Flowers

Day by day more flowers are " Spring-ing" up! Hard to get good photos with my small digital.

Dens and Flowers

The flowers are popping up all over now, bloodroot, Mayflowers, Dutchman's Breeches and Trillium leaves, but haven't seen a Trillium blossom yet.

Quite a few dens are visible and I've included a photo of one of them ... fox? skunk? not sure.
My game cameras are getting something... have one focused on a dead tree that something has been clawing ... that one has the most photos... hope they're not all of me checking the camera.

Ticks are abundant.

Brave Kayaker

A Swedish woman, Renata Chlumska, started solo paddling in Seattle last fall and has paddled all winter, down around the Gulf and now up the Atlantic Coast. I've been following her since her first day in the water. Pretty amazing that she can meet those challenges and now has made it to New York City. This link is to her website...http://www.renatachlumska.com/, a journal in which she chronicles her trip each day. Very inspiring and the photos are beautiful.

My Swedish grandmother arrived at the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, many years ago and it's fun to watch Renata arrive there now, too.

Renata will be in our area sometime in late August , according to her plan. She will travel via
the Copper Country on Lake Superior.

Kodiak , Alaska

Can't remember if I mentioned in my Alaska notes about the woman from Kodiak whom I met in the airport. She and her husband live remotely on Kodiak and have a wonderful homestead and lifestyle. Their daughter is a bear viewing guide and I just love her website...
www.seahawkair.com .

It is self explanatory and the bear photos are spectacular. I hope to go there some day. In the meantime, I enjoy sharing the info here and love to hear from them about their daily lives. Mine seems a bit humdrum in comparison, but of course the dogs are not humdrum. always up to something.

As I'm looking out down by the birches I see a small doe, last year's fawn, eating the carrots I put out tonight. I won't feed them anymore now that there is grass, but occasionally I leave them treats.

If you go out in the woods today....

Last night my son and daughter in law had a visit from a black bear. They said it's the largest bear they've ever seen, almost certainly a male. Their late bird feeder was his target and he made quick work of it. They live two miles down the road from here. I haven't seen any signs around here.

When I was young I was fascinated by the song, The Teddy Bears Picnic.... " If you go out in the woods today, you'd better not go alone..." , etc. I don't remember being afraid from the song, but my granddaughter did not like the song.

This is another view of the 'widowmaker' tree... definitely will need to be taken down.

My two house dogs love to hunt together and this morning they were particularly following a scent. I didn't see or smell anything, but every so often they'd air scent and then take off together. Both dogs are older, the Lab being about 13 (a rescue) and the husky (with a large hematoma on her belly) is twelve. They don't show their age when they're motivated.

Trees

Have been checking my trees along the trails and in the back woods. Found an old ironwood that has been down a long time... there are about eight new sturdy trees growing out of the old trunk.

There is a large hemlock newly down over the trail. Reminds me of the ones loggers call "widowmakers". It cracked at its base and fell over the trail, being held up only by another tree across the trail. I'll have someone look at it as it's in a precarious position right over the trail.
It is in the second photo. The first photo is of a large old white pine that I've actually measured to see if it's a record holder in the state. It is wide enough but not tall enough.... it must have been topped off when it was young. It's a beautiful old tree and I hesitate to clear around it as it's doing so well as it is.

About eight deer leaped up ahead of us on our walk yesterday. They were in the field where they usually have their fawns. Dogs did not get excited. It tried to get a photo of all the white tails but it was blurry.

We lost parts of many and a few full trees this winter to the bad winds and ice storms. Yesterday we had another wild wind... the dogs were scared as their newly hung shade tarps were flapping wildly. Will go out on the trails and check the trees yet again today.

Actually it's cool enough this morning (27) to run dogs, but expected to warm up again.

Spring on hold

Today felt like Spring is on hold... damp, penetrating cold, and then a few rays of sunshine.
Went to visit the Barrens Natural Area today. Every time I drive in there I'm reminded that it would be a great place to run dogs in the winter and I never get there.

Each time I visit it has a different look. Not just seasonal changes but something different every time. Today the ravens were all over the place feeding on carrion. There was a beaver carcass on the road and I'd bet that is from a local trapper who had offered the meat to me for the dogs a few years back.

There are hints of green in the hills; LePage Creek was meandering through the lowland and no sign of other animals. The creek surrounded by willows looks as if a grizzly should be wandering around down there.
I did get some photos of wildflowers but they're not very good. More signs of flowers today and for once my daffodils are blooming in April. They are always mid to late May. Not sure if that foretells anything.

Wildflowers on dog walks

While the dogs are searching for the great smells of Spring, I'm lucky to find wildflowers.
The first one I spotted, I call Hepatica, but now I'm looking for the difference between Hepatica
and Bloodwort (red juice in stem). Will get some photos when they show their faces again on a sunny day.... today is rainy , and we need it. I see signs of Dutchman's Breeches, leaves are poking up from the leaf cover. Also looking for signs of Jack in the Pulpit on my back trail.
We do have the odd little Indian Pipe, devoid of chlorophyll, but that will come later, usually in rotting leaves under some pines.

Screech Bam Crunch

As I took this peaceful photo on one of our several walks today I heard, simultaneously with the photo, 'skid! screech! bam! crunch!' , in that order. There had obviously been an accident, guessed one car, so I hurried the dogs in and drove out to see if persons needed help.

Young girl must have been driving way too fast, she was fortunate... when I arrived police were arriving and the girl was out of car. Her car had traveled about 50 feet off the highway, had hit a very large metal utility pole head on and was resting smashed to smithereens in a ditch. Hard to believe she walked away from it. That curve is notorious for smash ups.

