMBIqlKnHnlvT75CLoeqUGOtqD9Nt6y7sdPPPmtOXPzBJbA847_ayI9hSBVWSlrzpqvtcOVog8juNEqeGs6RuHuDt4tmk1fyQh6Dw/s1600/IMG_3074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZDhD4VoDvCYbReDJ_yFTgTCE5eOXdjA7gwJqFy4ZMBIqlKnHnlvT75CLoeqUGOtqD9Nt6y7sdPPPmtOXPzBJbA847_ayI9hSBVWSlrzpqvtcOVog8juNEqeGs6RuHuDt4tmk1fyQh6Dw/s640/IMG_3074.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Ro5MN3BMlK3XdOIeom8LbOz7N-ZUQLltCzEdd9T33RcrDKEq5fhXi2QCsaVuTRZ0ahN9VR2uH95Nqd8_4RpwtAJ3fACw4Ef8d2MqjPE5fPo2OnQeu6xBCE1OtYZla6LN_OGE1NwhZRE/s1600/IMG_3079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Ro5MN3BMlK3XdOIeom8LbOz7N-ZUQLltCzEdd9T33RcrDKEq5fhXi2QCsaVuTRZ0ahN9VR2uH95Nqd8_4RpwtAJ3fACw4Ef8d2MqjPE5fPo2OnQeu6xBCE1OtYZla6LN_OGE1NwhZRE/s640/IMG_3079.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF9nTa-xITaY3NxTMwZda01mW_6wdEznt8HWp2wFlLiW57A3iEFFuEU5tuHVMAEw3nDf5senLiBngSmIRGYqW_Z4etCdS3ckCblikGxbQb8KZz4uQ_yg8eXHHVmTnMyuNw41Dt8S-0xk8/s1600/IMG_3081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF9nTa-xITaY3NxTMwZda01mW_6wdEznt8HWp2wFlLiW57A3iEFFuEU5tuHVMAEw3nDf5senLiBngSmIRGYqW_Z4etCdS3ckCblikGxbQb8KZz4uQ_yg8eXHHVmTnMyuNw41Dt8S-0xk8/s640/IMG_3081.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLQ9In8vzIhHEOHj1yLsfZ664cJ1K-AgsPKYfUl2CA6eUlvaeY1wcPdIMOz5Pe_HcpSiYDO-evIWNU1cwvwcJfpTy0ebPmYH1B7vQeHMx_OK2Stlbb9vFMlgI8AmDNk4txGBSz53D6neQ/s1600/IMG_3085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLQ9In8vzIhHEOHj1yLsfZ664cJ1K-AgsPKYfUl2CA6eUlvaeY1wcPdIMOz5Pe_HcpSiYDO-evIWNU1cwvwcJfpTy0ebPmYH1B7vQeHMx_OK2Stlbb9vFMlgI8AmDNk4txGBSz53D6neQ/s640/IMG_3085.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Siberian Husky train. Following Rob Cooke out of Elim.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM_FA_ODbh0RFJRp0XQ-nbQRFTnHpLQTrCxGOz5AilrBQxPtyeau04Miw5aQTZNBTVOIYeWeLHMh-3YL-Sa2RTKv-53-pM894bJ0daOtMRy1QmF_4yNfAHiZxeJVvCRHU9cqQDrExeunA/s1600/IMG_3087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM_FA_ODbh0RFJRp0XQ-nbQRFTnHpLQTrCxGOz5AilrBQxPtyeau04Miw5aQTZNBTVOIYeWeLHMh-3YL-Sa2RTKv-53-pM894bJ0daOtMRy1QmF_4yNfAHiZxeJVvCRHU9cqQDrExeunA/s640/IMG_3087.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEvZxVpAZRBuy26Qe-U1bT7minTyZ97KrrdR8SKSI5EVIIzTgb3pUZmvcYSokCsq3mBk47e1e6DbdvjVlzKqL902wlD-GjO0U94RGit5nhT32_e24my-yIJ-PoUVei26vrL9AOTXNzNeU/s1600/IMG_3093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEvZxVpAZRBuy26Qe-U1bT7minTyZ97KrrdR8SKSI5EVIIzTgb3pUZmvcYSokCsq3mBk47e1e6DbdvjVlzKqL902wlD-GjO0U94RGit5nhT32_e24my-yIJ-PoUVei26vrL9AOTXNzNeU/s640/IMG_3093.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Outside of Elim, at the top of the steep climb from the ocean. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh1OmkAKFassN04Vi6j635lsOSMWo-2dDQDtiZwefvyMuXGbdEU8f5a3dfUtP-YmGVFBb_BVDfdHdzAtoiI2U6TGeNk-xRmdo7ovU8VDUPC90L2Uqw86_TCj-IbRTzmo1MgpGhS09-JTA/s1600/IMG_3094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh1OmkAKFassN04Vi6j635lsOSMWo-2dDQDtiZwefvyMuXGbdEU8f5a3dfUtP-YmGVFBb_BVDfdHdzAtoiI2U6TGeNk-xRmdo7ovU8VDUPC90L2Uqw86_TCj-IbRTzmo1MgpGhS09-JTA/s640/IMG_3094.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO0pnsN99l09kI5Eu_zKCBgeVqAGRCQVV8cDLUHjaBYUElYNiB1Dts7U4kHTwFWRdOM36iZWjje5yDNOT3x2r70slHuZDg3WQJU0oRcHSug6_ie-DFOkP8eV9vgSx6rIrshEjLEVpxmv0/s1600/IMG_3098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO0pnsN99l09kI5Eu_zKCBgeVqAGRCQVV8cDLUHjaBYUElYNiB1Dts7U4kHTwFWRdOM36iZWjje5yDNOT3x2r70slHuZDg3WQJU0oRcHSug6_ie-DFOkP8eV9vgSx6rIrshEjLEVpxmv0/s640/IMG_3098.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Beautiful day in the mountains. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwPtG-hoUKqvfzfJ44XIqyCe7q5r1BgXs3thkNEKBwv5OsTfjvwP8iks3hdIezS2Ow2PfdGMC3bEQwoLWFUj34QShpBuXs-FwdFEMvNG2nTW7RbMdNPe64GQ4R_YDT7iPTiWUuyiAKjps/s1600/IMG_3099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwPtG-hoUKqvfzfJ44XIqyCe7q5r1BgXs3thkNEKBwv5OsTfjvwP8iks3hdIezS2Ow2PfdGMC3bEQwoLWFUj34QShpBuXs-FwdFEMvNG2nTW7RbMdNPe64GQ4R_YDT7iPTiWUuyiAKjps/s640/IMG_3099.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Buffy and MiniLu stepping in for Vinnie and Ripp.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgshNYV3afoofS7gTxJAS1_OS8r6_U6lldN_ruYaphYB3jPkYRksJvOVQeEfZnkO7vUWmVNq1KLzP1Xg78HiamZdQU8w_sBHA6quIFSOPxKwewxpdfQu1g9I3XT4HTTJUsK_pMu9mQKZs/s1600/IMG_3103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgshNYV3afoofS7gTxJAS1_OS8r6_U6lldN_ruYaphYB3jPkYRksJvOVQeEfZnkO7vUWmVNq1KLzP1Xg78HiamZdQU8w_sBHA6quIFSOPxKwewxpdfQu1g9I3XT4HTTJUsK_pMu9mQKZs/s640/IMG_3103.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Overlooking Golovin Bay.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpVZSWz2zP8kGtDENCgagh9Krp1VlZTOCPByKCl8Nj3B68PaZS876e4gj0n_GjBdCnuLZX7irNKSpHNG7TY6QVJgjrtKCMwpIvFtJnfthlsJoLRqX-zGftaAON66Cee1CmHgUIgYaEH3s/s1600/IMG_3104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpVZSWz2zP8kGtDENCgagh9Krp1VlZTOCPByKCl8Nj3B68PaZS876e4gj0n_GjBdCnuLZX7irNKSpHNG7TY6QVJgjrtKCMwpIvFtJnfthlsJoLRqX-zGftaAON66Cee1CmHgUIgYaEH3s/s640/IMG_3104.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGIiMLU9eRmMZ2pSqvE1ClkuN8ZkjKN0_1lV5HhDCYZ0rmzQanwZF_wZAEYw0J_BugiBgrs-tWKppJgqF05212pYdsElmb0JyMn2WB-uDkF2a4PILVHCTGDrBGYZPXgjz7V2anyaplN8M/s1600/IMG_3105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGIiMLU9eRmMZ2pSqvE1ClkuN8ZkjKN0_1lV5HhDCYZ0rmzQanwZF_wZAEYw0J_BugiBgrs-tWKppJgqF05212pYdsElmb0JyMn2WB-uDkF2a4PILVHCTGDrBGYZPXgjz7V2anyaplN8M/s640/IMG_3105.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Golovin in the distance.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ9tSpQW5g4xubHhAYtWgDWgNYMuEGl99Sq74JW-pzv1iVNEPujIQKS6FLv2mRLDbLDkTbiTvbkuD5fLCXnTkmnaOyCo3RIxqFhHBqG8CWuEXjeLphNiZR98J-O9PjZJLbPwxDkKJBO_c/s1600/IMG_3107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ9tSpQW5g4xubHhAYtWgDWgNYMuEGl99Sq74JW-pzv1iVNEPujIQKS6FLv2mRLDbLDkTbiTvbkuD5fLCXnTkmnaOyCo3RIxqFhHBqG8CWuEXjeLphNiZR98J-O9PjZJLbPwxDkKJBO_c/s640/IMG_3107.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Snacktime on Golovin Bay. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKYTtyu7iUtQf9evzUbRmVEKJxWXiqGzXN3RcySa6mu-7oeslIQKKDsMvABQ70xwqrvG6f1etTzjjLAmA_-LZO91Xupd8H8jXZroDciWMGdbZ3Wrdyn7n4yexj35ZnayC68zS1PPXnca8/s1600/IMG_3111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKYTtyu7iUtQf9evzUbRmVEKJxWXiqGzXN3RcySa6mu-7oeslIQKKDsMvABQ70xwqrvG6f1etTzjjLAmA_-LZO91Xupd8H8jXZroDciWMGdbZ3Wrdyn7n4yexj35ZnayC68zS1PPXnca8/s640/IMG_3111.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sunrise over Safety.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR8TayS9-qE6UJm_ZtKotV3Z2xl-2y6sG9J0rl-LKVN2iwlqRPVGgMZc0d20UF4B25CkBham0Us2JGeOdjHj4w8pV8-38p-Gosoxd0F2gE_IcqoHLQRQFx-GkNQLVQ411hDN-tDHMcE4g/s1600/IMG_3112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR8TayS9-qE6UJm_ZtKotV3Z2xl-2y6sG9J0rl-LKVN2iwlqRPVGgMZc0d20UF4B25CkBham0Us2JGeOdjHj4w8pV8-38p-Gosoxd0F2gE_IcqoHLQRQFx-GkNQLVQ411hDN-tDHMcE4g/s640/IMG_3112.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Cape Nome in the distance. </span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td><div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx1AOOmmia7s2084mde_GhU6g1DX_TkhvZJS3_501bbB2ENVr4E9WsIRDPj3p7opdDvcvYwMgw3J9PxQuxJGnnXu7UNbvdpLLkPaMvcfSHRNuNrTyfE3UfMW2lccm8U06B71_T6XV0q_E/s1600/IMG_3119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx1AOOmmia7s2084mde_GhU6g1DX_TkhvZJS3_501bbB2ENVr4E9WsIRDPj3p7opdDvcvYwMgw3J9PxQuxJGnnXu7UNbvdpLLkPaMvcfSHRNuNrTyfE3UfMW2lccm8U06B71_T6XV0q_E/s640/IMG_3119.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Nome ! Looking over the cape towards the city.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkzR9LCBf-C84qLwM_TFKAu5oM1rTRKCfbSAT8yn_hA5iR0jRe_cFd4YBojC1Zt8JGtpRIeT-E-smfrFdRrY9yijchUpjC5DvXuCqKDQjG9tH3i28g9PrxvMfzUDj0dvtJohzEO_epBwU/s1600/lisbet+finish+line+16+trude.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkzR9LCBf-C84qLwM_TFKAu5oM1rTRKCfbSAT8yn_hA5iR0jRe_cFd4YBojC1Zt8JGtpRIeT-E-smfrFdRrY9yijchUpjC5DvXuCqKDQjG9tH3i28g9PrxvMfzUDj0dvtJohzEO_epBwU/s640/lisbet+finish+line+16+trude.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">At the finish line with Vinnie and Ripp. <br />Photo: Team Dagali FB Page/Trude Paulsson.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Lisbethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06066513849980376169noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488210705343555399.post-30900644908613543902016-09-09T15:47:00.002-08:002016-09-09T15:49:56.850-08:00Ophir to Kaltag<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikef6O6CGza3_AQpeuPwH-F29uDiIPMjv-I7dmKVoKkxAbZAdAcM6j9-6N_77sA0CG1iLjhbNEFn5vvzVpdsYZW3eKANFQlAAeYCwjMWcd9Ds_89-gVew9DjoQxAVxqz2EUdoONNtqrl8/s1600/IMG_2809.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikef6O6CGza3_AQpeuPwH-F29uDiIPMjv-I7dmKVoKkxAbZAdAcM6j9-6N_77sA0CG1iLjhbNEFn5vvzVpdsYZW3eKANFQlAAeYCwjMWcd9Ds_89-gVew9DjoQxAVxqz2EUdoONNtqrl8/s640/IMG_2809.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">We took our 24 hour break in the peaceful checkpoint of Ophir. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg58E4gtC3de7nrrYk6pN5jEFaT8dqGNNGdEJeCz6iZou8CEBW4LSl74aYrqaEBCWeAhH-NXG-nuZJiwQPqHVm2KP6es93OZ6KlEB6SEGcj5SrOdJLPXTocM-b6g_ZBvVGAukNVrVytY1Y/s1600/IMG_2811.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg58E4gtC3de7nrrYk6pN5jEFaT8dqGNNGdEJeCz6iZou8CEBW4LSl74aYrqaEBCWeAhH-NXG-nuZJiwQPqHVm2KP6es93OZ6KlEB6SEGcj5SrOdJLPXTocM-b6g_ZBvVGAukNVrVytY1Y/s640/IMG_2811.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The dogs snoozed comfortably in the absence of hustle & bustle. Bitey, Goofy, Vader & Raspy.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkRBPBAR2v97y0aVEgjrcnF2-lEJO8x4EzbmiDB_UNVX-xF_o57zuVs2ki5DH2d9mZyTVlVzqPlkJa8H_UieIHFWCJQ3Zl_4WNBJ4KE9lURZPHpS36xzpaTgWIWf0CbjsIuTrFTB3J1sA/s1600/IMG_2812.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkRBPBAR2v97y0aVEgjrcnF2-lEJO8x4EzbmiDB_UNVX-xF_o57zuVs2ki5DH2d9mZyTVlVzqPlkJa8H_UieIHFWCJQ3Zl_4WNBJ4KE9lURZPHpS36xzpaTgWIWf0CbjsIuTrFTB3J1sA/s640/IMG_2812.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mini Lu, Buffy & Hilary.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicrWBv4gIqnvu7-hFuL-45t-1PZpTlWEh4mbEsrW631evO1CK1JZcKvOq2hSuiy38QZTUmXU4JNXJ0T9cofDsvYaQuj-pm69C4JsSfTYEtd4rcoAlsL8bkDOpK5uvRwwtJb-FGR916MbQ/s1600/IMG_2813.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicrWBv4gIqnvu7-hFuL-45t-1PZpTlWEh4mbEsrW631evO1CK1JZcKvOq2hSuiy38QZTUmXU4JNXJ0T9cofDsvYaQuj-pm69C4JsSfTYEtd4rcoAlsL8bkDOpK5uvRwwtJb-FGR916MbQ/s640/IMG_2813.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Orro, Barkly, Vinnie & Vader relax in the shadow of the checkpoint's supply of Heet. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMbn-KZCo3BNMDd4W7mUT_AXl-XBT06qQFvNc-ZxcyBMyk7vaD1Vu395hlAvaXuBEzjKpzCzAkSElMyLdR5nFvi7-_rbg_WKOOKWV2iWfGW7H9edvP_iLPQIPA1PdWAfQfnmp-jpPhAZg/s1600/IMG_2815.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMbn-KZCo3BNMDd4W7mUT_AXl-XBT06qQFvNc-ZxcyBMyk7vaD1Vu395hlAvaXuBEzjKpzCzAkSElMyLdR5nFvi7-_rbg_WKOOKWV2iWfGW7H9edvP_iLPQIPA1PdWAfQfnmp-jpPhAZg/s640/IMG_2815.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Barkley, Orro, Vinnie, & Vader.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD7VMeMn3eCdeQfeaBkMdTCDxFbtV7neFvBJdBa33VR4FNDHIFitj4yW3Q_Xujo959r52gDHr9be-PYhS2vKwKFSznQpGPaDhMyflrkVoXVU9IZOJp2hJ8OsjDu_j8b112KQmROMY_yJk/s1600/IMG_2804.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD7VMeMn3eCdeQfeaBkMdTCDxFbtV7neFvBJdBa33VR4FNDHIFitj4yW3Q_Xujo959r52gDHr9be-PYhS2vKwKFSznQpGPaDhMyflrkVoXVU9IZOJp2hJ8OsjDu_j8b112KQmROMY_yJk/s640/IMG_2804.JPG" width="358" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sister ruffs. I complemented checkpoint visitor Mrs. Klaus of Ultima Thule Tours on her beautiful ruff. When I heard she had purchased it last year in Huslia, I realized I liked it so much because it looked exactly like MY beloved ruff that I purchased in Huslia last year ! We lined them up & it was clear they came from the same wolf & wolverine :) </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkqEngiooCMm6dxfGIakxZaC5GccvW9_Wa2nSal-Qu7bp3G8U-rrNGZo7XoGrLHdNwwWrl1fJBalxg-3HoL_P7XaKNE4L1n_i9CwslP8XdwfcrdNJYAWRb2whTusLH5f96cjCT9Rr4hEY/s1600/IMG_2817.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkqEngiooCMm6dxfGIakxZaC5GccvW9_Wa2nSal-Qu7bp3G8U-rrNGZo7XoGrLHdNwwWrl1fJBalxg-3HoL_P7XaKNE4L1n_i9CwslP8XdwfcrdNJYAWRb2whTusLH5f96cjCT9Rr4hEY/s640/IMG_2817.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Thank you to the family who owns the Ophir cabin for opening up the property to shelter ITC volunteers, vets, mushers & dogs. Ophir is the last hospitality stop before the trail forays across a hundred and fifty miles or so of cold, wild Innoko River country until mushers reach the Yukon River community of Ruby. These days, the remote ITC checkpoint of Cripple between Ophir and Ruby provides a pretty comfortable respite from the bitter cold of the Interior, but Ophir is still very much appreciated for its quiet and hospitality.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg82DNkM8i4uM1HR5Z1AY9Xq4Uh01WVDMlRCzY2CDRzNRRg8lGApwD3GZQ1xzeTHzE7jYlsQ8ol56OldzaL-dWmeECDYigWpi3zud_PRIJWjGPi4QQx9Fd5gaiZKN6gMEByiNpHrSXR1ok/s1600/IMG_2821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg82DNkM8i4uM1HR5Z1AY9Xq4Uh01WVDMlRCzY2CDRzNRRg8lGApwD3GZQ1xzeTHzE7jYlsQ8ol56OldzaL-dWmeECDYigWpi3zud_PRIJWjGPi4QQx9Fd5gaiZKN6gMEByiNpHrSXR1ok/s640/IMG_2821.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I took this picture for my friend Anja Radano -- it's of Ryan Redington leaving Ophir with the dog he borrowed from Anja, Eggs, in lead :)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmtxqY9pAEdWiE3JikeSodfW33XizSv39R3hsl0ZtG1mKC3QcBqUSfrtYBwPfTFOdecaHU8OpYKSMVcvxlpYXmJYCyO9U9Nc7Sjd3ZNPP5ddi6rH4-x0JrFNSqWp3rEVL7k-BHD0hCIP4/s1600/IMG_2824.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmtxqY9pAEdWiE3JikeSodfW33XizSv39R3hsl0ZtG1mKC3QcBqUSfrtYBwPfTFOdecaHU8OpYKSMVcvxlpYXmJYCyO9U9Nc7Sjd3ZNPP5ddi6rH4-x0JrFNSqWp3rEVL7k-BHD0hCIP4/s640/IMG_2824.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Cold and frosty in the Innoko River Valley outside of Ophir.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnzl3ZH6JDUF2cs_TMp16HB0d7WJaxkuJ2aQakS8kevLogTKf0TCNnKb0vdeDo134v5bTTnuxexzfpjAcEZRW5USXI-P08fA8RcoSnMcpCOUjRreIBTgUD0ImM26fQ9AioCnRccJ695_Q/s1600/IMG_2841.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnzl3ZH6JDUF2cs_TMp16HB0d7WJaxkuJ2aQakS8kevLogTKf0TCNnKb0vdeDo134v5bTTnuxexzfpjAcEZRW5USXI-P08fA8RcoSnMcpCOUjRreIBTgUD0ImM26fQ9AioCnRccJ695_Q/s640/IMG_2841.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Nice trail and gorgeous country out of Ophir. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpf4S-LE-VQ5TSijYpiq9VpQS0_K5gSD9Wk3tSexBadyTmI467uYDq7vYnIUKfAolnaTp22WG9nit_wAq9CQmf-SVyqDjt8ub3VWmnhsFXdV1hUtnNIRI25cRcM-HTXRy6bVlTAn4w0H8/s1600/IMG_2842.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpf4S-LE-VQ5TSijYpiq9VpQS0_K5gSD9Wk3tSexBadyTmI467uYDq7vYnIUKfAolnaTp22WG9nit_wAq9CQmf-SVyqDjt8ub3VWmnhsFXdV1hUtnNIRI25cRcM-HTXRy6bVlTAn4w0H8/s640/IMG_2842.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Beautiful boreal landscape.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUy34AtcXFMaPsM18JNFJ5LI2vm9SbIkf2qbePeB4PhCVdMHJPyjUrQVGPlp7AYXKwy2QtbzWZmiE81Kxbmn2TcuVsamg_W7XAlJra4zAF5DpdsecACaxVMdrCiSoBkAbarXrOCL0pbwI/s1600/IMG_2843.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUy34AtcXFMaPsM18JNFJ5LI2vm9SbIkf2qbePeB4PhCVdMHJPyjUrQVGPlp7AYXKwy2QtbzWZmiE81Kxbmn2TcuVsamg_W7XAlJra4zAF5DpdsecACaxVMdrCiSoBkAbarXrOCL0pbwI/s640/IMG_2843.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Camping 40 miles or so outside of Ophir. Princess, Hilary, Jasmine (sitting) & Fly behind, with her head sticking out of the straw. Jasmine is not tired, probably because she was not working very hard....haha.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe2HEMYQ7UKC16TymGdl-_qD7qicnb7jVpSQJByZEXv1zl3viz39DHScA16n8hya8mewdO_jO3fb-nBXDtgA3QikPZm6tVYVo6z2-QhamyxHdZkGqSCu5mcayuZKzAFOqBf-sdms1_Z-0/s1600/IMG_2847.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe2HEMYQ7UKC16TymGdl-_qD7qicnb7jVpSQJByZEXv1zl3viz39DHScA16n8hya8mewdO_jO3fb-nBXDtgA3QikPZm6tVYVo6z2-QhamyxHdZkGqSCu5mcayuZKzAFOqBf-sdms1_Z-0/s640/IMG_2847.JPG" width="358" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Vinnie, Mini Lu, Orro, & Vader snuggling together.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7mr34fXMqA7zB7jigcgsMQcYLqEiOe_I2Lk4UPqYTxEwHCgy7BL8CnB2U9AGWpkBmsYy4lfhwuXtLfhFBBjfq2_l4RhFoNZr5KdpBTWp1Ai1A367iSPqyGHQwmOCrzexoB2zeBA4zWhA/s1600/IMG_2848.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7mr34fXMqA7zB7jigcgsMQcYLqEiOe_I2Lk4UPqYTxEwHCgy7BL8CnB2U9AGWpkBmsYy4lfhwuXtLfhFBBjfq2_l4RhFoNZr5KdpBTWp1Ai1A367iSPqyGHQwmOCrzexoB2zeBA4zWhA/s640/IMG_2848.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">More snuggles. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwJyCgVHpzG6hqfZDvmwlOjzaCZIk_xV6RplxUOLKLSIKhbhGgxaVA_jSVe5AhX87jdA-0CovACaBPkbsO7DctjBvpBd3LERLrWH724fdD_Y9nDdARV7C90_WsgAAs4cpkMqq9DhvOGV8/s1600/IMG_2851.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwJyCgVHpzG6hqfZDvmwlOjzaCZIk_xV6RplxUOLKLSIKhbhGgxaVA_jSVe5AhX87jdA-0CovACaBPkbsO7DctjBvpBd3LERLrWH724fdD_Y9nDdARV7C90_WsgAAs4cpkMqq9DhvOGV8/s640/IMG_2851.JPG" width="359" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mini Lu & Ripp in lead ; on our way to Cripple after camp. We broke up the run to Ruby, tackling it in four roughly equal sections. I wanted to ease the dogs back into the swing of things after their long rest.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaPPtySz6G6a3MWgMLIesNkE7eQk5nrFxIh5T-9CLqJkL9lqI4BgKwI2AZM5RH1NeUtjVt86dfwC_CB4KOTvawoO-Puxa0tcf9ChZ1Z0KWp_eHxV9Xew1k2uBRbQbVxS5fzBLvBnWkxsc/s1600/IMG_2855.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaPPtySz6G6a3MWgMLIesNkE7eQk5nrFxIh5T-9CLqJkL9lqI4BgKwI2AZM5RH1NeUtjVt86dfwC_CB4KOTvawoO-Puxa0tcf9ChZ1Z0KWp_eHxV9Xew1k2uBRbQbVxS5fzBLvBnWkxsc/s640/IMG_2855.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Meager amounts of snow on the trail leaving Cripple. Made for some interesting experiences when crossing the myriad of ravines and creek beds separating us from Ruby. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGOtGdXR41yQCBPeYPYXrsqE-__FVM7HgHaOXjyuwnmxbFNt2I7qqZfPQY4hDAv0XjmoLsKJ8P27oo6VSTP56gnebJLfEKZdLl6bKTbhXlEzchV6rvRaZY4KazHCsOR4FDYRVltaT4HUk/s1600/IMG_2861.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGOtGdXR41yQCBPeYPYXrsqE-__FVM7HgHaOXjyuwnmxbFNt2I7qqZfPQY4hDAv0XjmoLsKJ8P27oo6VSTP56gnebJLfEKZdLl6bKTbhXlEzchV6rvRaZY4KazHCsOR4FDYRVltaT4HUk/s640/IMG_2861.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Back in the tussocks.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkX83vp70tuipGSt9UzSpVIcVqK7sJ3YzT98jHurSmoOihE7Ae-oitDbmnl1TtsbLaiukNrEWe9XcEgi3NvEvFlb8a-1bqOs0lvTd7xLFPfIb365XL-fd6xJq6E0jYGbJaFtbSYrglZbI/s1600/IMG_2863.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkX83vp70tuipGSt9UzSpVIcVqK7sJ3YzT98jHurSmoOihE7Ae-oitDbmnl1TtsbLaiukNrEWe9XcEgi3NvEvFlb8a-1bqOs0lvTd7xLFPfIb365XL-fd6xJq6E0jYGbJaFtbSYrglZbI/s640/IMG_2863.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">Big sky country. Sorry, Montana.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkf7b67AtEITruQczWU5yx-VkDm9_O9CsSYppKx0fo7Fy-0UajK2wIvESQK4pfGh3aJhqomitmYpB_Xgj89-mX0tCMjfZEyeNL1oOh-mgOZucH4utsOHktpQFMUmbKrqdZMc8UygI3u9w/s1600/IMG_2865.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkf7b67AtEITruQczWU5yx-VkDm9_O9CsSYppKx0fo7Fy-0UajK2wIvESQK4pfGh3aJhqomitmYpB_Xgj89-mX0tCMjfZEyeNL1oOh-mgOZucH4utsOHktpQFMUmbKrqdZMc8UygI3u9w/s640/IMG_2865.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">We traversed lots of area burnt up by forest fire. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpP6y_5P2yqL9RTV0BdVQJMikJ5HSxivx78-d3eTy2T7bctXmfDZonZoRTOhq3GBB2hNqtliq1rOo435BuGhPF8nZUhUhMnZXJD22tXlN0zUV0uBiVcI7fcm6tuumkq_Ht5HZ7YRQSUwI/s1600/IMG_2869.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpP6y_5P2yqL9RTV0BdVQJMikJ5HSxivx78-d3eTy2T7bctXmfDZonZoRTOhq3GBB2hNqtliq1rOo435BuGhPF8nZUhUhMnZXJD22tXlN0zUV0uBiVcI7fcm6tuumkq_Ht5HZ7YRQSUwI/s640/IMG_2869.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">There is a beauty to the monotony. I listened to a lot of Ane Brun on this section.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggH54YunwGywYnE3Nnwke0wpiVYtm8QWcogWJtgwvBSlQ-2uGpwQQ-ywNOXdwNYFKA7EK0I46gvTliP_HERzNzx6k-WL5tvrNHZFL4NLoZDxM_RS4AD9lF7CLXCDj70Jn-__bclO9sKik/s1600/IMG_2874.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggH54YunwGywYnE3Nnwke0wpiVYtm8QWcogWJtgwvBSlQ-2uGpwQQ-ywNOXdwNYFKA7EK0I46gvTliP_HERzNzx6k-WL5tvrNHZFL4NLoZDxM_RS4AD9lF7CLXCDj70Jn-__bclO9sKik/s640/IMG_2874.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Snack break. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1DOwr5-Ysqplgqodmya-LytZTx3md_7a45d5snyZkpFik0W1vlzgpr54oAwYhfyt-2NZYINgkseGYCgQy3K699wBKZJB96CzG1tIW1q9KlZl3l2BI1Wk_F51sgIjdjG1P0JcLcSbg1bE/s1600/IMG_2878.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1DOwr5-Ysqplgqodmya-LytZTx3md_7a45d5snyZkpFik0W1vlzgpr54oAwYhfyt-2NZYINgkseGYCgQy3K699wBKZJB96CzG1tIW1q9KlZl3l2BI1Wk_F51sgIjdjG1P0JcLcSbg1bE/s640/IMG_2878.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Flat light, endless, somewhat repetitive, vistas.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJCcAOYghcvhRon0X15bsp69WjchbI4NNinNEIV-j_OVn9MmBb6x0Amh6iS-60kEQx9hCzPWwX2AXXLQ8T5eKnP8sgQaG7su6JSqK2HTBIyHxg-_xV9ejq9pxGkXFU_L8CN-_OGDAg2Lc/s1600/IMG_2883.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJCcAOYghcvhRon0X15bsp69WjchbI4NNinNEIV-j_OVn9MmBb6x0Amh6iS-60kEQx9hCzPWwX2AXXLQ8T5eKnP8sgQaG7su6JSqK2HTBIyHxg-_xV9ejq9pxGkXFU_L8CN-_OGDAg2Lc/s640/IMG_2883.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVCAQGm2ZdGK0WkCNpUh5jRKB06mWQAh9Kea_dJuvxv5F6cBUb_CDOXMn8R7bvpz4R8a_fhHbiHNI5akUBQ_CC84-3yuZ1eC2EX1L1UytgadsjmQWJMgp-AsWJAVb-mC58Uf4ESzuuAGk/s1600/IMG_2885.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVCAQGm2ZdGK0WkCNpUh5jRKB06mWQAh9Kea_dJuvxv5F6cBUb_CDOXMn8R7bvpz4R8a_fhHbiHNI5akUBQ_CC84-3yuZ1eC2EX1L1UytgadsjmQWJMgp-AsWJAVb-mC58Uf4ESzuuAGk/s640/IMG_2885.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ8gPWxBYwxhli3-nbr2S5PSswOi-lVeKzkOV6torDibX-nU8_qPq2srKo8IOAv99r-jQHP2Gxyrphyphenhyphen9ljpbwjK6O73WlHEBlyntxdJkuV-Cd-ydDuZldNl7kGY1iZf3xlGyXsOIue9to/s1600/IMG_2890.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ8gPWxBYwxhli3-nbr2S5PSswOi-lVeKzkOV6torDibX-nU8_qPq2srKo8IOAv99r-jQHP2Gxyrphyphenhyphen9ljpbwjK6O73WlHEBlyntxdJkuV-Cd-ydDuZldNl7kGY1iZf3xlGyXsOIue9to/s640/IMG_2890.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwJVZlGdX7Me_mQl3QA27Z_-aGv0vaYVJ-cesqMzhNJ72dpL6TA0w8ORDSPSlIu-Ae25M-pocBUOoKNCK7TZrdCrI1bjyaefM3Ugh31EDgvTz-f3Yu6OkjAa9PwsrdOA4IRCDeq5VEq8g/s1600/IMG_2894.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwJVZlGdX7Me_mQl3QA27Z_-aGv0vaYVJ-cesqMzhNJ72dpL6TA0w8ORDSPSlIu-Ae25M-pocBUOoKNCK7TZrdCrI1bjyaefM3Ugh31EDgvTz-f3Yu6OkjAa9PwsrdOA4IRCDeq5VEq8g/s640/IMG_2894.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Golden hour. On route to our last camp before Ruby.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGnOneE2IXJh0K_XzDr1wfgcbw_WWarwc01prSWJ6hNAH6k-7Tc5oGhNI9wNp_wakkKxCsHxQjkkxMhbF9d7kXUtCLhXssFu1BsKEACaMbzbGUD9QMcvwugsHiBQgWpuigkPp1w1hm0g8/s1600/IMG_2897.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGnOneE2IXJh0K_XzDr1wfgcbw_WWarwc01prSWJ6hNAH6k-7Tc5oGhNI9wNp_wakkKxCsHxQjkkxMhbF9d7kXUtCLhXssFu1BsKEACaMbzbGUD9QMcvwugsHiBQgWpuigkPp1w1hm0g8/s640/IMG_2897.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS_LPTWTb7m-tsH4DYj7hDjexwuxWu_TgU30g0VWzQ9P65wOgy0y2gy5vzWqI1MssXxF_NjSYDoJQHfB4RZmRbMmRaVCYlgymE3k52J1AjzMZYHQp259bo82bAu11bS98EBy7GSWulz2Q/s1600/IMG_2902.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS_LPTWTb7m-tsH4DYj7hDjexwuxWu_TgU30g0VWzQ9P65wOgy0y2gy5vzWqI1MssXxF_NjSYDoJQHfB4RZmRbMmRaVCYlgymE3k52J1AjzMZYHQp259bo82bAu11bS98EBy7GSWulz2Q/s640/IMG_2902.JPG" width="358" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Early morning on the road to Ruby.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTnIRXTrmfzRkeb9pYmLyE1OdrQUZaH11AXiJYfzUV57Hc1niNKh3FvI1DcCgNGkJIDp_TNmKPvsSRQFk8rg3y31ao4N37E-gQrkzmqpAJ3MFgM6bkijHHKBLCvprTzgI9gVH46ZFVGY8/s1600/IMG_2904.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTnIRXTrmfzRkeb9pYmLyE1OdrQUZaH11AXiJYfzUV57Hc1niNKh3FvI1DcCgNGkJIDp_TNmKPvsSRQFk8rg3y31ao4N37E-gQrkzmqpAJ3MFgM6bkijHHKBLCvprTzgI9gVH46ZFVGY8/s640/IMG_2904.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Trying to capture the glittering hoarfrost quickly melting in the sun. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiteuMCp8WggfvinjBubAgAmglaiBioF65CXgZA6eLDY8r9xe3fxnDAOwHZwytaWHz4i4f84gRx2d-PxCu8RI8QrseNvuNXA6wRdBEd-Dd5ymP1h5NYcs3c4Pa_M8pGwoaKHhhdImXCXl0/s1600/IMG_2906.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiteuMCp8WggfvinjBubAgAmglaiBioF65CXgZA6eLDY8r9xe3fxnDAOwHZwytaWHz4i4f84gRx2d-PxCu8RI8QrseNvuNXA6wRdBEd-Dd5ymP1h5NYcs3c4Pa_M8pGwoaKHhhdImXCXl0/s640/IMG_2906.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The dogs snuggling up to nap even before I get their booties off. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOtI2vUVpbVm2bAG45VF_ojqpIdUctiyH3ypodcLS8F-3zlXbUZ_zq1y4BecDabz-XciijVgrxhltipNlaazN0gPCvKpCOMUW83N2eR0SxlgzBU4Pk9d9oVNARZHdRmlXsYSkNL-t9Oyc/s1600/IMG_2907.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOtI2vUVpbVm2bAG45VF_ojqpIdUctiyH3ypodcLS8F-3zlXbUZ_zq1y4BecDabz-XciijVgrxhltipNlaazN0gPCvKpCOMUW83N2eR0SxlgzBU4Pk9d9oVNARZHdRmlXsYSkNL-t9Oyc/s640/IMG_2907.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSSttRTObMoiZCBTiUrKXhS0Lk_klGNsevcx-cec5qYOhrLs836yywaI15O0iFAEwAJhB1gQOfrLdHmn8r26mIPAQsbG92RWfxZ683ZkLERWYTCWz0vmaETfyXXDtuYo7hSUHgrdXmRIk/s1600/IMG_2908.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSSttRTObMoiZCBTiUrKXhS0Lk_klGNsevcx-cec5qYOhrLs836yywaI15O0iFAEwAJhB1gQOfrLdHmn8r26mIPAQsbG92RWfxZ683ZkLERWYTCWz0vmaETfyXXDtuYo7hSUHgrdXmRIk/s640/IMG_2908.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl4MJtyw-4598GJBCq2vID0SqJ5PYz3STBdkbkPbbh1il3lF7GL7uO3PD57o15p7EXJPnzTnMvsA4l_uNvwVAfP4Op9KW90_rIJMZ9IpUclSfSfSFMdu_Awl-Pr8-YxKjMstVNAC3bpoY/s1600/IMG_2909.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl4MJtyw-4598GJBCq2vID0SqJ5PYz3STBdkbkPbbh1il3lF7GL7uO3PD57o15p7EXJPnzTnMvsA4l_uNvwVAfP4Op9KW90_rIJMZ9IpUclSfSfSFMdu_Awl-Pr8-YxKjMstVNAC3bpoY/s640/IMG_2909.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn2KXUjHnINb4PpbwUibNlkNFTEw3D4FLK0E7ZMU7bLgzKnLCICuiKMDBAJhw0GOOqTieOz38QAjt5Dm35JHrt98b9GPSV3UdVkvu0_rW4yh5-ox5yoMxFWl5dkBQotkZBFgl5NF8PbAk/s1600/IMG_2912.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn2KXUjHnINb4PpbwUibNlkNFTEw3D4FLK0E7ZMU7bLgzKnLCICuiKMDBAJhw0GOOqTieOz38QAjt5Dm35JHrt98b9GPSV3UdVkvu0_rW4yh5-ox5yoMxFWl5dkBQotkZBFgl5NF8PbAk/s640/IMG_2912.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieGfILthhWgZWRd3rRPjXzByvZ_sukl4GrjXAq2swoKc09TWGQ6oOoVNAAfGC6nOPKHYzkjY_AK5AFsNFqgA8QA5X5r9FyjVXAYqVv0F0UHsv765ustcivJ-aAwJIKmBOQAi0UA19yMBI/s1600/IMG_2914.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieGfILthhWgZWRd3rRPjXzByvZ_sukl4GrjXAq2swoKc09TWGQ6oOoVNAAfGC6nOPKHYzkjY_AK5AFsNFqgA8QA5X5r9FyjVXAYqVv0F0UHsv765ustcivJ-aAwJIKmBOQAi0UA19yMBI/s640/IMG_2914.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEp6DVF4bBtWo0uyjKZ1xOgeWpLTOrQraAfDFLfG4RzUwtzzUeDolm-z3zjtoR-RvM8DMqaGltpgcRcsfhl0RqSypFxi-9BJCVg-G2x2BMoNKnGpC-37fO1k0OtcGNRg58nl-lRiD965o/s1600/IMG_2916.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEp6DVF4bBtWo0uyjKZ1xOgeWpLTOrQraAfDFLfG4RzUwtzzUeDolm-z3zjtoR-RvM8DMqaGltpgcRcsfhl0RqSypFxi-9BJCVg-G2x2BMoNKnGpC-37fO1k0OtcGNRg58nl-lRiD965o/s640/IMG_2916.JPG" width="358" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Time to wake up and head to Ruby :)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTWDwwAvUfIGa2WdXp1ulakdTTYWtfXQSKGSc6T__qVmsiHvxPNTYE0Vjc0IqP5dM8AGwk0NqnKZ9yWejavbkllSJp2Od3snfpmcWdqXgSgW4di3hOYDya-kFTFV8V1-E8EaX2jpFqpFU/s1600/IMG_2920.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTWDwwAvUfIGa2WdXp1ulakdTTYWtfXQSKGSc6T__qVmsiHvxPNTYE0Vjc0IqP5dM8AGwk0NqnKZ9yWejavbkllSJp2Od3snfpmcWdqXgSgW4di3hOYDya-kFTFV8V1-E8EaX2jpFqpFU/s640/IMG_2920.JPG" width="358" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9VxxOD7yoBVjY-6IEo_tv9SScfEGzhVxtMZCDoNzfW2P6UxroP3NnFxNte0xwgmzA827OAOW-eIZSaBf30NXWFxtmfYlE1oAwVUHmY1D25N0m7lCm2h-tsgHhjSXsix-TuWryZNkCFv4/s1600/IMG_2931.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9VxxOD7yoBVjY-6IEo_tv9SScfEGzhVxtMZCDoNzfW2P6UxroP3NnFxNte0xwgmzA827OAOW-eIZSaBf30NXWFxtmfYlE1oAwVUHmY1D25N0m7lCm2h-tsgHhjSXsix-TuWryZNkCFv4/s640/IMG_2931.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Bluebird skies in ptarmigan country. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ozc2dR42nCt19wZndFICUrzlX-w1gwDt6l_dEIY8cSWHijF1EIIBLChMt3k17ejcYRZiFEikVLBjb0TKcUuisbapn-pbkTIr57XLTYKBiK3-XxMq3Hx9b2EV9aBfpm1AMluuZIn65O8/s1600/IMG_2939.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ozc2dR42nCt19wZndFICUrzlX-w1gwDt6l_dEIY8cSWHijF1EIIBLChMt3k17ejcYRZiFEikVLBjb0TKcUuisbapn-pbkTIr57XLTYKBiK3-XxMq3Hx9b2EV9aBfpm1AMluuZIn65O8/s640/IMG_2939.JPG" width="358" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCeRbKiwnsOFW-sQUCmumTpCceNbfmDY1CMUC_Ssm1XUpC3II9g7RfpYEYggVWXgz0cg4SM2kao2sZ5IZVGn3_Nr1PzXhROc3rIWnX3wxtssGSuLYro8I9BMqe6Zg6VVlTazO0ox9oZlk/s1600/IMG_2940.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCeRbKiwnsOFW-sQUCmumTpCceNbfmDY1CMUC_Ssm1XUpC3II9g7RfpYEYggVWXgz0cg4SM2kao2sZ5IZVGn3_Nr1PzXhROc3rIWnX3wxtssGSuLYro8I9BMqe6Zg6VVlTazO0ox9oZlk/s640/IMG_2940.JPG" width="358" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I gave the dogs a lot of breaks on this gorgeous spring day. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhLGDvV6aUu6Cdh6EZCYk-vWRnec-Cvro0u_9_SOxufLYKNKIFkwQzfCR8IZJA0RE2JKXf1Xo-V957RiPwfkGrGR50aVmypuzXWxFehJVSchmo_z7XrZbKOk0wXk6MU1e_05MJbdJ0KAs/s1600/IMG_2948.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhLGDvV6aUu6Cdh6EZCYk-vWRnec-Cvro0u_9_SOxufLYKNKIFkwQzfCR8IZJA0RE2JKXf1Xo-V957RiPwfkGrGR50aVmypuzXWxFehJVSchmo_z7XrZbKOk0wXk6MU1e_05MJbdJ0KAs/s640/IMG_2948.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mini Lou & Raspy.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh254uxJ5IAcGrtEqOqy8-KZ0swpcR_kamdX0sgfyxcsh1DtXF8MchoynNmS7zVmpigxQTRw8hQCC82jOPy3lRAH_DuM0g9kZpFIexjPahjgRr-k5DiXhFIHH-PhsOyATvt8-ka8aepjzg/s1600/IMG_2949.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh254uxJ5IAcGrtEqOqy8-KZ0swpcR_kamdX0sgfyxcsh1DtXF8MchoynNmS7zVmpigxQTRw8hQCC82jOPy3lRAH_DuM0g9kZpFIexjPahjgRr-k5DiXhFIHH-PhsOyATvt8-ka8aepjzg/s640/IMG_2949.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Fly & Princess.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIRUmrfAn4PxIm0B7FNeqCcvB92ygCFEIO8Uet8VCoYTU-Ho6LmaKVGIwhbcg7GbCNUXGAs9nCpdui7aKrjYnDonS1BPAxj1MKHpD2SPnkBBgSUqozy30xQubvbbiSImNbxMfKgglFjWI/s1600/IMG_2952.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIRUmrfAn4PxIm0B7FNeqCcvB92ygCFEIO8Uet8VCoYTU-Ho6LmaKVGIwhbcg7GbCNUXGAs9nCpdui7aKrjYnDonS1BPAxj1MKHpD2SPnkBBgSUqozy30xQubvbbiSImNbxMfKgglFjWI/s640/IMG_2952.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Goofy & Hilary</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSAJrFXv01dqIp-LJqgLBa_NmdzmjvK7lAuvX99_41CbVvonnH7N9D1ynX6RIpdBZFfOuoYEyQ9zolSH7ELBgOYqC9sn2Ho2ybkx38Pz5GExYJXvZ7NxYGFIFR1weX-nPdEawvvijTgyY/s1600/IMG_2955.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSAJrFXv01dqIp-LJqgLBa_NmdzmjvK7lAuvX99_41CbVvonnH7N9D1ynX6RIpdBZFfOuoYEyQ9zolSH7ELBgOYqC9sn2Ho2ybkx38Pz5GExYJXvZ7NxYGFIFR1weX-nPdEawvvijTgyY/s640/IMG_2955.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghaGyeoBVV6cnm0sZqXG-qB_xjGAnXPKpikbMI7WFK9IE3Qpf6OJ21adf2pJYk3z9j3EWafhzBn6AxIJPVMRN3fzzvbr9CCPd3oJjV_-amHYwf7a-LqO90DCzxjJPIEEjb9TYySi6CVZI/s1600/IMG_2957.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghaGyeoBVV6cnm0sZqXG-qB_xjGAnXPKpikbMI7WFK9IE3Qpf6OJ21adf2pJYk3z9j3EWafhzBn6AxIJPVMRN3fzzvbr9CCPd3oJjV_-amHYwf7a-LqO90DCzxjJPIEEjb9TYySi6CVZI/s640/IMG_2957.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-TZ41WNJRyXVyjuu9YgDh2kZVaASQf3L01j871n9u_UBfK9o97mMXMBLAI73NHXAZMDjljvFJs5V4zS_mqnGqham4yYG96IkGjDeQNKdRsFFTZDsYUoJoxhuTaHms3w6W9VMsQ574Drk/s1600/IMG_2958.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-TZ41WNJRyXVyjuu9YgDh2kZVaASQf3L01j871n9u_UBfK9o97mMXMBLAI73NHXAZMDjljvFJs5V4zS_mqnGqham4yYG96IkGjDeQNKdRsFFTZDsYUoJoxhuTaHms3w6W9VMsQ574Drk/s640/IMG_2958.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3b8rlCFOki53Hf94DNdmw7_CGmrL53pZY7G5FExzieuEBzDWH90bgLu3rr85GO-xB_9-pJrwlC0KqXIhCYUbPRFOo_KUlKrA0PDNC_P1wJ-PeejGjXZHKncCenXa1HGcQTG3ZFmRHrYM/s1600/IMG_2980.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3b8rlCFOki53Hf94DNdmw7_CGmrL53pZY7G5FExzieuEBzDWH90bgLu3rr85GO-xB_9-pJrwlC0KqXIhCYUbPRFOo_KUlKrA0PDNC_P1wJ-PeejGjXZHKncCenXa1HGcQTG3ZFmRHrYM/s640/IMG_2980.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sunset over the Yukon River; Ruby, AK. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB5oJxsKk0c_SQ5Ufe676LthsOQ5VaNbVr53MLwOewuP1BQe-Ojsi9VBfiPj8ww_ggc0FV9bTIa8E36r1vyxWg_CeXRBZGLx3oxIh_bDeHC4xsdd8MDjtJjqbXNpbdUxF4HdCU4bG6Kcg/s1600/IMG_2982.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB5oJxsKk0c_SQ5Ufe676LthsOQ5VaNbVr53MLwOewuP1BQe-Ojsi9VBfiPj8ww_ggc0FV9bTIa8E36r1vyxWg_CeXRBZGLx3oxIh_bDeHC4xsdd8MDjtJjqbXNpbdUxF4HdCU4bG6Kcg/s640/IMG_2982.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I love cold frosty mornings on the Yukon River. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLPayDtgUE0OPc2CaIZgkMhTJYGx4mslXo9mTEi0SrteGC1htnvkJ5wjJ9RMbRT28wb05S7bs7Zjm1d9c5_5wrNPg6D47Y313bbxIFFREm61BVa2-hCTdkeZXEUZeE3EwjO0NRU4OZiww/s1600/IMG_2985.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLPayDtgUE0OPc2CaIZgkMhTJYGx4mslXo9mTEi0SrteGC1htnvkJ5wjJ9RMbRT28wb05S7bs7Zjm1d9c5_5wrNPg6D47Y313bbxIFFREm61BVa2-hCTdkeZXEUZeE3EwjO0NRU4OZiww/s640/IMG_2985.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sunrise on the Yukon River.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPUydAvY8EdLs8Sk40eXr2_d1lnrbE9pmGFNbL3z8OkgR5ltM5wwYGHAO1eldEKy0woBCe536Z4croVZ6Jc9sfrWmFIc2BBmc6rojNY83iC_jWf20jvX1ph6nrfoCsPgeEUR0wyb1eBKQ/s1600/IMG_2997.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPUydAvY8EdLs8Sk40eXr2_d1lnrbE9pmGFNbL3z8OkgR5ltM5wwYGHAO1eldEKy0woBCe536Z4croVZ6Jc9sfrWmFIc2BBmc6rojNY83iC_jWf20jvX1ph6nrfoCsPgeEUR0wyb1eBKQ/s640/IMG_2997.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">We took an alternate route from Galena to Nulato that had us crossing long swamps and following many windy sloughs. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsXe4p5W-0S8hezUnf23WlSMLG-TeWU5n2HciZ_AN6rMG1GVONEYG1QEvSQdCWcSU55AhPuZgPPMi_zUwOzLFqx4iXE04FJOw7Eu-BQaB2mh_ZN8tOYMY1lwsgpPgGwazZhbw3Qy8fOmQ/s1600/IMG_3001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsXe4p5W-0S8hezUnf23WlSMLG-TeWU5n2HciZ_AN6rMG1GVONEYG1QEvSQdCWcSU55AhPuZgPPMi_zUwOzLFqx4iXE04FJOw7Eu-BQaB2mh_ZN8tOYMY1lwsgpPgGwazZhbw3Qy8fOmQ/s640/IMG_3001.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">^^ Windy sloughs.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWF0tfXEjSHSaM11cOjnQ8Pp3JrD6uyAEiR4lxgQPW3o25PjNKwYkQC9eqQb7QYLheW9Jb1hibB33L6uMWC1C93uLnfRb3x9Q_Qk6U_ZIMhOMyyB9Fcn4nr4c0kmQIa-wV4giCMR4I6XY/s1600/IMG_3002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWF0tfXEjSHSaM11cOjnQ8Pp3JrD6uyAEiR4lxgQPW3o25PjNKwYkQC9eqQb7QYLheW9Jb1hibB33L6uMWC1C93uLnfRb3x9Q_Qk6U_ZIMhOMyyB9Fcn4nr4c0kmQIa-wV4giCMR4I6XY/s640/IMG_3002.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6JTaNMV23YkG3TCRDNAcb8mZ6SM57mHq3UPRMx7OwshpfhsmzCc6Uwm9tWq66TXawSyVZ_lC_85QwbHWibj6B2dPqrmqEO56-E9qAa8cuWpskRSlukhJf_jCl4kIpEWP7XkSRdsVnYR0/s1600/IMG_3006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6JTaNMV23YkG3TCRDNAcb8mZ6SM57mHq3UPRMx7OwshpfhsmzCc6Uwm9tWq66TXawSyVZ_lC_85QwbHWibj6B2dPqrmqEO56-E9qAa8cuWpskRSlukhJf_jCl4kIpEWP7XkSRdsVnYR0/s640/IMG_3006.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYOu4KkGhCPtTHaTr1wa9yacgyUi509sj26RGpYMnMbdX-DZjJ0PfxorB5KHdSZHHUxGJZOIAFlBOLZbV75V3RRfbFLH0n6mDDRxGBL-Em_F0-O7CM8QMla3bvYHKMCNWXTRHWnJ1eXRE/s1600/IMG_3016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYOu4KkGhCPtTHaTr1wa9yacgyUi509sj26RGpYMnMbdX-DZjJ0PfxorB5KHdSZHHUxGJZOIAFlBOLZbV75V3RRfbFLH0n6mDDRxGBL-Em_F0-O7CM8QMla3bvYHKMCNWXTRHWnJ1eXRE/s640/IMG_3016.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Approaching the landmark bluff that signals our exit from the sloughs of Koyukuk country back to the main thread of the Yukon River. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0TihOPuJAIm_mS_opHD0FKiJOBKpIQwl08FCSZcJ5ax3MgCrDxzr8E_TyBWFfvmf8wjQK3LgcHPJBI8uH3uAz5Oa5HsO7bmHgPf5mylUAjjii-ro-vwuPmDI_ht2tgN-VrUwm9EzUBRU/s1600/IMG_3021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0TihOPuJAIm_mS_opHD0FKiJOBKpIQwl08FCSZcJ5ax3MgCrDxzr8E_TyBWFfvmf8wjQK3LgcHPJBI8uH3uAz5Oa5HsO7bmHgPf5mylUAjjii-ro-vwuPmDI_ht2tgN-VrUwm9EzUBRU/s640/IMG_3021.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Crossing deep clear ice, many many feet thick. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYFoMHiNr7P8WFLbC4GiLGsxXVAot_lwZpdTNlfNN6I8WopAY0OQzu_ahMWzCmSb72x3I8RzYAUUW32yo3SW2WAJSBCh-B59f1an1-disnISsjHS0jnspyRUuPB08Bgeg28Z_RFolmc4U/s1600/IMG_3024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYFoMHiNr7P8WFLbC4GiLGsxXVAot_lwZpdTNlfNN6I8WopAY0OQzu_ahMWzCmSb72x3I8RzYAUUW32yo3SW2WAJSBCh-B59f1an1-disnISsjHS0jnspyRUuPB08Bgeg28Z_RFolmc4U/s640/IMG_3024.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">River ice reflecting the rosy soft glow of the setting sun.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy3c1uWYGa59mv9WEOy2MKUZgfVz6qbIQ5zHYlDLWr6jIcyB41xgSArJkQbhDkTIhvPwf4ohyphenhyphenpZhwz84axlLzcY1lZTk3y_OGdBLYxlqsyryPVvOERz320IQEaBj61PxOFziJ2bwGVF9M/s1600/IMG_3029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy3c1uWYGa59mv9WEOy2MKUZgfVz6qbIQ5zHYlDLWr6jIcyB41xgSArJkQbhDkTIhvPwf4ohyphenhyphenpZhwz84axlLzcY1lZTk3y_OGdBLYxlqsyryPVvOERz320IQEaBj61PxOFziJ2bwGVF9M/s640/IMG_3029.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The team in Nulato. I learned about the snowmachine attacks on Jeff & Aliy in Galena & leaving there, felt a level of discomfort & vulnerability that I have never felt before. I was relieved when darkness fell & I could make out the glint of a headlight behind me on the river. It was unnerving traveling alone. That being said, I have never felt anything but welcome in Nulato -- the community has been incredibly hospitable to my team & I. The kindness (and moose stew) I have encountered there the last 2 races informed my decision to take my 8 hour Yukon River layover in Nulato. Which turned into a 10 hour layover because I overslept. Although offered a wake-up call from checkpoint volunteers, I was so confident in my iPod nano alarm system that I gave them a time I thought I would be leaving the checkpoint. My earbuds fell out & I didn't hear the alarm. Another lesson learned the hard way. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNv_Yp_5sUYhh9QUHQhXIGpHexQGgHhEPKw9UxL3WhxtAPStkdguaCi3wcEiGyzuZ8p_22RxjuCdw_yNYwqPi7It3WyQ25dqKhpI9lAMt7jyzoO5EPqOx3YtNP94gPyjKuad-G_sKMvTg/s1600/IMG_3030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNv_Yp_5sUYhh9QUHQhXIGpHexQGgHhEPKw9UxL3WhxtAPStkdguaCi3wcEiGyzuZ8p_22RxjuCdw_yNYwqPi7It3WyQ25dqKhpI9lAMt7jyzoO5EPqOx3YtNP94gPyjKuad-G_sKMvTg/s640/IMG_3030.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">Raspy, Orro & Mini Lu.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1xahT8xuJ42u9kiGoYpkY4bFwZhW5LkLd3rePFJxC_T1varCcgte0U_S1Ac1KNxzF2AGKZQi2-1Ehk14gHnuxoYJZ5ypKQVotmMrIVOSDPReVPuMFxnncttMsb5fwELSH5HM898M27dc/s1600/IMG_3033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1xahT8xuJ42u9kiGoYpkY4bFwZhW5LkLd3rePFJxC_T1varCcgte0U_S1Ac1KNxzF2AGKZQi2-1Ehk14gHnuxoYJZ5ypKQVotmMrIVOSDPReVPuMFxnncttMsb5fwELSH5HM898M27dc/s640/IMG_3033.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">Yukon River Traffic Jam. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu4bB8eUM0vNQxHY7pXVp9BkinLdFHI7GjZXubXVSVYoFMkJsVsQHR-fXF5KyWmgoxrhvRO_OIHIQ6vS5wzBKNKJHHhBtjMj956Kb8mPUkQdDAdpR0H4JxV9aeOdxqC4t1bUwdtYb68mA/s1600/IMG_3034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu4bB8eUM0vNQxHY7pXVp9BkinLdFHI7GjZXubXVSVYoFMkJsVsQHR-fXF5KyWmgoxrhvRO_OIHIQ6vS5wzBKNKJHHhBtjMj956Kb8mPUkQdDAdpR0H4JxV9aeOdxqC4t1bUwdtYb68mA/s640/IMG_3034.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Love river travel. I see the Yukon Quest in my future ! </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk1xJBWfvZqwyBgVkWzKyw-4jIL1dHtoMxocujYnucY0FBnMUke_02yiM1-cD-P9pQGSFFNXo5PZ5ImEAo01fxTfqnJw0Je8s_p77Adt3A85drM9ogFkRMLCkNkGuVGuwgSQgSU0ubC1Y/s1600/IMG_3037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk1xJBWfvZqwyBgVkWzKyw-4jIL1dHtoMxocujYnucY0FBnMUke_02yiM1-cD-P9pQGSFFNXo5PZ5ImEAo01fxTfqnJw0Je8s_p77Adt3A85drM9ogFkRMLCkNkGuVGuwgSQgSU0ubC1Y/s640/IMG_3037.JPG" width="358" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sparkles on the snow... sunny day. ...Not too sleepy. Love it. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5uxC0KtG5MPol9_U_CjHMwl21NeTn5bxTELo9Y8qsL5oOo80c1gz4xOw-WHn6aaD_sjHVDJzDnmCvnA-Cvaj8VjNFT1MUTLanaYnwsbaBhyphenhyphen98cVsbkz9iGOEU8J7qiOCvulWMI_Kqox8/s1600/IMG_3041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5uxC0KtG5MPol9_U_CjHMwl21NeTn5bxTELo9Y8qsL5oOo80c1gz4xOw-WHn6aaD_sjHVDJzDnmCvnA-Cvaj8VjNFT1MUTLanaYnwsbaBhyphenhyphen98cVsbkz9iGOEU8J7qiOCvulWMI_Kqox8/s640/IMG_3041.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Little ice jumbles.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoHn0L0z22Yoht5hqUiYHPP54hy_BRX0enXlwsrnLgrszh5wlXgOye0X0pJt5K2gAvf-waU5qGenbogagmnPsANN7VQHbE1wpDF1jW_6GIHtEUTJu3sr310a_C9ICmlHG0P6gETgeU_rM/s1600/IMG_3043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoHn0L0z22Yoht5hqUiYHPP54hy_BRX0enXlwsrnLgrszh5wlXgOye0X0pJt5K2gAvf-waU5qGenbogagmnPsANN7VQHbE1wpDF1jW_6GIHtEUTJu3sr310a_C9ICmlHG0P6gETgeU_rM/s640/IMG_3043.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Approaching Kaltag, grooving to FM Belfast. My first time to Kaltag during daylight hours. I had no idea there were so many gorgeous mountains surrounding the village! </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Lisbethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06066513849980376169noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488210705343555399.post-25541497665475219572016-07-17T02:02:00.001-08:002016-07-17T12:27:54.940-08:00Iditarod 2016: Willow to Takotna<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho1MAPsCHSDgdqaPPVDEoEEbzHSM-1LxVnDL-vEf27C0sKx0o_tIfo2u8mgYXKWDI5U6j-qTlzm8ltsQh8nh4AVEUCLv9a_cToUV_xTlIdFJ3fvUSeST1aBm5kNqyZC9LWIIvdVqjzzbk/s1600/IMG_2552.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho1MAPsCHSDgdqaPPVDEoEEbzHSM-1LxVnDL-vEf27C0sKx0o_tIfo2u8mgYXKWDI5U6j-qTlzm8ltsQh8nh4AVEUCLv9a_cToUV_xTlIdFJ3fvUSeST1aBm5kNqyZC9LWIIvdVqjzzbk/s640/IMG_2552.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Cruising on the Susitna River.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisBD83n34h6al4CHLAcsWS_KaN-g8QVmHJT3kzKrSH44KgaBD2yck13goeD4ykjmisRsBtbfGnGqy6WisUVAqfYJnOQ1-TRKbZJA9x3Hh2VHlFPoj_BGW_ijZ_LFnvL_RIh03HmQEpV6Y/s1600/IMG_2555.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisBD83n34h6al4CHLAcsWS_KaN-g8QVmHJT3kzKrSH44KgaBD2yck13goeD4ykjmisRsBtbfGnGqy6WisUVAqfYJnOQ1-TRKbZJA9x3Hh2VHlFPoj_BGW_ijZ_LFnvL_RIh03HmQEpV6Y/s640/IMG_2555.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">At my first camp on the river, I found a surprise in my straw bag! Thanks Mom ! </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0SF4lnDw1n5UjMv3HhesiQdE4uAnv_mui4KnugkZ1o6I5Wl6_-5FAFXXH27AvZNIem_iNpt_7rjcbiejVWG5A6-4rUUC4UwtJHfu2ohz8mjtLWwFFl5WZdPIIAhx11XKPRs3YDiWfZBE/s1600/IMG_2561.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0SF4lnDw1n5UjMv3HhesiQdE4uAnv_mui4KnugkZ1o6I5Wl6_-5FAFXXH27AvZNIem_iNpt_7rjcbiejVWG5A6-4rUUC4UwtJHfu2ohz8mjtLWwFFl5WZdPIIAhx11XKPRs3YDiWfZBE/s640/IMG_2561.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Over bog and meadow to Finger Lake. I wanted to get the dogs into a regular run/rest schedule right away, so I split my runs into roughly 40 mile segments and blew through the first four checkpoints (Yenta, Skwentna, Finger Lake & Rainy Pass) in favor of camping on the trail.</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_OFEhMv2nPy1HM8yiJntUa7NtqjLypz2kwDkDyAXQqs-l1wpzMnBFMqt-ubiLwxJP2G4d3quNVE4L6I8eW8xJUPIQqNzS1pXWvJVdTH0uMI17UvsnYhvo-esZRw27CFjf4hsyTETprd0/s1600/IMG_2563.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_OFEhMv2nPy1HM8yiJntUa7NtqjLypz2kwDkDyAXQqs-l1wpzMnBFMqt-ubiLwxJP2G4d3quNVE4L6I8eW8xJUPIQqNzS1pXWvJVdTH0uMI17UvsnYhvo-esZRw27CFjf4hsyTETprd0/s640/IMG_2563.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sundog.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnLSDlIQiVUVcPk8jAbiUrdf5tXe5KIFFPFURhe2aUwWuewwfDcHRmdXIvhd9r1McvAxRGN5wgupKOhYtfms1qDVtjUkAl0ix9To_22HAvNqkZBzuBVHhnjvsKz5p77WFJfQli2G2ethI/s1600/IMG_2566.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnLSDlIQiVUVcPk8jAbiUrdf5tXe5KIFFPFURhe2aUwWuewwfDcHRmdXIvhd9r1McvAxRGN5wgupKOhYtfms1qDVtjUkAl0ix9To_22HAvNqkZBzuBVHhnjvsKz5p77WFJfQli2G2ethI/s640/IMG_2566.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">In the midst of the Alaska Range, heading toward the infamous Happy River Steps</span>. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZJsFOONquT7FzBaRiwB6wSkq7OlKYWszVPW9gNYJY3iv3T-sckqLfv9DPE55RWPd0shKqOYlotyF3WQcJRI-B4JLawe55srFOqAqSHf5OyrfgzcgLp14dxmW8cs8NqRNYcU_l2QUm7tg/s1600/IMG_2568.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZJsFOONquT7FzBaRiwB6wSkq7OlKYWszVPW9gNYJY3iv3T-sckqLfv9DPE55RWPd0shKqOYlotyF3WQcJRI-B4JLawe55srFOqAqSHf5OyrfgzcgLp14dxmW8cs8NqRNYcU_l2QUm7tg/s640/IMG_2568.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Raspy & Goofy camping on the Happy River at the bottom of the Steps.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0zajJtYuy_8gCbwPq06e9EC6GB1qxpznZ67YNkOc93JiK8phhHuaiXHm_1gIGuh6pcX6prKTr9JM8bBTD6mH801o1B8d2FZ7iwd-h_u6Uxhh-5it4BCGRoX1LYcK5-sKILGvKR5JYZ68/s1600/IMG_2570.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0zajJtYuy_8gCbwPq06e9EC6GB1qxpznZ67YNkOc93JiK8phhHuaiXHm_1gIGuh6pcX6prKTr9JM8bBTD6mH801o1B8d2FZ7iwd-h_u6Uxhh-5it4BCGRoX1LYcK5-sKILGvKR5JYZ68/s640/IMG_2570.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">It was fun to chill here and watch teams attack the steep ascent up the bank off the river. If you look to the right of the front of the team, you can see a smear of dirt on the river bank. This is the trail. It heads straight up and then switchbacks up to a steep gulch that takes you back into the hills. It was interesting to see the different levels of power and training between teams.</span> </div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE3yDBVPF_KQCM61j1dru5OuKVHxX_ImAWNqYzW15w-Qm8zWwv2Tj1vWXusvAp6AFXHpOUgIgLihjpqkAhCK-6YF0E9I3ALfJMi9O54RPlFE8s40kdV3VfW3KQ4cnt0dGFoV7YelJ60qU/s1600/IMG_2571.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE3yDBVPF_KQCM61j1dru5OuKVHxX_ImAWNqYzW15w-Qm8zWwv2Tj1vWXusvAp6AFXHpOUgIgLihjpqkAhCK-6YF0E9I3ALfJMi9O54RPlFE8s40kdV3VfW3KQ4cnt0dGFoV7YelJ60qU/s640/IMG_2571.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Snoozing dogs, amazing scenery. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpQebewbie5wlm7wWEcvnrM7p4z_qc7V9nWwiKEMNScs9MtjftC1pyE-W6470gmZPyRqHWr0v6VCvZcFZ8LCLqVYrEMVpMpUTB0cMRrdSQFPJB4I7OyJblY_qEx2QWR_kCN_0oqkX_DTM/s1600/IMG_2584.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpQebewbie5wlm7wWEcvnrM7p4z_qc7V9nWwiKEMNScs9MtjftC1pyE-W6470gmZPyRqHWr0v6VCvZcFZ8LCLqVYrEMVpMpUTB0cMRrdSQFPJB4I7OyJblY_qEx2QWR_kCN_0oqkX_DTM/s640/IMG_2584.JPG" width="358" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Twisty, humpy trail in the mountains. The section to Rainy Pass was the section I was most worried about pre-race. In 2014, this was the only section of trail that beat me black and blue. It was full of stumps and icy sidehills. Fortunately, this year there was lots of snow to cushion the trail and lots of teams still behind me, so the trail wasn't as rutted out as it could have been.</span> </div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjglGNjPu4vN3iZXPcPuNwcPkLLS3wyqnij_tr9uisNopsLdKL-xMHRPjNQJvjDruJ_Otjj9i_p5mATAvjnCS-FeawWIZ5y9J09mfJTpkRgf9M5Bsy2IVNbiOCntZV_82oJCXOWvP1DNlc/s1600/IMG_2596.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjglGNjPu4vN3iZXPcPuNwcPkLLS3wyqnij_tr9uisNopsLdKL-xMHRPjNQJvjDruJ_Otjj9i_p5mATAvjnCS-FeawWIZ5y9J09mfJTpkRgf9M5Bsy2IVNbiOCntZV_82oJCXOWvP1DNlc/s640/IMG_2596.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Leaving Rohn. We traveled from Rainy Pass to Rohn in the dark this year. There were quite a few challenges in this short 35 mile section. First was an open creek that created a messy backlog of teams. The snow was churned up and hooks would not hold in the soft snow. Mushers took turns leading each other's teams over the knee-deep creek. I was very happy to have invested in the tall Neos overboots with built in gators. I didn't get wet at all. Unfortunately, not everyone fared as well as I did. I know of at least one musher who had to run in soaked mukluks for another couple hundred miles before they found a new pair of boots in their drop bags. If the weather had turned cold, this could have been very dangerous. This just as easily could have been me, so I always carry an extra pair of boots and/or liners just in case. The dogs didn't get wet; they have such thick coats they were able to roll around in the snow & shake off any extra water. The water didn't penetrate their undercoats. Anyone who has tried to give a Siberian Husky a bath can understand this. Further down the trail, there were some sketchy snow bridges but we luckily managed to navigate them without issue. Sure made my heart race, though.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkwXwzjwjhkDK7nnmBGJ8aSlUfkdswxYM47NdY_VQdYqmR8LmtFNFfTNE6b7lkFRBZ_N2rAVvGKavCYXIXfuH4kU1Afm2gVrvsiisDAeXizkJJNDgyseYfeLTTVmXJM8op4j7rT_GDPhE/s1600/IMG_2598.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkwXwzjwjhkDK7nnmBGJ8aSlUfkdswxYM47NdY_VQdYqmR8LmtFNFfTNE6b7lkFRBZ_N2rAVvGKavCYXIXfuH4kU1Afm2gVrvsiisDAeXizkJJNDgyseYfeLTTVmXJM8op4j7rT_GDPhE/s640/IMG_2598.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small; text-align: justify;">Still on the Tatina River out of Rohn. The Gorge was nowhere near as bad as in 2014, but short sections were still really awful. I was really apprehensive about the steep drop-off down to Dalzell Creek. Two years ago, this is where all traces of snow disappeared, Karen Ramstead hurt her hand & several mushers had brake bars ripped off. This year, the decent was no problem. Amazing what a little snow can do. The creek was another matter. Earlier in the winter, creek levels had dropped and subsequently so had the ice, leaving ten foot plus drop-offs. The trail breakers had done a lot of work constructing walls of brush meant to keep teams from sliding around corners, off edges and into the creek, so it felt pretty safe. The dogs were moving well and we were cruising through the canyon. I even went so far to think, "hey, this is actually kind of fun." No sooner had I thought that, my headlamp illuminated a huge hole in front of the team and I watched my lead dog Ripp leap to the side to avoid it and in the same movement get flung back into the swing dogs. I jammed my ice hook into the glare ice of the creek and ran up to see if he was ok -- what the heck had happened? The best I can guess is that the line got slack as he hesitated and then caught on the jagged edge of the ice, flinging him back into the team as he tried to vault forward. There were no brush guards on this edge, it had obviously dropped off into the creek after the trail crew had come through. After that, I bumped my headlight up to its next highest setting and held on extra extra tight. I couldn't wait to get out of there and was relieved to drop onto the ice of the Tatina River. </span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFi-Dr4UGgC6XGHDRjbZKFHPgLt6YjHb7_2GQPDWCXtsbagsVtok6B3i3lDRyQg6EiXbliqwu-KaPdpNDKmvVTu52WpnYYuZkZBu9olfxyEF0GuEA1jsZdGrHe4cizZGZhRfG4f-xt77c/s1600/IMG_2645.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFi-Dr4UGgC6XGHDRjbZKFHPgLt6YjHb7_2GQPDWCXtsbagsVtok6B3i3lDRyQg6EiXbliqwu-KaPdpNDKmvVTu52WpnYYuZkZBu9olfxyEF0GuEA1jsZdGrHe4cizZGZhRfG4f-xt77c/s640/IMG_2645.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Not much snow out of Rohn. I overslept at the checkpoint, so the dogs got a total of 7 hours rest. We ripped out of the checkpoint & I had a really hard time keeping the dogs under 10 miles per hour. Wow, I thought, 7 hours really did them good !! Turns out, we were chasing a buffalo.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6zQYnTkVrDgcDXO7fIJEJvsohYNgkGKDW-iSmksX4bprJb9TymHPqNOggkd7QNh_j-BlwpuN05J7cSYGA4AWboJlDdtdmwYtGxCfAWbKV3K8oL12UXnAdgSuiNeeqWDRdT2xYe2ck8Wc/s1600/IMG_2611.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6zQYnTkVrDgcDXO7fIJEJvsohYNgkGKDW-iSmksX4bprJb9TymHPqNOggkd7QNh_j-BlwpuN05J7cSYGA4AWboJlDdtdmwYtGxCfAWbKV3K8oL12UXnAdgSuiNeeqWDRdT2xYe2ck8Wc/s640/IMG_2611.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">We didn't see the buffalo, but later I heard reports that several teams in front and behind of us had chased one down the trail in the same area. Kristin Knight Pace even ran into one! Literally !</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9H9jlizc88u5SGgx4LH6fQ0dUla4bF-S7AQ2LlZtIwget91JUYuBHDLj2asJ9ySeuBa-aoKUUWEfnbyopBL9FkDEOuEvhaR797Af881njY0KYTANxRODZFRAqq_R0EALSJrY1DUQA7Gs/s1600/IMG_2629.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9H9jlizc88u5SGgx4LH6fQ0dUla4bF-S7AQ2LlZtIwget91JUYuBHDLj2asJ9ySeuBa-aoKUUWEfnbyopBL9FkDEOuEvhaR797Af881njY0KYTANxRODZFRAqq_R0EALSJrY1DUQA7Gs/s640/IMG_2629.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mini Lu in single lead. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihjt-Qg3S1kjAEbCe8mC0nIFYVbWzSARZ-doOlCDzxx5V0GVOxAt_Tbc4CVl3SFu_0t0CUq1sWdWBiTMDGHU55hwPH-WoS3UtDS-JRzfqaDT_XubIk8Ffst80Sqwuf4qMuzH7DRBm-Vyo/s1600/IMG_2639.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihjt-Qg3S1kjAEbCe8mC0nIFYVbWzSARZ-doOlCDzxx5V0GVOxAt_Tbc4CVl3SFu_0t0CUq1sWdWBiTMDGHU55hwPH-WoS3UtDS-JRzfqaDT_XubIk8Ffst80Sqwuf4qMuzH7DRBm-Vyo/s640/IMG_2639.JPG" width="358" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Dusty....</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBbC2Lx3Aq8uyyzpNziCXfelZIT1ClaWcObA2wP4kuSdsD61QaP_d-VV_1GHYjQJRLYd-JSCkmzSm8bcMnC0HDWm65sZxwyF3IPA3jm4mt-MEZWusjU7TGg7aQYwK5ojw3oSBqke4V_IU/s1600/IMG_2642.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBbC2Lx3Aq8uyyzpNziCXfelZIT1ClaWcObA2wP4kuSdsD61QaP_d-VV_1GHYjQJRLYd-JSCkmzSm8bcMnC0HDWm65sZxwyF3IPA3jm4mt-MEZWusjU7TGg7aQYwK5ojw3oSBqke4V_IU/s640/IMG_2642.JPG" width="358" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">...Dusty...</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFoI3ujyDkQUlEilj_tcPvfBah2J4y4c3DNvzW7a2VveReI42QSSeEx8RurErhkvcy-nK3wOPZRVzSO8Nhh05nweYfJiawGo9hBt6YZcx_PleVj8MMQHxb_EZ9ArrOH8yXRo_iSd4dxF0/s1600/IMG_2646.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFoI3ujyDkQUlEilj_tcPvfBah2J4y4c3DNvzW7a2VveReI42QSSeEx8RurErhkvcy-nK3wOPZRVzSO8Nhh05nweYfJiawGo9hBt6YZcx_PleVj8MMQHxb_EZ9ArrOH8yXRo_iSd4dxF0/s640/IMG_2646.JPG" width="358" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">...Dusty !</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz1lwbfr7M_dRzJofVj4kN4MTkauKBi5ZrJvcSjvGw_xSvP6JsLHbGQd2TeKyLLOUKBAHNrwqELKhUml8BGBWJlvx7nP61eyDqH4Y_HjqgUjhDq4w7eBqkRYw6qK2Wl5oY8B0xcxM8ixY/s1600/IMG_2648.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz1lwbfr7M_dRzJofVj4kN4MTkauKBi5ZrJvcSjvGw_xSvP6JsLHbGQd2TeKyLLOUKBAHNrwqELKhUml8BGBWJlvx7nP61eyDqH4Y_HjqgUjhDq4w7eBqkRYw6qK2Wl5oY8B0xcxM8ixY/s640/IMG_2648.JPG" width="358" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Glacier Re-route. BLM & Iditarod blazed a new trail last summer. This fairly straightforward down-and-up took us right to the top of the Post River glacier [The traditional approach starts at the very bottom of the glacier (a long and steep section of overflow that appears in this area every year) & as I recall, before one got to that point, there were several steep drop offs and twisty downhill turns which I assume are now bypassed with this reroute].</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjswZc_B_JugP2e08w_A94IJp3uIodtWkxAWhDA4JvcFv4IO6pMB3kp2_MZduvALEEAZ5X5UNPmUtRd9gnQMh-0YHEtebxVM47BpgCIwkeVR_nL9VN88ma96jRz8t2_oliBZayLedrZ1TM/s1600/IMG_2654.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjswZc_B_JugP2e08w_A94IJp3uIodtWkxAWhDA4JvcFv4IO6pMB3kp2_MZduvALEEAZ5X5UNPmUtRd9gnQMh-0YHEtebxVM47BpgCIwkeVR_nL9VN88ma96jRz8t2_oliBZayLedrZ1TM/s640/IMG_2654.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mini Lu posing on the tundra at the base of the Post River Glacier. Looked like a good berry year last fall.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihHv2o8lOZFfsfMyoImwWtLOlDcN4WX3GC25kh7ABCYFiFWnz6kPtQGkXMFtCkqzmWLv1G-p8to-R-1M6jJOnmq3zCnDsUxW0cMu2_Yo5KjaEi0DBzys09deJ_ub5iblsCk4QtHG7qCPM/s1600/IMG_2655.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihHv2o8lOZFfsfMyoImwWtLOlDcN4WX3GC25kh7ABCYFiFWnz6kPtQGkXMFtCkqzmWLv1G-p8to-R-1M6jJOnmq3zCnDsUxW0cMu2_Yo5KjaEi0DBzys09deJ_ub5iblsCk4QtHG7qCPM/s640/IMG_2655.JPG" width="358" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">The "big rock" at the top of the Post River Glacier & where we rejoined the traditional route.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYHZJR-UpVHmVjaQWoXwxjTXipt46T6_A19QQWY1Dp_1pxI4E_6cqXGaqNMxq-TlvBE3znXw9XKNKzTyeLTp2zIKEWAw94cLRS6B3lnQPWYcwdoAPNL5V9IFAfd3co8JgZzZBP4iPEwJQ/s1600/IMG_2656.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYHZJR-UpVHmVjaQWoXwxjTXipt46T6_A19QQWY1Dp_1pxI4E_6cqXGaqNMxq-TlvBE3znXw9XKNKzTyeLTp2zIKEWAw94cLRS6B3lnQPWYcwdoAPNL5V9IFAfd3co8JgZzZBP4iPEwJQ/s640/IMG_2656.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Scrabbling over overflow at the top of the glacier.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPOh-mb3WHm_cO2RGOMs5r31DP-3FhGXs1bCuF_jBtDI4P18GgfwR6PYjotYcmE9nghwqCVZXIAcHjHgdXEsN2OP_6wBHm1bE3q8Pz9HvFWRK7dtfDDGyJG9A89l2Ib_EGECsDQpkpyts/s1600/IMG_2660.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPOh-mb3WHm_cO2RGOMs5r31DP-3FhGXs1bCuF_jBtDI4P18GgfwR6PYjotYcmE9nghwqCVZXIAcHjHgdXEsN2OP_6wBHm1bE3q8Pz9HvFWRK7dtfDDGyJG9A89l2Ib_EGECsDQpkpyts/s640/IMG_2660.JPG" width="358" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">The snow disappeared for a few miles after the glacier.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKQwfCh-SKmOrC4JnBv2q9UlKMEkKlc2hOtiokIebU-G2rQSEGMoXsVTosw164b-FnTKOMwyM-4rQV4Sf5kr7PL6GkDNAC8xBxfLvvChuSMJsgIuMWTnYVEHkCD4X4te-Q4D5OXqyDOpM/s1600/IMG_2667.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKQwfCh-SKmOrC4JnBv2q9UlKMEkKlc2hOtiokIebU-G2rQSEGMoXsVTosw164b-FnTKOMwyM-4rQV4Sf5kr7PL6GkDNAC8xBxfLvvChuSMJsgIuMWTnYVEHkCD4X4te-Q4D5OXqyDOpM/s640/IMG_2667.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Pyramid Mountain. In 2014 I traveled this section at night, so the expansive views were all new & exciting. Not to mention the snowless trail; that was exciting too, but not in the same way.</span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8goqHW4E4kByqNEE9nkg7aOpSSyUiRTewrF6ujbVtOVLhK5qfI3rRhXZgB23peZhaGa8sD96HZEhO60aPUr2zlpxU3rEuHS3BW47qMBcP81e_Fyr8hh7BfObZT35LnlLh7m5I1AwoOOY/s1600/IMG_2668.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8goqHW4E4kByqNEE9nkg7aOpSSyUiRTewrF6ujbVtOVLhK5qfI3rRhXZgB23peZhaGa8sD96HZEhO60aPUr2zlpxU3rEuHS3BW47qMBcP81e_Fyr8hh7BfObZT35LnlLh7m5I1AwoOOY/s640/IMG_2668.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYYtPWwHq0IIXb08q9IFWY_wLD1-08URYy-duBSwpQbDLrNyMV7y7Rj9f-c5W9UBUiTdH5XN2BbpSiYl6yBS6hYZeGbcht193s-bQ-lnh469Of8cgkduFhezaFzEAop0OdmNhJC2CHUmw/s1600/IMG_2671.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYYtPWwHq0IIXb08q9IFWY_wLD1-08URYy-duBSwpQbDLrNyMV7y7Rj9f-c5W9UBUiTdH5XN2BbpSiYl6yBS6hYZeGbcht193s-bQ-lnh469Of8cgkduFhezaFzEAop0OdmNhJC2CHUmw/s640/IMG_2671.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Kp5HP6_mx8scvwRbJ-jD2EacxO4bRqmuvqddhWQpogD-Y2Tufjneyh9_fAe41V7ZQMe1VMd36rYVQd6LvnehSpU6VSjHrYzlM57xCVpJzuArYfm_BnzmSB2NKnj7C5zZvUVM_EFOc7o/s1600/IMG_2663.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Kp5HP6_mx8scvwRbJ-jD2EacxO4bRqmuvqddhWQpogD-Y2Tufjneyh9_fAe41V7ZQMe1VMd36rYVQd6LvnehSpU6VSjHrYzlM57xCVpJzuArYfm_BnzmSB2NKnj7C5zZvUVM_EFOc7o/s640/IMG_2663.JPG" width="359" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Selfie of an overheating musher. Running up all these dirt hills in the sun made me disorientated -- I felt like it was summer time & I was trail running. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV_eLURJ4MC2lxus_aC_59CM49IoZ7rjC3z1nDQeKdSFdCeIcvpr_e3CWwggVA0kqNqk_brV4J71F8SjAdqu1rZo9LoZt5052pnSTlVs9pyiwbQajsv8i2msebh4cxVmn5ttlYvdYONCo/s1600/IMG_2674.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV_eLURJ4MC2lxus_aC_59CM49IoZ7rjC3z1nDQeKdSFdCeIcvpr_e3CWwggVA0kqNqk_brV4J71F8SjAdqu1rZo9LoZt5052pnSTlVs9pyiwbQajsv8i2msebh4cxVmn5ttlYvdYONCo/s640/IMG_2674.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP_NJvVntRBhpBblXhyphenhyphen5p2Vm767wo84X12IBGR6DEyqkE9kjqZT3MrfPFTnBvWlK_XKO5mewvgkG2UF1Shc1yv4qkEjqgeJMHhMtxkQYv8mzTVy3riC6w8YBd_ALubidlR3LciORTe7Pk/s1600/IMG_2675.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP_NJvVntRBhpBblXhyphenhyphen5p2Vm767wo84X12IBGR6DEyqkE9kjqZT3MrfPFTnBvWlK_XKO5mewvgkG2UF1Shc1yv4qkEjqgeJMHhMtxkQYv8mzTVy3riC6w8YBd_ALubidlR3LciORTe7Pk/s640/IMG_2675.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYiO2djkEEuOxLCSF8STcGwvW7kIFO4aSMHX3dqq2K6WXbq-_MtXVHN4AawwE7RcnDd3XAuw6GCwiALCA8pFdq8fQ7IjtAxuL9mQvWQl7jMRGNCU2MyjeaX0UjCuoAas9mI6w3n7nEMiw/s1600/IMG_2679.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYiO2djkEEuOxLCSF8STcGwvW7kIFO4aSMHX3dqq2K6WXbq-_MtXVHN4AawwE7RcnDd3XAuw6GCwiALCA8pFdq8fQ7IjtAxuL9mQvWQl7jMRGNCU2MyjeaX0UjCuoAas9mI6w3n7nEMiw/s640/IMG_2679.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz3Edqgl2KMd68gC5pUd71BXj_ENnpneLY5URQNmeZ4iSK0Z-6zGfoxW5GkUA1jpEwNU5dKwARtWckhl820TAJ0uTbHbLHES47nWQUGFlLGCLUc26GvPa5qFlBYLILhUnPVv0nbDeO5bs/s1600/IMG_2682.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz3Edqgl2KMd68gC5pUd71BXj_ENnpneLY5URQNmeZ4iSK0Z-6zGfoxW5GkUA1jpEwNU5dKwARtWckhl820TAJ0uTbHbLHES47nWQUGFlLGCLUc26GvPa5qFlBYLILhUnPVv0nbDeO5bs/s640/IMG_2682.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Snow! </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfOozOkY_trdbe8qv70RP7jw9aUw0CNEgknR9FKX5cJFuEYdlbXnw5AZmBxWxLlKt3K73-cNXY09sSKF1OkJ3jhFFIwuNf0ywhgwDqFGdoEbYguGkT6kdW1R5bI39-QyL4opYWo4_aPfc/s1600/IMG_2683.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfOozOkY_trdbe8qv70RP7jw9aUw0CNEgknR9FKX5cJFuEYdlbXnw5AZmBxWxLlKt3K73-cNXY09sSKF1OkJ3jhFFIwuNf0ywhgwDqFGdoEbYguGkT6kdW1R5bI39-QyL4opYWo4_aPfc/s640/IMG_2683.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizw4t5_3sdE-So11DMuPnXeZi7tmYqHHDqIvK_hg9e6NSSqvKblaQ-gF6j7rCz7LUU4ybKq9d3imircbu78CqSMbXmL21G0wWokucxRdSvqKMxfzMhstQB78vYDn3wLCV6CsK8YIEm7Xk/s1600/IMG_2685.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizw4t5_3sdE-So11DMuPnXeZi7tmYqHHDqIvK_hg9e6NSSqvKblaQ-gF6j7rCz7LUU4ybKq9d3imircbu78CqSMbXmL21G0wWokucxRdSvqKMxfzMhstQB78vYDn3wLCV6CsK8YIEm7Xk/s640/IMG_2685.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwdBI7x-RSwW-pe3ftiaUUW9EuFjFPYZ7wX5AuwSY5fuSXgtnOdyifwF8P-zEgSozOQGaybXcAOEh2FX_4aFFWM5X08HPWUm8hZ5TPJcS4hGgwX5yhsMVXiSi1rC8QJjanC3lfq-PvMIc/s1600/IMG_2696.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwdBI7x-RSwW-pe3ftiaUUW9EuFjFPYZ7wX5AuwSY5fuSXgtnOdyifwF8P-zEgSozOQGaybXcAOEh2FX_4aFFWM5X08HPWUm8hZ5TPJcS4hGgwX5yhsMVXiSi1rC8QJjanC3lfq-PvMIc/s640/IMG_2696.JPG" width="358" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Dogs had a break to eat some snow & a snack. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyMY8PFIU6VvbPHWt5OpZYha40imPRnuBZ8Zj9Yqe1lGB0QODOtYnAQ6zLEJ7-QGaOoYubYZuDdYhoKJFkmnFo0_TlsvwwS92KsnlIPyjkDBvc5HesaE0q5N2MiUQ2RYTPvJ_Pmw8W_EY/s1600/IMG_2716.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyMY8PFIU6VvbPHWt5OpZYha40imPRnuBZ8Zj9Yqe1lGB0QODOtYnAQ6zLEJ7-QGaOoYubYZuDdYhoKJFkmnFo0_TlsvwwS92KsnlIPyjkDBvc5HesaE0q5N2MiUQ2RYTPvJ_Pmw8W_EY/s640/IMG_2716.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Farewell Lakes. Year before last there was a similar skiff of snow on the lakes, but it was fresh & made for extra slippery conditions. By the time we came by, the snow had somewhat bonded to the ice & made for fairly smooth traveling. When I hit the lakes, I remembered the relief I felt in 2014 to finally make it to flat trail that wasn't trying to kill me. I felt similarly this year. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmby1GmjNk4pzguB28Viji7ezaq9T2CJvomGee2Ev2qny_7m_-4IfV1iAAwCE4PDBGH6wr286MAygR8AkAtRAwjBmOKBrYzimtP98olDyamPX_3rk8ucaLvacTIcW3oSSySrREXgF_LK8/s1600/IMG_2718.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmby1GmjNk4pzguB28Viji7ezaq9T2CJvomGee2Ev2qny_7m_-4IfV1iAAwCE4PDBGH6wr286MAygR8AkAtRAwjBmOKBrYzimtP98olDyamPX_3rk8ucaLvacTIcW3oSSySrREXgF_LK8/s640/IMG_2718.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ahhhhh.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdDawyCCQq_pLP7psHO9zNQ-KBRTzzMbRYstzcT1Rm0gaNFhB23Krsnc4ST3v35RAMrVNTTB0kDxYXN4jT8JuCcYx6QI_4wKws2fwOEwReniJrrSfLdHi-wpmp75W7xhzR1mNrjCUL9io/s1600/IMG_2710.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdDawyCCQq_pLP7psHO9zNQ-KBRTzzMbRYstzcT1Rm0gaNFhB23Krsnc4ST3v35RAMrVNTTB0kDxYXN4jT8JuCcYx6QI_4wKws2fwOEwReniJrrSfLdHi-wpmp75W7xhzR1mNrjCUL9io/s640/IMG_2710.JPG" width="358" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">No dirt humps to dump me off my sled ! </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVa9y72jVGNgjk5x9wnNHzJdD8Qeu0MncBaxUgw1szaU7CC0VHU9JnT-REQm9w4fqyEEAmzj4C2hD_KsajdP6iTP-jlFqcogAa8pyk3bzHl1S1eMKZk6-Q7fz2_q1ogEiBLf51sNzAifQ/s1600/IMG_2719.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVa9y72jVGNgjk5x9wnNHzJdD8Qeu0MncBaxUgw1szaU7CC0VHU9JnT-REQm9w4fqyEEAmzj4C2hD_KsajdP6iTP-jlFqcogAa8pyk3bzHl1S1eMKZk6-Q7fz2_q1ogEiBLf51sNzAifQ/s640/IMG_2719.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWg-Pi4xqRQ9AA1wa-leFm2WZ53miusprKKVpzw69CGdyVrQgx13yRdKVyiDFu6F689Nx2HQuvJ62UunA2EME05PHRHNRQCClTmUk43_AUEj1-fqqop3uv1C5bXX6pN91GS0wJFL2ukIM/s1600/IMG_2724.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWg-Pi4xqRQ9AA1wa-leFm2WZ53miusprKKVpzw69CGdyVrQgx13yRdKVyiDFu6F689Nx2HQuvJ62UunA2EME05PHRHNRQCClTmUk43_AUEj1-fqqop3uv1C5bXX6pN91GS0wJFL2ukIM/s640/IMG_2724.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Goofy taking a snooze break in the basket. Goofy was the first dog to display symptoms of a virus that traveled through the entire team during the race. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4jz5WWPJ7BN9sHN2tbmDNDsP6sIHfvZ5vj6iTISvcbk4sQsmnwkEC1VbVNaPPGIz84zwHHPKZhE3kBobuJgyKYu3l15egtG0i4B1T0aFmApZMXshJ0b4CPYHq35qCDSyKyFJxbYc5r24/s1600/IMG_2734.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4jz5WWPJ7BN9sHN2tbmDNDsP6sIHfvZ5vj6iTISvcbk4sQsmnwkEC1VbVNaPPGIz84zwHHPKZhE3kBobuJgyKYu3l15egtG0i4B1T0aFmApZMXshJ0b4CPYHq35qCDSyKyFJxbYc5r24/s640/IMG_2734.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Setting up a camp spot a few miles past Tin Creek. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlub3UVOJbNf5JGy4YS3NnEroQrZ-q-23lPep1e1rSIZH3LT3MZbUy8G0NhF7aDnEXbW-vOb2rh6VGzY5qpnrj3x8T1CSpwDKS1sIhRDwqekUu-qJ6367PuJm5Z-TXS2lSHgScDf9iS7E/s1600/IMG_2739.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlub3UVOJbNf5JGy4YS3NnEroQrZ-q-23lPep1e1rSIZH3LT3MZbUy8G0NhF7aDnEXbW-vOb2rh6VGzY5qpnrj3x8T1CSpwDKS1sIhRDwqekUu-qJ6367PuJm5Z-TXS2lSHgScDf9iS7E/s640/IMG_2739.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Runner plastic ripped up from 40 miles of dirt & rocks. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi9qyNMgCNed4rRCtqskrcfJLJiqcjJIzRh3JgSIteN5JZ40vIhgCdKHnT7AYZ9dQAVulfi92VA7CxuLyra2rjivsRTmXe4Mk4PH0ddlJeWW4Xi4ma0jidDbhA3UibR87s7_qeFRwI054/s1600/IMG_2740.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi9qyNMgCNed4rRCtqskrcfJLJiqcjJIzRh3JgSIteN5JZ40vIhgCdKHnT7AYZ9dQAVulfi92VA7CxuLyra2rjivsRTmXe4Mk4PH0ddlJeWW4Xi4ma0jidDbhA3UibR87s7_qeFRwI054/s640/IMG_2740.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">**Fangirl alert** Camping "with" LARS MONSEN. Super celebrity in Norway; virtually unknown in the States. But I know who he is !! I didn't bother him; he was preparing to leave as I was settling down. But, at the risk of sounding like a creeper, I got a real thrill knowing it looked like we camped together on the tracker :D :D It's similar to saying you went camping with Bear Gyrlls, except that Lars is way more hardcore. PS -- I didn't stop here because I'm a stalker; it just happened to be a nice open clearing halfway between Rohn & Nikolai.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeAeS5j3_-HuAaiHlWXUe4oZwqydpPC-HIfX8_9SOkDshyphenhyphenWwxm1t82EdERT6Qm9sI38Y8ZT67wIAQaAtaBG677F2jyRCrMfHUcpLpcGbSksXVjNmW3d6HED4xw7jU0w5H1Wyw0g51bUZU/s1600/IMG_2741.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeAeS5j3_-HuAaiHlWXUe4oZwqydpPC-HIfX8_9SOkDshyphenhyphenWwxm1t82EdERT6Qm9sI38Y8ZT67wIAQaAtaBG677F2jyRCrMfHUcpLpcGbSksXVjNmW3d6HED4xw7jU0w5H1Wyw0g51bUZU/s640/IMG_2741.JPG" width="358" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mini Lu and I watching Lars Monsen. Eating my yummy boller (Norwegian cardamom bun) with brown cheese and butter that I heated up in my cooker. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoy6GdG-8lQYeNwwwbG097tshff0vEkqOGNIQvCDTYaUnt-UxaSH0WQcZQWbAhj0VfuAqwytV016KiFU8in9s6RZ_HzH-apFGFruAcToJZ96PZT8TpwpJnyGQPVIiWqsQp7l9fax1bQ6I/s1600/IMG_2755.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoy6GdG-8lQYeNwwwbG097tshff0vEkqOGNIQvCDTYaUnt-UxaSH0WQcZQWbAhj0VfuAqwytV016KiFU8in9s6RZ_HzH-apFGFruAcToJZ96PZT8TpwpJnyGQPVIiWqsQp7l9fax1bQ6I/s640/IMG_2755.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sunset on the way to Nikolai. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOomsUohGLUyZvs9nDwvn1p1kbtekdfTT-Xbrw61MJgY_OgF7m4xyE8zfpkO3kb8MsN74qAKB3FI8COlPGORqWxCTsqzJdLgcT33bHaQhOtSyTzVyOVDeBOSfEKUTxJIFs4Xsob8LtcrA/s1600/IMG_2763.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOomsUohGLUyZvs9nDwvn1p1kbtekdfTT-Xbrw61MJgY_OgF7m4xyE8zfpkO3kb8MsN74qAKB3FI8COlPGORqWxCTsqzJdLgcT33bHaQhOtSyTzVyOVDeBOSfEKUTxJIFs4Xsob8LtcrA/s640/IMG_2763.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Blue dawn somewhere outside of Nikolai. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS2fUJKOxehmH__m6KP2cW7zVYKWh4Hpjr_GV5Rm3-gsKSvXt93WA98pL15rEHsoGabuQE8t2FWldpEE1f3gdyRCiJiGOK8P5VtsP-68qf1SkL0wDIPND4eDciReWadDvBV5GOMSau7Ws/s1600/IMG_2765.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS2fUJKOxehmH__m6KP2cW7zVYKWh4Hpjr_GV5Rm3-gsKSvXt93WA98pL15rEHsoGabuQE8t2FWldpEE1f3gdyRCiJiGOK8P5VtsP-68qf1SkL0wDIPND4eDciReWadDvBV5GOMSau7Ws/s640/IMG_2765.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sunrise. Lots of lakes, swamps and river travel on the run to McGrath.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfJzgeykBG1wVk-fXyTdWg-uxINYPdJWEBh5wn2zcqjzoByZ85gR2fwXMyZ40ip2913FtTEDBmw561J-yN3tJaP58rNbse9KGTIZHabeG3vfKWSW1GoA1XteR0_I6MAr9HHr9AJQey1yQ/s1600/IMG_2768.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfJzgeykBG1wVk-fXyTdWg-uxINYPdJWEBh5wn2zcqjzoByZ85gR2fwXMyZ40ip2913FtTEDBmw561J-yN3tJaP58rNbse9KGTIZHabeG3vfKWSW1GoA1XteR0_I6MAr9HHr9AJQey1yQ/s640/IMG_2768.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mini Lu was tired and showing symptoms of sickness so she got some extra rest in the basket. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfYt8_cqv4p048rh9QWlHx_HQQCKZANym7xrPNe7WcqhrgKMSBmoHmc9zf1nSB0UurpxJAnhnEGrZFlRNjthNYP4OEKuRDlQ6SsRfCz080eTXYOsNvcdw3wWVjyS3xKitE6q9Kg5onJSc/s1600/IMG_2781.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfYt8_cqv4p048rh9QWlHx_HQQCKZANym7xrPNe7WcqhrgKMSBmoHmc9zf1nSB0UurpxJAnhnEGrZFlRNjthNYP4OEKuRDlQ6SsRfCz080eTXYOsNvcdw3wWVjyS3xKitE6q9Kg5onJSc/s640/IMG_2781.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">River pictures look boring in retrospect, but I really love mushing along these natural travel corridors ! </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaCP1BqfBdvaDYbGT6zrbD2MHwmzubGolc1Nxwt7tvASxJy1B61FmgHfclGkpY2hCrAHU6WUL9KLk9qEsH-25EiQXKMgA9Dekl8FOu5uh_LbnVfyNpQ4t4WOvXku35z7qHZRS5g6DTfL0/s1600/IMG_2792.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaCP1BqfBdvaDYbGT6zrbD2MHwmzubGolc1Nxwt7tvASxJy1B61FmgHfclGkpY2hCrAHU6WUL9KLk9qEsH-25EiQXKMgA9Dekl8FOu5uh_LbnVfyNpQ4t4WOvXku35z7qHZRS5g6DTfL0/s640/IMG_2792.JPG" width="358" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">We saw more and more snow the closer we got to McGrath. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjD1bedSsiA21A9Ji_SQrmuNeI_Y6ymdUr2qIjPJhs6b45WdPYcO4o1pcWKad66Kan4sItX3IeiHbPCFBhckjbYQ_x9yaODP6NyPXkviepXRSF9Bu1kGznBjntwjtYDTAqni-GVEG7oV0/s1600/IMG_2794.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjD1bedSsiA21A9Ji_SQrmuNeI_Y6ymdUr2qIjPJhs6b45WdPYcO4o1pcWKad66Kan4sItX3IeiHbPCFBhckjbYQ_x9yaODP6NyPXkviepXRSF9Bu1kGznBjntwjtYDTAqni-GVEG7oV0/s640/IMG_2794.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">The team resting in McGrath. When we got to McGrath, I was very concerned about Ravni. She seemed much more lethargic than what I would consider normal. The checkpoint vets didn't seem overly concerned, but I felt like something was off and was very worried. Stu, Iditarod's head vet, walked by & I called him over. Thank you Stu, for taking my concerns seriously and immediately taking action. It's possible that Ravni could have just been tired and a little dehydrated. It's also possible that she could have been exhibiting early symptoms of sled dog myopathy. We dont know, but it's better to be safe than sorry. Stu got the vets moving. Ravni got whisked away by dog drop volunteers, my friends Anja & Corrine, who, with the dropped dog vet, immediately gave Ravni fluids & lots of love. She responded well to treatment and was flown home right away where she recovered immediately. I am very grateful to Anja, Corrine & the other dog drop volunteers for taking such good care of Ravni & to Stu for taking my concerns seriously. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5HnNHdTJFHKGs0xP2XsqzCt102nLuovchZD2foK75bwB5OphS-yvUnaLF-GB-qiuHQ5MXVPkvTZdaFug_q9hGwpMU9gDxnwl2txAOWAZqalGXyTeEeQi2wPeL7oaS6YKDCCOOhCFDdBQ/s1600/IMG_2797.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5HnNHdTJFHKGs0xP2XsqzCt102nLuovchZD2foK75bwB5OphS-yvUnaLF-GB-qiuHQ5MXVPkvTZdaFug_q9hGwpMU9gDxnwl2txAOWAZqalGXyTeEeQi2wPeL7oaS6YKDCCOOhCFDdBQ/s640/IMG_2797.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Bitey resting after supper.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi27tUDGdgz3VIGAWtNXAMbd9An1zZuTDE9EXz7VHva_cgK7bOtjUKx5p1_LcqgRDu4KVA4-mD-peYGiSSdcGB3zsiBEKGxV1StMGzOW8XFumtOEeCoLH4YApwfe1mLnZrKa4m6jbbsy3M/s1600/IMG_2808.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi27tUDGdgz3VIGAWtNXAMbd9An1zZuTDE9EXz7VHva_cgK7bOtjUKx5p1_LcqgRDu4KVA4-mD-peYGiSSdcGB3zsiBEKGxV1StMGzOW8XFumtOEeCoLH4YApwfe1mLnZrKa4m6jbbsy3M/s640/IMG_2808.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Princess, Mini Lu, & Jasmine. Princess lost her appetite at about this point in the race. I thought it was due to the bug running through the team, but after a couple of days she still wasn't eating well. I worried about her getting thin & ended up dropping her in Unalakleet for that reason. Mini Lu, refreshed from her ride, ate all her supper & quickly recovered from the virus. It seemed to be a 24 bug. We monitor the dog's eating very closely -- it is a major indicator for how they are feeling!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt4Y1FWKs4wd69sa4kfrOQOum9UrOP3B0vL1DLS8t1tczzomGQ8LBLoCb6PkqPdK8Z2K_iJMhRYnb8dpqzVNDM2OpWeBe_kUyGH3GPaplPodn3wk4_8JQVJnOSWMZCpvU08u3tbIs7OIw/s1600/IMG_2802.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt4Y1FWKs4wd69sa4kfrOQOum9UrOP3B0vL1DLS8t1tczzomGQ8LBLoCb6PkqPdK8Z2K_iJMhRYnb8dpqzVNDM2OpWeBe_kUyGH3GPaplPodn3wk4_8JQVJnOSWMZCpvU08u3tbIs7OIw/s640/IMG_2802.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Heading toward Takotna. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8MMkYufmA59xvFJwPf9XxHAZiyLqISHh9X_NNoViUzSMoIoFEhnnU-Z-cT0XWBAFG716K2gp4wygIWL3e5VtCfIZDoMp6gaaCTKQnFunA0o26GBxto-VoJP7_6kj7uFp6dWpAqbmERyk/s1600/IMG_2803.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8MMkYufmA59xvFJwPf9XxHAZiyLqISHh9X_NNoViUzSMoIoFEhnnU-Z-cT0XWBAFG716K2gp4wygIWL3e5VtCfIZDoMp6gaaCTKQnFunA0o26GBxto-VoJP7_6kj7uFp6dWpAqbmERyk/s640/IMG_2803.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">We blew through Takotna. We were headed to Ophir to take our 24 ! </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Lisbethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06066513849980376169noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488210705343555399.post-67102488224622876972016-06-06T17:14:00.000-08:002016-06-06T17:23:56.598-08:00Copper Basin 300<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3tbvjkO0ouRcJ5CVCqHbxDeY8UWApvbhXXjjjlpA4NwNgxbldLWEDqE-m5bwwo5T6SMV15KtdhNl7hhHCQZNOZq_d5_L_PEcGK1JzLAAi_8O73GgeIy6lLTylfVna6zZrm_YiOEjArwo/s1600/lisbet+nils+CB300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3tbvjkO0ouRcJ5CVCqHbxDeY8UWApvbhXXjjjlpA4NwNgxbldLWEDqE-m5bwwo5T6SMV15KtdhNl7hhHCQZNOZq_d5_L_PEcGK1JzLAAi_8O73GgeIy6lLTylfVna6zZrm_YiOEjArwo/s640/lisbet+nils+CB300.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">Lisbet feeding dogs at Red Eagle Lodge in Chistochina. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJEWOU_i2Qi81-R-9DPJ24tUj5yQoMHWwTremk-WgHw3wTv-2okDWKsymKSvWuAwa0R-KyKFUqv8dypBjr8uyL9FMwTRNUVAj3IFwvWqmrscWFuFKFzFdFhkY0TXmpPDQNDs1c24ZD9qY/s1600/itelman+cb300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJEWOU_i2Qi81-R-9DPJ24tUj5yQoMHWwTremk-WgHw3wTv-2okDWKsymKSvWuAwa0R-KyKFUqv8dypBjr8uyL9FMwTRNUVAj3IFwvWqmrscWFuFKFzFdFhkY0TXmpPDQNDs1c24ZD9qY/s640/itelman+cb300.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Itelman wants his kibbles. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuU9QXNwhPDAUuiOrYPm1Tw2wDVjyTT3vN6TKzg0TQ-jKHGUVsyGQ0C83vsaI_i_UsvOnpMkCnShDtrHosrjftZJCcjvgkBnB_te9QlE8e77avSE_D6Zs1-h1ju8wmjTkK5e43XFulWIA/s1600/IMG_8452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuU9QXNwhPDAUuiOrYPm1Tw2wDVjyTT3vN6TKzg0TQ-jKHGUVsyGQ0C83vsaI_i_UsvOnpMkCnShDtrHosrjftZJCcjvgkBnB_te9QlE8e77avSE_D6Zs1-h1ju8wmjTkK5e43XFulWIA/s400/IMG_8452.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lisbet & her DayQuil. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJAPNsq_BfKaNkHwj0qnRGqaIQQD__wxlthJQwj_B3vzshN234a3Q1Ibyu_pd1-hwrxnBUOHGfpWbQ8IMutbugIBLB6ixBcAMPFeCNhRbQN2NlWO-rfEY9qupb6mZoR6OHc8Co6U-SGRw/s1600/nils+lisbet+katie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJAPNsq_BfKaNkHwj0qnRGqaIQQD__wxlthJQwj_B3vzshN234a3Q1Ibyu_pd1-hwrxnBUOHGfpWbQ8IMutbugIBLB6ixBcAMPFeCNhRbQN2NlWO-rfEY9qupb6mZoR6OHc8Co6U-SGRw/s400/nils+lisbet+katie.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nils, Lisbet & Katie Jean</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe7MJJXoK1Ik4nP0xDduBuqUBTKGatUo8oqk6wL9bCQx-xzVUkDnI0kJQHnSclLLhscbsAnpYXoB-WFiKKfdZfwW4ljq4QrnXFFjUNZxZm4JGme5DLJQu_Zs2bM1XQz_ezY97FCclDFQw/s1600/IMG_8466.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe7MJJXoK1Ik4nP0xDduBuqUBTKGatUo8oqk6wL9bCQx-xzVUkDnI0kJQHnSclLLhscbsAnpYXoB-WFiKKfdZfwW4ljq4QrnXFFjUNZxZm4JGme5DLJQu_Zs2bM1XQz_ezY97FCclDFQw/s400/IMG_8466.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the start line.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUo_VkVnyb8sDazFwiwJK9WEkWZGkOmb35oYWfIpH28JdIm_9tZNL_h0Yprs-OmRPY7-clKpFL7zWS6nAQoXyE5_O5UwgkkQjrvpMOmrIowqx0NBLupGZUB_1gvl1A07oeBVQ55LV3amQ/s1600/IMG_8458.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUo_VkVnyb8sDazFwiwJK9WEkWZGkOmb35oYWfIpH28JdIm_9tZNL_h0Yprs-OmRPY7-clKpFL7zWS6nAQoXyE5_O5UwgkkQjrvpMOmrIowqx0NBLupGZUB_1gvl1A07oeBVQ55LV3amQ/s400/IMG_8458.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nils & Mini Lou in lead. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Copper Basin was a tough race for me. I had a very inexperienced team bolstered by one Iditarod veteran & lead dog, Nils. Excepting Nils, this would be the longest & furthest any of the dogs had ever gone in their lives, so I went into the race planning to run the dogs like a yearling team. Lots of rest and no longs runs, a race schedule designed to teach them that they are capable of going the distance. I also went into the race with a terrible cold, keeping a bottle of Dayquil tucked in my sled bag and my pockets full of cough drops.<br />
<br />
The Team: Mini Lu, Orro, Nils, Fly, Shelly, Princess, Pearl, Buffy, Jasmine, Raspy, Bitey & Itelman.<br />
Handlers: Nils Pedersen & Katie Shadrach<br />
<br />
Race Recap: We had not been training at competitive mid distance speeds, but at Iditarod speeds (read: slow) which automatically dropped me to the back of the pack. Plus, it turned out I picked the wrong old dog to lead the team... Nils seemed unable to stretch out and keep the speed up. He was steady, and I`m unsure if we would have been able to finish without him, but he struggled with any amount of speed and it was frustrating to go so slow. Our pace (or should I say, Nils' pace) was compounded by terrible trail and an overcautious musher. I rode the drag mat hard the entire way, trying to make the dogs walk through ditches full of sugary snow, wicked stubs of willow branches sticking up & & down steep inclines rutted out from the brake bars of the forty mushers preceding me. I spent a <i>lot</i> of time concerned about the dogs; watching them struggle in the powder and the trenches, worrying a dog will misstep or be drug the wrong way of the lip of a deep trench and hurt themselves. (Please note, the terrible trail is due in no part to the race volunteers, it's just a matter of fact that all but the most hardened trails deteriorate after 30-40 dog teams rip over them).<br />
<br />
It's a stressful experience to run a team of untested dogs in a long sled dog race. I've been working with the same group of dogs for two or three years now & this is the first time since 2012 that I've run a race with most the team comprised of completely inexperienced dogs. So, I spent the entire race worrying. I was very proud of them at the finish line but also distraught because they had been pushed, both mentally and physically, on the final stretch. We follow the main road into the finish line in Glenallen so there were a lot of "false finishes." Nope, that`s not the finish line, nope, not here, nope, not this driveway... good dogs! When we finally reached the finish line the dogs were pretty nonplussed about it.<br />
<br />
I dislike stressing my dogs but also realize that our performance will not improve unless we challenge ourselves, and the dogs are always capable of more than I give them credit for. They are incredible natural athletes and their steadfast drive consistently amazes me. I am the weakest part of the team, no doubt ! I have a hard time pushing them, but it is my job as a musher to bring out the maximum potential of each dog, a task that is inhibited by coddling. The dogs & I came out of this richer for the experience but the trail was so so terrible at the back of the pack, I've decided it's unlikely I'll return to the race unless I intend to compete more seriously. Our schedule was such that we ran primarily in the dark, so I didn't get to see much of the famed Copper Basin scenery either ! Less rest, more scenery will be the goal next time :)<br />
<br />
Big thanks to Katie Jean & Nils, my handler team. Katie came down with a a migraine and headed home early, so Nils singlehandedly parked the team and bought me cheeseburgers at the checkpoints. Thanks babe !!Lisbethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06066513849980376169noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488210705343555399.post-2996986937548004532015-12-04T12:01:00.001-09:002015-12-04T12:01:12.443-09:00#musherfashion<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.ktva.com/embed/103171/d14rj7v0r2qnrv/2015/12/04074615/musher-fashion.mp4" width="560"></iframe>Lisbethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06066513849980376169noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488210705343555399.post-7280910867657524152015-10-19T01:36:00.002-08:002015-10-19T01:36:21.455-08:00quick fall update <b>Training</b><br />
The weather is still cold and rainy in Willow, but I have acclimatized some, and most significantly where my comfort is concerned, have started truck training! haha. Every day I load 2/3 of the team into the dog trailer and truck them up the road to Hatcher Pass. The road to the pass is considered closed after October 1st but this simply means the state stops maintaining it. They leave the gate open for miners, the few people that live back there, optimistic tourists, and stubborn dog mushers.<br />
<br />
I park on a wide spot in the road, drop the trailer, hook the dogs up to the truck, boot those that need it (gravel can be very abrasive on dog paws so I watch their feet closely), and go. I enjoy podcasts, Internet radio and coffee as we slowly cruise up the pass to the big gravel pit turnaround. It's luxury mushing to be sure, but is also time-consuming and expensive. I would prefer to get out onto local trails with the six wheeler and smaller teams, but it is simply not a safe option where I live... I am unable to get the mileage I need without crossing the main highway and/or running down the bike path (usually littered with broken beer bottles). I am uncomfortable with both options, so will be trucking the dogs until freeze-up. My training options would expand some if I invested in a four wheeler (which, unlike the six wheeler, would fit in the back of my truck), but truck training is working for us now, and will hopefully continue to do so until the swamps freeze and we can get our mileage from home.<br />
<br />
<b>Race Plans</b><br />
I am currently signed up for three races this season: Alpine Excursions, Copper Basin 300, and Iditarod. Alpine Excursions is an informal early-season race from Cantwell to Alpine Creek Lodge, run on the Denali Highway (unmaintained in the winter). It is more of a fun run then a race. I am excited about the Copper Basin 300! I got a taste of the Copper River Basin landscape in 2013, when I ran the Sheep Mountain 300 which followed a portion of the Copper Basin trail. Gorgeous, gorgeous country. The Copper Basin is known for deep snow, extreme temperatures, and water crossings. It is considered excellent training for Iditarod. I will also be simulating some race situations this winter during training -- possibly in Fairbanks, and definitely on the Denali Highway and the Susitna River. Over half the training pool is unfamiliar with camping and other such situations particular to distance racing, so it is my priority this winter to introduce and acclimatize them to these things.<br />
<br />
Check my Instagram and Facebook pages for current updates and pictures.... @lisbetnorris & facebook.com/Anadyr Siberians ! <br />
<br />
Happy Autumn ! xoxo Lisbet & Team<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Lisbethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06066513849980376169noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488210705343555399.post-16425540988229759582015-09-25T15:50:00.002-08:002015-09-25T15:55:19.974-08:00motivation <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This is the toughest time of year for me. When it is rainy and windy and I am 100% guaranteed to get cold and wet if I go out. There are few things in this world I dislike more than being wet and cold. Cold is fine, but wet and cold?? Oh so miserable. I donāt buy into the suffering musher trope. I like to be comfortable.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It was literally monsooning this morning. Just pouring. And windy. I would rather it was -40F. No joke. Over two inches of water accumulated in the bowls last night and the rain showed no sign of letting up. I procrastinated for two hours, looking for the motivation to go outside. Did I find it knowing my competitors had already been out that morning? No. I donāt care what they do. Did I find it due to a sense of obligation to my training schedule ? Partly. I have a serious compulsion to run the dogs if I think they need to go out, and I will be grumpy all day if it doesnāt happen. Did I find it in the knowledge that not going out because of rain would make me a wussy? Partly. I would have a hard time living with myself if I copped out because of uncomfortable weather. I am an āIditarod musher,ā after all, haha. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">No, I found it in the dogs. I may mind the rain, but they donāt. At all. When I stepped outside to survey the situation, they all popped out of their boxes, pacing around, ready to go for another run. They know the schedule and seeing their excitement and complete disregard for the rain finally got me out the door.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">There is a phrase in Norwegian ā āthe longest mile is the one to the door.ā It holds 100% true for me. After two hours of dilly-dallying, I finally put on long underwear, a wool jacket, a down vest, two rain jackets, heavy duty rain pants, two pairs of gloves, waterproof overmitts and went outside. & it wasnāt THAT bad.ā¦ my hands got a little cold and my butt got a little wet, but I felt good that I got over my hesitations & got my dogs out. We are moving forward in our training for Iditarod, right on track. :)</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Of course, four hours later, not a cloud in the sky. But, because I had already gotten the dogs out, I was able to take myself and Seb for a nice sunny jog :) </span></div>
Lisbethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06066513849980376169noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488210705343555399.post-31898320485662017512015-09-11T09:00:00.000-08:002015-09-11T09:00:03.583-08:00recommended reading <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJtbC4HyyBCO-6nnmwgjoqSieb6Rls1x430lpBbV84uMNOyfNJnpb6uL6xX2dRaSdnhlxcXxP_htSpT7m7Z8in2Vh63RliQINus0FoBbkDfeLoQZmyh85B-J_TSL8hMro_yzrexU2f6Lc/s1600/IMG_4899.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJtbC4HyyBCO-6nnmwgjoqSieb6Rls1x430lpBbV84uMNOyfNJnpb6uL6xX2dRaSdnhlxcXxP_htSpT7m7Z8in2Vh63RliQINus0FoBbkDfeLoQZmyh85B-J_TSL8hMro_yzrexU2f6Lc/s640/IMG_4899.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />Lisbethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06066513849980376169noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488210705343555399.post-51115614776864036782015-09-09T21:33:00.000-08:002015-09-09T22:20:45.139-08:00summer wrap-up/fall updateWow, what a summer! It seems like we had endless sunshine this year, which unfortunately contributed to conditions that fed the Sockeye Fire, but was otherwise wonderful. I spent a lot of time outside ... on the trails, on the road, in the lakes, and on my paddleboard. Sunny weather makes it near impossible for me to spend a lot of time indoors, but I have sporadicly been working on preparations for the 2015/2016 training and race season as well as developing my new business (more details on that later).<br />
<br />
Late August brought an end to the sun and brought the fall rains. Misty or cloudy during the day, pouring at night. This is great because FALL TRAINING has begun & the dogs really appreciate the puddles that have formed out on the trails.<br />
<br />
<u>Training Plans</u><br />
I am so excited for the upcoming season! I am doing things a lot differently this year & am looking forward to seeing how my tweaks in fall training will pan out on the trails later this winter. We are keeping distances short in September and will start doing some truck training later in the month. Partly because it is the absolutely most luxurious way to train dogs, out of the freezing rain & complete with a stereo, haha, but also because I am training 32 dogs by myself & because of time constraints, will need to run teams larger than I would consider safe on the ATV (plus there's heat!). For some reason I still feel guilty about using the truck to train -- it's just so..... comfortable... haha. But mushers have been using the truck to train for years. My grandpa was training the dogs with the truck down Nancy Lake Park Road 40 years ago! Now it's paved, so I will be running up Hatcher Pass Road and down the Denali Highway, at least until winter storms threaten :) I have a friend coming in November who will be able to give me a hand & Super Sarah from last year has tentatively committed to return & run some dogs when her Coast Guard contract ends in December :)<br />
<br />
<u>Race Plans (& complaints)</u><br />
I am signed up for two races so far -- <a href="http://www.iditarod.com/">Iditarod</a> & the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1533996560145184/">Alpine Creek Excursion</a>. I'll run the Aurora Dog Musher's Club Aurora 50/50 mid December if it doesn't look like I will need to help time it or something (I'm on the board). I would like to run the Copper Basin 300 this year (sign up October 1), and once again, it will be a race to sign up, allowing those who click fastest to sign up first. Luckily I'm a fast clicker, but I feel like it is an unfair system that discriminates against the non-computer savvy and wish they would instead have an open day to "sign up" and then determine the race roster by lottery. Same goes with the Knik 200 and all the other races that have this ridiculous method of Internet mandated sign-up. If there weren't 60+ people trying for 40 slots it wouldn't be such an issue, but it is. I am flirting with the idea of signing up for the Northern Lights 300 at the end of January & I think Jeff King's Denali Doubles at the beginning of February would be fun too. We'll see.<br />
<br />
<u>Fundraising/Sponsorship</u><br />
Our kennel is committed to maintaining the workability of the Siberian Husky. We firmly believe the best way to benchmark our breed is on the race trail. I am once again looking to offset the expense of racing by soliciting sponsorships from businesses, friends, fans & the general husky-loving public. I will be offering 2016 Team Anadyr Iditarod gear later this month (pre-order only), as well as featuring some of the lovely & specially customized MUSH posters donated to me by Jon & Jona van Zyle. I have four Frigg pendants remaining. These are part of a limited edition set of 10, handmade, signed by me on the back & packaged in a bootie from the 2015 Iditarod. One necklace provides the funds needed to buy booties for one dog on Iditarod. Posters & necklaces are available at the <a href="http://www.lisbetnorris.com/p/store.html">Team Anadyr Store</a>.<br />
<br />
<u>Thank Yous</u><br />
Big thank yous to Rodney Whaley, Mark Greene & Tom Bennett for their continued support. It means a lot to me. Rodney will be racing the Yukon Quest 300, so cheer for him in February! Checkpoint sponsors..... a <a href="http://www.lisbetnorris.com/p/store.html#!/Checkpoint-Sponsorship/p/37532205/category=13426041">Checkpoint Sponsorship</a> helps me fill drop bags with quality kibble, meat snacks for the dogs, hand warmers, meals for the musher, and defray shipping costs. Mark Greene sponsored the checkpoint of Kaltag. Mark is one of the fantastic behind-the-scene volunteers that makes Iditarod possible....Cheer for him as he manages the Kaltag checkpoint again this year :) Tom Bennett sponsored the checkpoint of Rohn earlier this summer & is again working with Portland State students like Aimee Ritter to design & build for me the fastest, most efficient, most aesthetically pleasing cooker on the Iditarod trail :) Thank you to Grete Perkins, Talkeetna's Bamboo Sock Lady (I sleep in a blue tie-dyed pair) for her donation & thank you to all the folks who bought Frigg pendants for yourselves or for the special ladies in your life :)<br />
<br />
<u>Follow along!</u><br />
I encourage folks checking the website to like my Facebook site -- <a href="http://facebook.com/AnadyrSiberians">Facebook.com/AnadyrSiberians</a>. It functions like a website; you don't need to be a member of Facebook to see pictures & updates. I post on there pretty regularly :) I also like to post photos on Instagram-- find me @lisbetnorris. I will soon be debuting a new feature there & on the blog :D & finally, look for weekly updates on the blog & an announcement regarding my exciting new business venture!Lisbethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06066513849980376169noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488210705343555399.post-88998012458977071742015-08-04T17:51:00.003-08:002015-08-04T18:29:34.194-08:00Iditarod 2015 Recap: Shaktoolik to NOME<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDRPiOeteHnvWcs4aqPXXeed3ds_CI2FNkVM_I3GKzW9t8T0o5-EZM-6XSzOvMhlj-QdrbaIKxdg8Emf3d8LtQoFTB-hEcFjB-sKJ6d0saVwlfW7jgbtqpi650ZYbB2lkR61fcUvlSsIg/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDRPiOeteHnvWcs4aqPXXeed3ds_CI2FNkVM_I3GKzW9t8T0o5-EZM-6XSzOvMhlj-QdrbaIKxdg8Emf3d8LtQoFTB-hEcFjB-sKJ6d0saVwlfW7jgbtqpi650ZYbB2lkR61fcUvlSsIg/s640/1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">Early morning in Shaktoolik. We spent the night in Shaktoolik waiting for the winds to die down a bit before attempting the crossing to Koyuk. It was still windy when we left, but a more manageable 25 mph compared to the 40 and 50 mph gusts of the night before. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1-pA_VimsygB6kbngSoPIZHgTaEOYjJCzS_hY1FOW36LcdsPEhsWnXiMERTZj_L82p3lWe8-0Q2rNeygtuuHny2tSGJG9L_15parCeLxZiwKRLq27tm67p5V2F-N2RWqmVKhQv9FO-_U/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1-pA_VimsygB6kbngSoPIZHgTaEOYjJCzS_hY1FOW36LcdsPEhsWnXiMERTZj_L82p3lWe8-0Q2rNeygtuuHny2tSGJG9L_15parCeLxZiwKRLq27tm67p5V2F-N2RWqmVKhQv9FO-_U/s640/2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Rob Cooke's team getting ready to leave Shaktoolik. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz1rZPzzIe2NIAtsVkoWtv8dciQLYsHZcGZ-Npd_07oJDAtpznwSBpZV5cPRlkZI6ZALFEF1jXPhuQG-3JRVQoCtzmnPEgHIH331ZvA4b6-4OBSGAdf0VSZUiAkeM9ksDM3INhjVGDtxs/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz1rZPzzIe2NIAtsVkoWtv8dciQLYsHZcGZ-Npd_07oJDAtpznwSBpZV5cPRlkZI6ZALFEF1jXPhuQG-3JRVQoCtzmnPEgHIH331ZvA4b6-4OBSGAdf0VSZUiAkeM9ksDM3INhjVGDtxs/s640/3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">We left Shaktoolik with Monica (ahead) and Alan Stevens (behind). We had a hard time finding the trail right out of Shaktoolik, but the three of us canvasing the area managed to locate enough markers to find our way. Still on land here. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX2slD_suEq7hBv55FJlg8dm_66d-grl5MRHqkQn6DDSkPVmUj4h6sUiWz7WNh9_jDrIzDHYGGZkwRNcvqcJkiRJiUEpPejWvy8epBkGyS6Zlx8HDiFueznd5jccCDhQOo_M-qFOI1Q10/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX2slD_suEq7hBv55FJlg8dm_66d-grl5MRHqkQn6DDSkPVmUj4h6sUiWz7WNh9_jDrIzDHYGGZkwRNcvqcJkiRJiUEpPejWvy8epBkGyS6Zlx8HDiFueznd5jccCDhQOo_M-qFOI1Q10/s640/4.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">On the ice. Ruby in her pink coat wondering what the hold up is. After almost 9 hours in Unalakleet and an overnight stay in Shaktoolik, the team was very well rested. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiAJAJvrnKp2oV1vPAbfpQjVcJEoB8Nt57KYZHGqQ5CWoSXxOw04Pitt9R3AIYfgmGbyc3nQyPISwr0JNYXfkleSY6N6MaUE4621jRAlLA4nR0pLmSHoP_LBUxB7XEHMz4JZjxnqFYLb8/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiAJAJvrnKp2oV1vPAbfpQjVcJEoB8Nt57KYZHGqQ5CWoSXxOw04Pitt9R3AIYfgmGbyc3nQyPISwr0JNYXfkleSY6N6MaUE4621jRAlLA4nR0pLmSHoP_LBUxB7XEHMz4JZjxnqFYLb8/s640/5.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Snack break about halfway to Koyuk. Pretty windy & a tough trail obliterated in place by soft snow drifts.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg06Ga51r_fU5stGEGBelDQO1qn0WvaLCHd-3OH6P9tgRjG1sc76WW6TSNIL_kp18pyIrVRNjcglS2u9NTVaQMtvRA7_s1vz3473eh8Zu7ff7JHIqa3P-TAUYssavBD3C198nH3oqHhGTY/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg06Ga51r_fU5stGEGBelDQO1qn0WvaLCHd-3OH6P9tgRjG1sc76WW6TSNIL_kp18pyIrVRNjcglS2u9NTVaQMtvRA7_s1vz3473eh8Zu7ff7JHIqa3P-TAUYssavBD3C198nH3oqHhGTY/s640/6.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Allen, mine, and Monica's team, all in a row. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqEr_uweyF3rqIQjC6LSjeg6lGb-0VS-knK0NCQbiD3Wn_mW5UaW7fhwAOd2EwAqOuVNxvB5B59VX58yr-wzUlbTXD39ONEMDTisxHB2paq8fVI43dr6WM1IAfJQDNjXRGLNdRve6bh6c/s1600/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqEr_uweyF3rqIQjC6LSjeg6lGb-0VS-knK0NCQbiD3Wn_mW5UaW7fhwAOd2EwAqOuVNxvB5B59VX58yr-wzUlbTXD39ONEMDTisxHB2paq8fVI43dr6WM1IAfJQDNjXRGLNdRve6bh6c/s640/7.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Allen and his puppy (yearling) team.</span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQvLFLQOWd8uxFcCW8gtTJQocPJTydNRFkDum67lDoAsCNJRm6aDMKrZCYSOyDkXijFUiusZ_EXF91_7ONpj_lSNJqVbg2I8trMF86bRzuAbnV4RQhyphenhyphenBs8XlIcSTpJfZQ89ZWCMnPJz5A/s1600/8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQvLFLQOWd8uxFcCW8gtTJQocPJTydNRFkDum67lDoAsCNJRm6aDMKrZCYSOyDkXijFUiusZ_EXF91_7ONpj_lSNJqVbg2I8trMF86bRzuAbnV4RQhyphenhyphenBs8XlIcSTpJfZQ89ZWCMnPJz5A/s640/8.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Still smiling!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMZfmrUcrlablL9nhk_LjvzLSEVRZl2yGk2M45SSG6CSjCgN_FQpZ-t4dGE8YgcEmSBCYW3-N7iU18zxn0zkpu0S19dFhJwMXkcx_pT_lPcWoFVSfbtxse7vkvo-8pK5m51xtYv-1JdKI/s1600/9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMZfmrUcrlablL9nhk_LjvzLSEVRZl2yGk2M45SSG6CSjCgN_FQpZ-t4dGE8YgcEmSBCYW3-N7iU18zxn0zkpu0S19dFhJwMXkcx_pT_lPcWoFVSfbtxse7vkvo-8pK5m51xtYv-1JdKI/s640/9.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ravni cat naps.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtdYQEvAFsH79jMlN1BCLd7_V4Uh3TUuiTUazZv9I9tQrf7PQqmj7LZ6OUuWbZy3Of4dbLzNNugCpTqZ54jX2NcyyoiNw8kfmHyht5zLv-fXEjX58dR3JGzi-BBlUP9X7ibjEuIj7bjiQ/s1600/10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtdYQEvAFsH79jMlN1BCLd7_V4Uh3TUuiTUazZv9I9tQrf7PQqmj7LZ6OUuWbZy3Of4dbLzNNugCpTqZ54jX2NcyyoiNw8kfmHyht5zLv-fXEjX58dR3JGzi-BBlUP9X7ibjEuIj7bjiQ/s640/10.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Cute little Linnea.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUoJdbncINVyiNHXR-bN73nDBhDhDDZskCszQRbrBd6AOOudOvVd_VibrBX8Q-shk4MW9KgphsRHul6Gp7EwoqZ6Q7dk5UYRw6tSwPUSUasL3R3vPrXcR4toNSHkIXjXvj1QfEhOL8fzM/s1600/11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUoJdbncINVyiNHXR-bN73nDBhDhDDZskCszQRbrBd6AOOudOvVd_VibrBX8Q-shk4MW9KgphsRHul6Gp7EwoqZ6Q7dk5UYRw6tSwPUSUasL3R3vPrXcR4toNSHkIXjXvj1QfEhOL8fzM/s640/11.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">After our snack break, we took the lead and the team rocked it all the way to shore, busting through the drifts, all business. It was such a beautiful day. Last year Monica and I did the crossing in the dark, there was jumble ice, all sorts of zig zags to the trail, I hallucinated I was in a forest, and frostbit my windburn by exposing my face to the cold air in an attempt to stay awake. This year, we did it in the daylight, it was sunny and gorgeous, straight as an arrow, I kept my face covered and listened to music and danced my way across the ocean all the way to Koyuk, feeling great. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDajkTx0Id7Gf6j4ehUMelv7lltRgo1ouPcmp8JXxWA8-ys0AmikzafLOIw0tqaZUl7chXyxNMjsUDz9ZxsVJdxC7Uu3i8BJfl-rlwsFdByunlm8XqBRUuTNDZ_mdiMycmT38Bep4K9Pk/s1600/12.5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDajkTx0Id7Gf6j4ehUMelv7lltRgo1ouPcmp8JXxWA8-ys0AmikzafLOIw0tqaZUl7chXyxNMjsUDz9ZxsVJdxC7Uu3i8BJfl-rlwsFdByunlm8XqBRUuTNDZ_mdiMycmT38Bep4K9Pk/s640/12.5.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Feeling great! Thanks to Sia, Brandi Carlile, Tove Lo, Thomas Dybdahl & more. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh98NvR19EiCQsauydwOvQhxLwKvUdIftkAYc6oH9Ww18j_ZvpCVG2iSmgi73K1YP47RqwvH3h_Qupn3ciqzwNYUYomWW96mZc9Wug8Ef_VvbyZ9A6R97nlsQkMcFDoQ-L3Pla584RqmE/s1600/13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh98NvR19EiCQsauydwOvQhxLwKvUdIftkAYc6oH9Ww18j_ZvpCVG2iSmgi73K1YP47RqwvH3h_Qupn3ciqzwNYUYomWW96mZc9Wug8Ef_VvbyZ9A6R97nlsQkMcFDoQ-L3Pla584RqmE/s640/13.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Monica & Blue Steel caught us just offshore. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAoqTTF8RnbCDNccJpfO2VxgECWdlI2wUt7ViT5xACLXWs9-ozs9x1OSr_q80MOsZQd2tAfgwa-M9mnryc3WBVosLRZFGvg9rH_KbT4V5ds1OoONR0utUxlJdWbFji1qNU_KoveHf7mH8/s1600/14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAoqTTF8RnbCDNccJpfO2VxgECWdlI2wUt7ViT5xACLXWs9-ozs9x1OSr_q80MOsZQd2tAfgwa-M9mnryc3WBVosLRZFGvg9rH_KbT4V5ds1OoONR0utUxlJdWbFji1qNU_KoveHf7mH8/s640/14.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Koyuk straight ahead.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTOokTAdZ8oYIWkvrPKv4kRqjdxkc6yYKGomabbStFIG7CocptNoS4F2ve362lMUbldrQK8jiXn5qOUM37DtbW47MtzDECJESi7p6zK9u4gN0qFReQNxbS7bKkPYXU8BNWhBx0GuXMzrs/s1600/15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTOokTAdZ8oYIWkvrPKv4kRqjdxkc6yYKGomabbStFIG7CocptNoS4F2ve362lMUbldrQK8jiXn5qOUM37DtbW47MtzDECJESi7p6zK9u4gN0qFReQNxbS7bKkPYXU8BNWhBx0GuXMzrs/s640/15.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Out of Koyuk, climbing up toward Little McKinley.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXco4lxbtkS63eejEcB0KRYtNgrE27QjpigEsDh6fkfQunHS1uUSLdtj48E148YHYeRyYdLGYRLP4304GfF4LWANEz-SFDvx4a969n2LSGOPPJGI8-mTc5tGPUR8jcut1ZVNFtJuTUf88/s1600/16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXco4lxbtkS63eejEcB0KRYtNgrE27QjpigEsDh6fkfQunHS1uUSLdtj48E148YHYeRyYdLGYRLP4304GfF4LWANEz-SFDvx4a969n2LSGOPPJGI8-mTc5tGPUR8jcut1ZVNFtJuTUf88/s640/16.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Almost to the top of the first summit.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_wSs5JBksjiyqGIRcacO9FX_2pzADVeRF3etgTrYCTZFQS12WsDOQ8OdgxZrk8Ll-Fy5ohG97-Vt5RENJQfLx4i2Gw11Z-YjwifGnEaNIfI2RE5kV-pUkYp4DEuwCMKJz8FaEd5yfJBY/s1600/17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_wSs5JBksjiyqGIRcacO9FX_2pzADVeRF3etgTrYCTZFQS12WsDOQ8OdgxZrk8Ll-Fy5ohG97-Vt5RENJQfLx4i2Gw11Z-YjwifGnEaNIfI2RE5kV-pUkYp4DEuwCMKJz8FaEd5yfJBY/s640/17.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Gorgeous view of the hills, the ocean in the distance.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghiWrFzNsnkX3D1ZlhtiTBUbeYYr0AVFkhEWeuVpuLqd2Hg15m-9VGF_L5ibJbfYc4gx6dt3WMPBpSCsNrYpuxiJHUOrEzGezh-EuKQ9HiVXxBW0xW7vyjJ5Kzia_9R3QhWKAiNppgMeU/s1600/19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghiWrFzNsnkX3D1ZlhtiTBUbeYYr0AVFkhEWeuVpuLqd2Hg15m-9VGF_L5ibJbfYc4gx6dt3WMPBpSCsNrYpuxiJHUOrEzGezh-EuKQ9HiVXxBW0xW7vyjJ5Kzia_9R3QhWKAiNppgMeU/s640/19.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Descending from Little McKinley, a lot steeper than it looks !!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhdEfNSfvkMtixtAuI3krsbTJMNk1g364HyE_9wZ_7GHlVljQkyWhS3EYXdfc5YHeBJDofqnjvPhTZkeGEtE_wwQU8ziBrYFbxxv3nTETgQL7baqvMl8Up0arbmhoJJM7K0NHelwFTsjc/s1600/20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhdEfNSfvkMtixtAuI3krsbTJMNk1g364HyE_9wZ_7GHlVljQkyWhS3EYXdfc5YHeBJDofqnjvPhTZkeGEtE_wwQU8ziBrYFbxxv3nTETgQL7baqvMl8Up0arbmhoJJM7K0NHelwFTsjc/s640/20.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Dropped off the summit onto the other side of the hills and holy cow did it get warm !! Stopped for a snack break and to remove all the booties -- way too warm for the dogs to run with their feet covered up. Beautiful up here in the high country.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfDc_oXSz-Mh7DT19wcl3wxZzATjlW05-L3ANhfVyz9F5Mx9ahO9k0fdMcvbKhLhAVkKZ2suMx27yUul1tHCETwIlSJNwUt5xF7_IRpQmmSt5h8M0jQvavLGIIzjLc050dDiz6UOJ2vXQ/s1600/21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfDc_oXSz-Mh7DT19wcl3wxZzATjlW05-L3ANhfVyz9F5Mx9ahO9k0fdMcvbKhLhAVkKZ2suMx27yUul1tHCETwIlSJNwUt5xF7_IRpQmmSt5h8M0jQvavLGIIzjLc050dDiz6UOJ2vXQ/s640/21.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The final descent to Golovin Bay.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9oagqdKDdm1IClRatEZnPPoDhBBnV_khrL4s03Q4EUf2NHuOKjc11UMSkIswFtfVs_MGGQ1wL-mKsUt33Xsj8z60-y-IiYwWgSaIBBdCDiUtlCcnb4EMd2efy2PPNO5-Waxj3f0GOj3s/s1600/23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9oagqdKDdm1IClRatEZnPPoDhBBnV_khrL4s03Q4EUf2NHuOKjc11UMSkIswFtfVs_MGGQ1wL-mKsUt33Xsj8z60-y-IiYwWgSaIBBdCDiUtlCcnb4EMd2efy2PPNO5-Waxj3f0GOj3s/s640/23.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Snack break in Golovin! Such a nice little welcoming committee of school kids with their teacher.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM8cQgMS8MseYT-Pc_nSME4DL3nFVwOU6tzpQfzQuY3NBQdy0CfbwC6n7r20cWtkZ0hAksYUQ4NC0pglPNJUn9lcJGh3KcVerohuFlh_gsF99Nx82lMgNgXsMe2R7JLFOnx6bBmyKjChQ/s1600/24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM8cQgMS8MseYT-Pc_nSME4DL3nFVwOU6tzpQfzQuY3NBQdy0CfbwC6n7r20cWtkZ0hAksYUQ4NC0pglPNJUn9lcJGh3KcVerohuFlh_gsF99Nx82lMgNgXsMe2R7JLFOnx6bBmyKjChQ/s640/24.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Caught up with Monica again outside of Golovin.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFAFlTYgJ7feCqN_6DI9VvzsKQnyxy7eBkih0jrTSBjvTzxchdg_ULF0K4Vf1bJ1JgEDuET_vjDoJ8pSPcn1GRzfYYRlZ-hLGdZUJChZyQpAhw3m8VTYwxus8VclRK5Ny8ECt16dOE1QQ/s1600/22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFAFlTYgJ7feCqN_6DI9VvzsKQnyxy7eBkih0jrTSBjvTzxchdg_ULF0K4Vf1bJ1JgEDuET_vjDoJ8pSPcn1GRzfYYRlZ-hLGdZUJChZyQpAhw3m8VTYwxus8VclRK5Ny8ECt16dOE1QQ/s640/22.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">After 12 days on the Iditarod trail. A little bedraggled, but thanks to <a href="http://www.silverbearsundries.com/extreme-alaskan.html" target="_blank">Silverbear Sundries Mountain Mama Healing Salve</a> & a Norwegian cold salve, my face is remarkably not frostbit or windburnt !! PS Ember did not pay me to say this !!! </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP7NHYceMebwD0CR_CRx2VfSD3GmjAPxnlTv2cB77GWk_bI1_dgWaen7cbDpAejrzIGY5a5A6OYBgQh0xSawHBYSUzI-30ipKHQOOiuzFci6_Gn_Hi30xvKXqtoGYQDZK1wdKbAs9Vz50/s1600/26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP7NHYceMebwD0CR_CRx2VfSD3GmjAPxnlTv2cB77GWk_bI1_dgWaen7cbDpAejrzIGY5a5A6OYBgQh0xSawHBYSUzI-30ipKHQOOiuzFci6_Gn_Hi30xvKXqtoGYQDZK1wdKbAs9Vz50/s640/26.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">White Mountain ! 8 hour rest here and we are on our way to Noooome!! Another overnight run from White Mountain to Safety, but without 8 inches of fresh snow on the trail, it was so fast and easy compared to last year!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWe0jxXbzwy7fTE0pD7dCsacDq11nGoTE843ZruCccF3bi0USUcxs-HuqE59gDU6NwJgGmy0DlrL2C9P2JQfePntztKmJXiM1agxNy6g6VuT-TKrjZc4Al9HCv1LpVteajkyaLM42SGnQ/s1600/27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWe0jxXbzwy7fTE0pD7dCsacDq11nGoTE843ZruCccF3bi0USUcxs-HuqE59gDU6NwJgGmy0DlrL2C9P2JQfePntztKmJXiM1agxNy6g6VuT-TKrjZc4Al9HCv1LpVteajkyaLM42SGnQ/s640/27.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sunrise by the sea. Topkok Hills & the Solomon Blowhole behind.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4MP7FH9fRHbo031hjL4uflYd9_4WMpG7jYU-CwI_FVAW3SG8OurTW1CQGQUrso5je7CSmUH3IT2Ye0OjBOEl4OfS14Q2_bTtQFWwFP4UkMBTGKHjmx0ULjHajjGpq7e1oj9l8a3Pm3pU/s1600/28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4MP7FH9fRHbo031hjL4uflYd9_4WMpG7jYU-CwI_FVAW3SG8OurTW1CQGQUrso5je7CSmUH3IT2Ye0OjBOEl4OfS14Q2_bTtQFWwFP4UkMBTGKHjmx0ULjHajjGpq7e1oj9l8a3Pm3pU/s640/28.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sunrise outside of Safety. Cape Nome in the distance. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj908IrM5RZQp3MkZUwmtm5CLhlzK7WV9F5eF56Xh-Cvgp2v-piqj6sSnq8XI60LzAeCzpj33RvEhaitJELV-983igttZy5WXAYKzsG9_QRZrT8ST6n4__H0UT4OE9kdVvpOriSIxgiLaM/s1600/29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj908IrM5RZQp3MkZUwmtm5CLhlzK7WV9F5eF56Xh-Cvgp2v-piqj6sSnq8XI60LzAeCzpj33RvEhaitJELV-983igttZy5WXAYKzsG9_QRZrT8ST6n4__H0UT4OE9kdVvpOriSIxgiLaM/s640/29.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A beautiful morning to go to Nome!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVS_evRLw3vcwWEfm52It3DO9j_RZqY6OKymkSGsLlrVNpQFrfL-y_T1hQu4ZvHc6xuIe60XjWuQXHoeAkIh0DdiDQMkxqoREyNr4n2eKqYcwKpT-MfIUxNEQ93NyNiS2VLrRsf7JIioM/s1600/32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVS_evRLw3vcwWEfm52It3DO9j_RZqY6OKymkSGsLlrVNpQFrfL-y_T1hQu4ZvHc6xuIe60XjWuQXHoeAkIh0DdiDQMkxqoREyNr4n2eKqYcwKpT-MfIUxNEQ93NyNiS2VLrRsf7JIioM/s640/32.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Climbing over Cape Nome.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRMWd3OJ0snWehQrP9bFVpz92ezjiKbltewLZ19iLcTmnLHmNACqFOX0wIKxxaj86RaqW5rGdyuuUoV9Km4lFZvhxiTx93dDuSIe_wd3GjOgNMto4N4ZLZhMZhaM5VpDFfuSwfDxU5icI/s1600/31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRMWd3OJ0snWehQrP9bFVpz92ezjiKbltewLZ19iLcTmnLHmNACqFOX0wIKxxaj86RaqW5rGdyuuUoV9Km4lFZvhxiTx93dDuSIe_wd3GjOgNMto4N4ZLZhMZhaM5VpDFfuSwfDxU5icI/s640/31.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Over Cape Nome and headed to town (visible to the far right). </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKGyZG4mUvHK2wCykqsBNJr9PafIs2zHsYJl3Eb6BJac36GmLbm2Zq1ev-5Z1s1GqB6e8C5nu2GQ3GhLTWBnGPNcVz9NygtQXk5FSARsNRwQjgo41Ak1PipGD5MQiEmYOfo9DVg5wQk5k/s1600/33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKGyZG4mUvHK2wCykqsBNJr9PafIs2zHsYJl3Eb6BJac36GmLbm2Zq1ev-5Z1s1GqB6e8C5nu2GQ3GhLTWBnGPNcVz9NygtQXk5FSARsNRwQjgo41Ak1PipGD5MQiEmYOfo9DVg5wQk5k/s640/33.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Running down Front Street in Nome, a little scary because we didn't have a police escort. </span><span style="font-size: small;"> Front Street is one of the main thoroughfares in Nome. Usually a police car with flashing lights meets & follows a team -- letting people know there is a dog team on the road so they can pull over and give the dogs the right of way. </span><span style="font-size: small;">Heidi Sutter unexpectedly caught me right before we jumped off the sea ice into town, but the folks at the finish line were only expecting one team (me), so I watched the police car (who did not see my team) swing around behind Heidi's team. Then I watched regular traffic resume WHILE MY TEAM WAS STILL ON THE ROAD. </span><span style="font-size: small;">Luckily, I did a lot of training on subdivision roads and the Denali Hwy this fall and winter, so I was able to gee the dogs over (Ripp is taking the command in this photo) so we were on the right side of the road and not in oncoming traffic. Cars were still passing me, which was scary, because the dogs are not used to running in TRAFFIC and could dart any which way if they got scared, and since we were running on pavement, there would be no way to stop them. Finally, some smart people on both sides stopped their cars, stopping the traffic behind them, and we were able to run into the chute without getting run over, thank goodness ! Iditarod is an adventure all the way to the finish line !! </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYKTEU0q3GMicMtPWGz9N-7fddov8yCe2VvJvMSt3wM043KWFdMb7O8qA0Fs8v9j-JSCTDM2IleatXiaVawnylnfADu4ssuQ78VsSRt-UMR3SUZo4uo2jjYYBWEUICKFNzS7qxC3yAmqw/s1600/DSC_1008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYKTEU0q3GMicMtPWGz9N-7fddov8yCe2VvJvMSt3wM043KWFdMb7O8qA0Fs8v9j-JSCTDM2IleatXiaVawnylnfADu4ssuQ78VsSRt-UMR3SUZo4uo2jjYYBWEUICKFNzS7qxC3yAmqw/s640/DSC_1008.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Off the street and into the chute! RIPP & RUBY in lead, PETE & VADER in swing, then VINNIE & RAVNI heading up the rest of the team: MAJOR, FEZZIK, FRIGG, VICTOR, GEORGIE, LINNEA, PAPAS & BLACKIE LOU. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSqXE5mJ2NX5py76LDpiGWTQX69E7Ahy290cs54QNZJCG01UWGwZVBLKX3plw1BIuFMoBwUwVr17WXHmf9ISTSYhIr3hbvxw-EUXCWzPQMKKY4PrC09uSr-yUA5j2TPdZQw6xzXjBfc-Y/s1600/35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSqXE5mJ2NX5py76LDpiGWTQX69E7Ahy290cs54QNZJCG01UWGwZVBLKX3plw1BIuFMoBwUwVr17WXHmf9ISTSYhIr3hbvxw-EUXCWzPQMKKY4PrC09uSr-yUA5j2TPdZQw6xzXjBfc-Y/s640/35.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">MAJOR, FEZZIK, FRIGG, VICTOR, GEORGIE, LINNEA, PAPAS & BLACKIE LOU. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfet1TTvuNo638m3gSp288LgXXyQ5pzWvwsxVnItSWvpFC4tqvSIiS15ZtIrfgf507w1-bYEo1hyGtfNYo3jnmzXsTGLAh0USmt5-kV2PFh9rquidh4wJeicTCejQ6jRcTMcXeBZIhgeU/s1600/ripp+ruby+lisbet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfet1TTvuNo638m3gSp288LgXXyQ5pzWvwsxVnItSWvpFC4tqvSIiS15ZtIrfgf507w1-bYEo1hyGtfNYo3jnmzXsTGLAh0USmt5-kV2PFh9rquidh4wJeicTCejQ6jRcTMcXeBZIhgeU/s640/ripp+ruby+lisbet.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Thanking my sweet superdog Ruby & her brother Ripp for getting us to Nome. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzVd8URA3CeA1-rFGxiKnUvBuaojQI8ZG6ulgqPvjhMiCViGczDnyg85j38AcXjbdXx_Gia26U1ARgGLVJggUj4r6v8DSYYXo9WkK4RbP8oRBBq3IuSWfE4BGcW4eBAhLpA0072tXDVYQ/s1600/34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzVd8URA3CeA1-rFGxiKnUvBuaojQI8ZG6ulgqPvjhMiCViGczDnyg85j38AcXjbdXx_Gia26U1ARgGLVJggUj4r6v8DSYYXo9WkK4RbP8oRBBq3IuSWfE4BGcW4eBAhLpA0072tXDVYQ/s640/34.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lisbet & Monica -- Trail buddies !</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicGkrxD7ew0ItUduo7hO7iZcT8X6qjUfnitqQVkcjsO0WXJgQSlNUaGIbpYpkZFiRg_9PWeXODUZxaAW2I-kKD3tSJZPxPVItONdN9ASHSzADjkRgXF0bU23YWAaQ6NDl1tTmdUw7Izyw/s1600/36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicGkrxD7ew0ItUduo7hO7iZcT8X6qjUfnitqQVkcjsO0WXJgQSlNUaGIbpYpkZFiRg_9PWeXODUZxaAW2I-kKD3tSJZPxPVItONdN9ASHSzADjkRgXF0bU23YWAaQ6NDl1tTmdUw7Izyw/s640/36.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">With my #1 supporters, Dad & Mom.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<br />
With the backing of friends, family & Siberian Husky fans from around the world, I finished the 2015 Iditarod one day faster than the year before, as the fastest Siberian Husky team, with 14 dogs still on the line. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
I ran a relaxed schedule until we hit the coast, easing a team comprised of dogs with vastly different conditioning and experience levels into the race routine. I had one dog that had never gone further than 40 miles at once her whole life. So we took it easy. In Unalakleet, I realized my competition was well within striking distance & we picked it up a little. I had three goals for Iditarod this year: I wanted to improve my time from last year, I wanted to be the fastest Siberian Husky team, and I wanted to make it in time for the Official Finisher's Photo (Monica and I missed it last year). </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
Check, check, and check!</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
I couldn't have done any of it without support from friends and family across the globe. I am SO grateful for the assistance I have received and as we are gearing up for another season of training and racing, I am looking again to my supporters for help. Racing costs me an estimated $30,000/ year. I work hard to earn kibble money in the summer, but because racing is so expensive, I count on some of these costs to be defrayed by sponsorships.</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
At Alaskan Kennels, we want to show that Siberians can perform well in all venues, sprint especially, but my discipline is long distance racing. My eventual goal is to have the best placing Siberian Husky team in Iditarod ever ā17th place or better. A lofty goal, but one I think we can realize in the next few years. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
Would you like to help us achieve our goals? Are you someone who adores Siberian Huskies and would like to see them out on the trail where they belong? Consider becoming a team sponsor. Any amount helps & I am so grateful and appreciative of your support. Come on board and help us field a competitive Siberian Husky team in the 2016 Iditarod! </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; text-align: center;">
xoxo Lisbet & Team</div>
</div>
Lisbethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06066513849980376169noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488210705343555399.post-42022868924815653252015-08-03T22:31:00.001-08:002015-08-03T22:42:20.986-08:00Iditarod 2015 Recap: Koyukuk to Shaktoolik (featuring the beautiful Blueberry Hills!)<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY4WJQdap8LJprmihrnzKUzc3owcf_itWRpTY_yRS1v-lBR3PoViyKDQx_lK3Ug6Eych4F6ruRN-KnS8b1kLahDKvwFWrf1MeuLYiGDRJ9INfmrVlOLkc3hyk5MZ8K9BdXetVueaLBdcg/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY4WJQdap8LJprmihrnzKUzc3owcf_itWRpTY_yRS1v-lBR3PoViyKDQx_lK3Ug6Eych4F6ruRN-KnS8b1kLahDKvwFWrf1MeuLYiGDRJ9INfmrVlOLkc3hyk5MZ8K9BdXetVueaLBdcg/s640/1.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Leaving Koyukuk, back on the original race route! </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-w7vCgjw0hJBHtfus2fF44Hd8W2XXissho7pBGGMetcdWOg1bvj-SZOog39sGkrLRRKBMswYF0IteXg7gWnvEAIAHvQgAmGYEe-4x2X0HqQnTk_sUgMP7EhFNICb6aFLMzSyl0Mf_J3w/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-w7vCgjw0hJBHtfus2fF44Hd8W2XXissho7pBGGMetcdWOg1bvj-SZOog39sGkrLRRKBMswYF0IteXg7gWnvEAIAHvQgAmGYEe-4x2X0HqQnTk_sUgMP7EhFNICb6aFLMzSyl0Mf_J3w/s640/2.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">A close-up of my face for Ember Hayes of <a href="http://www.silverbearsundries.com/" target="_blank">Silverbear Sundries</a> and Anne Marie Orheim. Looking pretty ok for 8 days on the trail. M</span><span style="font-size: small;">y cheeks and nose are quite sensitive to the cold after being badly windburnt/frostbit in 2014. This year,</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">I used a combination of Ember's <a href="http://www.silverbearsundries.com/extreme-alaskan.html" target="_blank">Mountain Mama Healing Salve</a> and a lanolin-based cold salve that Anne Marie sent from Norway t</span><span style="font-size: small;">o soothe and protect my face</span><span style="font-size: small;">. (I actually use Ember's salve for everything skin-related, summer or winter. I also use her lotions, deodorant, hemp oil and more. All-natural & highly recommended !! <a href="http://silverbearsundries.com/">Silverbearsundries.com</a>) </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1XCc4B2Q89AOKz3aU_UEcobjV7ymTPSW2iUCovd9VL5_jd7EVO4_jtNlBhNFarNkci3cbjzEtAkRjiECtICIwXzWh28cO6E_zM8XLPPgrbXQWRZNvmMw7X7h-4lsm4JNHFf7CovEF8QY/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1XCc4B2Q89AOKz3aU_UEcobjV7ymTPSW2iUCovd9VL5_jd7EVO4_jtNlBhNFarNkci3cbjzEtAkRjiECtICIwXzWh28cO6E_zM8XLPPgrbXQWRZNvmMw7X7h-4lsm4JNHFf7CovEF8QY/s640/3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Leaving Nulato. In a snow storm. Again. Same thing last year. Is this part of the river a snow hole ? Ripp and Ruby broke trail and led us, Monica, and Yuka Honda from Nulato to Kaltag. Awesome dogs. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd3EDQzJ7Q0K6_I-l9jYCtbI8c_WsrM-g8cGCzCtMQI2mi32xrlaPQGG7kCufTUdp4PfaUgddL6EBVV8P3lCusOBJmp0qLXs5JhyqBFULXqiM3OB5En2-o8SF2Xgqna2Ut4-Z6akt4Rdg/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd3EDQzJ7Q0K6_I-l9jYCtbI8c_WsrM-g8cGCzCtMQI2mi32xrlaPQGG7kCufTUdp4PfaUgddL6EBVV8P3lCusOBJmp0qLXs5JhyqBFULXqiM3OB5En2-o8SF2Xgqna2Ut4-Z6akt4Rdg/s640/4.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Our last night on the Yukon River. Monica's team with Blue Steel in lead. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCT0xTYx1PWoJip9KQRcpy8jgLuRdJoGbdIX7AqwXmfLMBVR2ht1Zorvf5Gzpdp5l7GjQHPnjD6qHb5VEN2vNvyfSqCrLzth0afLxFyo2XkWcKya7IppUT7iGSbkvnh7_crm5Y0VOHiJE/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCT0xTYx1PWoJip9KQRcpy8jgLuRdJoGbdIX7AqwXmfLMBVR2ht1Zorvf5Gzpdp5l7GjQHPnjD6qHb5VEN2vNvyfSqCrLzth0afLxFyo2XkWcKya7IppUT7iGSbkvnh7_crm5Y0VOHiJE/s640/5.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">My mess in Kaltag. Monica lighting her cooker, our teams nestled close together.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZQNjoqvfWH6gZHsz6Vr1WVEkPxDYLDde1NIOW98bM9_Ulf3vLFtzONIj1h6-BCPF1j4dycoMp1b79IMhv5Zj0OlkqI8v4IT0AIhq5cuYp8pbq8yY55qYINI6VwEwsZ3zgjZ4a4SrniE8/s1600/becca+team.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZQNjoqvfWH6gZHsz6Vr1WVEkPxDYLDde1NIOW98bM9_Ulf3vLFtzONIj1h6-BCPF1j4dycoMp1b79IMhv5Zj0OlkqI8v4IT0AIhq5cuYp8pbq8yY55qYINI6VwEwsZ3zgjZ4a4SrniE8/s640/becca+team.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Becca Moore's team resting with the Kaltag log roundhouse in the background. That's where the mushers slept. In 2014, Monica and I had the luxury of having the checkpoint to ourselves. This year, we had to sleep on the opposite side of the cabin from the wood stove :( </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhapej93i6LgPmfpSJ6AcU3Soo9Ll29JlNboPw6h7QcaPGlZ-VqdndLGyugthYjl_EZ65rN0jjEkfS2LPfdXEvvPBjW1ZJsNAWVE87r0DY28W4XIEudIqtqM9IZEPce9CPooc8NdXM-YwE/s1600/8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhapej93i6LgPmfpSJ6AcU3Soo9Ll29JlNboPw6h7QcaPGlZ-VqdndLGyugthYjl_EZ65rN0jjEkfS2LPfdXEvvPBjW1ZJsNAWVE87r0DY28W4XIEudIqtqM9IZEPce9CPooc8NdXM-YwE/s640/8.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Entrusting my sweet Goofy boy to the vet in Kaltag. He (Goofy) had a sore wrist and I didn't want to have to carry him on the 90 mile stretch to Unalakleet if it got worse. The log building behind the vet serves as quarters for race officials and volunteers. On</span><span style="font-size: small;">e of the volunteers was Mark Greene, a Team Anadyr supporter.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRswMpFv5l85VvTqYR3GmnRuJCJEE94p5EY0m2WcQbIH2FNDQf7t-7CrTRMw8tmh6FpvaBEQ5ZJDMFeVxPEY34361lD_5hS48E0GG-q6UdOzKscgxMJCk75Da0lElhn8USUsCW-4XIeWQ/s1600/9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRswMpFv5l85VvTqYR3GmnRuJCJEE94p5EY0m2WcQbIH2FNDQf7t-7CrTRMw8tmh6FpvaBEQ5ZJDMFeVxPEY34361lD_5hS48E0GG-q6UdOzKscgxMJCk75Da0lElhn8USUsCW-4XIeWQ/s640/9.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Everyone except Ripp ready to go to Unalakleet. Like a lazy teenager, he will wait until the very last second (me stepping on the sled) to get up. Or rather, to put it in a more flattering light, like a super efficient sled dog. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEbUatW-Elf1xQt9jsvrtYk3Sbn8aaCTAe14SXHR7PmXx1mAQC3XXX_1my-1bQJ8U51kIlHIyd4H8UG4Hk_vEY_iewR4qXXp02lxK4LcHeFLttUnllqrJ4Tupz06ikyLxOnJFq2pHMl6Q/s1600/10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEbUatW-Elf1xQt9jsvrtYk3Sbn8aaCTAe14SXHR7PmXx1mAQC3XXX_1my-1bQJ8U51kIlHIyd4H8UG4Hk_vEY_iewR4qXXp02lxK4LcHeFLttUnllqrJ4Tupz06ikyLxOnJFq2pHMl6Q/s640/10.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">A grey, somewhat dark, cloudy day to cross the Kaltag Portage, a historical no-man's-land where people have "disappeared" for millennia. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5kgxE2Jy3T457LLNJY06RRuuWT240ZSFUWV8zDjw4CCB46tG5XnY8-hPjd0cz7ySvcFhtPPW6z3Yqtz2RGSjmX1Szmq160XDUqDR2-ze66svfkC77ZTjeqBose5Gwu3WicfiXiHraxbg/s1600/11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5kgxE2Jy3T457LLNJY06RRuuWT240ZSFUWV8zDjw4CCB46tG5XnY8-hPjd0cz7ySvcFhtPPW6z3Yqtz2RGSjmX1Szmq160XDUqDR2-ze66svfkC77ZTjeqBose5Gwu3WicfiXiHraxbg/s640/11.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Snack break just past Tripod Flats Cabin.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhefMCO8Ytuf2faag49wh-Nr1hYBlDL0Z-Ojr2sDCT1xKj5R8SqN-kQZWEbMKDe_B2iu7qbRJ7ikXmtRUy1VzAA9ZdyycwdZk8Zsbdq9yG-6AWdTybn_essD8M1ACGUAUfar61MV6dqVoY/s1600/12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhefMCO8Ytuf2faag49wh-Nr1hYBlDL0Z-Ojr2sDCT1xKj5R8SqN-kQZWEbMKDe_B2iu7qbRJ7ikXmtRUy1VzAA9ZdyycwdZk8Zsbdq9yG-6AWdTybn_essD8M1ACGUAUfar61MV6dqVoY/s640/12.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Surreal light conditions.</span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcNg153hMDl0sRfLTLe7V0JE0HOe3yRf194b0x2zqfYXy20NwEIs30rk5ALtofOKe6Oghh5emdlol-9QBGFyHeVoU76qDby66jprM31v13Ht3T7NJ91ZMdFBN5xhyphenhyphenttzTcfJlkP91ERcQ/s1600/13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcNg153hMDl0sRfLTLe7V0JE0HOe3yRf194b0x2zqfYXy20NwEIs30rk5ALtofOKe6Oghh5emdlol-9QBGFyHeVoU76qDby66jprM31v13Ht3T7NJ91ZMdFBN5xhyphenhyphenttzTcfJlkP91ERcQ/s640/13.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Climbing into the grey. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji-7aJceZOpnSxvE3HrOqRc6WRKoFqHYBPEtnWTcsINjXd1fnfg8RrVrO9gVOdo402-YTEOYAJAENM5MMDlcAZ9Apfw5t-wXwii6ShxeWkEgaAhDaQos6WqcJ_QF1Ml-g60b1LUDtzvAw/s1600/14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji-7aJceZOpnSxvE3HrOqRc6WRKoFqHYBPEtnWTcsINjXd1fnfg8RrVrO9gVOdo402-YTEOYAJAENM5MMDlcAZ9Apfw5t-wXwii6ShxeWkEgaAhDaQos6WqcJ_QF1Ml-g60b1LUDtzvAw/s640/14.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ruby having a roll in the snow. Ripp, ready to keep going, ignores his sister's shenanigans. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWk1QDtH8CKgQ6b6I56f_eHY5RIDwK1owDeRngqfb1DAlZrxD_kryPmsEN6wuOWWvAnNIqXw-iQ5DpWYngpESGopfRVfx87-LBUfcUro6CHj3QnjLqLT4MdWqe1kREejZPKcazuwH4mF4/s1600/old+woman+mt.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWk1QDtH8CKgQ6b6I56f_eHY5RIDwK1owDeRngqfb1DAlZrxD_kryPmsEN6wuOWWvAnNIqXw-iQ5DpWYngpESGopfRVfx87-LBUfcUro6CHj3QnjLqLT4MdWqe1kREejZPKcazuwH4mF4/s400/old+woman+mt.jpg" width="427" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Old Woman Mountain, taken with a disposable camera on the 2014 Iditarod. Note the tree to the left of the mountain. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-KMZaPNCV8Xk8TG-pM8UH6At6SY2CMDpU2TYCF0IuqpCMqpWfJalkE71kbIwMDNgFmCsODrZgJgGcObancLX_CdvnQbc6zRhvLSsOYjukUcqOufMgjIT_cqvEDSLN6kobGUVl7_EPKTA/s1600/15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-KMZaPNCV8Xk8TG-pM8UH6At6SY2CMDpU2TYCF0IuqpCMqpWfJalkE71kbIwMDNgFmCsODrZgJgGcObancLX_CdvnQbc6zRhvLSsOYjukUcqOufMgjIT_cqvEDSLN6kobGUVl7_EPKTA/s320/15.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Tried to recreate the shot, but the mountain was hiding and my timing off. But I'm pretty sure that big spruce tree directly above the leaders is the same spruce tree in the 2014 shot ! </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3No6Wm66mcRU1_ffPf21t5lPXjIhnieVu7dqrm_WyX_y1DaDvKZvhTkR14RtFWiPKVn8PbPn9QdAdHhmMSu4YwxaFNxNnNPm1BZw3KqS-y9vjSE4pvG06wJqGnr_tzAYJik2g144uNZk/s1600/16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3No6Wm66mcRU1_ffPf21t5lPXjIhnieVu7dqrm_WyX_y1DaDvKZvhTkR14RtFWiPKVn8PbPn9QdAdHhmMSu4YwxaFNxNnNPm1BZw3KqS-y9vjSE4pvG06wJqGnr_tzAYJik2g144uNZk/s640/16.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Old Old Woman Cabin. The walls inside are covered in neat inscriptions and signatures from mushers and travelers from years past.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnAO25WFyp0fxBNdTl5gnqmCopOcflXj-2zD8FajbA-BbmhMNPglLkA8658n0wSIbGRGOfSrjhAt2He5NrCwBXEubmvaEtAIZv95hNBNDNT2ed7kgDFzIFmWUh6wj5qoueSV0sF2wyFgI/s1600/22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnAO25WFyp0fxBNdTl5gnqmCopOcflXj-2zD8FajbA-BbmhMNPglLkA8658n0wSIbGRGOfSrjhAt2He5NrCwBXEubmvaEtAIZv95hNBNDNT2ed7kgDFzIFmWUh6wj5qoueSV0sF2wyFgI/s640/22.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Major and Fezzik snoozing in front of New Old Woman Cabin; built and maintained by the BLM. Really nice !! </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7BcpvJ4bA3UOlR2bgSlcD9CpgTX76TIHEu0cw0fsq79FofN0AoOOyhyphenhyphenTs8j_JUKLnc0fTJ1rqop6iC51mGNUA6cilo90ZTSZHyq7NQRQfWYR6bJtoRIEgI0pLF9Jd3_QDrpgJuwcjp64/s1600/18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7BcpvJ4bA3UOlR2bgSlcD9CpgTX76TIHEu0cw0fsq79FofN0AoOOyhyphenhyphenTs8j_JUKLnc0fTJ1rqop6iC51mGNUA6cilo90ZTSZHyq7NQRQfWYR6bJtoRIEgI0pLF9Jd3_QDrpgJuwcjp64/s640/18.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Yuka Honda.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMsG3rldVmrwGHDSHYrr2AGvwWfy4UZK0DSz9XNNQJ7wIlGal9TSiPcv8TGmgJVKeC3E6GlsEJMQQNzwG1wk7gNqbwwgG1MhgMPgkNvbB18BMGgJt9OEF-9BzQy-oY6FfMjAuHaZoII7g/s1600/19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMsG3rldVmrwGHDSHYrr2AGvwWfy4UZK0DSz9XNNQJ7wIlGal9TSiPcv8TGmgJVKeC3E6GlsEJMQQNzwG1wk7gNqbwwgG1MhgMPgkNvbB18BMGgJt9OEF-9BzQy-oY6FfMjAuHaZoII7g/s640/19.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Becca Moore positioning herself at the tip of the trail as to pull a fancy race maneuver & sneak out unnoticed by the rest of us ;)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixklx15SGfjwL5NZB0_wf01Cz7NQbahNbHPIAkcpGbKEPeGZBiZ_1uKPjai0WJSbPKY3uZzoMLbUupEcnYbEw2q0wIkA7UMiWxvmGCiRdfedWBf2Is2peVDR9IDRywQRZ2-GuWvPki3SU/s1600/20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixklx15SGfjwL5NZB0_wf01Cz7NQbahNbHPIAkcpGbKEPeGZBiZ_1uKPjai0WJSbPKY3uZzoMLbUupEcnYbEw2q0wIkA7UMiWxvmGCiRdfedWBf2Is2peVDR9IDRywQRZ2-GuWvPki3SU/s640/20.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Alan Stevens heading inside for a snooze. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOvIeGdPBlOGUNVBVhSOsvzEtlfDoYCypIWVVxcVbjk0-mmFFB-4p9IZp_6DoTnMP1UchExA637TU5DliagWl1kuprKS2YJcKk7XwlSE7tpi57H1x0SEymx1e9cQNv7aK-_tpMODSMepQ/s1600/21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOvIeGdPBlOGUNVBVhSOsvzEtlfDoYCypIWVVxcVbjk0-mmFFB-4p9IZp_6DoTnMP1UchExA637TU5DliagWl1kuprKS2YJcKk7XwlSE7tpi57H1x0SEymx1e9cQNv7aK-_tpMODSMepQ/s640/21.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Georgie the glutton lounging in the straw. She managed to gulp down an incredible amount of kibble some musher left by the side of the cabin parking area before I could get her away from it. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgO_ym7LjOIrECjhPt8xafCuVRueHvqpQOPi5dvx962KRQju7LZE2-HYZdxRlSUkWBtAUKCHt5ygA-ExpOMGOIMKKEXlMRf0LXlzmjrGtyJMOoxJ2E9nbXv2CmCPxBxrSqluwkblOHqGM/s1600/23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgO_ym7LjOIrECjhPt8xafCuVRueHvqpQOPi5dvx962KRQju7LZE2-HYZdxRlSUkWBtAUKCHt5ygA-ExpOMGOIMKKEXlMRf0LXlzmjrGtyJMOoxJ2E9nbXv2CmCPxBxrSqluwkblOHqGM/s640/23.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">My four lead dogs: Vader, Pete, Ripp (behind) & Ruby.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHLgWKxwSKMvSR-sc2-1o5Wlw_G7_a_0h38aokFAv-0cD0id-wCVYfC_tatpZeGDDwEDC_k7keP3VyFDq8iR5zXuaLwLYSJVYpVb_7dhxFNcvTIUbs2wsow4O_VJ7pa7L3Y9fbe9j0kpQ/s1600/24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHLgWKxwSKMvSR-sc2-1o5Wlw_G7_a_0h38aokFAv-0cD0id-wCVYfC_tatpZeGDDwEDC_k7keP3VyFDq8iR5zXuaLwLYSJVYpVb_7dhxFNcvTIUbs2wsow4O_VJ7pa7L3Y9fbe9j0kpQ/s640/24.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Snapshot of our fantastic night run into Unalakleet. Just taken to remind me of how nice the trail was, how the dogs were feeling fresh, and of the fantastic big green northern lights that lit up the night sky for a good portion of the run. The aurora gave off a really good show, undulating wildly, arching directly above the little headlights in a string behind me. I turned my headlight off and almost got a crook in my neck from staring skyward. Monica, Allan, Yuka, Becca & I were all traveling pretty close together. Close, but not so close that when I saw their headlights all pointing straight forward when the aurora was dancing like crazy I could yell at them to LOOK UP, guys !! But close enough that if I stopped to snack, they would catch up and it would take me a while to pull ahead out of the beam of a headlight. This became a problem when I had to pee. I pulled out my ski pole and kicked and poled for a while until I had pulled a ways ahead of Allen. Then I looked ahead for a flattish spot on the trail that would work for me to drop my snowpants and have a pee on the go. Just up ahead the trail curved gently to the right. That would be fine. So I drop my pants and am going about my business when all of a sudden the team drops into the ONLY ravine in 90 miles of trail and of course I have to navigate it with my pants around my ankles. ha. ha. ha. Typical. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhso-8pCiUIo2udgPgm0gTu_DLJsEsxHBhAarpSg7E4uLkK3Zo8DhWJaMsQDuwKNBcHm6BIahhRp6HXG2byL6wwcURMQr2SToP_uFf2wj8X_USErhy8_PGfSyEs1-pK8i6nheL5GJxxbg/s1600/25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhso-8pCiUIo2udgPgm0gTu_DLJsEsxHBhAarpSg7E4uLkK3Zo8DhWJaMsQDuwKNBcHm6BIahhRp6HXG2byL6wwcURMQr2SToP_uFf2wj8X_USErhy8_PGfSyEs1-pK8i6nheL5GJxxbg/s640/25.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">The team nestled next to bags of hay (serving as a windblock) in Unalakleet. Most mushers and racers use straw instead of hay to bed their dogs, as straw has a better insulating value and is cheaper. However, every year Iditarod buys a load of hay to send to Rainy Pass, where it is fed to the lodge's horses after the race. As this year's race route bypassed Rainy Pass, the hay got sent to Unalakleet. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm8z-Tdei-YX-CP5FRT9SWADNz_mht-mHImbI1cLI6FuFAwSCVLexwwLJi2a6XpPX9WOEU3MSZfGIBybNGjAWG9BpdtK73i9HsSCLy0o1eaZdumyBrn5ZZz6WkiYjZWyFVRWJ8u-VVPgs/s1600/26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm8z-Tdei-YX-CP5FRT9SWADNz_mht-mHImbI1cLI6FuFAwSCVLexwwLJi2a6XpPX9WOEU3MSZfGIBybNGjAWG9BpdtK73i9HsSCLy0o1eaZdumyBrn5ZZz6WkiYjZWyFVRWJ8u-VVPgs/s640/26.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">The dogs snoozing in their hay beds.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2uUQEZsrQg4utJ66EBIM0_rAlgpX1x7F_9_GSW09tI3UF_6I8yjLAILuiTw1hKfPfyFf907wcEALzbLyzJuZX2xCGywKA_piAp5OFBCByCOOaG7zHDlQXYvObj7MsTyqOcpb32eXVMdM/s1600/27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2uUQEZsrQg4utJ66EBIM0_rAlgpX1x7F_9_GSW09tI3UF_6I8yjLAILuiTw1hKfPfyFf907wcEALzbLyzJuZX2xCGywKA_piAp5OFBCByCOOaG7zHDlQXYvObj7MsTyqOcpb32eXVMdM/s640/27.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Victor made himself a bed INSIDE a hay bag! He looooooved it in there. I had to pull him out to put his booties on, and then he dived right back in again.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaZaVK4ErhZS4ee8atKXRGP3uCmRyQAwHd6vmQWf3-5P1v3PkMP8kRkwkxNH7hYaF9gSlHUEmxHRnj2MZsEMM2fGcgHO7HS2UmR9gX1mC9DD1yRi8uh0Xp5iLyPg8AhGoVpIY8IrQVo8Q/s1600/28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaZaVK4ErhZS4ee8atKXRGP3uCmRyQAwHd6vmQWf3-5P1v3PkMP8kRkwkxNH7hYaF9gSlHUEmxHRnj2MZsEMM2fGcgHO7HS2UmR9gX1mC9DD1yRi8uh0Xp5iLyPg8AhGoVpIY8IrQVo8Q/s640/28.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">On the river leaving Unalakleet.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxZ9NjfeixigYh3xftSwO6h4Z_Xbppx5ghBppwiwFPms2GsjB1EdhOR-aE40W0aZzy-jWaa9Eh-FusAKcQU79JwoC_WPOEmQFy9g6WmHmArkSV8qtpkW4lo6Kh51aS8oJeXmvBIY3wxS4/s1600/29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxZ9NjfeixigYh3xftSwO6h4Z_Xbppx5ghBppwiwFPms2GsjB1EdhOR-aE40W0aZzy-jWaa9Eh-FusAKcQU79JwoC_WPOEmQFy9g6WmHmArkSV8qtpkW4lo6Kh51aS8oJeXmvBIY3wxS4/s640/29.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Some windblown spots at the base of the Blueberry Hills.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFmOIaUB5XNC5OfUR6sRJeLWuYsiv-guNutcKEbpdSg45dWvyGWRbizSacF2i7UL1Yy0G20xlbcTabAvIRI0uXNvWj3htnr4_oq_GHQzWeznTsrmO8OVmBbq8hGZGoYPJukuXQzkHpbOU/s1600/31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFmOIaUB5XNC5OfUR6sRJeLWuYsiv-guNutcKEbpdSg45dWvyGWRbizSacF2i7UL1Yy0G20xlbcTabAvIRI0uXNvWj3htnr4_oq_GHQzWeznTsrmO8OVmBbq8hGZGoYPJukuXQzkHpbOU/s640/31.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ripp & Ruby chilling after the first steep climb into the hills.</span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUApTZwCosp4WADIkwDHdwktuYhc7po9zC75z4QvGu8mi0c8ykkrc9QmNQQgtzdb7Nc_mENIQwbTKwVcIiEn0rrQCEXNHkcv-cBgBF-TxEwN8SHCavITNsqn5VkB7KSlije0V3qXElwJc/s1600/32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUApTZwCosp4WADIkwDHdwktuYhc7po9zC75z4QvGu8mi0c8ykkrc9QmNQQgtzdb7Nc_mENIQwbTKwVcIiEn0rrQCEXNHkcv-cBgBF-TxEwN8SHCavITNsqn5VkB7KSlije0V3qXElwJc/s640/32.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Monica's team leaving the misty ocean air behind for now. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb1iol1CMnjoO584Zj1umRGNsg5bIncBfX8gf4Sl5d3W_ParQm1PT9VxeutvEjDdy9dYsvwM_rPVxfS9MnWi51sKRSbEP_wm8GDWCMIT-Km6it26JBaSjiAad1RsH8YmUdt8_M-H1cScY/s1600/33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb1iol1CMnjoO584Zj1umRGNsg5bIncBfX8gf4Sl5d3W_ParQm1PT9VxeutvEjDdy9dYsvwM_rPVxfS9MnWi51sKRSbEP_wm8GDWCMIT-Km6it26JBaSjiAad1RsH8YmUdt8_M-H1cScY/s640/33.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Windblown tussocks.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9TUhyphenhyphenUT_qxyFDgTko__UuP8PSSHzKBJuC8odIL1egnyEf6LG1o3ktwxCoKt9qUmOgZD232cKWsR4H52CKDxEUJxVwQ2BJWDUo70gH0pJqik-f5jSdTxEtsVfCwjbIUbsqJtSaRPP2isI/s1600/34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9TUhyphenhyphenUT_qxyFDgTko__UuP8PSSHzKBJuC8odIL1egnyEf6LG1o3ktwxCoKt9qUmOgZD232cKWsR4H52CKDxEUJxVwQ2BJWDUo70gH0pJqik-f5jSdTxEtsVfCwjbIUbsqJtSaRPP2isI/s640/34.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Whaaaaat a day !!! </span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiq7K52Tc6QaPAv9CkMNRxwsJKw2cHsPX3EauRDIehs5S6pdDdfIcwWpkX4tfzma-HKHe20i0DqgqFBk4V3aFnJXZqlurQ4g8PDZiISPurzZYt4n5x-_U1TVijh19a7K_jFiqDCIauhrs/s1600/35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiq7K52Tc6QaPAv9CkMNRxwsJKw2cHsPX3EauRDIehs5S6pdDdfIcwWpkX4tfzma-HKHe20i0DqgqFBk4V3aFnJXZqlurQ4g8PDZiISPurzZYt4n5x-_U1TVijh19a7K_jFiqDCIauhrs/s640/35.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Blue Steel leading Team Zappa over the hills.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_nazb3KI-Uuz8NWowWfrJkDS8wD9ATABfnUBMXRgF89un_4wvmzcJpRNh7Y_MQwMnqj-TQIjJn2lihPu9RBrHrbKbyMs7DVGLhlLdr9EQ9NDBNtsQT0Z6KrsNufQAL7m2ca0PDOACFLU/s1600/36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_nazb3KI-Uuz8NWowWfrJkDS8wD9ATABfnUBMXRgF89un_4wvmzcJpRNh7Y_MQwMnqj-TQIjJn2lihPu9RBrHrbKbyMs7DVGLhlLdr9EQ9NDBNtsQT0Z6KrsNufQAL7m2ca0PDOACFLU/s640/36.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpv2zwiJA_TDG6DA_shMVmHreQrJ6LB5Wo0HVK0W_RnWsgxGWHrTP2KGRpkxNjqWM8rcVMJGscJiYzCmNq0qe4wkyC8GuIbw5uquXQt6AOxEvvutzBg0s7w_uRLSO6jdAakHCKAz9JX-U/s1600/37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpv2zwiJA_TDG6DA_shMVmHreQrJ6LB5Wo0HVK0W_RnWsgxGWHrTP2KGRpkxNjqWM8rcVMJGscJiYzCmNq0qe4wkyC8GuIbw5uquXQt6AOxEvvutzBg0s7w_uRLSO6jdAakHCKAz9JX-U/s640/37.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Egavik fish camp I think ? </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiOU4Y7ASbUCS-JZHlaJxQ9-VBnknYceVMCXBsT7HAM4afKo9Eah6qKdcuu5ja4rGDi3lRJ3xcsTmKEcQvoxrTlpldleIYsbm9-WXTgbcp0aVBDhRqzgHqyIrPWZ-cdhT8QpA4xJBOJ9c/s1600/38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiOU4Y7ASbUCS-JZHlaJxQ9-VBnknYceVMCXBsT7HAM4afKo9Eah6qKdcuu5ja4rGDi3lRJ3xcsTmKEcQvoxrTlpldleIYsbm9-WXTgbcp0aVBDhRqzgHqyIrPWZ-cdhT8QpA4xJBOJ9c/s640/38.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Looking back at our ascent. </span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKwrY1F4chaQWqq2Ilf_rWd05MO1oCG0WCdT9UJoDO6xWEKW81FP8-AEmSPKP5pjDrHdZMrEwYhrQ4ZJakAhNWrIpqU1pUpF5BoMrauR6b8ES1fT7C_RWQ9rrZfu_zAChYfa3QF273Frg/s1600/39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKwrY1F4chaQWqq2Ilf_rWd05MO1oCG0WCdT9UJoDO6xWEKW81FP8-AEmSPKP5pjDrHdZMrEwYhrQ4ZJakAhNWrIpqU1pUpF5BoMrauR6b8ES1fT7C_RWQ9rrZfu_zAChYfa3QF273Frg/s640/39.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Trail buddies. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGCcScixeATIIkW2HrGAydLFQx4peGgw3jR6gRBNlwNmTRpWxPus-u3qeSwgLVVeIniTiFPm076CkK-9iHzTHJI5D0WuvVV-BPL7d0OyJGbvIoxQXAX0v_t_0n1yGgtUIJ-864Zub0XQQ/s1600/41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGCcScixeATIIkW2HrGAydLFQx4peGgw3jR6gRBNlwNmTRpWxPus-u3qeSwgLVVeIniTiFPm076CkK-9iHzTHJI5D0WuvVV-BPL7d0OyJGbvIoxQXAX0v_t_0n1yGgtUIJ-864Zub0XQQ/s640/41.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Woooowww.... what else can you say ?? </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjVtfFhp7qeqc29BJvENNAnJidne4cwp2pIJHa6AcBEzOUjJ3Hrhujce6tvImb_t3JVrB-sSrupvjEtAP1HHu3VTAKYglwNZw_UoUhdkypVmBR94_br2UsrGFf7GTIs6Nr7M3UmcGD6mU/s1600/42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjVtfFhp7qeqc29BJvENNAnJidne4cwp2pIJHa6AcBEzOUjJ3Hrhujce6tvImb_t3JVrB-sSrupvjEtAP1HHu3VTAKYglwNZw_UoUhdkypVmBR94_br2UsrGFf7GTIs6Nr7M3UmcGD6mU/s640/42.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Descending down to the dune line that leads to Shaktoolik. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEdccWH9Y02g6b3K8sO-iUfwNoF2dQQxeAUWEnQfy7o24DRkCq6zgSJBraZtDWO6jqXR__aSypewf5Qmy-jqw7ctz0Dqo1lFWAfjXHV2oS4kkS6yiB_5WL0p8ZQkrECbVS1J_NKH4wnLs/s1600/43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEdccWH9Y02g6b3K8sO-iUfwNoF2dQQxeAUWEnQfy7o24DRkCq6zgSJBraZtDWO6jqXR__aSypewf5Qmy-jqw7ctz0Dqo1lFWAfjXHV2oS4kkS6yiB_5WL0p8ZQkrECbVS1J_NKH4wnLs/s640/43.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Back down to sea level. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYp2y7DAU-lUREZZr1nHAQEI_HOGnw5SQfv-roa3yJG9BjnqS7m4404oOEQ662Q37UQxUQRolAVqlpmqNSx15OBF7kCYuG9O-edTcPkA_l0ZONrstiiOP_0EMLwgB9E_PEPnUnHQHOA0c/s1600/44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYp2y7DAU-lUREZZr1nHAQEI_HOGnw5SQfv-roa3yJG9BjnqS7m4404oOEQ662Q37UQxUQRolAVqlpmqNSx15OBF7kCYuG9O-edTcPkA_l0ZONrstiiOP_0EMLwgB9E_PEPnUnHQHOA0c/s640/44.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Snack break at the base of the hills, before it got windy. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2MUnPkxkxeppXLpFc1vrESu99JhB_acI90canYvJdNckZHuMHIL3IEQX-PrZGmwud_OiIfqY0Mxhu2qxBGhAVFU-M-TjGFlka7wmQzDB8hVoLmfzAPYckF1AR-WTp5sU0kKGlBu_MnaQ/s1600/45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2MUnPkxkxeppXLpFc1vrESu99JhB_acI90canYvJdNckZHuMHIL3IEQX-PrZGmwud_OiIfqY0Mxhu2qxBGhAVFU-M-TjGFlka7wmQzDB8hVoLmfzAPYckF1AR-WTp5sU0kKGlBu_MnaQ/s640/45.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Not much farther in along the dune line, the wind really picked up! Minor ground storm going on here. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAlE1EobBfIsRVdsC3DrwCZNjVX7xVkD_djG5gzmDydWiVzFtBsyJRxhTxCg8HV51h6ty8WAD0UIx0ofzQFA88PIXuiR7jRMndndHKTySuuBMZAMl0mZd3Oq0HhCgh1mH12vHaXin6-Ss/s1600/45.5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAlE1EobBfIsRVdsC3DrwCZNjVX7xVkD_djG5gzmDydWiVzFtBsyJRxhTxCg8HV51h6ty8WAD0UIx0ofzQFA88PIXuiR7jRMndndHKTySuuBMZAMl0mZd3Oq0HhCgh1mH12vHaXin6-Ss/s640/45.5.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ruby & Ripp doing an awesome job leading the team to Shaktoolik in a ferocious windstorm. This was the kind of wind that tests the mettle of a team, causes sleds to barrel roll, frostbites uncovered skin, and builds up giant snow drifts in seconds. To get a sense of how deep some of the drifts were, to the left of the team is a trail marker, buried almost up to the top. Markers were scarce, blown over and covered by drifting snow. (While it is hard to get lost here because you are following the dune line, it is definately a lot easier to travel on the trail when you can find it, rather than busting through drifts to make your own way ! )</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Lisbethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06066513849980376169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488210705343555399.post-11478596764395569312015-07-31T22:58:00.000-08:002015-07-31T22:58:13.546-08:00Iditarod 2015 Recap: Galena to Koyukuk<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLum3l3uqlEJP8cYATyt8oHRU2hWlcB7Nxk3rzk4lSogYekiLQ2OfMZ9X5TfWCHTHjYfSJ2DOua9vT_5uINH3YVFG7OrwzRzBu27NIekOXSMgs5tjuZbFsCIZ-txwAtqAwQULSfH66CNY/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLum3l3uqlEJP8cYATyt8oHRU2hWlcB7Nxk3rzk4lSogYekiLQ2OfMZ9X5TfWCHTHjYfSJ2DOua9vT_5uINH3YVFG7OrwzRzBu27NIekOXSMgs5tjuZbFsCIZ-txwAtqAwQULSfH66CNY/s400/2.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lots of traversing narrow portages from slough </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">to </span><span style="font-size: small;">slough </span><span style="font-size: small;">before entering more open country.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFBbquqGQx2e2TLfFQgOZ2FFyPaG-geRk6ZBLSyUouJT5cEd5A5PevQDf2CdnTrqhBL6NgZqUqHwoPugzl_KpOr8X7qGYhZ2a6MzG8I5TQlOyt5FzI5x57mSpzeWwziwoihaF2DS7kh4s/s1600/day+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFBbquqGQx2e2TLfFQgOZ2FFyPaG-geRk6ZBLSyUouJT5cEd5A5PevQDf2CdnTrqhBL6NgZqUqHwoPugzl_KpOr8X7qGYhZ2a6MzG8I5TQlOyt5FzI5x57mSpzeWwziwoihaF2DS7kh4s/s400/day+5.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Out of Galena on Day Five of the 2015 Iditarod!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilavNPMQzDkqNSQYFHyJMQtH0SyK3GeQGZUPzTxu70UvwTdjSLdQkj2H3o4qD5hTTmSQzSJY983sQ1G3jOeKNKOoytHl7kClJE086J244iVpvin6A1fSe-0C-cD400JooaXTp5lzr0SzI/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilavNPMQzDkqNSQYFHyJMQtH0SyK3GeQGZUPzTxu70UvwTdjSLdQkj2H3o4qD5hTTmSQzSJY983sQ1G3jOeKNKOoytHl7kClJE086J244iVpvin6A1fSe-0C-cD400JooaXTp5lzr0SzI/s640/3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Traversing one of many wide open swamps on the 80+ mile run to Huslia.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh67jTNp65ue4F0IzZbYPXWq8mz3ZO3FlBBOGnu2V7qAk04amJSohGOTodTVCY7mt1sLY-RlC1xDnEPeXGaG4q_eVP3EuQBueuoZG3JSr6xC8WX7bHh5qSYHmMGUJvlAekxrv0FosXHL0E/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh67jTNp65ue4F0IzZbYPXWq8mz3ZO3FlBBOGnu2V7qAk04amJSohGOTodTVCY7mt1sLY-RlC1xDnEPeXGaG4q_eVP3EuQBueuoZG3JSr6xC8WX7bHh5qSYHmMGUJvlAekxrv0FosXHL0E/s640/4.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Snack break. Ripp rocking it in single lead. Ruby busy taking off her booties and doing something, I don't know what, behind Vader.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqW_uUdUsfxhxyySDnOzBgjM_FUTDU9xNzT45kylxp6Gq6lkO55VWAkLXpkmLv0zYOyxN29fDP6pWhItT-zgWp4ye7d_SBPripp-BS_5murfedkjrl6HrxMayvyqoZzBBkHxtCcof6t7Q/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqW_uUdUsfxhxyySDnOzBgjM_FUTDU9xNzT45kylxp6Gq6lkO55VWAkLXpkmLv0zYOyxN29fDP6pWhItT-zgWp4ye7d_SBPripp-BS_5murfedkjrl6HrxMayvyqoZzBBkHxtCcof6t7Q/s640/5.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is a picture of one of the dumbest things I did on Iditarod 2015. Although we were told there was a shelter cabin 30 something miles out of Huslia, I was hell-bent on going at least half-way (40-45 miles) before stopping and giving the dogs a break. I saw the cabin, saw the headlights of other mushers milling around outside it, and kept going. I debated stopping, but it looked like a crowd there and we had six more miles to go before reaching approximately half-way. That will be the LAST time I bypass a warm shelter cabin in lieu of a cold camp six miles up the trail! It was cold, -50F when you dropped out of the hilly little portages we were traversing onto the lakes, </span><span style="font-size: small;">according to the thermometers affixed to sleds</span><span style="font-size: small;">. </span><span style="font-size: small;"> At this point, I hadn't taken my 24 yet, so I was sooooo tired. I was almost nodding off just walking around. It occurred to me that, with this cold, this could actually be a pretty dangerous situation. </span><span style="font-size: small;">It was too cold a</span><span style="font-size: small;">nd we weren't going to be stopped long enough </span><span style="font-size: small;">for me to go through all the effort of unpacking, shedding layers and crawling into my sleeping bag. Besides that, I didn't trust myself to wake up from a short nap, and especially didn't trust my alarm clock, which was useless in the cold and not loud enough to hear tucked inside a jacket. Besides <i>that</i>, I didn't want my feet to get cold like they did outside of Manley. So.... I stomped around, built a fire, walked around in circles, checked my watch, affirmed to the mushers who passed me by (who all thought I was crazy for bypassing a warm cabin in -40F) that I was ok, walked around in more circles, fed my fire, and checked my watch. "Poor sucker," I'm sure all the mushers fresh off their cabin stay thought. But the worst part of my cold camp came when Christian Turner stopped to make sure I was ok. "There were two skijorers at the cabin asking about you," he said. What!? Noooooooooo!! It was Wendy & Laura, two friends who were skiing this section of the trail with their dogs. I had SO been looking forward to seeing them. And I had passed them right by. That's what made me feel dumbest of all. This is what this experience taught me (which, like most things learned the hard way, seems obvious after the fact) --when an opportunity to spend some time at a warm cabin in the cold in the middle of the Alaskan wilderness presents itself within 10 miles of a planned stop ..... STOP. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbqmeG8rrGQ1H4JJZfY43qjFy4mvVvSlHycApHygeLsz-Dm0mqDaJa9xMgVIJTmr_fx3SeXAItEAQuM2I7WqxQ3J0wxF2WnBmc1POvMrzCb8bAQMN91AKKy4XeKkbwrcMC4H7ArNAsmpY/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbqmeG8rrGQ1H4JJZfY43qjFy4mvVvSlHycApHygeLsz-Dm0mqDaJa9xMgVIJTmr_fx3SeXAItEAQuM2I7WqxQ3J0wxF2WnBmc1POvMrzCb8bAQMN91AKKy4XeKkbwrcMC4H7ArNAsmpY/s640/6.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The dogs in the early dawn of a difficult (for the musher) night. After we left our cold camp, I just could not stay awake. I kept nodding off, my knees would buckle, and I would jerk awake. The trail was monotonous: up and over gentle rises and down onto lakes/swamps, up and over gentle rises and down onto lakes/swamps. In most spots the trail was narrow -- about the width of a snow machine track and lined with black spruce. I fell asleep once and got hit in the shoulder by a tree branch. It knocked me off my sled, but I had my cooler attached to the back of the runners, so it just scooped me up as I fell over. I yelled at the dogs and they stopped. I was up quick and falling asleep again just as fast. It got colder as we got closer to Huslia. When we dropped onto the Koyukuk River, it got even colder. Some people say there is no difference between -40F, -50F and -60F. They are wrong. There was a slight breeze on the river too, so I have no idea how cold it was with added windchill, but it was confirmed when we got to Huslia that it had been -60F on the river. I knew it was cold because the chill penetrated all my layers -- which have kept me warm at -50F. I wasn't actually cold though. Peddling kept my feet warm but I was a little worried about my hands. The insides of my lynx overmitts had become coated with frost that had been brought in each time I took my hands out to fiddle with something. I had put hand warmers inside and as they heated up, the frost melted and my liner gloves became soaked. The wet gloves froze when taken out from the overmitts and my hands began to get cold. Fortunately, I had a spare pair of fleece-lined wool mittens that I had made when I had taken my friend Laura's wool-mitten making class (same Laura I missed seeing on the trail). They were not wind-proof, but they sure were warm! I switched between keeping a hand in a pocket, behind me out of the wind, or swinging it around to keep the blood flowing and managed to keep my hands toasty all the way to Huslia, where I would be able to hang and dry my soaked fur mitts. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHWZBhMMt5H6KXPpPii0zJH28ZAvBiE5aYkdhE225aZKmuwQxojvOEKZSoqMSvspJ7xzVIuKKRr3HMrpL4lUXT2hO1cp4SRfzScp1T0cjTWVPZWxUMbGvjDRf4SWUmiv9aRUB-f_zgiQc/s1600/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHWZBhMMt5H6KXPpPii0zJH28ZAvBiE5aYkdhE225aZKmuwQxojvOEKZSoqMSvspJ7xzVIuKKRr3HMrpL4lUXT2hO1cp4SRfzScp1T0cjTWVPZWxUMbGvjDRf4SWUmiv9aRUB-f_zgiQc/s640/7.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mist burning off in the sun in the swamps outside Huslia. The dogs wore boots and jackets atop their thick coats. They wolfed their snacks and seemed to be fine in the deep cold (of course, their ancestors <i>did</i> come from Siberia !!).</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrP_b9hQK-xi3jeNm5hL8GKBo8NIXQDqOHCfR43kkkwB2Ms0qBvW7Fm6WESu9JO2H-J8_4wPautMeVODk8jNuc0Ud5LWaS6X1Bo4vRbUGE8WcZW5KVasy_9RTNHuQG5oPf-9niZK417vc/s1600/8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrP_b9hQK-xi3jeNm5hL8GKBo8NIXQDqOHCfR43kkkwB2Ms0qBvW7Fm6WESu9JO2H-J8_4wPautMeVODk8jNuc0Ud5LWaS6X1Bo4vRbUGE8WcZW5KVasy_9RTNHuQG5oPf-9niZK417vc/s640/8.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Cute, frosty dogs in -40F.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimRPKW5JjNv_J1aiuQ2U4zo8KV1EM5p9sPaxhHKFC304be2t7bYtrFM3jlQyhIA87Cs6pbBM9pCD6TL0h9iJTTq_-5cwFJNA52j3wQ4sKQYkzJ24jJ5E_bZ3Kc2-I7W_bKNPoP7AtaTPs/s1600/9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimRPKW5JjNv_J1aiuQ2U4zo8KV1EM5p9sPaxhHKFC304be2t7bYtrFM3jlQyhIA87Cs6pbBM9pCD6TL0h9iJTTq_-5cwFJNA52j3wQ4sKQYkzJ24jJ5E_bZ3Kc2-I7W_bKNPoP7AtaTPs/s640/9.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Vinnie & Pete.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo3xXmpm5cJntz7lvXUOWeaXeDpi7CIiSxVyYIG2BVmM4fekJafLN0gou1Vu5t-BnvTc_fcH0BBa9fqaApkNLRJ6HCY9eZS6AUGqg3eoY8s7mxHGxBqvd5y1oxXy5lz9QV9nOXVvaEnYU/s1600/10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo3xXmpm5cJntz7lvXUOWeaXeDpi7CIiSxVyYIG2BVmM4fekJafLN0gou1Vu5t-BnvTc_fcH0BBa9fqaApkNLRJ6HCY9eZS6AUGqg3eoY8s7mxHGxBqvd5y1oxXy5lz9QV9nOXVvaEnYU/s640/10.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Major & Goofy.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglLhEFqUdxNh43vE8EWvw0h8CLv5BtQKWvqraCj49yAJudH-x9N9PoG5RpK2FKpFoksfO4AHHHFyPCDTPkI1CkSXDB6TTs7CwVOaDB6R2HbcdUnPkBlVP8rKBXO6CjwF6nT06mLhP0xGc/s1600/11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglLhEFqUdxNh43vE8EWvw0h8CLv5BtQKWvqraCj49yAJudH-x9N9PoG5RpK2FKpFoksfO4AHHHFyPCDTPkI1CkSXDB6TTs7CwVOaDB6R2HbcdUnPkBlVP8rKBXO6CjwF6nT06mLhP0xGc/s640/11.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ravni & Papas.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiL6uXcvam_8iDzAOyOL5LNxKybCAqnGasMof9pl8FdWTVpI9aRGhD-SuO5mPEYdLYIb61yAAPdUMgwnPpwdD-x5cTQEVbFPC7VKbOmvvQd1YsB5PZtCUF34eR9t1MGiy3I1ieYrRH1fE/s1600/12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiL6uXcvam_8iDzAOyOL5LNxKybCAqnGasMof9pl8FdWTVpI9aRGhD-SuO5mPEYdLYIb61yAAPdUMgwnPpwdD-x5cTQEVbFPC7VKbOmvvQd1YsB5PZtCUF34eR9t1MGiy3I1ieYrRH1fE/s640/12.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Blackie Lou & Vinnie.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjun5QRmzWJoE8K7k81hriVEpeJiVsASUcvN4N8NWfjpksbMhiopSn3VuvKCO3HDU3jxfKrGEBPH-SAKiBidB7fji23EKqnBTEjHpkjCyKMreJ8UGcdU0jsWvD-5TW1WqH2efQ-t64vdNk/s1600/13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjun5QRmzWJoE8K7k81hriVEpeJiVsASUcvN4N8NWfjpksbMhiopSn3VuvKCO3HDU3jxfKrGEBPH-SAKiBidB7fji23EKqnBTEjHpkjCyKMreJ8UGcdU0jsWvD-5TW1WqH2efQ-t64vdNk/s640/13.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Fezzik & Linnea.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh2QrcGgWAMxL0nSnZvL2kOe-V9Qw1JOsAbsqZhSvJ0tYNtxaOu_731QfVQF673Z7DnUvdBcGNCl3MIcKQNeWsFPneVn6a_lQ3lFeSrKAUmZ9mitMgZvY9ZrQyc_FZ_RCWpDYxDqFhptc/s1600/14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh2QrcGgWAMxL0nSnZvL2kOe-V9Qw1JOsAbsqZhSvJ0tYNtxaOu_731QfVQF673Z7DnUvdBcGNCl3MIcKQNeWsFPneVn6a_lQ3lFeSrKAUmZ9mitMgZvY9ZrQyc_FZ_RCWpDYxDqFhptc/s640/14.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Georgie & Frigg.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKzWq9Zhtc1gRIujpKakYRJ4NcL9MK7dyvt8oExGU4PSk_M5dLdHr4phz6uW6M2rNr27ltuLQrmF3htVBhyphenhyphen51RlXNLdFXAAhyphenhyphen_kQfHe7_oTiFKKPLpoSCKfnfcmQMOl6SVdFtG1pVrDW4/s1600/15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKzWq9Zhtc1gRIujpKakYRJ4NcL9MK7dyvt8oExGU4PSk_M5dLdHr4phz6uW6M2rNr27ltuLQrmF3htVBhyphenhyphen51RlXNLdFXAAhyphenhyphen_kQfHe7_oTiFKKPLpoSCKfnfcmQMOl6SVdFtG1pVrDW4/s640/15.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Beautiful Brooks Range in the distance. Running on Huslia sprint trails here. Training grounds of many famous Alaskan mushers ! </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI1m_4g5kXkODVHzSeHUjKjrUTX1PRQYtCVpvEgbQZuB-74iPaXkSMq7l2hxbk369CDPUhFrp7DngIz1XWojsmTEcqeE8NNVhVRVffJqBtylesN3gGawUZg8OToUYdSfbHrepL05TK5tQ/s1600/16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI1m_4g5kXkODVHzSeHUjKjrUTX1PRQYtCVpvEgbQZuB-74iPaXkSMq7l2hxbk369CDPUhFrp7DngIz1XWojsmTEcqeE8NNVhVRVffJqBtylesN3gGawUZg8OToUYdSfbHrepL05TK5tQ/s640/16.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frosted up in Huslia !</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ektg2MqotQ1VanVMXuCuySMQMaXUn45vsO0pn4RzQiH-W305xHSwrk-uBDPxtWrnP39BcFmDpecyXXKnakoYMpyA2dz1klNgmY_rBaC-YFLQR5i9mK7xxEUOGxk_2ujRoosObquL5F8/s1600/17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ektg2MqotQ1VanVMXuCuySMQMaXUn45vsO0pn4RzQiH-W305xHSwrk-uBDPxtWrnP39BcFmDpecyXXKnakoYMpyA2dz1klNgmY_rBaC-YFLQR5i9mK7xxEUOGxk_2ujRoosObquL5F8/s640/17.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The dogs on their 24 hour break in Huslia.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg2X2tujbUSvot0f00NnVPVeZ2uT_clRS6wUGHyKSfLR_YhcIY3P_D6aI12l7L8SdeF1fnspo1McVc3W3FAFIakvL1LSAn5xln8cwhYENYbxlJOcfEoKSWQn6p06PtH1hyphenhyphenpzu0jmRffWY/s1600/18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg2X2tujbUSvot0f00NnVPVeZ2uT_clRS6wUGHyKSfLR_YhcIY3P_D6aI12l7L8SdeF1fnspo1McVc3W3FAFIakvL1LSAn5xln8cwhYENYbxlJOcfEoKSWQn6p06PtH1hyphenhyphenpzu0jmRffWY/s640/18.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Papas.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaA9zi6cVax3hqhELVeKCo-TDzYjkBiYRCihweDW_qxXGbyNpGQH-5CLJXIZ21WY8cndEzwwTj2PBy1HHIVeCW1Ag2n1JEnQ-aBNtjAAXe24ewOONM7m4M1xaX5JNaHS9_iEXvh_QPnxU/s1600/19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaA9zi6cVax3hqhELVeKCo-TDzYjkBiYRCihweDW_qxXGbyNpGQH-5CLJXIZ21WY8cndEzwwTj2PBy1HHIVeCW1Ag2n1JEnQ-aBNtjAAXe24ewOONM7m4M1xaX5JNaHS9_iEXvh_QPnxU/s640/19.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Frigg.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXWkTMqJED4VVHJkv2Hti7gL8YmeCx4o1flDzP5TI0m3js9ZI-l0h1b5UcWKgecQR7RNbclawQF9d6zg9fKpYBHD4ioIwIMfcaVf4QKlT2twYZtAEKsK_OMpRXsteyO8qf92pEg2YgBVo/s1600/20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXWkTMqJED4VVHJkv2Hti7gL8YmeCx4o1flDzP5TI0m3js9ZI-l0h1b5UcWKgecQR7RNbclawQF9d6zg9fKpYBHD4ioIwIMfcaVf4QKlT2twYZtAEKsK_OMpRXsteyO8qf92pEg2YgBVo/s640/20.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Fezzik. Fezzik started blowing his coat right before Iditarod, then it got cold and he figured he better hold onto it. July 31 and he still hasn't completely gotten rid of it !!! </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgazYjICW2kKxNeky3J6smb1Df5EegIqKXn5jikqkp8OvAGcYjlBG3_MnAffedcB00QMCWbF0HLsS5Oc1Fl_oHrm1y_LymMTGTI4ObwEHB-hTdcEyvCeqoWKP9D0eOyJLGZivWGn1Y-mI/s1600/23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgazYjICW2kKxNeky3J6smb1Df5EegIqKXn5jikqkp8OvAGcYjlBG3_MnAffedcB00QMCWbF0HLsS5Oc1Fl_oHrm1y_LymMTGTI4ObwEHB-hTdcEyvCeqoWKP9D0eOyJLGZivWGn1Y-mI/s640/23.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sweet little Linnea.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDGQNxlMczumpgwvApgChWoQVRf_0OFNs8EECc5C9mXgECIwcJmBz6V_uDewEmhN0HJkJY1Xhok6p6ibWjlal_jL3T8Es-tq250_zfr-0ggn86P9MDk2oC5JTbEKwsCk6T-r37AjlQl3E/s1600/21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDGQNxlMczumpgwvApgChWoQVRf_0OFNs8EECc5C9mXgECIwcJmBz6V_uDewEmhN0HJkJY1Xhok6p6ibWjlal_jL3T8Es-tq250_zfr-0ggn86P9MDk2oC5JTbEKwsCk6T-r37AjlQl3E/s640/21.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ruby stole a partial straw bale left by a departing team and made herself a bed. The dog's harnesses (lying in front of the sled) come off during their 24 hour break, so they know we are not going anywhere anytime soon and can really settle down & get some quality rest.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOCgsBBe4H3sEMUyiv7qVCZEvWfXtgNbnobTAxZoKnyEf6dh-6rG5Fu2Qhp2Ld-N_TYhrjRK-Sj8VyKA5wd95INMyGEIEzShYcHXuZb_DO1kvgCoaBAJoroUu7sUQb-hPcaOfRPWHWnmo/s1600/22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOCgsBBe4H3sEMUyiv7qVCZEvWfXtgNbnobTAxZoKnyEf6dh-6rG5Fu2Qhp2Ld-N_TYhrjRK-Sj8VyKA5wd95INMyGEIEzShYcHXuZb_DO1kvgCoaBAJoroUu7sUQb-hPcaOfRPWHWnmo/s640/22.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The team in front of the log round house that served as the main checkpoint building. The people of Huslia were incredibly welcoming & hospitable. I loved the time I spent there. I was an hour late leaving my 24, which baffled folks watching the tracker, because, you know, I had had a WHOLE DAY to get ready. Warner Vent, a famous Huslia musher, and his wife were standing by watching as I made the final preparations to get ready to go. I admired his beautiful black wolf ruff, which had been made by his wife. She mentioned that she had had a few ruffs for sale at the little market held at the checkpoint earlier, and that she had managed to sell all but one. "Oh? What kind?" I asked. I needed another ruff. My face was always in danger of freezing because my big ruff was sewed onto my big parka, which is too cumbersome and warm for me when I am kicking and ski-poling in not -40F weather, which is most of the time. "White wolf and wolverine," she said. It was beautiful. And because I had abided by the advice of the Collins Twins in <u>Dog Driver: A Guide for the Serious Musher</u>, I had brought "cash (lots)" with me. So I bought it! She offered to sew it onto my down parka for me, and although my 24 hr mandatory rest was just about up, I thought that was worth waiting for. Even in spite of the ribbing I got later for being probably the first musher to be late to leave their 24 because I was "shopping," it was worth it. My Huslia ruff n</span><span style="font-size: small;">o doubt saved my face from the same frostbit fate as last year (which was painful and pussy and permanently damaging). </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3b9V_tDmCbWDqMFFAkgvokTAr3jkGj6D6JIL1JAB3cjBCWH00Jr6j3xD2ALF0KxB5oPR2DRlUPz6wLtrHkzQMsC2e_NN59OArMoM_MRc2QBI92XaZbSbwz2eDYbOe-0JC4jAh6MMcTys/s1600/41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3b9V_tDmCbWDqMFFAkgvokTAr3jkGj6D6JIL1JAB3cjBCWH00Jr6j3xD2ALF0KxB5oPR2DRlUPz6wLtrHkzQMsC2e_NN59OArMoM_MRc2QBI92XaZbSbwz2eDYbOe-0JC4jAh6MMcTys/s640/41.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">My new ruff. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizQN2917z7B45UA3yYc9VKGR84awD4SpkynL0riemtmY1-UBXbszsKaSueI1hn07rv2dYE438bYgeQzHLsRCar_IFOMYHDyh-7qQI4IRFPFVjGtrKPNzjMV-iwa9WSwZWoKgY7-TAxP8c/s1600/24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizQN2917z7B45UA3yYc9VKGR84awD4SpkynL0riemtmY1-UBXbszsKaSueI1hn07rv2dYE438bYgeQzHLsRCar_IFOMYHDyh-7qQI4IRFPFVjGtrKPNzjMV-iwa9WSwZWoKgY7-TAxP8c/s640/24.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Cruising on the Koyukuk River outside of Huslia. Dropping onto the river was one of the most terrifying things I have ever done in my life. In the 2014 Iditarod, I had no idea what kind of conditions we would encounter, so I didn't know to be scared. In Huslia, a snowmachine led us from the checkpoint parking area through town to the riverbank. I <i>watched</i> the snowmachine drive slowly halfway off the bank, then tip 90 degrees and disappear down the bank. "Oh. my. god." I thought as I then watched each set of dogs disappear down the bank in front of me. As my sled tipped off the bank after the team, I saw my leaders jumping from the vertical slope onto the river. I rode my brake all the way down and managed not to run over any dogs. Now I can say I've driven a dog team off a cliff. Not recommended. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfg6mNIM_gmx6IpQYlu-RiRl9nsRX7GSleTygMP7Nx5V9iST1BCY8RbAR6jbtzKyexw6XhKYrnsGw11fuysAnILQNM4ghDFRTkR4hyphenhyphenZXwsaPOMNUQcJNyoaYw4PZ7GB-PjhIYqII6TVVk/s1600/25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfg6mNIM_gmx6IpQYlu-RiRl9nsRX7GSleTygMP7Nx5V9iST1BCY8RbAR6jbtzKyexw6XhKYrnsGw11fuysAnILQNM4ghDFRTkR4hyphenhyphenZXwsaPOMNUQcJNyoaYw4PZ7GB-PjhIYqII6TVVk/s640/25.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Beautiful, diverse scenery, including some burn. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUh8OmgfliVr_zn_AyAe81pO2KDmbwzYGB6cLnVA9EqHVbhcNX8E3ovkcvpLVjRLoIUrWAokmiw5IEC6sEstBXJFTgDB3mv-YM8JM7dkSwYome9g4mPsg3fI2zorvAqM-5NIJ1W_e-z94/s1600/26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUh8OmgfliVr_zn_AyAe81pO2KDmbwzYGB6cLnVA9EqHVbhcNX8E3ovkcvpLVjRLoIUrWAokmiw5IEC6sEstBXJFTgDB3mv-YM8JM7dkSwYome9g4mPsg3fI2zorvAqM-5NIJ1W_e-z94/s640/26.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Dogs & musher feeling good after 24+ hrs rest ! </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxCJGuLMIYPJ3odI73key-6cf-kj6wGNMqwLgirEueG_HN3kjuB98rP-FIDadV9iAYJ6mNjBvCwo9hCnKT9ZsFKzCcR0coNPqGYtc0HygJQJf6o8KeGwxLd7OmNsjVKF415JlQTRsiqmA/s1600/28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxCJGuLMIYPJ3odI73key-6cf-kj6wGNMqwLgirEueG_HN3kjuB98rP-FIDadV9iAYJ6mNjBvCwo9hCnKT9ZsFKzCcR0coNPqGYtc0HygJQJf6o8KeGwxLd7OmNsjVKF415JlQTRsiqmA/s640/28.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Snack break ~30 miles out of Huslia.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWr4M3_FD0nB7j1NA-5TxDl-gI8Z50A5ryWMCbcBgo1bQ-Nqs8kAN_cMCoP42jfmIUx6h_ROljlvTj9sooCW37ndrgniUmDUzWwN8LmubXwy16hvfHpSV2G7idpIy-wJRzte4RlNdTW6M/s1600/29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWr4M3_FD0nB7j1NA-5TxDl-gI8Z50A5ryWMCbcBgo1bQ-Nqs8kAN_cMCoP42jfmIUx6h_ROljlvTj9sooCW37ndrgniUmDUzWwN8LmubXwy16hvfHpSV2G7idpIy-wJRzte4RlNdTW6M/s640/29.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Bluebird skies, pristine snowfields. Pretty gorgeous !! </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2zxZ9L5gKTRn9uDMpWg7ivqnxAADyYl3GgGX78L5b27Krzlfasq_nRkDU6LXRS3CcsZckUVlSXUGFm9vXxd5PhUBuKmfuvMElLQaavQHBxBE8zxM8QhTM1L6inZapG5oK44tNbl1ltYc/s1600/30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2zxZ9L5gKTRn9uDMpWg7ivqnxAADyYl3GgGX78L5b27Krzlfasq_nRkDU6LXRS3CcsZckUVlSXUGFm9vXxd5PhUBuKmfuvMElLQaavQHBxBE8zxM8QhTM1L6inZapG5oK44tNbl1ltYc/s640/30.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Blown in trail. Got pretty windy in the open swamps on the way to Koyukuk.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg84Hh5s8SQceUlHrnsb2IE7cCXK6pJXU7TPJIScsvTsmtftTSF6BUdh5griB2AG7Q373UJa_FGpKecwxXId2pLvcFHR74Zig2MCfji1n1XWOXLr-hIm5fNh50YFIPd8rA4k8tGP31ZklM/s1600/31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg84Hh5s8SQceUlHrnsb2IE7cCXK6pJXU7TPJIScsvTsmtftTSF6BUdh5griB2AG7Q373UJa_FGpKecwxXId2pLvcFHR74Zig2MCfji1n1XWOXLr-hIm5fNh50YFIPd8rA4k8tGP31ZklM/s640/31.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ruff at work in the wind. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhPK9387X02FYzGSau9dfNuEMT2svygMNEn_WTihJ0HiiZ2HhyVqwMiAIM_ZjHdQ09h4GTHhzM7BdNkbf7DjAlh0OUyjppQ6YUz2Sy2W8vm8sHcjw6DrYm1RhDTAC6AcwvFas0CBqoErQ/s1600/32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhPK9387X02FYzGSau9dfNuEMT2svygMNEn_WTihJ0HiiZ2HhyVqwMiAIM_ZjHdQ09h4GTHhzM7BdNkbf7DjAlh0OUyjppQ6YUz2Sy2W8vm8sHcjw6DrYm1RhDTAC6AcwvFas0CBqoErQ/s640/32.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Trail breaking. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYTypdJnb5sTOn3C2Bzv5UxAQv6ubdHfN6kk8zayGQXTpuisKw36sil95TslE7RDiSPI62W7WXGDCGdxCCKDwWVYC1DX1_5BkO2lp9pHNZarG02C_5HkmwVj5olAyxLU8glamjibotLvE/s1600/33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYTypdJnb5sTOn3C2Bzv5UxAQv6ubdHfN6kk8zayGQXTpuisKw36sil95TslE7RDiSPI62W7WXGDCGdxCCKDwWVYC1DX1_5BkO2lp9pHNZarG02C_5HkmwVj5olAyxLU8glamjibotLvE/s640/33.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Caught up with Monica! We traveled together from here all the way to Nome :D</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp3iVHGTSaa0iUUQmEhpEI6CAN-4prRRV-oxBpwDTXixJ5tcrucFjl2ELSb1A81cekoSP75ar23aFb_MpoKIVeCPX2IPH4rTUOTg54zxifnDdERNaAZDFr29-6ro3n5m6r3mFGjwWlKlU/s1600/34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp3iVHGTSaa0iUUQmEhpEI6CAN-4prRRV-oxBpwDTXixJ5tcrucFjl2ELSb1A81cekoSP75ar23aFb_MpoKIVeCPX2IPH4rTUOTg54zxifnDdERNaAZDFr29-6ro3n5m6r3mFGjwWlKlU/s640/34.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Beautiful day !! </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNBIT5G9TfccVy4GiCn1C-QyiDN9l1sxhAkjRzv06yfduZfsvGl8io4tLuKBAzFyQKqiy78u2qNzDXOBXAPXEQRx7kTM9g5W9aZ3K_G5iawYNZvZZN2YzpRDlPEa53BcK-2QxUinaSwd8/s1600/35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNBIT5G9TfccVy4GiCn1C-QyiDN9l1sxhAkjRzv06yfduZfsvGl8io4tLuKBAzFyQKqiy78u2qNzDXOBXAPXEQRx7kTM9g5W9aZ3K_G5iawYNZvZZN2YzpRDlPEa53BcK-2QxUinaSwd8/s640/35.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Evidence of a lazy dog musher. If Iditarod figures out who did it, they get penalized for leaving litter on the trail. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBc-PLLohJ3gV-Ouat5P83b4PkkN9N0fcQTf2JZBSx4iML_kwOk4DTrXQF5301Xc3lqGYoimAUyamyiDhRefdfL1wDX-EaHira8D1M1XvFDZH9b9As7osA4Mr8a4VuOTckaYWmRu4LLGA/s1600/36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBc-PLLohJ3gV-Ouat5P83b4PkkN9N0fcQTf2JZBSx4iML_kwOk4DTrXQF5301Xc3lqGYoimAUyamyiDhRefdfL1wDX-EaHira8D1M1XvFDZH9b9As7osA4Mr8a4VuOTckaYWmRu4LLGA/s640/36.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sunset camp about half-way to Koyukuk. Rohn Buser ahead. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8wvt3qr9CCOweqPrccmZjZq3YbLsdxK_RO5kbvXX8p4C5NDELnwMU8WG3vHlS08q6rw6Ze6GK8OU1UelzPncxeSFKnistXF_7w6sn1E98RbJRbplRU-sEdGKwKp0_CTyZUa3NPjw_ph4/s1600/37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8wvt3qr9CCOweqPrccmZjZq3YbLsdxK_RO5kbvXX8p4C5NDELnwMU8WG3vHlS08q6rw6Ze6GK8OU1UelzPncxeSFKnistXF_7w6sn1E98RbJRbplRU-sEdGKwKp0_CTyZUa3NPjw_ph4/s640/37.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Coming off a big break, the dogs aren't very tired.</span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglf9LZhnjs-QPoh0yq2PBtCYw7L9qCfiT1osrgaY5mYdRF_PtaR1pAbkkB5RYERlF9872TRFTztGPftopu0-TscJoD11fv2_32t3OHXkoqTaNb6d8cAE0hKQ3dY0A1r7BXtUnSdmVvau8/s1600/38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglf9LZhnjs-QPoh0yq2PBtCYw7L9qCfiT1osrgaY5mYdRF_PtaR1pAbkkB5RYERlF9872TRFTztGPftopu0-TscJoD11fv2_32t3OHXkoqTaNb6d8cAE0hKQ3dY0A1r7BXtUnSdmVvau8/s640/38.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Back on the Koyukuk, "almost" to Koyukuk. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP_vxw-vfOYmK43orXoVGE8o1fiFBBhGTxOIuHY7zBXAlBevRmEGuFiQN3cirmcQcQF82g-DyeJrwjmqth9KdwiYjqi4wPptLBHn5Eo3_k08VCC_taafPDLxS6oiyVM5AUAVJkSIW3ULA/s1600/39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP_vxw-vfOYmK43orXoVGE8o1fiFBBhGTxOIuHY7zBXAlBevRmEGuFiQN3cirmcQcQF82g-DyeJrwjmqth9KdwiYjqi4wPptLBHn5Eo3_k08VCC_taafPDLxS6oiyVM5AUAVJkSIW3ULA/s640/39.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Yukon River rock.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqJxSRm5GpdexkK7QdLfzVjgeOMHBUY_FS18GMRi6IXVUnk17mFsIfmjJHtM7JCV20i_-nL9-7E2yAIbrxAqZa4qz_DS_jix2JTC5GO2VaxwSHlzXCITxwz81zFPfv5DMXGazKxoKpCkw/s1600/40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqJxSRm5GpdexkK7QdLfzVjgeOMHBUY_FS18GMRi6IXVUnk17mFsIfmjJHtM7JCV20i_-nL9-7E2yAIbrxAqZa4qz_DS_jix2JTC5GO2VaxwSHlzXCITxwz81zFPfv5DMXGazKxoKpCkw/s640/40.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lost on the way to Koyukuk village. Again. Monica and I turned around <i>three</i> times before we found our way off the river and onto the correct road that went to the village. Turns out all the markers had been mowed down the night before by errant snowmachiners. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Lisbethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06066513849980376169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488210705343555399.post-58743689341205078972015-07-29T21:20:00.001-08:002015-07-29T22:49:28.290-08:00Iditarod 2015 Recap: Fairbanks to Galena <div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">This year's recap is in PICTURES. I've included anecdotes from the trail in the captions. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimp3Li64Jt0e_40XtiIOD5wMWkZz9kYi835G1wHkLNHKxFd4fOf3KRI8TTtTBKaNKjMrDTYKNEZHznlt4zF8dI95TR-RdVWenVaF5nLScBtZNgqLdL7TNcJsom8xUqKIpzcpkmvqdZhWo/s1600/2015+adn+map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimp3Li64Jt0e_40XtiIOD5wMWkZz9kYi835G1wHkLNHKxFd4fOf3KRI8TTtTBKaNKjMrDTYKNEZHznlt4zF8dI95TR-RdVWenVaF5nLScBtZNgqLdL7TNcJsom8xUqKIpzcpkmvqdZhWo/s640/2015+adn+map.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Due to low snow conditions in the Alaska Range, the race was rerouted to Fairbanks. ADN map. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWbUvi_SdyoI3Z6I9hyphenhyphensXgPVgcHc80Jxq0l6NrJX79VJTFy-I0_cP5lNwpww9AbZYORRn0yjx-BxjDnBFj81wvM3p_XulYVL23n29t9Aa-7FIWpCZaPYT9W5CX1dxOEKIYjDB23HP_B6M/s1600/packing+sled+fbx.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="570" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWbUvi_SdyoI3Z6I9hyphenhyphensXgPVgcHc80Jxq0l6NrJX79VJTFy-I0_cP5lNwpww9AbZYORRn0yjx-BxjDnBFj81wvM3p_XulYVL23n29t9Aa-7FIWpCZaPYT9W5CX1dxOEKIYjDB23HP_B6M/s640/packing+sled+fbx.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Packing my sled in the restart arena in Fairbanks. Yes, all that did go in my sled, except for the harnesses -- they went on the dogs ;) Probably took longer than I needed to, because it was the crack of dawn and there was NO COFFEE. We thought for sure there would have been a coffee stand or something nearby, but no. So no coffee for me. When I pulled into Nenana, 60 miles later, there was Mom, standing there with a nice, warm..... hot chocolate. Much appreciated, Mom, but not coffee. Thirty or so miles out of Nenana, on a really fun, narrow, twisty trail, the team popped out of the woods and into a clearing where three young people were gathered around a fire -- Old Minto. It was the very middle of the night, but these guys were up offering hot dogs and warm drinks to passing mushers. At first, I wasn't going to stop because we were cruising and only fifteen miles from making camp (honestly, if you stop for every nice person on the trail, you'll never get to Nome), but then I saw one of the guys holding a steaming thermos mugful of COFFEE in his hand. I slammed on the brake. Wow, it really hit the spot. Warmed me up from the inside out. Who would have thought I would have got my coffee fix in OLD MINTO of all places !? Thanks to those of you from Minto who stayed up to cheer us on and fuel us up! </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2MGHoVoPWP8nuZsjPA4wdO2AdFwebQhYPAA-fo730RlwFbLzejMdIvABB7oqAohpwClO60DtiobHAC9pIfs5DKiLlkmtlQeI9gHDK3UGlb6ssHT1vs5_ihYLmhTSfSnjmlS7WH3zC3mM/s1600/packed+sled+fbx.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2MGHoVoPWP8nuZsjPA4wdO2AdFwebQhYPAA-fo730RlwFbLzejMdIvABB7oqAohpwClO60DtiobHAC9pIfs5DKiLlkmtlQeI9gHDK3UGlb6ssHT1vs5_ihYLmhTSfSnjmlS7WH3zC3mM/s640/packed+sled+fbx.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sled packed, conferring about something with my super awesome handler girls, Sarah & Franzi. Probably complaining about no coffee. I think I was a little bit of a diva on restart day. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN3s9ufqq9QA4eCh2bC7OSa6jqqE_h4cvjFB_UFKoCTDFS_oT1uOi5ylfStLePno9z3E4srRY59g30HbfEjAHQfcYVJjM_XbsRCTMbwLBJNPUkkMzIXimaSLoCFnmY4Y3nVTaVTzpoH9I/s1600/DSC_0197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN3s9ufqq9QA4eCh2bC7OSa6jqqE_h4cvjFB_UFKoCTDFS_oT1uOi5ylfStLePno9z3E4srRY59g30HbfEjAHQfcYVJjM_XbsRCTMbwLBJNPUkkMzIXimaSLoCFnmY4Y3nVTaVTzpoH9I/s640/DSC_0197.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">In the start chute with Mom.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyMgNfYTOkLQvyx5Ychw3TOAur1T9fFuazUbDjjYq9cIMBYqzIFZaKn3773yfUhua9P6TJSbzX2gYk3VWk8W96jXPn7_MZH36nTvLhCGEdaBzJkfYrj-gTbCQ6meIMzdoKYsPkfbRGRWo/s1600/frozen+glass+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyMgNfYTOkLQvyx5Ychw3TOAur1T9fFuazUbDjjYq9cIMBYqzIFZaKn3773yfUhua9P6TJSbzX2gYk3VWk8W96jXPn7_MZH36nTvLhCGEdaBzJkfYrj-gTbCQ6meIMzdoKYsPkfbRGRWo/s640/frozen+glass+photo.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">Leaving town on the frozen Chena River. This was the first time in my life I had ever driven 16 dogs!! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">2015 Iditarod team: RIPP, RUBY, PETE, VADER, VINNIE, FEZZIK, BLACKIE LOU, GOOFY, MAJOR, FRIGG, ROBBER, PAPAS, VICTOR, RAVNI, GEORGIE & LINNEA.<br /> I loved traveling on the river. When I went to school in Fairbanks, I would skijor on the Tanana (the Chena feeds into the Tanana) with Tuffy (Tuffy went on to help me qualify for Iditarod in the 2012-2013 race season). It was a really exciting feeling to go past the last known point Tuffy and I had been, and continue down the river towards Nenana, Nome et al. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg37RTO-bfRFfBizn_zF7gPknhePBsES1bor9oIexLxVqH_03TPVR8Q2FEfcYMNLqw50LsObjoCrBVIHvicipGHCetqei843PKHU5RKUvYwBzi4JXAupHDMB5GaGPibW9A9NaBZ4bLGFTY/s1600/packing+sled+nenana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg37RTO-bfRFfBizn_zF7gPknhePBsES1bor9oIexLxVqH_03TPVR8Q2FEfcYMNLqw50LsObjoCrBVIHvicipGHCetqei843PKHU5RKUvYwBzi4JXAupHDMB5GaGPibW9A9NaBZ4bLGFTY/s640/packing+sled+nenana.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Throwing supplies in my sled in Nenana. Christian Turner and I were the only teams to camp out on the river before Nenana. I felt pretty satisfied with my decsion, especially after seeing the absolute madhouse that Nenana was. Franzi ran in front of the team to guide them out of the checkpoint and I can't believe the maze she had to take us through to dump us back down on the river! We dropped back on the river right before the Parks Highway bridge. The last couple times I've driven to Fairbanks, instead of looking up at the bridge as I usually do, I've looked down at the river and thrilled at the thought of how we ran our dog teams under the bridge and into the Interior, roughly following the original Serum run route. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHcduFpOkQc3uBaSS9YE6S9JyqiC93xgw9jPbJ1DGpH_Oh8bTZfgcBVD5mCFg4QZQjZyybSAYm3odRLi9RIXO0d5mYEVkSy6NmYSfc9QiqINEf2F5RAYoeoAFJonLSs-rmhLaFryzgMhY/s1600/first+-40+camp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHcduFpOkQc3uBaSS9YE6S9JyqiC93xgw9jPbJ1DGpH_Oh8bTZfgcBVD5mCFg4QZQjZyybSAYm3odRLi9RIXO0d5mYEVkSy6NmYSfc9QiqINEf2F5RAYoeoAFJonLSs-rmhLaFryzgMhY/s640/first+-40+camp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Our second camp on the trail. At least -40 F, as verified by Isabelle Travadon's thermometer just up the trail. Here we stayed an extra couple of hours than planned for two reasons: 1) I overslept because it was so cold both my watch and my alarm clock stopped and 2) when I woke up, my feet were frozen. I had to spend a long time stomping around and walking to get the blood flowing in them again. It was a little scary but after 45 minutes or so of walking I could feel circulation returning (it hurts, but also feels good to know you still get to keep your toes). I had to get them properly warm because the team was so fresh, and the trail so fast, I knew I would spend most my time going down the trail on the drag mat. It's really hard to stand on the drag mat and pedal at the same time, but I ended up having to anyway to keep the blood flowing .... Luckily, I didn't frostbite any toes. If I had ignored the fact that I couldn't feel them, and readied the team in a hurry to leave, then I surely would have.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLq-jXTd_D5C0mrvN02gelH6AyBo5U5CTRZNRjBOC8Eeq0P-gx-Yqw6WMvsxsmUoEln7saDPubc0r9KQe67PuJX8fO2firrawlJZrx3CsmPKYJlZj69qnVcjEMncf47P2N1ePacoukpVM/s1600/on+the+way+to+manley+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLq-jXTd_D5C0mrvN02gelH6AyBo5U5CTRZNRjBOC8Eeq0P-gx-Yqw6WMvsxsmUoEln7saDPubc0r9KQe67PuJX8fO2firrawlJZrx3CsmPKYJlZj69qnVcjEMncf47P2N1ePacoukpVM/s640/on+the+way+to+manley+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">One of the few wide open spots on the fun, twisty trail from Nenana to Manley. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi86zPBh-JsjRp0pV5IqA2q64hZKjhVxzKhTRK2M0HpJp1_uMTdwIFmxMZu5tetas2Ns6NctiR56kKnYavA1BkhKVphiDCyr9XT5BSUwPxaIcG3h4-kxE9rGeI5CrKrX5mrFy0_7tmJ5-g/s1600/on+the+way+to+manley+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi86zPBh-JsjRp0pV5IqA2q64hZKjhVxzKhTRK2M0HpJp1_uMTdwIFmxMZu5tetas2Ns6NctiR56kKnYavA1BkhKVphiDCyr9XT5BSUwPxaIcG3h4-kxE9rGeI5CrKrX5mrFy0_7tmJ5-g/s400/on+the+way+to+manley+3.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sunny but not warm.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZjBGtgbp2AEMGWu-gqn4oenJdYfdehFMM6m-1KCyOjdxA1pjiSsFx3cPDBOsvalzgVJ7ZGib2mxmeRkq0TJSlZ3UcfYYRrmKs9zLtmnbE4OeGteWXzp5Y9P_EG8W0Ci99nmHmiwmSIQQ/s1600/on+the+way+to+manley+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZjBGtgbp2AEMGWu-gqn4oenJdYfdehFMM6m-1KCyOjdxA1pjiSsFx3cPDBOsvalzgVJ7ZGib2mxmeRkq0TJSlZ3UcfYYRrmKs9zLtmnbE4OeGteWXzp5Y9P_EG8W0Ci99nmHmiwmSIQQ/s400/on+the+way+to+manley+4.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">NICE trail. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigkbiyGus5fvBjJMGZzG5O4CDby4JeLfGu0HL8tCK786wWvHza07k5Fz7__nd5jh6hUuDsy_-93RnQ9C0HQAjA559VoaU60ABV-KzUilOuUNUx4C0HO8BeE8_PmvX7KpLYq8putd69uG4/s1600/on+the+way+to+manley+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigkbiyGus5fvBjJMGZzG5O4CDby4JeLfGu0HL8tCK786wWvHza07k5Fz7__nd5jh6hUuDsy_-93RnQ9C0HQAjA559VoaU60ABV-KzUilOuUNUx4C0HO8BeE8_PmvX7KpLYq8putd69uG4/s400/on+the+way+to+manley+7.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">We would invariably pop out of the w</span><span style="font-size: small;">all of </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">trees</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">into</span><span style="font-size: small;"> a </span><span style="font-size: small;">scene like </span><span style="font-size: small;">this: beautiful trail </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">through </span><span style="font-size: small;">the </span><span style="font-size: small;">birch </span><span style="font-size: small;">trees, </span><span style="font-size: small;">not that far</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">outside of Manley.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTvGlWk-nt77y1r5jbVsSRj0KS4KQ2Pvvq8wkm2-HbQq_UEzuq5e9MbjycQf3f1_sSLbBDp9xH6qBga3yF335HfmyFlvpbYplHYIzJEBpkJtjPSuFhfrODjyyWOlAmhw3dfIExnijKO50/s1600/on+the+way+to+manley+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTvGlWk-nt77y1r5jbVsSRj0KS4KQ2Pvvq8wkm2-HbQq_UEzuq5e9MbjycQf3f1_sSLbBDp9xH6qBga3yF335HfmyFlvpbYplHYIzJEBpkJtjPSuFhfrODjyyWOlAmhw3dfIExnijKO50/s400/on+the+way+to+manley+6.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">It was fun to run the dogs </span><span style="font-size: small;">into a </span><span style="font-size: small;">literal</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> wall of trees & trust there was </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">actually a trail there.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWrCk_6EyXBpX_oLQFjk0MBlOgKt1MIE4OSWczO8utAAjBmsLyoAchodk6LhBqDQYooUy3VaxN4MwizmSMuHKypoAcUlDJF_Z1IbJzQfveFFjf4WtHaTRBJ4dhKB17whp8NjTqswfpfgE/s640/on+the+way+to+manley.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Snack break on the way to Manley. Vader & Ruby in lead. Our run to Manley from the frozen campspot was nice & sunny. The dogs were happy. We arrived mid afternoon. My friend Pete the trail sweep was there -- always good to see him. We left after a 7 hour rest with half a mind to take a break on the alleged 66 mile run to Tanana. However, I reckoned it was probably not quite 66 miles, plus the temperature plummeted as the night wore on. The dogs were looking good and I knew they would get better quality rest in the cold in a checkpoint with a full bale of straw and running water easily on hand for hydration. So we kept going. We traveled along sloughs and swamps. We mushed through some COLD spots -- I saw Tim Hunt camping in the coldest spot. I could feel the cold permeating through my parka -- which has kept me perfectly warm in -50 F before. "Poor sucker," I thought. Little did I know, other mushers would think </span><span style="font-size: small;">exactly </span><span style="font-size: small;">the same of ME, later on in the race!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs8HQXIrEZDuHf504177I706iQyWJoGAIHsN6O9Lm0VRP3TLcViRuL8uwnJz7t8k3u2nJdFPv7jwpqqnuEeHG7xwJYDyoPIbYKDbN1peyaJrRMhHTr_t97GyEoUJD60d4vUuJpAwtYWvM/s1600/tanana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs8HQXIrEZDuHf504177I706iQyWJoGAIHsN6O9Lm0VRP3TLcViRuL8uwnJz7t8k3u2nJdFPv7jwpqqnuEeHG7xwJYDyoPIbYKDbN1peyaJrRMhHTr_t97GyEoUJD60d4vUuJpAwtYWvM/s640/tanana.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Putting a jacket on Ruby in Tanana. Her brother Ripp in the foreground wearing wrist wraps. Over the course of the race, after much discussion with trail vets and first hand observation, I became disillusioned with wrist wraps and stopped using them. When a dog gets a sore wrist over the course of the trail, heat and increased circulation are the undisputed keys to healing. A wrist is warmest when it is curled up under the dog, but when they wear wrist wraps, they are prevented from doing so (see Ripp above). A wrist wrap also cuts circulation slightly, just by nature of wrapping. I continued to massage (stimulating circulation) sore wrists with Alygval (natural liniment that reduces inflammation) at checkpoints, but discontinued use of wrist wraps and actually did not have any overly sore wrists coming into Nome. </span><span style="font-size: small;">Photo by Jeff Shultz. Do not use, copy, etc. without permission from Iditarodphotos.com. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ_WkftVp5ndC79X8Ja3g_6GT4BOBiIE84JEyTFfjXeSZBEtHKzbpGT27XjHulK3IwaPH0V4KDPawExbOnywWjPeMM2odb2I0o5CuBk9EtLKqpT8I8PdoweI8oJH6OXix2mzI0TjUSaKM/s1600/traffic+jam+on+the+yukon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ_WkftVp5ndC79X8Ja3g_6GT4BOBiIE84JEyTFfjXeSZBEtHKzbpGT27XjHulK3IwaPH0V4KDPawExbOnywWjPeMM2odb2I0o5CuBk9EtLKqpT8I8PdoweI8oJH6OXix2mzI0TjUSaKM/s640/traffic+jam+on+the+yukon.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Traffic jam on the Yukon River leaving Tanana. From Tanana, it was 120 river miles to the next checkpoint: Ruby. For this stretch there were two main strategies employed by mushers: three forties, or two sixties. As t</span><span style="font-size: small;">here is no regular traffic on this stretch of trail (meaning no guaranteed trail base) and </span><span style="font-size: small;">the Yukon is known for blown-in and punchy trail irregardless, I decided to be conservative and break my run into three forty-mile runs. I think this decision proved to be wise. The trail did get blown in and was somewhat slow, resulting in some verrrryy long sixty mile runs for those who chose to go that route.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFf0gyKaBJKVXAtEPGSHQiS6bhsvyW1Hwodoce8TujvKje0XHGkCzHOlG2yW2u7KWkx8_08KzrYL0FUHEzLkIeQJivCLnzMNtYlxCbAWQg2CSUHn9ejWz7gom34IFWmrAITyJJPRzEN1A/s1600/yukon+river.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFf0gyKaBJKVXAtEPGSHQiS6bhsvyW1Hwodoce8TujvKje0XHGkCzHOlG2yW2u7KWkx8_08KzrYL0FUHEzLkIeQJivCLnzMNtYlxCbAWQg2CSUHn9ejWz7gom34IFWmrAITyJJPRzEN1A/s640/yukon+river.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Beautiful river landscape. </span><span style="font-size: small;">I really dug the river. The run from Tanana to Ruby was one of my very favorite parts of the 2015 Iditarod. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_BDtINNw-q5Wgs4I39fqAwcc4sbN7li8Ev7rpcJmxS6ZmgJqcaokz7g5tuSJdebtqD4dnAIC6AYwtpPFn2L8Pc8v1YT2xQlaM-Qpd6mQDUo-UuLH6ZOKt6sxjpbGuP1wGc6fi3N5al94/s1600/yukon+river+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_BDtINNw-q5Wgs4I39fqAwcc4sbN7li8Ev7rpcJmxS6ZmgJqcaokz7g5tuSJdebtqD4dnAIC6AYwtpPFn2L8Pc8v1YT2xQlaM-Qpd6mQDUo-UuLH6ZOKt6sxjpbGuP1wGc6fi3N5al94/s640/yukon+river+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">First afternoon on the Yukon River.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjViAMMR6nkROPFdnsjC2Fd4IVIAN1jyr4o6DptAulwiqWE2Pw24Bf2RVOWWiB9-Z9TqkDT0cqvXb73ykck5oV6hPU8tspbQIcWcv5b2wWGZlc-Jhw_Gtt89l_6FCbHRThFmB1sfBH3NsQ/s1600/yukon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjViAMMR6nkROPFdnsjC2Fd4IVIAN1jyr4o6DptAulwiqWE2Pw24Bf2RVOWWiB9-Z9TqkDT0cqvXb73ykck5oV6hPU8tspbQIcWcv5b2wWGZlc-Jhw_Gtt89l_6FCbHRThFmB1sfBH3NsQ/s640/yukon.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Snack break. Siblings Ripp & Ruby in lead, Vader & Pete in swing.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieKeoGhnKr1VEjx9l6pn0coDVSGgnmrykh3oyL6Wx_eJoB6fw-EecjDNDxpfEt-UN2orXCmk06a4jygNwV4MXYjFObdNrYBR_npeo8-G3tpk5xzUPoYTZtuKUrdrNPNw9DwaXNN1C9Y7c/s1600/yukon+river+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieKeoGhnKr1VEjx9l6pn0coDVSGgnmrykh3oyL6Wx_eJoB6fw-EecjDNDxpfEt-UN2orXCmk06a4jygNwV4MXYjFObdNrYBR_npeo8-G3tpk5xzUPoYTZtuKUrdrNPNw9DwaXNN1C9Y7c/s640/yukon+river+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Probably the biggest section of "jumble ice" we encountered on the Yukon this year.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlShD-2Ph1zI2UDIc-kupLWmCVe6jajTwaaYi5Ef3uiYY0NDMHdgb4Kir78NLMa5MuNHuk_jmnN22EoBoZux52qZXb6nd4Ruzf295TJJPdhoZsY-tbWRgGWd-KGwm6QD9yzAmwYrrYOr0/s1600/yukon+river+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlShD-2Ph1zI2UDIc-kupLWmCVe6jajTwaaYi5Ef3uiYY0NDMHdgb4Kir78NLMa5MuNHuk_jmnN22EoBoZux52qZXb6nd4Ruzf295TJJPdhoZsY-tbWRgGWd-KGwm6QD9yzAmwYrrYOr0/s640/yukon+river+4.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Following slowly curving river bends in the late afternoon sun.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTCvr4bXwK3iT5lALDzJ8SyVJmVToq43T1cu94ips5LJMMLC_YWb8J8tsatRup_MTAiGcCZjRWkohkc-DtyW8dRtkoGDAACDwKp5ayAZgqFRX7-8Xj1qbAjR-HS5pbiKlB6vB3YbA1M9Q/s1600/yukon+river+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTCvr4bXwK3iT5lALDzJ8SyVJmVToq43T1cu94ips5LJMMLC_YWb8J8tsatRup_MTAiGcCZjRWkohkc-DtyW8dRtkoGDAACDwKp5ayAZgqFRX7-8Xj1qbAjR-HS5pbiKlB6vB3YbA1M9Q/s400/yukon+river+5.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Yeah Day Two on the Iditarod trail!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimrg6k74xYify7LS2GDKueaUgoDD9Q0WUy3MFisKn4zaZQvInFOR6VPnA1lCyQv21Fedvgbk2mmIm_vIFwRtIa3-lX-lnWfTPpoe6Ek2eF-VhqO3cASTIl1e9GmejFvrELUkcsimIYs3g/s1600/yukon+river+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimrg6k74xYify7LS2GDKueaUgoDD9Q0WUy3MFisKn4zaZQvInFOR6VPnA1lCyQv21Fedvgbk2mmIm_vIFwRtIa3-lX-lnWfTPpoe6Ek2eF-VhqO3cASTIl1e9GmejFvrELUkcsimIYs3g/s400/yukon+river+6.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Nope! Lost count already! Day Three !! </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOwmA3bOqX3yaqkJCJNEg_whLZ3bGlqiPOMO1eph_tDCre3nbZKeC_I4o31lLx0ptd3hHLOrHLHUWgb7_ttp96Ok9o3SGM7thgsW_kcnZnV93caIE7CoNMupf70xeU8gQ538RaHuK_4IM/s1600/ruby+ripp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOwmA3bOqX3yaqkJCJNEg_whLZ3bGlqiPOMO1eph_tDCre3nbZKeC_I4o31lLx0ptd3hHLOrHLHUWgb7_ttp96Ok9o3SGM7thgsW_kcnZnV93caIE7CoNMupf70xeU8gQ538RaHuK_4IM/s640/ruby+ripp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Guess who's holding the snack bag.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1vlkX_S-LUF9HG8SUWBkSlBgofdDpRlgMJLT4E1fmB5HAEBBf6d3kXJRfmBaC57IKPcVVXfWorv1HCvb-m5stDmMkpfPnQKwps3DddfRb_m0uKzR00zMhoVM3-U57XNSR8Zt2gG5jvTE/s1600/yukon+river+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1vlkX_S-LUF9HG8SUWBkSlBgofdDpRlgMJLT4E1fmB5HAEBBf6d3kXJRfmBaC57IKPcVVXfWorv1HCvb-m5stDmMkpfPnQKwps3DddfRb_m0uKzR00zMhoVM3-U57XNSR8Zt2gG5jvTE/s640/yukon+river+7.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sun setting on our first day on the Yukon. We would camp for 8 hours that evening (accidentally, overslept again) and then run through the night into a mild windstorm. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ2qntF73VrilKjzEeX-XRPfeyMJBm61Y5YdU_lKirGzONQpQI6saOv9R_Wa580DpCRQDQjQw0usSXDUy2VDRx6ZCx0VftT-qsuE4fKuGP1C_TRuSs3D34CcrsQvL7fNXoB0LoTrd_Tsg/s1600/yukon+river+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ2qntF73VrilKjzEeX-XRPfeyMJBm61Y5YdU_lKirGzONQpQI6saOv9R_Wa580DpCRQDQjQw0usSXDUy2VDRx6ZCx0VftT-qsuE4fKuGP1C_TRuSs3D34CcrsQvL7fNXoB0LoTrd_Tsg/s400/yukon+river+8.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Dawn on day two on the Yukon River. Ripp & Vader in lead. It was quite windy, with a minor ground storm going on. The trail was mostly blown in for the next sixty miles to Ruby, with some good spots peeking through on occasion. These types of trail conditions make for slow going, or worse, fast, then slow, going, and can be hard for some musher's morale, so you get to hear lots of complaining at the next checkpoint. Yawn. The trail, and the weather, are the two things on the race you have no control over, so why waste energy complaining about them ?? </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm9VNWWosr3s5QYRazjq3wfbR4fu7oijSzVzRXUIE6ZK9fvjMOZWozzrazLaaqfYQ_zq1fu5DLpll0jO5Crk0Tkpe0Sct9cjw1niqW402WmZ5hhrSTWF1QAmDLjmrrAlMhevD_Os7McNY/s1600/yukon+river+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm9VNWWosr3s5QYRazjq3wfbR4fu7oijSzVzRXUIE6ZK9fvjMOZWozzrazLaaqfYQ_zq1fu5DLpll0jO5Crk0Tkpe0Sct9cjw1niqW402WmZ5hhrSTWF1QAmDLjmrrAlMhevD_Os7McNY/s640/yukon+river+9.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">We were treated to a beautiful pastel sunrise on the Yukon River, signaling a beautiful sunny day ahead. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbfgmtctsR7NGqox08Rw1OfWU4oW5OJwiomzfmlJwqy6CwtJJ1BID-eVThpsM80uTfCMR96pon5OBv_zBsskpQSVU2keIP7KPb_zVHFXFwng1ekzN2PmOXRlDP17C_6upP25dBazMKAlU/s1600/yukon+river+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbfgmtctsR7NGqox08Rw1OfWU4oW5OJwiomzfmlJwqy6CwtJJ1BID-eVThpsM80uTfCMR96pon5OBv_zBsskpQSVU2keIP7KPb_zVHFXFwng1ekzN2PmOXRlDP17C_6upP25dBazMKAlU/s640/yukon+river+10.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Yukon River world awakening to pink sunbeams ! It was a chilly morning and the dogs frosted up. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1FrCZLbFpez4tVvwBEouH8l9yjGyHdN5ZARjtAiU7q1VWNtFpDBn0MUdqqGTeYMplSSY76_9iUlXxSZvDLvdK_GeBumFaif-iEfrVV_uR2CDFrugjdgHs9lqVm6H6fjPl-i6IBkXL_iA/s1600/yukon+river+11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1FrCZLbFpez4tVvwBEouH8l9yjGyHdN5ZARjtAiU7q1VWNtFpDBn0MUdqqGTeYMplSSY76_9iUlXxSZvDLvdK_GeBumFaif-iEfrVV_uR2CDFrugjdgHs9lqVm6H6fjPl-i6IBkXL_iA/s400/yukon+river+11.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Day Four on the Iditarod trail ! </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpxxRT9t4pIyyhP65LtyXve7xDH-0lLLlkY7hn4ahGMYvui5Pk2qEouCRlpUsgtu3JdqiDIPNyXYBJviNQwJppuM6xFcH5gzF58_yx6K3Rjv78iplkBhcn6YzUPtxrVbhcok2KKJTXIxI/s1600/yukon+river+12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpxxRT9t4pIyyhP65LtyXve7xDH-0lLLlkY7hn4ahGMYvui5Pk2qEouCRlpUsgtu3JdqiDIPNyXYBJviNQwJppuM6xFcH5gzF58_yx6K3Rjv78iplkBhcn6YzUPtxrVbhcok2KKJTXIxI/s400/yukon+river+12.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Morning sun lights up hoarfrost on the trees. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMuE9xKCyRD2upjfWK26N4mppSS7N2EtgyIFJ97auRlJ_HyBFG1XR-77gl1gnzRw9_BsUtgUxoxea6G3XG4yHYI7dkigmGcgnoxnda6QZwmNiuZ5P3WIKyf9UWMhG5EtWSj9uT4_B5KZY/s1600/yukon+river+13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMuE9xKCyRD2upjfWK26N4mppSS7N2EtgyIFJ97auRlJ_HyBFG1XR-77gl1gnzRw9_BsUtgUxoxea6G3XG4yHYI7dkigmGcgnoxnda6QZwmNiuZ5P3WIKyf9UWMhG5EtWSj9uT4_B5KZY/s640/yukon+river+13.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Frosty Ripp.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkafVdMr2-cqZcmNw5AmT3tXtfGipG3h4mhdFunIEtssufSVYOh3klY6I2Ovz4Y-VEFEK0zAY4suY2DKaU_PtnZBcVD244gCz4lsP33gDeOnaJkc42oyKTxGldIEai4aqfPqZOTeqrR6s/s1600/frosty+georgie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkafVdMr2-cqZcmNw5AmT3tXtfGipG3h4mhdFunIEtssufSVYOh3klY6I2Ovz4Y-VEFEK0zAY4suY2DKaU_PtnZBcVD244gCz4lsP33gDeOnaJkc42oyKTxGldIEai4aqfPqZOTeqrR6s/s640/frosty+georgie.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Frosty Georgie.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVMwlT2cWoaagzHKXwLruvyFtsuCg9E8KWKxUy25uB7ynBWZS7I2Cu81O9-DxSB4Mz8dPrGs_8GzXUwbh-_FnvMyN7r8cLiC67QCOmMnHg863qHdftZeSkReeF_pwwljqocKXqmhHtfmA/s1600/yukon+river+camp+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVMwlT2cWoaagzHKXwLruvyFtsuCg9E8KWKxUy25uB7ynBWZS7I2Cu81O9-DxSB4Mz8dPrGs_8GzXUwbh-_FnvMyN7r8cLiC67QCOmMnHg863qHdftZeSkReeF_pwwljqocKXqmhHtfmA/s400/yukon+river+camp+3.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Dogs snoozing in the sun on our second river <br />camp. We rested here for four hours.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR2StEYWsRDR0Jm3H_V1Ij2JADz8GJ_2aHmQ_aKyG0-nS4SCe43Er_JbwuVbHcnGtOizOde_9Um60kF2YgvoAZVDuQ46NVOSGPjhT71TFJEnY3IDDmD9icmcGKLcDBazS6pEb0wDkvthY/s1600/yukon+river+14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR2StEYWsRDR0Jm3H_V1Ij2JADz8GJ_2aHmQ_aKyG0-nS4SCe43Er_JbwuVbHcnGtOizOde_9Um60kF2YgvoAZVDuQ46NVOSGPjhT71TFJEnY3IDDmD9icmcGKLcDBazS6pEb0wDkvthY/s400/yukon+river+14.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Gorgeous day. Where the trail was not blown in,<br /> it was pretty nice ! </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu1C3o54mQVEDNfgsp6q06RPZVxfcCoPfx2qLxMa7iou7LtwUwVy7-fhu6xYaMPXPir5gqLFlzkwfFErXEBNY5OIT8cMCieutmfBRE2Q-JOFd59uyrpxmlXDclnk1ZQMVy-y2c3HKjw1o/s1600/yukon+river+camp+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu1C3o54mQVEDNfgsp6q06RPZVxfcCoPfx2qLxMa7iou7LtwUwVy7-fhu6xYaMPXPir5gqLFlzkwfFErXEBNY5OIT8cMCieutmfBRE2Q-JOFd59uyrpxmlXDclnk1ZQMVy-y2c3HKjw1o/s640/yukon+river+camp+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Beautiful camp site on the Yukon River, ~40 miles upriver from Ruby. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuX3uaSTU0-bzTGRlXND4XOAQGdwvCmOh_Fn_ymEEFHwgRM638JlGSCDqlc0v_nCJqp7U5S6aPS8acUAJ_YVFu3hvdkiUgVkfEz0QfWQeQxy5ND8ErDBUOYrTqjnCzD-XN-AqtnR6m2mU/s1600/yukon+river+boot+break.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuX3uaSTU0-bzTGRlXND4XOAQGdwvCmOh_Fn_ymEEFHwgRM638JlGSCDqlc0v_nCJqp7U5S6aPS8acUAJ_YVFu3hvdkiUgVkfEz0QfWQeQxy5ND8ErDBUOYrTqjnCzD-XN-AqtnR6m2mU/s640/yukon+river+boot+break.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Bootie stop. </span><span style="font-size: small;">The trail up to that point had been pretty hard packed, so I didn't boot before leaving the last camp. However, more snowdrifts and loose snow appeared the closer we got to Ruby, so I ended up stopping and putting booties on all the dogs about ten miles out from our camp. That was the last time I left a camp/checkpoint without booting. It is annoying to have to stop and boot mid-run! </span><span style="font-size: small;">I'm slow, so the dogs think it's another camp-out and go to sleep, as pictured above. Nice spot to stop, though. I couldn't get over how gorgeous the snow blowing off the tops of the mountains was. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCcrHTdSznY0l-_1k6UANSV-4eSRhjWEED1-RpG8uKOnQ1UeDnQURqJTw0V_fb1BC_9z1GqEirEUqmRrdddZ4ULQbRgjgxsFrSkVKnZ0nuNb7GH4SHQdC-MYgZhR6fsAOcTKwMDYAvghg/s1600/yukon+river+15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCcrHTdSznY0l-_1k6UANSV-4eSRhjWEED1-RpG8uKOnQ1UeDnQURqJTw0V_fb1BC_9z1GqEirEUqmRrdddZ4ULQbRgjgxsFrSkVKnZ0nuNb7GH4SHQdC-MYgZhR6fsAOcTKwMDYAvghg/s640/yukon+river+15.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Late afternoon sun lighting up the trail to Ruby. Rick Casillo ahead.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ9x71qqHUwEQujXjuZ57m-fUjGSWPW1vQP0kUvLKdS6N732q76UxKrl8Bze_G1r_kao401G7CVb0eARBtKNyzuppv7pOfBKB_qf_NMco-xJfrbUhCNa4Mrfsq54RK99sd4xawJKt1RpE/s1600/ruby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ9x71qqHUwEQujXjuZ57m-fUjGSWPW1vQP0kUvLKdS6N732q76UxKrl8Bze_G1r_kao401G7CVb0eARBtKNyzuppv7pOfBKB_qf_NMco-xJfrbUhCNa4Mrfsq54RK99sd4xawJKt1RpE/s640/ruby.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ruby! How neat to come in from the opposite direction this year! </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhmhghmvIwpPZ_NqWDVcmat0k7HP3DoDfyNYnu6vGa2Cv5J59gqjmM8j_YicY0H39tLePCH6ePmHaJ_F297sFZJ0uLSjmeLN0CCfu-hSTJ16GoP-NYc1SD-tAO1mIx9az1eAbG8R_crow/s1600/ruby+sunset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhmhghmvIwpPZ_NqWDVcmat0k7HP3DoDfyNYnu6vGa2Cv5J59gqjmM8j_YicY0H39tLePCH6ePmHaJ_F297sFZJ0uLSjmeLN0CCfu-hSTJ16GoP-NYc1SD-tAO1mIx9az1eAbG8R_crow/s640/ruby+sunset.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The team in Ruby at sunset. We spent 29 hours on the 120 mile stretch from Tanana to Ruby. In Ruby, I talked to Sonny Linder, who was not running the race, but happened to be in town because his construction company had a project there. He gave me some good advice and reaffirmed my decision to 24 in Huslia, this year's halfway point. 460 miles would usually be a long way to go without 24ing, but it had mostly been "easy" miles, meaning we hadn't climbed any mountain ranges like in the regular race route. It was the opinion of some mushers that because of this, this year it wouldn't matter so much where one took his or her 24. I agreed, and figured that a solid rest later in the race would be more beneficial to my team & Sonny's sage words bolstered my confidence in my decision.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Y4fRzdWJtyoCUUqzvVnmmPRYMLESasw4J2AdY6SzQ26NuvU_d-UM7TBC-jzp2IRbsPxbsk1GqVX6TBuZml51b69rq5pdydOhyphenhyphenVjTSmeLMlSE8cjUjO19HGK93eJciQsJFCSsBhyp1pc/s1600/-50+outside+galena.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Y4fRzdWJtyoCUUqzvVnmmPRYMLESasw4J2AdY6SzQ26NuvU_d-UM7TBC-jzp2IRbsPxbsk1GqVX6TBuZml51b69rq5pdydOhyphenhyphenVjTSmeLMlSE8cjUjO19HGK93eJciQsJFCSsBhyp1pc/s640/-50+outside+galena.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">From Ruby, we ran through the night and arrived in Galena in the morning. This run could have been a challenge as it was pretty flat, dark, and I was starting to feel tired. But instead, I turned on my iPod shuffle (that I bought in Anchorage the day of the start, and loaded up the night before we took off in Fairbanks) and grooved my way through the darkest and sleepiest part of the night. I usually don't listen to music or audiobooks when I am running dogs because I feel that plugging my ears up insulates me from what is going on with the team and the environment around us, but I was so pleased to have it for this run. I may have been somewhat insulated, but I wasn't asleep ! The picture above was taken in the early morning, about twenty miles outside of Galena. It was beautiful, but too cold for my camera to function. In another ten miles, we came across Isabelle Travadon, whose dogs had quit on her. I stopped and tried to help her get going again, but her dogs were feeling stubborn and would not budge. Her thermometer said -50F. Too cold to be stranded somewhere, but she said she wasn't cold and had everything she needed, so I kept going. A couple hours after their self-imposed rest, the dogs took Isabelle to Galena, where she gave them another solid rest and quite impressively, nursed them all the way to Nome! Many mushers would have thrown in the towel after their team had quit on them, but Isabelle stuck with it, gave them the rest they needed (demanded?) and made it all the way to Nome :) </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY-QCKShIE8k_GZj2oHe0cLN1K1-hTW_XviQefL3wB7ulVRM60imVDrDrUX6TeiN7gOAkx2GbEHjKCyy5ykFNHBxGypFX4s5XGUxd98Bg7eWeIttT2ZibkbMTAE7mVWYEQKnHs6cEDZQk/s1600/galena.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY-QCKShIE8k_GZj2oHe0cLN1K1-hTW_XviQefL3wB7ulVRM60imVDrDrUX6TeiN7gOAkx2GbEHjKCyy5ykFNHBxGypFX4s5XGUxd98Bg7eWeIttT2ZibkbMTAE7mVWYEQKnHs6cEDZQk/s640/galena.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The team resting in -40F in Galena.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Lisbethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06066513849980376169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488210705343555399.post-21366494795576417902015-07-22T19:20:00.001-08:002015-07-22T19:21:12.633-08:00XV. Three Americanos to Go, Please<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_bbaPZ-TAY03qkMb63mkojtvqc2hjpT0Xp0FpUxIrUHxgS8kkSX8NJMVSdKc_rvGgQ1f-tgGykIuZjDTK7e_QeyqK5i-coT4h0twbz43ID7Gg8eSNCKRCL-4jz7UXW8OTFPB5jReVQuw/s1600/shultz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_bbaPZ-TAY03qkMb63mkojtvqc2hjpT0Xp0FpUxIrUHxgS8kkSX8NJMVSdKc_rvGgQ1f-tgGykIuZjDTK7e_QeyqK5i-coT4h0twbz43ID7Gg8eSNCKRCL-4jz7UXW8OTFPB5jReVQuw/s640/shultz.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coming down from Cape Nome. Ruby, Vinnie, Vader, Pete, Fezzik, Major, Goofy & Frigg.<br />
Photo by Jeff Shultz. Iditarodphotos.com </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">We had an uneventful run to Golovin. Fortunately, because the trail was glare ice with only a skiff of snow blowing over the top, which would have made it hard to hook down. I was craving a hot cup of coffee soooo badly. This completely unrealistic hope formed in my mind and I knew it was 99.9% out of the question but I couldnt help but hope that maybe, just maybe, Golovin would have a drive-through coffee stand ??? </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Anyone familiar with Alaska knows we have drive through espresso stands literally everywhere, so it wouldn't be too much of a stretch to image that Golovin could have one too, right !? </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Wrong. So, so wrong. </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Golovin was a ghost town that early in the morning and of course, there was no coffee stand. I knew there wouldnāt be, but I was still disappointed. The trail runs down the middle of Golovin, which is only a few blocks long, before it takes a hard left and spits you off the rocky peninsula back onto the sea ice. I snacked the dogs and then we trudged across the bay, onto the Fish River, and into White Mountain, the last village before Nome. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We had a good rest in White Mountain. The dogs ate like monsters. I ate like a monster too. After nearly two weeks on the trail, my metabolism was in high gear. At the start of the race, I could barely eat half of one of my meals. Now I could eat two and still be starving. I had sent out Norwegian meatballs that I had begged my friend Markus to cook for me and they were SO good. Like any proper Norwegian dinner, a boiled carrot, a boiled potato, and some cranberry sauce were also included. Yum yum. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">By White Mountain I finally felt like I had gotten a few things figured out. When they did my bag check, I knew where everything was ā it was all impressively organized (only took three years and seven or so thousand miles on the runners to figure it out ;) ) But oh man, were Monica and I rookies. Last time firing up the cooker ! Last run! Almost to Nome ! Easy peasy from here on out! </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: inherit;">Go figure .. it was NOT an easy run to Nome. It was a long, hard slog.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: inherit;"></span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: inherit;">The coastal storms that had been blowing through had dropped a ton of snow on the Topkok Hills. It was blowing as we left White Mountain at 9:30 pm, and there were several inches of snow on the trail.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: inherit;">As we reached the hills, the snow on the trail grew deeper.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: inherit;">Even though Monica wasnāt very far ahead of me, and I wasnāt very far ahead of Marcelle, every single one of us was trail breaking through six to eight inches of fresh windblown snow. I watched our tracks blow away behind us.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: inherit;">We trudged. The dogs walked up the hills and so did I. Some of the slopes were near vertical, and ridges of snow had drifted over the trail, making it even harder for the dogs. Topkok āHills,ā more like "climbing wall." It was slow going, but steady.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: inherit;"> It was dark ā more so because we were stuck inside a windstorm and clouds above hid the moon and stars, but I remember how ethereally beautiful it was when we reached the top of one of the ridges. The clouds cleared off a bit and a fat white moon shone through the gusts of snow whipping around the top of the ridge. The moon had grown with us as we had traversed the Iditarod trailā starting as a crescent spotted above Finn Bear Lake before diving back into the dark, mountainous forest trail on the way to Rainy Pass, and now it hung over us, lighting up the rolling white hills and terrain of the Topkok Hills. It is a magical feeling to travel by moonlight with a dog team. Almost like flying. But we were not flying. When I checked my watch I was stunned. Ten hours had gone by. All the other teams had only taken six to eight hours to get to Safety. We hadnāt even dropped out of the hills yet, meaning we were just over halfway, with another twenty-five miles or so to go. We kept going. We dropped out of the hills and onto the beach. The wind was blowing hard, but it was manageable. We had had to trudge through half a foot of fresh snow the whole way through the mountains, but we would luckily avoid the dangerous winds of the infamous Salomon Blowhole. We were running on gravel, rocks and ice. After a while we caught up with Monica. She had hunkered down to wait for me. She was low on dog food. So was I.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Being dumb rookies, we had not properly accounted for the possibility of atrocious weather. We had packed our bags judging on the run times of the teams ahead of us, but the teams ahead of us had not had eight inches of fresh snow to trudge through. Not realizing how slow of progress we were making, we had both stopped regularly to snack the dogs, and as our bags emptied out, realized we had simply not packed enough. In our excitement to get to Nome, we had packed for the best case scenario & had not contemplated an extra camp on the way there. But 77 miles is a looooong wayā¦. and the coast is nothing if not unpredictable. So, despite all the wisdom and warnings of our predecessors, we had to learn it the hard way. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Marcelle caught up with us as Monica was hooking her dogs back up. We decided to stick close together. I took the lead. Ruby led the way through windblown drifts and ice. Sometimes the snowpacked ridges of the snowmachine trail would peek through, but mostly we couldnāt see the trail. We scouted for markers and followed those. It was slow going. I worried about our food supply. It was a terrible feeling, to be so irresponsible to have intentionally skimped on dog food because I thought it was just a quick run to the next resupply at Safety. I knew that I didnāt even have that much food at Safety because I thought I would just blow through on my way to Nome anyway. I let myself get carried away in my excitement ā White Mountain is not āalmostā to Nome. In adverse conditions, it is actually very far away indeed. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Dawn broke and it was still a slow trudge, although now we could see ahead of us. We were traveling along a road dotted with fishing shacks. There were mile markers along the road, but they made no sense, so we had no idea how far we were from Safety. By this time, we had been on the trail for twelve hours. Monica and I were traveling close together, Marcelle had dropped back a ways. Our dogs were starting to get tired ā they were probably a little hungry too. Some dogs on both teams had started to look back, obviously questioning our decision to keep going. We decided to give the dogs a break before they decided for themselves. Monica and I fed out the last of our dog snacks and then settled back into the snow with camping pads and chocolate. We were feeling bummed. Marcelle caught up and decided to camp there for a while. We would have done the same, if we had had enough food to for a proper meal. But we had to keep going and get to Safety so we could feed the dogs. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">As it turns out, we had stopped literally two miles from Safety. It was actually visible from our camp spot. But, being rookies, we had no idea. It was more frustrating for people watching the trackers to wonder why would stop when we were SO close. But we didnāt know. Rather than frustrating, it was actually quite a nice surprise to finally reach Safety! Monica and I fed the dogs a nice big meal, and let them have a solid rest before pushing to the finish line. The Roadhouse at Safety was staffed by a nice crew of volunteers and one cantankerous old man who was affiliated with the Roadhouse and made it quite clear he wanted us the hell out of there so he could go home. The volunteers rolled their eyes at him and told us to pay him no mind, but it didnāt matter anyway. The dogs were our first priority and they deserved a nap. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Monica and I figured we would rest the dogs until we saw Marcelle coming. I didn't want the red lantern. Although the red lantern is of course an honor, marking a huge accomplishment, it still means you came in last ā and because I was running Siberians, people expected me to be last. All the folks who told me after the race that they were disappointed because they had picked me for their red lantern in their office Iditarod gambling pool ā too bad. That was a bad bet. I was happy to disappoint you. Iāve never gotten last in any race yet, and while that day is sure to come, it wonāt be because Iām running Siberians. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We hooked up our dogs when we saw Marcelle cross the road and pull up to the Roadhouse. It was an easy 22 miles to Nome. The wind had dropped as the afternoon advanced and the weather was clear and sunny. We crested Cape Nome, saw the community of Nome laid out before us and thoroughly enjoyed our run into town. There would be no race between Monica and I. Her dogs were faster and we both knew it. The whole race I had been consistently a half hour behind her, no matter the distance or time spent on the trail. And sure enough, Monica finished the 2014 Iditarod Sled Dog Race Saturday, March 15 at 7:08 p.m. and I came in at 7:41 pm, 33 minutes behind her. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Itās hard to describe the feeling of finishing Iditarod. I think I felt somewhat numb, but I melted when I dropped my snowhook and walked the line petting & thanking my dogs for getting us there. I was so incredibly proud of them, especially my little go to girl Ruby. She really is a superstar. Some leaders are made, but the good ones are just born awesome. Ruby took two teams to Nome that year, mine and Monicaās. Monica had struggled with leader problems most of the way, but we had worked together to get down the trail, both of us relying on Rubyās desire to get up and go no matter the conditions. Ruby is remarkable, but she isnāt a powerhouse, and didnāt pull me all that way by herself. Pete, Vader, Major, Fezzik, Goofy, Frigg, Vinnie & Nils formed the solid core of a team that took me from Willow, across a thousand miles of varied terrain, to Nome. The scale of our accomplishment did not fully hit me until I was biking past the community center last summer. Hey, I thought, we went to Nome and we started from THERE. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">The dogs that finished the 2014 Iditarod race with me were: PETE, VADER, MAJOR, FEZZIK, GOOFY, FRIGG, VINNIE & RUBY. NILS was dropped in Safety, 22 miles from the finish line for a sore muscle most likely caused by the deep snow conditions. DOC was dropped in Koyuk because he was tired. ROBBER and VICTOR were dropped in Takotna and Ophir, respectively, for sore wrists. JACKIE and SNEEZY got dinged up on the snowless trail to Rohn and were sent home from there. Iām proud of all of them, and myself. We managed to put on enough miles during a tough, snowless winter ā when I was bound to home trails because I had a job, when it was safe only to take out 7-dog teams, when I had no idea what I was doing ā enough miles to enable us to finish the longest, most renowned long distance sled dog race in the world. Turns out, with good dogs, you only need about a </span></span>thousand<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">. </span></span><br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The journey to Nome started long before we hit the trail in Willow, March 1, 2014 and I have been supported & encouraged the entire way. For that I am so grateful. I am foremost thankful for my parents, who have encouraged me every step (and misstep) of the way. We share a common desire to see the Siberian Husky excel in all aspects of sled dog sports. To this end, our kennel is a partnership, but I am definitely still a junior partner and have a lot to learn about the history and capabilities of our breed. Thanks for your patience and trust in this process :) </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; min-height: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">To all the friends, Siberian Husky fans, and individuals & groups who supported my Rookie Run ā thank you. I could not have done without you. I am so very appreciate & grateful in those that have chosen to support our adventures and help us showcase the wonderful Siberian Husky breed in the Last Great Race on Earth ā Iditarod !! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUbLKsv7d_Nn8BXYyd7liT_PPDhM31ejk4hNhxiEzmnDSBKQ0txQ_E4lAGMnHdAyK4Ap0_xNX6Fpovg_goDoJ_B6o0MV5hEJDUSjKYmse6_3zQXo0YwsxzvWQ_Wf5yIpShrK6Q_QHp5bc/s1600/shultz+grass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUbLKsv7d_Nn8BXYyd7liT_PPDhM31ejk4hNhxiEzmnDSBKQ0txQ_E4lAGMnHdAyK4Ap0_xNX6Fpovg_goDoJ_B6o0MV5hEJDUSjKYmse6_3zQXo0YwsxzvWQ_Wf5yIpShrK6Q_QHp5bc/s640/shultz+grass.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Running along the Nome beach. Photo by Jeff Shultz. Iditarodphotos.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhiG79JuBecO8K8NB-WjOPNpUIKfi722FCgTYJ2sCcxpO_kpCctAVvGhvqnSQ5o1RDMLtapHcc9y4V4GnmpkRestIztcJCuVEEppIId-dVU1cMt-t0NroOXbXaJy3mLx3wVe6fNZ0iv5k/s1600/ruby+finish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhiG79JuBecO8K8NB-WjOPNpUIKfi722FCgTYJ2sCcxpO_kpCctAVvGhvqnSQ5o1RDMLtapHcc9y4V4GnmpkRestIztcJCuVEEppIId-dVU1cMt-t0NroOXbXaJy3mLx3wVe6fNZ0iv5k/s640/ruby+finish.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mom & I at the finish line with Super Ruby in the foreground. Photo by Mike Ellis.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmzQ7RZfig4sKQK_W-R1XWGbWaLD7d-mZuSI_DPZHBMcJXXNNsJSyYRIpx_w3CVFpOxBPqKQvbuYt2c-rZ3bYrfMjCRull3buwHyZZ37dZvNRCu_KstFJANp1p-k34t0QzDtUmoSNmoLk/s1600/trail+buddies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmzQ7RZfig4sKQK_W-R1XWGbWaLD7d-mZuSI_DPZHBMcJXXNNsJSyYRIpx_w3CVFpOxBPqKQvbuYt2c-rZ3bYrfMjCRull3buwHyZZ37dZvNRCu_KstFJANp1p-k34t0QzDtUmoSNmoLk/s640/trail+buddies.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trail buddies from Rohn to Nome. Monica & Lisbet at the finish line. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
Lisbethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06066513849980376169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488210705343555399.post-4785291832020644042015-07-22T14:24:00.001-08:002015-07-22T14:24:34.015-08:00XIV. The Most Comfortable Floor in the World<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGEJrt8zdeEA3J7Vk2_lM3FoWllPWlu6MD14TqnSBw9wqLNhH-x5IQ7mF8npN91o1W1NvdcndwFZgruOzM9RjJxRQRTt2vvjziGJEiSBPF39mIipxtr7GezCRLktdjGQgB85R18OpsYBs/s1600/elim+pete.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGEJrt8zdeEA3J7Vk2_lM3FoWllPWlu6MD14TqnSBw9wqLNhH-x5IQ7mF8npN91o1W1NvdcndwFZgruOzM9RjJxRQRTt2vvjziGJEiSBPF39mIipxtr7GezCRLktdjGQgB85R18OpsYBs/s640/elim+pete.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The team outside of Elim. Photo taken by my friend Pete Radano, one of the Iditarod trail sweeps. You'd think they'd be used to snowmachines by then, but you can see that several think it's super weird Pete is there. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">I remember most of the trail to Elim as a white expanse. Hard to tell the sea from the land.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">I was tired and it was windy. I remember busting through windblown drifts and running along the top of the beach ā not much snow, just beach coated with ice and driftwood. I had to keep geeing the dogs over so that the sled would not slip down the slope of the beach into the driftwood line.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">it was sunny and windy.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">I kept my face tucked into my ruff and didn't take too much time looking at the scenery. Maybe I napped.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Flat light everywhere ā I had no idea what direction I was traveling in, we just followed the trail markers.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">10 miles from Elim, the trail jumped onto the road that leads from old Elim and fish camps to town. It was a pretty steady climb. We crested the hill, the dogs spotted Elim below and I rode the brake all the way down the hill into town. There was hardly any snow on the road. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The checkpoint is at the fire station. Monica and I tucked our dogs into sleeping spots along the containers arranged around the station, fed them, ourselves, and headed inside for a nap. What I remember most vividly about Elim is that it has the most comfortable plywood floor in the world. No question. It has never been harder to wake up from any nap in my whole entire life than it was in Elim. I was soooooo comfortable. Finally, Stacey, one of the checkpoint volunteers, was able to coax me awake. She has quite a talent in waking up dead tired mushers! She has the softest voiceā¦ āTime to wake up, girlsā¦. would you like some coffee?ā Yes, please, Monica and I said before we both fell back asleep. āGirlsā¦ your coffee is readyā filtered through our sleep fogged brains ā¦.And then we felt bad she had made the coffee, and dragged ourselves off our respective sleeping pads. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Monica and I were pretty excited to leave Elim. We were headed for White Mountain, our last (!) scheduled stop on the race and where we would have an 8 hour break. That year the trail was rerouted from the sea ice and went straight up into the hills behind town. The climbs were steep, topping out on ālittle McKinley,ā before beginning a steep descent down to Golovin Bay. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The winds increased as we began our descent. Soon, it was howling, and visibility was limited. Monicaās team had passed us before the summit, but we spotted the lights of her team down below us, off the trail. The wind had gotten so fierce, I figured it would be better if we were together, so I directed my dogs off the trail and after Monicaās. This was a command they took easily, as the trail headed up the side of a ridge with the wind blowing directly in their faces. When we caught up to Monica we learned that her team had been blown off the trail and were being stubborn about heading back into the wind. We thought that we would go straight ahead, surely that weird trail above would come this direction? Um, no. The trail was staked where it was for a reason. We encountered only ravines and willow bushes. The wind was howling, blowing snow into our faces and covering our tracks immediately. Monica hunkered down with the teams and I trudged back up the mountain to scout out some trail markers. Once I located some markers, we worked together to bring our teams back up to the trail. First we brought Monica's team up to the ledge where the trail began again. We anchored her team and went back down the mountainside to get my dogs. As we started down, the wind shifted. This was immediately disorienting-- it was dark, the wind was blowing, and there was zero visibility beyond the immediate scope of our headlights. Our tracks in the snow were blown away almost as quick as they were made, so we had been using the wind as a directional guide. When the wind changed, for a small scary moment, I had no idea where my dog team was. My stomach dropped. But we knew that they were not very far away and slowly began walking toward where we thought the dogs were. After several excruciating moments, I spotted several bright white strips glinting through the bushes. As we drew closer, the strips of 3M reflective material sewn onto my sled bag lit up like a Christmas tree in the beam of my headlight. The team had been found. My relief was palpable and immediate, but tinged with a scary feeling, as they had not been where we had thought they would be. Thank goodness for reflective material !! And a good reminder why you should NEVER leave your dog team in a snow storm... it's too risky. Another stupid rookie learning experience. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Monica led my dogs back up to the trail and I helped push the sled up the slope. As we sorted out our dogs, getting ready to get moving again, Marcelle caught up with us. We saw her dogs wanting to dive down the mountain as our dogs had and blinked our headlights at her until we were sure she saw us. Then we were on our way again. The sky began to lighten as our teams made their way off the mountain. We had spent a long time off the trail. Golovin was only about five miles away, and White Mountain another eighteen after that, but the dogs were moving slow and it would take us until early afternoon to reach our final mandatory layover.</span></div>
</div>
Lisbethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06066513849980376169noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488210705343555399.post-3870289051672685132015-07-18T08:00:00.000-08:002015-07-18T08:00:03.970-08:00XIII. Rubyās Route to Russia<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
The windblown trail leaving Shaktoolik was mostly frozen dirt, driftwood and ice. When the trail left land and hit the sea ice, it felt like the snow had turned to sand. There was noticeable resistance. Was it my runner plastic ? Had it gotten so scratched up from driftwood in the first ten miles to be slowing us down? Monica noticed the drag too ā it wasn't our runner plastic, but the salty coastal snow itself. Nothing we could do about it. <br />
<br />
We experienced a beautiful ocean sunset ā winter pastels covering the expanse of frozen ocean with the western horizon fading into reds and orange. The trail was mostly straight out of Shaktoolik but as night fell, the trail began to zig-zag. Large pressure ridges forced the usually straight trail to Koyuk to detour around them. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; min-height: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
As soon as it got dark, I started having trouble keeping my eyes open. I couldā¦notā¦ stayā¦awake. But I had to, to give Ruby commands. The re-routed trail was not obvious to the dogs, and unlike some seasoned Iditarod dogs, mine had not yet learned to follow the reflective bits glaring off the trail markers ahead. Ruby thought she would just take which ever way seemed easiest, regardless if it went to Koyuk or not ! Iām sure that if I fell asleep and let her have her way we would have been halfway to russia by the time I woke up again. But we were headed to Nome, so I struggled to keep my eyes open and to keep the team on the trailā¦ I hallucinated. I saw trees in my periphial vision, like we were traveling along a river bankā¦ but I knew were were on the ocean, in the middle of a bay. The pressure ridges we detoured around were tall, at times obscuring the lights of Koyuk. We wove amongst them for hours, as the wind steadily picked up. The storm was arriving. The full force of it did not hit until we reached land. Then, the wind gusted, covering the trail. Snow accumulated on the trail quickly. The markers stayed upright, though, and we followed them into town.</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; min-height: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
Monica had been just ahead of me when we hit the shore. Her team had disappeared into the blizzard ahead, but I figured she had made it into the checkpoint fine until I was signing in and saw that her name was not on the sign-in sheet. "Is Monica here?" I asked. "I think so," the checker said. But her name is not on the sign in sheet. "I think sheās here," said the checker, and shrugged. OK, thatās weird. I got my dogs parked and was preparing their meal when Monica came running down the street, calling for help. Her dogs were down on the ice, tangled in overflow. I helped her find some Iditarod volunteers and they went back down to get help get her team off the ice and safely into the checkpoint. The area where the trail turned off the ice and up the beach into town was flooded with about six inches of overflow. It had not been obvious to us either where the trail was supposed to be, but a village boy had heard me hawing at my dogs and whistled us over to where the trail cut between blocks of ice and into town. Monica had missed the submerged turn-off but forty minutes after I arrived, finally checked safely into Koyuk.</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; min-height: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
My face that I thought was just slightly sunburnt, started really bothering me in Koyuk, especially when I stepped into the checkpoint building and started to thaw out. My friend Jim Gallea, one of the race judges in Koyuk, happens to be a doctor, so he took a look and informed me that I had blisters from windburn that had also gotten frostbit. When I had been hallucinating and trying to stay awake on the midnight ocean crossing, I had found the best thing to help me stay awake was to push back my ruff and get a faceful of fresh air. Turns out that was a bad idea.</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; min-height: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
Carolyn, one of the trail sweeps, had some microfoam that irondoggers use to protect their faces. She cut some up and patched my face up for me. It immediately felt better. So I looked like a burn victim. Whatever. Iditarod has been, and never will be, a beauty contest :p (The frostbite ended up permanently damaging my face ā I have splotches that have never quite recovered and are super sensitive to both cold and sun. FYI ā apparently frostbiting windburn will burn your freckles off too, so if you hate yours, there ya go ;) (not recommended))<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
After cutting the dogās rest short in Shaktoolik, I wanted to give them a solid rest in Koyuk. No problem, said Jim. āYou guys are making great time. You want to take 8 hours, take 8 hours. You want to take 10, take 10. You guys are good.ā Aw thanks Jim! His lenient attitude was due to the fact we were so far ahead of the regular back of the pack pace and grouped so closely together that we didn't have to worry about getting shooed up the trail by the Iditarod officials. Slow moving mushers at the back of the pack will sometimes get some unwelcome prompting by officials to hurry it up, as the logistics of keeping checkpoints open along hundreds of miles of trail is immense. There are only so many volunteers and airplanes and as they move along the trail, so must the mushers. Checkpoints cannot stay open for people on ācamping trips.ā It is a race!</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; min-height: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
But we were not in slow poke territory. Our pace was good and we were on our way to Nome!<br />
<br />
Next up.... Part XIV: The Most Comfortable Floor in the World. </div>
Lisbethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06066513849980376169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488210705343555399.post-39235520931814148112015-07-17T08:00:00.000-08:002015-07-17T08:00:03.391-08:00XII. Sundog Over Shaktoolik<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
We left Unalakleet at 10: 38 in the morning with Monica right behind us. We were glad to have each other close as we headed into the unknown that was the formidable āCoast.ā We were very intimidated by the trail ahead. In Unalakleet we had gotten updated on the horrible storm that had pinned Jeff and Aliy down and we were afraid we would be caught in the same kind of weather ā the weather on the coast is known to be, above all, unpredictable. A local in Unalakleet gave us a good tip ā there is an island visible to your left as you climb the Blueberry Hills out of town. If the island looks like it is floating, that means high winds down along the spit to Shaktoolik. As we climbed the hills we were horrified to see that the island was most definitely not grounded ā it was floating. But we continued to climb, and climb, and climb, and by the time we reached the apex of the trail through the hills, we could see the base of the island, indicating clear weather ahead. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; min-height: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
The trail out of Unalakleet is without a doubt one of my favorite sections of the Iditarod trail. We did the run from Unalakleet to Shaktoolik in the daylight and felt lucky to be able soak up the sights. The ferocious storm that held up the front runners had dropped a modicum of snow on the trail - enough to keep the dust down. On the Shaktoolik side of the hills, enough snow had accumulated for my drag and brakes to bite & safely slow the dogs down on the descent. It was a beautiful bluebird day which made for a warm climb, but it wasn't windy and the views were spectacular. The wind picked up as we dropped out of the hills onto the coastal slough that ran to Shaktoolik. The trail had drifted in but the dogs did awesome, busting through the drifts slowly but steadily. Eventually the trail disappeared under the drifts, but visibility was good so we followed the spit and the occasional marker until we reached old Shaktoolik, where we jumped onto a road. The gravel road that ran through the remnants of the old village was, after a fickle winter, coated with layer of ice a couple inches thick. More often than not, sections of the ice road gave way to gravel, but it was still faster than busting through two foot high snow drifts. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; min-height: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
Whatever was left of my runner plastic was scraped away as we ran on dry pavement into Shaktoolik. I was surprised to see my friend Mark Cox in Shaktoolik. As Iāve mentioned before, I adore Mark, so it was a happy surprise. Shaktoolik was soooo nice. Sunny, somewhat warm, with zero wind. Zero wind! In Shaktoolik ! This was NOT normal. In fact, it was literally the proverbial calm before the stormā¦.Mark informed us that a big storm was moving in and it would probably be a good idea to move along before too long. Monica and I looked at each other with big eyes and decided to leave as soon as the dogs had disgusted their meals a bit. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; min-height: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
Leaving Shaktoolik left me with one of the most powerful impressions of the entire race. The strange weather caused by the impending storm had produced a huge sundog over Shaktoolik. The entire village shimmered in its rainbow parenthesis. It was fantastical. I soaked in the image, trying to impress it into my mind. How I wished I had a camera ! When Monica caught up to me I asked if she had seen the sundog, half hoping she had snapped a picture with one of her disposable cameras, but no. So focused on getting down the trail, she hadn't looked back once. Oh well. That sundog is not something one can ever forget and it really is the enduring image that comes to mind when I think back on the 2014 race.<br />
<br />
Next up..... Part XIII. Ruby's Route to Russia. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Lisbethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06066513849980376169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488210705343555399.post-15747154019932079572015-07-16T08:00:00.000-08:002015-07-16T08:00:09.016-08:00XI. The Kaltag Portage<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHEhp0h0LCuFTILpRzayB8kvOEewKGpYEhHAXEB2oat8PtivI8ojz4z_R6MFUIr0vACCw37oDkiJgsXKJWxlYlOmvogLmwHDhxFA3I8ABWr_1-w99oVira1cZ4AtQGSXfpEJ8y0S8p8zY/s1600/old+woman+mt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHEhp0h0LCuFTILpRzayB8kvOEewKGpYEhHAXEB2oat8PtivI8ojz4z_R6MFUIr0vACCw37oDkiJgsXKJWxlYlOmvogLmwHDhxFA3I8ABWr_1-w99oVira1cZ4AtQGSXfpEJ8y0S8p8zY/s640/old+woman+mt.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old Woman Mountain... taken with a disposable camera Monica Zappa dropped trying to take the same shot :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Arriving in Kaltag was exciting. Kaltag is a transition point from the rivers and flatlands of the Interior to the famed winds and hills of the Coast. The Iditarod trail follows a portage trail that has been used since time immemorial to connect the peoples of the Interior with those of the Coast. Somewhere in the hills past Kaltag we would be crossing through a historical āno manās land,ā where for a long time, when the two indigenous groups were still hostile to one another, neither Indian or Eskimo dared set foot, lest they disappear. Sidney Huntington has a fascinating account of explorations he took in this region (not to mention his adventures & life in the rest of the Koyukuk area !)</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Kaltag portage is one of my favorite sections of trail. Knowing you are going through an area where people have disappeared for centuries definitely imbues the trail with a ethereal feeling. The sky was cloudy and the light was flat - skewing oneās sense of perception. </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">About two thirds of the way to Unalakleet, we dropped out of the woods onto a narrow creek. The dogs were running on glare ice, covered with just an inch of slippery snow. We rounded a corner and this amazing mountain loomed up ahead of us. This had to be Old Woman Mountain! It was framed so perfectly amongst the creek and the trees. How I wished I had a camera! (Mine died leaving Cripple) And there.... just ahead on the side of the trail.... was a small black box... I scooped it up -- a disposable camera!! No kidding! I brushed the snow off and snapped the picture.... Such timing! Monica had been using disposable cameras the whole race -- I guessed it was hers & returned the camera at our camp at old Old Woman Cabin just around the river bend. She had dropped the camera trying to capture the same shot. You can see all of Monica's </span></span><span style="line-height: 19px;">disposable</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"> picture shots from the 2014 Iditarod <a href="https://www.facebook.com/monica.zappa.33/media_set?set=a.10100910003163721.1073741832.56002910&type=3" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Old Woman mountain is an obvious landmark, a distinct pyramid peak that dominates the forested hills around it. You have to give the Old Woman an offering or risk bad luck down the trail ā I left a special treat I thought sheād like, when we finally made it past the mountain. Monica and I made a rookie mistake and didn't quite make it to the fancy new BLM cabin at the base of the mountain. There are two Old Woman cabins ā the first is a neglected plywood shack tucked in a wooded corner made by the creek, the other is a beautiful fancy log cabin built by BLM just a couple hundred yards down the trail. Marcelle was pulled over just past the first cabin and we decided to join her ā we didn't actually know how far the new cabin was and the old cabin is too cool to pass by without stopping in. It has the signatures of Iditarod mushers and travelers from the last 40+ years covering the walls. The walls are getting pretty raggedy, but itās still a cool spot with a lot of tangible history. (That being said, once youāve seen it, youāve seen it & the comforts of the new cabin are much more appealing than a spot on the creek bank :) ) It was at our Old Woman campsite that Monica and I began counting how many more cookouts we had left ā only five (!) if all went well (hint.. it didn't). We were making a classic rookie assumption, that reaching the coast was āalmost to Nome.ā</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We rolled into Unalakeet around 1 in the morning. The dogs had gotten the sense on the river into town that we were drawing near a checkpoint and had really picked it up. Their fast pace, paired with my bright Lupine Wilma headlight, had led the checkers to assume we were a snowmachine. As you may imagine, I was inordinately pleased to hear this. We stayed in Unalakleet for 8 and a half hours.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Stay tuned... next up.... Part XII. Sundog Over Shaktoolik.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5IdP4JVhZ3eqtgx_OmA7VStgztek3V4L65wNeCRT-1yOEtFn1bW4DD7UfaUsHodJ7rnrgBJXkL0mG1T5h0yZ3t418AF9d8_siOstVicghqpXgjAkvmqCXb6iNqSN65IntzL_YrGPcQ0c/s1600/lisbet+old+woman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5IdP4JVhZ3eqtgx_OmA7VStgztek3V4L65wNeCRT-1yOEtFn1bW4DD7UfaUsHodJ7rnrgBJXkL0mG1T5h0yZ3t418AF9d8_siOstVicghqpXgjAkvmqCXb6iNqSN65IntzL_YrGPcQ0c/s640/lisbet+old+woman.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lisbet at old Old Woman Cabin camp. Photo by Monica Zappa. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Lisbethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06066513849980376169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488210705343555399.post-1800809118452861652015-07-15T08:00:00.000-08:002015-07-15T08:00:07.572-08:00X. The Unexpectedly Nice Yukon River<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
Ruby is a beautiful village, perched high above the banks of the Yukon river and surrounded by folds of rolling hills studded with taiga forest. We had a great rest at the checkpoint. The dogs were finally starting to get into the groove of things. It was clear their bodies were adapting metabolically to the rigors of the trail. They started eating like monsters in Ruby, starting by stealing the fish from the Monicaās dogs, who were parked next to us, and ended up eating that way all the way to Nome. The Ruby checkpoint also had separate outhouses for men & women, which is ALWAYS great. I got to see my friend Jamie & fellow ādropletā (droplet = the volunteers who make up the main dog drop crew on the Iditarod trail). I first started volunteering for Iditarod as a teenager with an interest in pre-vet studies. (Sometimes I wish I had paid better attention to what the mushers had done in the checkpoints, but at the time I only had eyes for the dogs. And now, I only have eyes for my dogs :) ) </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; min-height: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
We completed our mandatory 8 hour rest in Ruby. The next section of trail would be solely river running. ~140 miles down the frozen expanse of the Yukon. This next leg was intimidating. I've read for years how boring the river can be, how bad the trail can be, how its flatness is mentally draining for both musher and dogs.... blah blah blah. Turns out, I dig the river. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; min-height: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
I love the Interior landscape. I love new trail. The trail was interesting, not a lot of snow in some spots, so I had to watch for crevasses in the ice. We crossed several sand bars that scraped up my runner plastic something awful. I had my eyes peeled for wolves ā in 1984 my mom encountered a wolf pack on the river. It was at night, and at first she thought the long string of glowing eyes was another dog teamā¦<br />
<br />
I wanted to see wolves too! Night fell as we cruised down the river. At one point I thought I heard wolves howling in the distance. I stopped my team to listen, sure it must be a wolf pack. Then I <i>recognized</i> the howling, and knew that it was just Monicaās dogs in the distance. Oh, well.</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; min-height: 13px;">
<br />
We had a good rest in Galena that night and set off again mid-morning. The Yukon River was unexpectedly nice and this section of trail, between Galena and Nulato, was particularly gorgeous. The low winter sun threw sparkles on the expanses of windblown snow surrounding the trail. A pretty fierce tailwind gusted and swirled snow around the dogs, snow crystals glinting in the sun, but luckily not forming into any seriously tall drifts. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; min-height: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
We arrived at Nulato mid-afternoon. Nulato is a warm, hospitable community. The school gym right by the riverbank serves as the checkpoint. They had cots set up in a warm boiler room and a spread of food brought in by members of the community. There were some beat up and bandaged Iditasport people taking a rest too. They left hours before Monica and I did, but it seems like we caught them almost immediately. It was dark when we left the checkpoint and snow had begun to fall, increasing in intensity as we traveled further downriver. The snow muffled the sounds of the dog teams so we ran up and almost over the walkers ā Iām not sure if they even had their headlights turned on. We passed them and left them in the proverbial dust, feeling a little sorry for those poor souls who had decided to walk to Nome. Dog team seemed to be the way to go! Maybe this is what the snowmachiners think when they pass us. :) Monica and I stuck tight together through the snow storm on the river. We mushed through the night, through thick snow flurries all the way to Kaltag, arriving at about two in the morning.<br />
<br />
Next installment... XI. Kaltag Portgage<br />
<br /></div>
Lisbethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06066513849980376169noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488210705343555399.post-58064344484666240382015-07-14T08:00:00.000-08:002015-07-22T18:53:13.470-08:00IX. An Incident with Fire<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh53qSNahHmITKXVA-suO_3zAz7FJO8PnVuBlEKzCjP6ykClHGyE2r4MWHHTKiPnIrDB_HtTJCETH65pE4RDbEXYo45SEWlAX1C2kiq8LGJGviZ3LuIDw_QIfCZdsu-YxsCJ7wsOEfZxbA/s1600/DSCF1336.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh53qSNahHmITKXVA-suO_3zAz7FJO8PnVuBlEKzCjP6ykClHGyE2r4MWHHTKiPnIrDB_HtTJCETH65pE4RDbEXYo45SEWlAX1C2kiq8LGJGviZ3LuIDw_QIfCZdsu-YxsCJ7wsOEfZxbA/s640/DSCF1336.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Traveling through burn outside of Cripple. Also, the last photo I took on Iditarod 2014.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It was mid afternoon when we left Cripple. It was hot & sunny - in retrospect, not the best time to leave. The dogs dragged leaving the checkpoint. My face had also started to bother me -- my nose and cheeks burning. I assumed it was an allergic reaction to my sunscreen (this is some foreshadowing for you). As the dogs warmed up, the miles fell away beneath their paws and I started really enjoying the landscape.</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; min-height: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
The trail out of Cripple was smooth and rolled over several ridge tops, mostly traveling through spruce -- green & burned. I took my last picture from the trail here -- I had left one camera battery, along with the charger, in Rohn and had taken to warming up the remaining battery in my glove before I popped it in my camera to take a picture before it got cold and died again. Somewhere along the way, I did something with the dogs, took my glove off and dropped the battery, of course not realizing until the next time I wanted to take a picture (I was sad about this, especially after we reached the coast, which I thought was SO beautiful, particularly the Blueberry Hills & Shaktoolik area).</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; min-height: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
The trail narrowed as it moved off the ridgelines, dropping us into the bottom of a valley. We came upon a big steel bridge - the Sulatna River Crossing. This was a the first sign of civilization after 100+ miles of unsettled wilderness. From here we would follow old mining roads to the Yukon River village of Ruby. But first, we would give the dogs a short break. The run to Ruby from Cripple was estimated to be anywhere from 60 to 80 miles.</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; min-height: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
The road to Ruby was wide with somewhat steep grades. We passed Marcelle, who in true Yukon fashion, had bedded her dogs down on spruce boughs. As we climbed, the wind increased. I figured it probably would have been smarter to take a break down in the more sheltered valley, but oh well. How was a rookie to know. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; min-height: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
I caught up with Alex, who had pulled over into the bend of the road. It was still windy, but not as windy as on the other side of the corner. This place would have to do. Night fell as we cared for our dogs. Monica pulled up and I helped her park her dogs. By this time, Alex had finished his chores, and like the good camper he is, had built a small fire beside the teams. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; min-height: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
For some reason, as the sun sank, so did our moods. It was a group of disillusioned rookies sitting in front the campfire halfway between Cripple and Ruby. I was cooking a Hostess blueberry muffin on a stick, marveling at how good they tasted warm and not frozen (go figure, right?). I don't remember what we complained about, but one thing was that the dogs weren't eating as well as they had earlier. Knowing now what I didn't know then, this was normal. The dogs were still getting into the routine, their bodies had not yet adapted metabolically and physically to the routine of running a long distance race. They would, but this metabolic process was not something any of us had ever seen before. At this point in the race, we were twice as far as any of us had ever taken a dog team before. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; min-height: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
The fire was warm & cozy, throwing hot sparks of spruce into the sky. Monica and Alex decided they would sleep by the fire. I decided I would be more comfortable in my sleeping bag in my sled. I made my bed, set my alarm for two hours and fell asleep. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; min-height: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
I woke up later, feeling remarkably well rested for a two hour nap. Then I looked at my clock. Two hours had somehow turned into six !!!! Whaaa?? Why hadnāt Alex or Monica woken me up ? I peeked out of my sled bag - it was still dark but I could make out the forms of their sleeping teams. What ?? How could ALL THREE of us oversleep !?!? </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; min-height: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
I crawled out of my sled and walked over to where Monica and Alex where lying around the burnt-out campfire. What the hell ?? Feathers were everywhere. Monicaās bag had a huge hole with the guts of the sleeping bag pushing through. And Alex. Alex looked like he had just crawled out of a chicken coop. WHAT had happened ?? </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
<br />
I woke them up & learned that they had somehow caught themselves on fire during the night. Their best guess was that the space blanket Monica had wrapped around herself had blown off her and onto the fire. Monica had woken up to Alex rolling around yelling, pieces of burning space blanket raining down around them. I immediately started laughing, but Alex was actually quite traumitized. His big puffy down jacket had caught on fire - with him still in it. Parts of his beaver hat had been singed, and his sleeping bag and sleeping pad both had immesnse holes from the fire. Later, in Nulato, Alex showed us his sleeping pad. The entire section from the right corner to where his head and shoulder had laid was burnt away. Itās taken two years but I *think* he can find the humor in it now. Or maybe you had to see it for yourself. I still laugh out loud when I think about Alex looking like a fox in a henhouse. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; min-height: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
The run into Ruby was fantastic. Of course, the dogs were fresh off an 8 hour rest !! So we just cruised up and down the rolling hills that the mining road traversed. There was never a flat spot; we were headed either up or down. Many of the low points were heavily glaciated, but nothing too bad. It was cold ā the dogs frosted up and ice fog hovered over the creeks we crossed. The sun rose as we got closer to the checkpoint and I was surprised to realize I recognized the hills surrounding Ruby. As long as I have been alive, a Jon van Zyle painting titled āTrail of out Rubyā has hung in my grandparentās dining room. Over the years, the landscape soaked into my mind. It was a strange feeling to recognize a place I had never been. Despite the dĆ©jĆ” vu, what lay ahead was still a great unknown, and u<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">p next was the vast & intimidating Yukon River.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;"> </span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;"><br /></span>
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;"><br /></span>
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 18px; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://lisbetnorris.blogspot.com/2014/05/i-start.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Part I: The Start</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> <a href="http://lisbetnorris.blogspot.com/2014/06/ii-easy-part.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Part II: The Easy Part</a>.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://lisbetnorris.blogspot.com/2014/07/iii-hard-part.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Part III: The Hard Part</a></div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 18px;">
<a href="http://lisbetnorris.blogspot.com/2014/07/iv-harder-part.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Part IV: The Harder Part</a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 18px;">
<a href="http://lisbetnorris.blogspot.com/2014/08/v-sweet-relief.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Part V: Sweet Relief</a><br />
<a href="http://www.lisbetnorris.com/2014/10/vi-24.html" target="_blank">Part VI. 24</a><br />
<a href="http://www.lisbetnorris.com/2015/07/vii-sunrise-on-road-to-ophir.html" target="_blank">Part VII. Sunrise on the Road to Ophir</a><br />
<div>
<a href="http://www.lisbetnorris.com/2015/07/viii-halfway.html" target="_blank">Part VIII. Halfway. </a></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Lisbethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06066513849980376169noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488210705343555399.post-62604546879246628852015-07-13T18:25:00.003-08:002015-07-13T21:00:06.207-08:00VIII. Halfway <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Monica and I left the warm and cozy Innoko River cabin under a big starry sky. The river valley was wide and expansive. The trail left the bottom of the river valley and began traversing gently rolling hills. The moonlit landscape rolled by, the same seemingly featureless hills for miles and miles. At some point during the night, the aurora stretched so wide across the night sky, it couldn't be encompassed in a single glance. Smooth thick glowing green ribbons of aurora slowly undated across the night sky in a panorama that encompassed my entire field of vision. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The northern lights gave me something to latch on to, engaged me, and kept my attention level high. When they faded away, I felt my awareness of my surroundings fading as well. It was the darkest time of night, when you feel tired no matter how much sleep you've gotten. My headlamp reveled the same rolling taiga hills, gently up, gently down, again and again. It wasn't engaging and it certainly wasn't technical. The trail dragged on, more so because we didn't know where the checkpoint was. After about forty miles, I kept expecting to see Cripple around every corner, and after every corner was disappointed. This went on for another ten or twenty miles (i.e. forever), before finally, as a pale dawn crept over the eastern sky, we saw the lights of Cripple glinting in the distance. As we cruised down a long slope to the large frozen swamp bordering the checkpoint, the sky lightened with the soft cotton candy pinks and blues so particular to northern Interior landscapes -- bring to mind Fairbanks, Kautokeino, Kiruna. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We pulled into Cripple and before she even said a word, it was apparent that the checker was the most annoying person in the world. The poor girl didn't do anything except pleasantly check us in and do a bag check. But her very existence irritated me. And I couldn't figure out whyā¦. until I ate something. I am the kind of person whose blood sugar is important to their mood even in the best of times... compound that with almost a week on the trail, and the result is extreme grumpiness and irrationality. I felt human again after I scarfed down a meal I heated up in the water cooker. Some levels in my body equalized and I realized I had not taken as good of care of myself on that last run as I should have. I need to stay fed and hydrated to stay happy. I didn't hate the checker anymore, in fact, I quite liked her. The highs and lows of Iditarod.... things can change so quickly -- mood swings, weather, trail conditionsā¦. at the drop of a hat. Knowing how to handle yourself and your team in these situations is a skill that comes with experience, and is certainly one of the most important wilderness skills a musher needs to have in their arsenal. You need to be able to take care of yourself in order to take care of your dogs. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Cripple is considered the halfway point on the northern route of the Iditarod. A checkpoint that is renowned for it's "middle-of-nowhere-ness," Cripple has, over the years, transformed into a luxury camp. There are several buildings, and several more were being constructed during our stay there. There was a cook shack, a super cushy musher sleeping building heated by an oil drip stove, PLUS, maybe the nicest feature: his and her outhouses. We quite enjoyed our stay in Cripple -- I even got a cheeseburger, cooked by Iditarod judge Jim Gallea himself. Tyrell & Tekla Seavey were also there. Tekla, who is one of the nicest people in the world, was actually the checker, so you can see I was clearly out of my head when we arrived in Cripple. Tyrell is an expert at reading Iditarod stats, crunching numbers, and just general race analysis, so it's always interesting to hear his take on the race. We stayed in Cripple for 7 hours, a little longer than planned-- it was hard to drag myself out of the warm building with cheeseburgers and race insights !</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Next up...... "An Incident with Fire." </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Need to catch up ? The rest of the story is available below: </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 18px; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://lisbetnorris.blogspot.com/2014/05/i-start.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Part I: The Start</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> <a href="http://lisbetnorris.blogspot.com/2014/06/ii-easy-part.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Part II: The Easy Part</a>.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://lisbetnorris.blogspot.com/2014/07/iii-hard-part.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Part III: The Hard Part</a></div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 18px;">
<a href="http://lisbetnorris.blogspot.com/2014/07/iv-harder-part.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Part IV: The Harder Part</a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 18px;">
<a href="http://lisbetnorris.blogspot.com/2014/08/v-sweet-relief.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Part V: Sweet Relief</a><br />
<a href="http://www.lisbetnorris.com/2014/10/vi-24.html" target="_blank">Part VI. 24</a><br />
<a href="http://www.lisbetnorris.com/2015/07/vii-sunrise-on-road-to-ophir.html" target="_blank">Part VII. Sunrise on the Road to Ophir</a></div>
</div>
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
<br /></div>
Lisbethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06066513849980376169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488210705343555399.post-33830048148286913602015-07-12T15:05:00.001-08:002015-07-13T17:41:00.409-08:00VII. Sunrise on the Road to Ophir<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Finally, many moons after the fact, I am publishing the last few installments of my Rookie Iditarod story! Sorry for the delay -- it takes me a</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: inherit;"> long time to write and it has been a long time since I had the time to sit down and do so! The rest of the tale (from McGrath to Nome) will be laid out over the course of the next week or two. If you would like to start the trip over from the beginning, the other installments are available by clicking on the links below:</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 18px;">
<div style="min-height: 13px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://lisbetnorris.blogspot.com/2014/05/i-start.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Part I: The Start</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> <a href="http://lisbetnorris.blogspot.com/2014/06/ii-easy-part.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Part II: The Easy Part</a>.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://lisbetnorris.blogspot.com/2014/07/iii-hard-part.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Part III: The Hard Part</a></div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://lisbetnorris.blogspot.com/2014/07/iv-harder-part.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Part IV: The Harder Part</a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://lisbetnorris.blogspot.com/2014/08/v-sweet-relief.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Part V: Sweet Relief</a><br />
<a href="http://www.lisbetnorris.com/2014/10/vi-24.html" target="_blank">Part VI. 24</a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXXLahODnfJTHIzYhmWyqaVPAPYkFpQ_aEofnplURBwWJ3ractpdcNZqb-RYDS6BtfXezC9xt325UbrVg9i-S-CNZqwddR6u53AMMmWNKOlz7A2HVvTmbQvrFxW9gbOTae2ecSC7y7JjE/s1600/DSCF1330.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXXLahODnfJTHIzYhmWyqaVPAPYkFpQ_aEofnplURBwWJ3ractpdcNZqb-RYDS6BtfXezC9xt325UbrVg9i-S-CNZqwddR6u53AMMmWNKOlz7A2HVvTmbQvrFxW9gbOTae2ecSC7y7JjE/s640/DSCF1330.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Innoko River country.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<b>VII. Sunrise on the Road to Ophir</b></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: inherit;">We left McGrath in early morning darkness. I remember feeling like my energy levels had been restored, but not quite back to 100%. It was a daunting feeling to leave my ābigā rest still tired with over 700 miles left to go.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It was a fun, fast, and unexpectedly hilly run to Takotna. The dogs were fresh off their big rest and chugged over the hills in good time. It felt like a blink of an eye from the time we pulled the hook in McGrath until we were pulling through town. Iām sure the eighteen mile run feels much longer to the mushers who 24 in Takotna, as the hills usually cap off a fifty long river and swamp miles from Nikolai. Heehee, too bad for them. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I stopped in Takotna long enough to drop Robber. I didnāt like the look of his gait. The long break had not done anything to improve his sore wrist, so while I was sorry to send my sweet Robber home, it was for the best. Even stopping in Takotna for just ten minutes was still long enough to get a feel for the communityās legendary hospitality. The checkpoint volunteers gave me a sack lunch & a soda for the road, which was very well received on my part! I love soda :)</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We left Takotna around 6 in the morning. The trail to Ophir follows a road that curves up and around the hills surrounding Takotna. It was still dark, but as we chugged up the long, gradual climbs, we could see hints of dawn to the east. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Coming around a corner, the Alaska Range revealed itself, black mountains standing in contrast to a brilliant sunrise glowing in the East, a thick, blood-red line that somehow, against all color wheels, managed to fade perfectly into the india ink of the dawn sky, still heavily speckled with burning white stars. The black outline of the Alaska Range rose up along the horizon, the mountains thrown into contrast by the brilliant blood red of the sunrise. It was beautiful and strange. Strange to see the mountains I grew up with, my constant frame of reference since I was a small child, <i>behind</i> me. But it was also exciting, exciting to move forward toward new horizons.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i></i><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The sky lightened as we dropped over the hills surrounding Takotna into the Innoko River valley. The temperature plummeted. The dogās coats became coated in hoarfrost and the particles from their breath frosted the ruff around my face. But as the sun rose, so did the temperature. The sky lightened, and to my surprise, I recognized the landscape. A very good friend of mine had spent time trapping and hunting in this region a few years ago, and had described the landscape to me. One of the prominent landmarks of the region is two side by side symmetrical hills, shaped like mounds. Okay, shaped like breasts. Very obviously breast-shaped. I laughed. It was clear to me that this was the landmark Eline had mentioned, and knowing that my friend had experienced that same landscape both oriented and comforted me somehow. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We rolled into Ophir a little before 9 a.m. What a charming checkpoint. Quiet, remote, comfortable. The dogs lazed in the sun and I got a comfy nap in a nice warm wall tent furnished with an oil drip stove. Before I left Ophir, I dropped Victor, whose sore wrist and shoulder I had been nursing since Nikolai. It was seventy to ninety (actual mileage unknown) to Cripple, the next dog drop, so I didn't want to risk having to carry him. This left me with the ten dogs that I would ultimately take the rest of the way. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
It would be a long haul from Ophir to Cripple. We planned on breaking the run in two. Alex told he planned to pull over at a BLM cabin by the Innoko River. That sounded like a good plan to us too. <span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">But first, we had to leave Ophir. The dogs were reluctant. </span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">If dogs are new to distance racing, running and resting on a race schedule is something they need to be taught. Dogs crave consistency. Once they understand the pattern: ārun, eat, rest, repeat,ā itās much easier to get them out of the checkpoints. Although running in </span></span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">itself</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> is the ultimate reward (not distant straw & kibble), an innate capacity for self preservation will cause a dog to be hesitant to run into the distant sunset if they are unsure there is actually an end to the trail. </span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I put Ruby (who has actually never not wanted to go) in single lead and coaxed the rest out of the checkpoint. After an hour or so, the dogs warmed up and got back in the groove of things, but I was shaken by the rough departure. They hadnāt eaten well in Ophir either. Although I had heard from other mushers that the first half of the race is a transition period for the dogs, hearing something is one thing, seeing for yourself is another. </span>Ultimately, by the time we reached Ruby, the dogs had it all figured out. (In my case, I didnāt feel like I got hardly anything figured out until White Mountain, seventy miles from the finish line, but oh well ;))</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The BLM cabin is about 30 miles out of Ophir. The run from Ophir to the cabin was spectaculur. It was a fairly flat, hard packed trail that followed the innoko river valley. The sun was bright, and the afternoon seemed warm. I donāt know if if was actually āwarm,ā but the sun felt hot, & after -30F, almost any temp seems warm! We reached the cabin as the daylight faded. We almost missed it, as the cabin was tucked just off the trail amidst the trees, but I caught sight of some neon sledbag or jacket and geed the dogs up the cabinās āoutgoingā trail. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The cabin was new and super fancy, as far as cabins in the middle of nowhere go (Read an article about the building of the cabin <a href="http://www.newsminer.com/news/alaska_news/four-new-shelter-cabins-built-on-iditarod-trail/article_ccd57a75-d77b-5f34-bffe-736ede8b919a.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>). It was a beautiful spot on the north fork of the Innoko River. While I cared for the dogs, I watched a stunning red sunset give way to darkness. The stars twinkled above the spruce trees and the windows of the cabin glowed a cheery yellow. There was a gang of us rookies there, all taking a short break before heading off into the wilderness of Innoko River country. The atmosphere was congenial and cozy. A few worried nervously about their positions in the back of the pack, but most everyone else, including myself, really didn't care. We were having a good time, learning how to run a thousand mile race. I</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: inherit;"> took a short nap on one of the cots inside the cabin and then Monica and I prepared out teams to head towards Crippleā¦. the halfway point of the race ! </span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOW7-qCl6dU5YGpUF9vuQIUD-axS8FFyBhvaeQ4z9KIsz41MTQkRWBnPafuGsjjuHSA4tpzynpAEQYeOZcg9MH_DotcZpf9hLaxCNfzpNdff9coyBoTPtL7I9widKNMyrRBah2yZd-BL0/s1600/DSCF1335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOW7-qCl6dU5YGpUF9vuQIUD-axS8FFyBhvaeQ4z9KIsz41MTQkRWBnPafuGsjjuHSA4tpzynpAEQYeOZcg9MH_DotcZpf9hLaxCNfzpNdff9coyBoTPtL7I9widKNMyrRBah2yZd-BL0/s640/DSCF1335.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the way to the BLM cabin. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Lisbethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06066513849980376169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488210705343555399.post-13478557059772588212015-07-01T20:21:00.000-08:002015-07-02T13:13:53.314-08:00sockeye fire<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_zjF0DQLHV-oDO06tn6InNHUq2psWQ_SY4dIuZFPuyoi2mvGllauOxiRgtyf3RzxJEUr93_BlxBj9cvTMNuGnMl75V1joX5wNl1CRB39ZWMTM8WKu1Dq-D0R0cD7evTs509yZOKofIDw/s1600/IMG_4055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_zjF0DQLHV-oDO06tn6InNHUq2psWQ_SY4dIuZFPuyoi2mvGllauOxiRgtyf3RzxJEUr93_BlxBj9cvTMNuGnMl75V1joX5wNl1CRB39ZWMTM8WKu1Dq-D0R0cD7evTs509yZOKofIDw/s640/IMG_4055.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Approaching the fire on Day 1. Denali visible to the right. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">As many have heard, Willow was hit by a devastating wildfire that swept through our community two weeks ago. The causes of the fire have not been officially confirmed, but residents from the subdivision from which the fire originated suspect it was human-caused.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The fire started Sunday afternoon. It was a hot, clear & windy. It is rarely windy in Willow. Sirens screamed by the house all afternoon, so I knew something was up. I went to my parent's house, intending to take advantage of the sunny weather to hike out to a lake behind the ridge they live on & go paddle boarding. From the top of the ridge, a smoke plume was visible to the north. Mom & Dad were buzzing around loading up the dog truck with water and dishes -- a call had gone out around the neighborhood that help was needed to evacuate dogs up at Mile 77 down Sockeye Road. "I'll come, too" I said. "Let me go put some pants on." I was dressed for paddleboarding.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I ran home, pulled on some Carhartts, grabbed some snacks and water, and returned to jump in the dog truck as it headed north. Our homestead is at mile 66, about 11 miles from Sockeye Rd, both by road and as the crow flies. The plume grew larger as we got closer. It looked ominous. At Kashwitna Lake, just after Mile 75, we were horrified to look out the windows and see the far side of the lake on fire - spruce trees flaring up and throwing flames and black smoke high. It was hot, dry and the wind was blowing hard.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We arrived at mile 77 to mild chaos. Local firetrucks were staged at the subdivision entrance. Troopers and State Park Rangers were on the road. Families & individuals that had evacuated from the Sockeye Subdivision were gathered in worried clusters. Andrea Hambach ran up to the truck, wondering if we had already been down to see if the Korpi's dogs had made it out - the Korpi's live down Sockeye & she knew that they were not at home. After learning from the State Park Rangers that they were not allowing anyone down Sockeye & they were considering shutting the highway down, Andrea ran to her truck and raced down the highway. She needed to get back to her own property. As did we. We were right behind her, but in the arbitrary manner particular to state and federal workers, we were not allowed through. Most likely it was for the best. Shortly thereafter, we were informed the fire had jumped the highway at mile 75 and the Parks was closed for the foreseeable future. What a terrible, hopeless feeling; to be on the wrong side of an uncontained raging wildfire, separated from our own dogs. But there was nothing we could do but wait. We hoped Andrea had made it through, and when she did not come back, it seemed as though she had.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We waited for six hours. The Parks Highway became backed up for miles. We watched a helicopter carrying Hotshots land next to the dog truck. That the professionals were being called in, and that the front line happened to be right next to us, made me uncomfortable. We watched helicopters with buckets and tankers with bellies of water fly around and around. The water slings on the helicopters seemed so puny in relation to the tremendous smoke plume. I hung around the State Park truck and listened to the radio. It made me feel better to know what was going on, or know at least as much as the "authorities" did. I texted with a former wildland firefighter friend who reassured me that the fire was currently too far away from our dog lot to worry. Hearing from someone who was an expert in fire matters reassured me, but being trapped on the wrong side of the fire was still extremely stressful. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Finally, we received word from friends that the troopers were allowing people into the Dell M subdivision to help evacuate dogs. We had an empty dog truck sitting just a few miles north. I got ahold of Andy Anderson, who was heading up the evacuation effort, and he talked the troopers into giving us an escort through the hot spot by the road to go help.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Driving south, we were shocked by the devastation we saw. The entire perimeter of Kashwitna Lake had burned and the fire was still smoldering and flaring up as we drove through. At mile 75, where the fire had jumped the highway, the smoke was thick and we could see fire ahead, spruce trees flaring up by the highway. We pulled into the Dell M subdivision and checked in with the evacuation crew. They had the last of the dogs loaded up and the truck was not needed. We could see the smoke plumes coming closer and decided we needed to get out of the subdivision, now. As we pulled out of Dell M onto the Parks, we were shocked to see the forest across the road from us on fire. The fire had moved fast (we heard later that it had roared through the Dell M subdivision at 30 miles per hour). We pulled onto the highway and got the hell out of there, worried for the homes and properties of our friends along the highway. It didn't look good.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We went home & started preparing for evacuation. I couldn't stop thinking about the Big Lake fire 20 years ago. I was just a kid then, but I vividly remember the anxiety and fear of the adults around me. Most vivid is how I had to wear the same sweatpants for a week. Truly traumatic :P Joke. But after seeing how fast the fire had moved, I could not be comfortable until I got my dogs well away from it. I started loading up the dog truck with everything we would need to go camp out. I loaded everything I would need to continue training in the event we lost everything. I packed an evacuation bag for Grandma, and finally, loaded up 24 dogs in the trailer, 6 in kennels in the back of the truck, and Seb, Mygga and the cat in the cab. After waiting for Grandma to get picked up by my cousin, who was taking her to Palmer, I evacuated the property and headed to Underdog Feeds, my parent's feed store in Wasilla. It was 1 a.m., Monday morning. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The store had turned into an evacuation camp. Several mushers were already there, stringing up drop chains and situating dogs. It was a long, grim night. The fire kept burning. It was confirmed it had jumped Willow Creek. Early reports led us to assume everything alongside the highway from mile 75 to 71 had burned up. Morning came, and reports began to trickle in from people who had made it up the highway and into some of the neighborhoods. Hope flared when we heard that some houses had not burnt. Lev was helping me drop dogs when he received word that his house and barn had not burnt down. Amazing, considering late evacuees had reported seeing his house surrounded in flames. To see the look on someone's face when they receive word of a miracle... </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Unfortunately, reports also confirmed some people's houses had indeed burnt. The indiscriminate nature of the fire was baffling. Some homes burnt to nothing, some homes lost nothing but a carrot garden. But after we assumed everything was lost, it was wonderful to hear of the homes that had made it - cheery moments during a dark time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Mushers continued to trickle in the following day as the fire grew and the evacuation area for Willow was expanded. By Monday afternoon, we had about five hundred dogs at the store, in addition to two horses, some goats, chickens, at least five cats, and a parrot. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I was kept very very busy that week. The first few days the dogs needed to be monitored constently. They did not understand that we had not set off to go on a fun training run & were subsequently wild & excited. I slept outside with them all week. Having the dogs on drop chains required constant supervision and it took a lot of time to care for them. During the day, it was incredible hot. Incredible. 90 F. The dogs were hot. I watered them a couple times a day, rotating pans and carrying water buckets. Tarps were donated by private donors, the Mapes family, and Alaska Dog and Puppy Rescue (thank you!) and I was able to string up a network of tarps for the dogs to provide them some shade. I answered the phone, coordinated random things, and networked. I was overwhelmed by the outpouring of support and generosity from around the world directed towards the affected mushers. Thank you to all who called the feed store to donate money for the mushers who lost their homes. Your kindness is so very much appreciated (The Willow Dog Mushers Association is now beginning the process of sorting out the funds to those in need).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">By Wednesday, the firefighters began to gain some control of the fire. The mushers who had been camped at Underdog had begun to disperse - either back home or to friend's houses. A few, including myself, remained. My parents <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">took their three litters of puppies and half their lot back to their house in Willow, but remained ready to load up the dogs and go if needed. The fire was technically still uncontained and had the potential to flare up out of control again under the right</span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"> conditions. While I</span></span> cared for my lot and the rest of theirs, I anticipated taking my own dogs home. There was no question the best place for the dogs would be at home: sitting on their houses, jumping around in the 100+ square foot space their chains give them, lounging in the shade, and drinking the water available to them all day, not handed out by the scoop in evacuee camp. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Thursday, I unloaded my truck of evacuated goods, sleds and equipment, and drove the dogs home into a sunset slightly colored by wildfire smoke. (I actually took two trips, it was still so hot I did not want to double them in their boxes). I did not realize the stress of living at the store until I was home again. It felt like pure luxury, especially knowing some of my friends and neighbors were not so lucky, and would not have the same pleasure of coming home to a familiar green space. Not now, not for a long time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Many homes in Willow were saved solely due to the efforts of firefighters on the ground. THANK YOU. Thank you for risking your lives to save our homes & properties. You are appreciated.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
Thank you to the many people who came by the store and donated goods, food, and most importantly, their time.<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">And thank you to my parents for providing a safe haven for area dog mushers. Evacuating is one thing, having a place to go with your kennel is another. The store is located on four fenced-in acres. Just a week prior, my dad had offered up the store as a possible evacuation location during a disaster preparedness discussion at a Willow Dog Mushers Association meeting. The horror that was the Big Lake Miller Reach Fire has never left the minds of folks who lived in the Valley in 1996, and since Willow Creek flooded a couple years ago, displacing many, the Willow Dog Mushers has had a Disaster Preparedness Committee. These experiences combined have resulted in area mushers placing extra emphasis on the importance of having their kennels ready in case of emergency. Vern Halter, area musher and borough rep, ensured that having a kennel evacuation plan on file with the borough be a mandatory part of obtaining a dog mushing kennel license. This attitude, along with good communication and teamwork, is what I believe contributed to not a single dog burning up in the Sockeye Fire.</span><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I am so proud to be a member of this community. And I am proud to be a member of the mushing community. Mushers and fans have banded together from around to the world to raise funds to help those whose homes and kennels were destroyed by the fire. This generosity of spirit is truly uplifting.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">One thing I would like to point out. Fifty-five homes in Willow burned to the ground. Only nine of those homes belonged to mushers, but it has been the mushers who have received the overwhelming majority of attention and financial support in the wake of the fire Hopefully we can find</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> a way to also support our community at large, which has served as a stronghold for mushing in the state, whose trails provide us the means to pursue our sport, and whose people, mushers or not, cheer & encourage us in our attempts to preserve and protect mushing as sport and heritage.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Now, our community is in the process of regrouping and rebuilding. We have "de-evacuated" and are moving forward with our lives and our plans. Personally, I am feeling grateful the fire never came too close to our property. I am thankful for the firefighters and for those who are still working hard to help the victims of the fire rebuild. For those still wishing to help, <span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 19px;">please direct either money, materials, or manpower to the </span><a class="profileLink" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/page.php?id=380988918763107" href="https://www.facebook.com/willowrebuildproject" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: none;">Willow Community Rebuild Project - Krista Fee</a><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">. </span></span></span></span> Krista is directing a crew of licensed contractors and volunteers who<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 19px;"> are all working hard to build homes before winter arrives for the uninsured who lost theirs in the fire. </span><span style="color: #141823; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"> I</span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">f you would like to support a particular musher who lost their home in the fire, mail them a check. While donations of furniture, dog food, clothes, etc. are appreciated in nature, money with which they can choose to do with what they will, is really the best way to help right now. Thank you.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTtVShPwy0TZfrAreZlZB5ZroDEuVrTUW9N7HvPJAymixi-FysHpdsu7Rbc3E8TeNZoLJcAZMCPRt6oI6YDT7s-S4xFxzDRG6Kv6DV9FijOow3vR9i1WJ-gnkCKxutcIP54mhK77DpwJg/s1600/IMG_4045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTtVShPwy0TZfrAreZlZB5ZroDEuVrTUW9N7HvPJAymixi-FysHpdsu7Rbc3E8TeNZoLJcAZMCPRt6oI6YDT7s-S4xFxzDRG6Kv6DV9FijOow3vR9i1WJ-gnkCKxutcIP54mhK77DpwJg/s640/IMG_4045.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The smoke plume from my parent's house, early Sunday afternoon.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_5X1oAeV9OvVfRG9E8lEFfQL75PSTR_H1Hrnbj7U79LHQAWMCQYVYggpOjP58tqcqz3ED428NcDKdT4DriLGIEGG6N4UXZtGuWwFZ5R83HjTkJjmb4yDzc8Pcqzdi-dGgpXp008-gKAM/s1600/IMG_4048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_5X1oAeV9OvVfRG9E8lEFfQL75PSTR_H1Hrnbj7U79LHQAWMCQYVYggpOjP58tqcqz3ED428NcDKdT4DriLGIEGG6N4UXZtGuWwFZ5R83HjTkJjmb4yDzc8Pcqzdi-dGgpXp008-gKAM/s640/IMG_4048.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The fire grew quickly. Approaching Little Willow Creek, mile 74.6.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisRu9hRSDL0wkE65Teu3bguSgBRFhTrnsMswdCpXKA3-Zc2QhAT8RyBkJetsZf39Zv4Wzv3NO_jLhyz1rQH-9eIQKCEQ0IbHvUMTh-AEeB0JruedAqaIDysZ1amxSqsLHUhyphenhyphenL0TVUhESA/s1600/IMG_4058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisRu9hRSDL0wkE65Teu3bguSgBRFhTrnsMswdCpXKA3-Zc2QhAT8RyBkJetsZf39Zv4Wzv3NO_jLhyz1rQH-9eIQKCEQ0IbHvUMTh-AEeB0JruedAqaIDysZ1amxSqsLHUhyphenhyphenL0TVUhESA/s640/IMG_4058.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The dog truck at Mile 77, where we remained for six hours. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK4XeL9DeBvoQYoE3qGYuGqhDgAasjkgOv8prHQmuf_bzXXrwLOBJjtiSgQ__NOEqEeetZvyY0bPA_jYG2KCmzjXPJOK3t54aeYueqQmJoc_RrfNgxgj_sGcNdpJPegOXqy32gceFwN74/s1600/IMG_4060.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK4XeL9DeBvoQYoE3qGYuGqhDgAasjkgOv8prHQmuf_bzXXrwLOBJjtiSgQ__NOEqEeetZvyY0bPA_jYG2KCmzjXPJOK3t54aeYueqQmJoc_RrfNgxgj_sGcNdpJPegOXqy32gceFwN74/s640/IMG_4060.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Kashwitna Lake perimeter: green when we drove by, black and smoking when we drove back.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0AmBUnUdmySNavA_HeaLlNk8xTJTfPhjugrl2zEuWsYUkFx7dMwGncafSEsaqu0osYfhalZ7qUMVjA9mvED8di-ti2sMqKe1uODuz3x3v9xBr0kBOFplbBzlk42L3i2GhJx91cL-tZlo/s1600/IMG_4082.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0AmBUnUdmySNavA_HeaLlNk8xTJTfPhjugrl2zEuWsYUkFx7dMwGncafSEsaqu0osYfhalZ7qUMVjA9mvED8di-ti2sMqKe1uODuz3x3v9xBr0kBOFplbBzlk42L3i2GhJx91cL-tZlo/s640/IMG_4082.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The "hot spot" at mile 75. East side.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgABIs6rG6K_mYXYmLw7rTwG4AWzAIzt3vtKUgdiAGTMGV-eTB2HdtTtoBJe4v9C8M8dJOjTgzGKSaQkW_hgPkuf1o-kafQcpBVvtsjvtavJpk43ob4WI5OCzE4HhtS2I0TYfwBIS3wDO4/s640/IMG_4070.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fire on both sides of the highway. West side.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxuYHYTL1vwX-VnFmrGmFb-3Upbs44ck0h6nuvTcKhSqSzmN4anbW_pFUU-gFGL-jsEoO-AO7sgKRfG8vwclQUSLsWI3i2AM82amWwHaDlLWdhG88gUZZdoLWwfEHF1o0YZuQEHIacJU4/s1600/IMG_4083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxuYHYTL1vwX-VnFmrGmFb-3Upbs44ck0h6nuvTcKhSqSzmN4anbW_pFUU-gFGL-jsEoO-AO7sgKRfG8vwclQUSLsWI3i2AM82amWwHaDlLWdhG88gUZZdoLWwfEHF1o0YZuQEHIacJU4/s640/IMG_4083.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charred trees where the fire had already blown through. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0u5PTP8cHmTEz6pJTcGwhkrj0AgN7j-x__VGCEvUDkYNOEoFwftEWgHv4c1mMGWDKUNdM-VeY-tSGsjYkOh4uMbVb3p9l49KKwfAPCgGmkNcCI-8stF72l3AbnA2manHFGZvrBO6BXbs/s1600/IMG_4086.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0u5PTP8cHmTEz6pJTcGwhkrj0AgN7j-x__VGCEvUDkYNOEoFwftEWgHv4c1mMGWDKUNdM-VeY-tSGsjYkOh4uMbVb3p9l49KKwfAPCgGmkNcCI-8stF72l3AbnA2manHFGZvrBO6BXbs/s640/IMG_4086.PNG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The perimeter of the fire. It didn't grow much beyond this, thankfully.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeX_vhqKMXyW0CQ8w4hsEaI3VLw2Pk3LXbq_5bLCPDmlmjDOdVZEkO28ntKOLcgkALoDrZeyE8O9W3CyRc6KZ1W7Fa7MPQ6SjB0STFt_m2nz_cWz6QVDN-elCFPT0EjZ0jONTm0DuPEgc/s1600/IMG_4090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeX_vhqKMXyW0CQ8w4hsEaI3VLw2Pk3LXbq_5bLCPDmlmjDOdVZEkO28ntKOLcgkALoDrZeyE8O9W3CyRc6KZ1W7Fa7MPQ6SjB0STFt_m2nz_cWz6QVDN-elCFPT0EjZ0jONTm0DuPEgc/s640/IMG_4090.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The dogs at evacuation camp. They went a little wild at sundown. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfaF0K9XG0J5wVLoEyzQpOfDt96vbe2bBwKc7i3K8LTa_zvsm3TPeLNUrdXt6-wyYjYhES5hfLLvPkA_9_GmKQp1-zgNmJ5yGHFp9XsB689bNpkya7IN4-e_2UK_vu_NZN6VbSrscKOck/s1600/IMG_4091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfaF0K9XG0J5wVLoEyzQpOfDt96vbe2bBwKc7i3K8LTa_zvsm3TPeLNUrdXt6-wyYjYhES5hfLLvPkA_9_GmKQp1-zgNmJ5yGHFp9XsB689bNpkya7IN4-e_2UK_vu_NZN6VbSrscKOck/s640/IMG_4091.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not even sure if his own house had made it, TJ brought everyone coffee & donuts the first morning. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGoavVf76g2NSz1v2oFZHuEOOi4_6vPmDklR7Pnvw4Si_V378scOCaC0i06uf49QRKASjjJT9vIyfJqDM_QiNLHI5Rn1W3FAkzFRLcE4iNX5jrX6ZaII2rRByY_ZuBLefuSJMk7s5Vmmc/s1600/IMG_4099.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGoavVf76g2NSz1v2oFZHuEOOi4_6vPmDklR7Pnvw4Si_V378scOCaC0i06uf49QRKASjjJT9vIyfJqDM_QiNLHI5Rn1W3FAkzFRLcE4iNX5jrX6ZaII2rRByY_ZuBLefuSJMk7s5Vmmc/s640/IMG_4099.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fritz, Fearless & Heidi try to beat the heat. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipD9u-QFeAgiugd489OMRaeYnvLfDyEZuXRfokefmvIQ5SW2faHRHGYfJUaZ3PibPCd-FnmmpBxBU5dfwNFeZ8zSrMk06KDjG6wOF9WTj6n9bgvAO_HxTWhODELHIpyi9kL_G5otuH-D0/s1600/IMG_4102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipD9u-QFeAgiugd489OMRaeYnvLfDyEZuXRfokefmvIQ5SW2faHRHGYfJUaZ3PibPCd-FnmmpBxBU5dfwNFeZ8zSrMk06KDjG6wOF9WTj6n9bgvAO_HxTWhODELHIpyi9kL_G5otuH-D0/s640/IMG_4102.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ruby makes everything look easy, even evacuation camp.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5-eEdAxPj41g1DHn3abOB3j61Wi4GFxSkWJAiSuhZao697Akc6zrvq9qaKH5UJzf0ypogIc_F-8XbqiUvk4gdFJXzAmMILdGpUzX0l6DGptF27JvFGqDcVUZJ10oG2SpLEbb8XAxGmjI/s1600/IMG_4113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5-eEdAxPj41g1DHn3abOB3j61Wi4GFxSkWJAiSuhZao697Akc6zrvq9qaKH5UJzf0ypogIc_F-8XbqiUvk4gdFJXzAmMILdGpUzX0l6DGptF27JvFGqDcVUZJ10oG2SpLEbb8XAxGmjI/s640/IMG_4113.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ridiculously hot. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNW3eR7PdRJAUwcAg15L16a-ojjaLyYZFkWeqt8DC-2VBGZ-CHEvQenTy_AokPKAAXApMcNtkpsHqeK_Tqt_Iav7ZDGpxoF2dgrklFs0o-l7nP7tXsRqfe2kB9p2t_g3VTypxMftcsrNY/s1600/IMG_4134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNW3eR7PdRJAUwcAg15L16a-ojjaLyYZFkWeqt8DC-2VBGZ-CHEvQenTy_AokPKAAXApMcNtkpsHqeK_Tqt_Iav7ZDGpxoF2dgrklFs0o-l7nP7tXsRqfe2kB9p2t_g3VTypxMftcsrNY/s640/IMG_4134.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Melinda Shore provided the camp with pizza one evening. Thank you to everyone who provided warm meals -- including Bob & Maureen Morgan, Al & Tanjala Eischens, Chugiak Dog Mushers, Great Alaska Pizza Co. and more. xx</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNLab057JXkSsmacGb02KgwPihjaR5c7fNg6iXsgHBdiLKK9DwaGjaBH390PfEun9nWheVejqZMQsbmmxJJUbZ8jv3f0K1HOymyflxNyDSi6I5eSqOiDcr3To5OHvI8mU4CHtpYvDXXSk/s1600/IMG_4141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNLab057JXkSsmacGb02KgwPihjaR5c7fNg6iXsgHBdiLKK9DwaGjaBH390PfEun9nWheVejqZMQsbmmxJJUbZ8jv3f0K1HOymyflxNyDSi6I5eSqOiDcr3To5OHvI8mU4CHtpYvDXXSk/s640/IMG_4141.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tarps I rigged up to provide the dogs with shade. Thanks to those who donated & to Mitch Seavey for helping me string them up. Maybe helped him get his mind off the other big wildfire in the state, which happened to be one mile from his home in Sterling. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJn93Cnb1oJL66jnZVI08Ia5vIIM-KHg764VtLYo-zyqC7KI9n9oYZ07g6DUDlcgQrvXF7BQcxdKB3KBRGhIFLhd1QMJShYY2jKd2VqbN4IWsPX5FmQ6ly51-M4XWh9QHXy9uS4A2iAkg/s1600/IMG_4162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJn93Cnb1oJL66jnZVI08Ia5vIIM-KHg764VtLYo-zyqC7KI9n9oYZ07g6DUDlcgQrvXF7BQcxdKB3KBRGhIFLhd1QMJShYY2jKd2VqbN4IWsPX5FmQ6ly51-M4XWh9QHXy9uS4A2iAkg/s640/IMG_4162.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The dogs relaxing in the shade.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZv5GxK7LjaJIoZ8wkfnXopffoq81zL8JlArp3diVorGFGhCc96zdlwhb15bMhfy00IX7xrEcSpafu_ZlJF6WqZwpYHy4oc0MD7lLzcyuBZANUPLMXOu226Yi-6ctK4IfCVKlrhdjSWRk/s1600/IMG_4174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZv5GxK7LjaJIoZ8wkfnXopffoq81zL8JlArp3diVorGFGhCc96zdlwhb15bMhfy00IX7xrEcSpafu_ZlJF6WqZwpYHy4oc0MD7lLzcyuBZANUPLMXOu226Yi-6ctK4IfCVKlrhdjSWRk/s640/IMG_4174.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unloaded my sleds and gear to keep at the store -- just in case. The fire was still technically uncontained at that point. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs_wJAz1z-maeF2OfpyrTehWg4rdmHAPI6mYCuQOYGUSJn6cesWByNfOTJGFCgzK-L0NkEyX266B2c8reAWNtXfBot6TVLBVDQyNovnbOf2kMkuZv1mW2q8p00vFT4bJqb7SpTz2fn82U/s1600/IMG_4177.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs_wJAz1z-maeF2OfpyrTehWg4rdmHAPI6mYCuQOYGUSJn6cesWByNfOTJGFCgzK-L0NkEyX266B2c8reAWNtXfBot6TVLBVDQyNovnbOf2kMkuZv1mW2q8p00vFT4bJqb7SpTz2fn82U/s640/IMG_4177.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finally arriving back home Thursday night. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilUczX7sCKceHP4jz4DREdn2854nUWdKHFATTDLdO2TsxWjoafPuJMoDtr5xu7I45xWu_Kob0pOUjFL0UKrYKjkzh4OX0FixxruPH8seck-TynR4SWUzTNP0KDclvVESvpZx8C4offfQE/s1600/IMG_4185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilUczX7sCKceHP4jz4DREdn2854nUWdKHFATTDLdO2TsxWjoafPuJMoDtr5xu7I45xWu_Kob0pOUjFL0UKrYKjkzh4OX0FixxruPH8seck-TynR4SWUzTNP0KDclvVESvpZx8C4offfQE/s640/IMG_4185.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy to wake up at home & have morning coffee with these two.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ7znxPTUH3BnuWs6jI1sKqbTD82jjMB2CYmiAo2G4ZYr-IF522pr11VOhd293Mvipe6L9w6cwvIrTLCt8E7SoskijlcA-EOgGgFEIbYnCOAr3T2O-_hVTriF1_Dd3DSblZomEjMiU-Yg/s1600/IMG_4313.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ7znxPTUH3BnuWs6jI1sKqbTD82jjMB2CYmiAo2G4ZYr-IF522pr11VOhd293Mvipe6L9w6cwvIrTLCt8E7SoskijlcA-EOgGgFEIbYnCOAr3T2O-_hVTriF1_Dd3DSblZomEjMiU-Yg/s640/IMG_4313.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thankful for the green space still surrounding our kennel. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Lisbethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06066513849980376169noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488210705343555399.post-47896564770935010962015-06-12T00:02:00.002-08:002015-06-12T00:05:28.838-08:00summer update<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I let the blog fall to the back burner... for those who check in regularly and are regularly disappointed, I encourage you to check out my Facebook page. I post updates and pictures there often. </span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Iāll post my Iditarod 2015 recap separately, but suffice it to say I had a fantastic time on this yearās race. I had SO much fun, -50F be damned. I raced a little bit this year and enjoyed myself immensely. I saw several areas in which the team and I could improve our performance, and before we crossed under the burled arch in Nome, I was already scheming about ways we could do better next year. I guess this is how you get hooked ! I am already so excited for the 2015/2016 race season and am taking time this summer to work hard to button down what we need for our goals financially & to pencil out a more disciplined training regime. Participating in more mid distance racing will be a priority for the dogs next year. But more on Iditarod 2015 and plans for the 2016 racing season laterā¦. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">After this yearās Iditarod, I decompressed and recovered. I had said good bye to Sarah at the start line in Fairbanks. She left straight for the airport, headed back to her job as a rescue specialist in the Canadian coast guard. My indispensable friend Franzi, who volunteered for Iditarod dog drop this year, was here for about a week after the race. (She has a great blog about volunteering for the race: if you don't read German, Google Translate works ok -- </span>http://blog.mush-on.de <span style="font-family: inherit;">). We drank beer, tea, cooked, took out small teams, went skijoring with my Solstice pups (2 years old this coming Solstice!). Franzi took my "infamous"</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> topless skijoring pictures, which caused a surprising stir on Facebook and annoyance on my part when I had to answer the question ābut WHY?ā from neighbors and Facebook friends for the next month. Why NOT!? It felt good! If I was a man, no one would have cared. If I had posted a picture from the other direction I probably would have made the news. Ridiculous & representational of the sexualized and oppressive attitude Americans hold towards women. Anyway.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We had a hot, short spring, with the melt coming about a month faster than last year. I didn't get to skijor as much as I would have liked, but it was probably for the best, as in my case, skijoring is synonymous with 80% of my body being covered in bruises. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">While the early break-up put an end to my spring skijoring season, with the trails being simultaneously un-skiable and un-runnable, I had a momentās pause to start piecing my life back together after the hectic weeks that led up to Iditarod. I cleaned and organized the post-Iditarod garage, sorted out drop bags, and ordered sponsor gifts (in a futile attempt to express how incredibly grateful I am for the support I received across the globe). </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">My main sponsor this year was 3M Alaska. 3Mās recognizable brand is associated world-wide with quality and ingenuity. The company produces thousands of innovative & helpful products -- many of which I use to help get me down the trail in a safe and productive manner. Traveling by dog team in a safe and productive manner translates to efficiency, which ultimately, leads to success. This spring I was pleased to present the 3M Anchorage office with my 2015 race bib as thanks in part for their support this season.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A quick breakup also resulted in an early start to Alaskaās notorious construction season, so I started working again mid-April. Work has kept me quite busy! So has my new dog, a black one year old German Shepherd named Seb. (Short for Sebastian, a proper German name ;) ) I adopted him from Alaska Animal Rescue Friends. As folks familiar with Siberians know, they are very independent natured dogs.....having a team of Siberians is basically like having a pack of cats. They love you, but on their own terms. This independence is a trait I adore in my dogs, but Iāve missed having a dog that actually cared what I was up to... Enter Seb, my new best friend :) He follows me everywhere & has taken possession of my truck. (Take note, thieves: if you want to keep your arms, keep out of my truck.) Itās also so relaxing to have a dog I donāt have to worry about running away. Some of the Siberians I have are pretty good off-leash, but they only come because they want to. I wouldn't actually trust them to stick around if something more interesting than me rambles on by. Seb is attached to me by an invisible rubber band. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Recently, there has been a lull in flagging & I am using the time to update & reorganize things around the kennel, plus prepare and plan for the upcoming racing season. The dog houses are getting new roofs and new coats of ādog house greenā paint. Itās too warm to train the dogs, so Iāve training myself, running a little bit every day. Running gives me more energy & takes the edge off Sebās teenage dog exuberance. If I run 4 miles, I think he & Mygga (his best friend) run 20, at top speed. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">2015 blogging got off to a slow start, but as I look towards another season of getting by as a semi-professional dog musher, I have full intentions of keeping the webpage regularly updated. Stay tuned for the long-awaited recap of my Rookie Iditarod, as well as a summary of last yearās race, and an announcement of our plans for the 2016 Race Season ! </span></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Hope your summer is off to a great start! xo Lisbet</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Lisbethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06066513849980376169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488210705343555399.post-27008457471427748462015-03-01T14:13:00.001-09:002015-03-01T14:13:36.919-09:00meet & greet<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyzlZ8qlnzwSG-zHCbMWOc4y9qxHYStOxnaV6PiHAjlxfpP6IVeUBlnzNDZYXNv5O2ovihkTec9tcyr0Crvzmuvvbpxs5lFI4lqqxakh1FRO4NNnZTYC_Q84TTPqBFn_kK86sxLNfWm6U/s1600/open+house+jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyzlZ8qlnzwSG-zHCbMWOc4y9qxHYStOxnaV6PiHAjlxfpP6IVeUBlnzNDZYXNv5O2ovihkTec9tcyr0Crvzmuvvbpxs5lFI4lqqxakh1FRO4NNnZTYC_Q84TTPqBFn_kK86sxLNfWm6U/s1600/open+house+jpg.jpg" height="494" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Lisbethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06066513849980376169noreply@blogger.com4