It was a great straw hauling day... hauled many, many loads from the back pens... looking like I will find an end to straw eventually. Tonight it is drizzling, hope it pours as we need it very much. This photo shows the dry grass, but doesn't show the very dry moss... it crackles like paper when you step on it.

Day Starters

Well, at 4:13 AM the dogs were all kicking up a storm. I went outside to find a stray dog from six miles down the road wandering around the pens, completely unfazed by 39 dogs barking at him. He's been a visitor in the past, always in the dark, so he knows me. Wagging his tail at me, he wandered over to my truck, so in my pajamas, I drove him home . Guess he knows I'm his taxi (lots of practice taking that dog home)... the wild road to his house is usually full of creatures, but this a.m. saw only one deer and one rabbit. Actually the first time I 'met' this dog, I was sleeping on my deck on a hot night. I woke up with his furry face in my face... that was a surprise... too startled to be scared at that moment and right away I realized he was a dog.
Oddly, my usually noisy Lab just let him climb over her to reach me. Guess she knew he was no threat, and he is very sweet, but a nuisance!

When I went outside to feed the dogs, right in front of me was a large beheaded rabbit. I don't know if the dog brought it in but there were also quite a few bird feathers in the spot with the rabbit. Something was starting it's day with a wild breakfast.

Had to cover the spot of the rabbit with sand to keep my dogs out of it and disposed of the rabbit way back in the woods... hope something takes it further away.

Wild Things

Yesterday I sawed dead jack pines with my hand saw ... easy to saw as they were fried by last summer's heat (I had never seen that before, sap ran freely as they fried and the trees turned black) and then they were broken by an ice storm in November. They're just a danger around my propane tank and an eyesore in the driveway. At first I thought I'd haul them with my truck, but then rigged up my bedspring to the ATV that I use for trail dragging and it was the perfect 'trailer' for hauling them away. Then I went out to drag trails as long as I was hooked up. It was a beautiful day and one doe leaped in front of me on the trail.

On a walk later, I saw a snake slithering through the grasses, and tried to catch a photo, but it was too fast (blurry). We have grass snakes and pine snakes... I don't think they're the same... grass are small and pines are fairly large. That prompts me to move more quickly on getting the straw out of pens and houses as in the past the snakes(pines) have taken up residence in the 'comfy' straw... I don't particularly like finding them in a dog house. Surprises, I'm not too keen on that kind of surprise. One dog, Power, is a snake catcher... very quickly grabs them and runs around with his trophies.

The wood ticks are also out... have found a few on me, another not too enjoyable surprise. The house dogs have already had their first treatment.

No wildflowers yet, but the mosses are really greening up, trees are budding more each day.
Saw more wild turkeys yesterday. Started my seeds of Alaskan wildflowers yesterday... fireweed,blue flax, Alaskan poppy, etc.

The birches are always beautiful, any season, so am including a photo of my view from my house. One of the many reasons I love living here.

Old Woman Pond

There is a large yellow birch that has fallen across the pond. We had hoped to get it cut for firewood this past winter, but it lost out in the priorities of dog training. All of the animals and birds frequent this pond in early summer. There are numerous deer beds around it in the winter. It is relatively undisturbed as this view is from our dog trail but we do not go down around it with teams.

Pens on the hillside

The Spring schedule starts at 6AM... feed the house dogs, then go out to feed the kennel dogs.
As the morning light comes earlier we adjust the feeding earlier.

After feeding, each of the pens is cleaned, and as I clean, the dogs get free runs... they can run outside the pen up and down the trail as long as they don't take off. Most are pretty good about it, but a rabbit running through is a lure.

After all of the dogs are run and the pens are clean, I clean each water bucket and then add clean water. Then I haul the buckets of waste back to our pit. Each day I scoop more straw out of the pens and it is used to cover the winter waste pile. I'll add lime as soon as I have most of the straw out, but that takes a long time... each pen has straw and each house has straw.

Midday I take the house dogs for a long walk and check the trails. I usually check the game cameras at the same time to see how many photos we've captured. Today there were six on one camera and I replaced the memory stick on the other, but the 6 volt battery had died... short life.

By 4 PM , it's time for a snack, either ice cubes made of salmon or each a dog biscuit and fresh water. Then it's another walk with dogs, or more raking or sometimes a 30 mile trip for groceries.

This photo is a view of some of the pens from the valley. Last year the cougar was roaming in this area so we cut a lot of brush. I hauled a bit of it today. I wanted the dogs to have a clear view and not have a predator able to sneak up on them.

Scents Sounds Sights

It's green , green , it's green they say on the far side of the hill.... and, here on the fox den side of the hill there is still snow, although after today's rain it will be mostly gone. We saw a small fox yesterday but not near the den. Perhaps she has already vacated as there are two new dens visible nearby as well.

As I took a long walk on the trails yesterday with two dogs, we heard and saw the whooping cranes, the woodpeckers and the many geese. Then, along on the breeze came the smell of skunk which you cannot outrun... suffice it to say I needed two showers and can still smell it in my hair. One of the dogs must have surprised it in the woods... happens every year in the same place. You'd think I'd learn. I hesitate to boast that we saw no porcupines as they, too, are out there.
I also saw an otter scurrying along the other day, but not on my land.

The pond is just starting to melt around the edges and by the end of summer it will be a black mud bath, much desired by the dogs.

The ferns are green and the trails are still wet, deep mud in some places, so it is not yet time to
run the dogs with the ATV as we would get stuck. I have not yet seen the first wildflower although it may be out there.

I lost ALL of My Pictures, including the site itself on Windows, so am busy trying to retrieve it.
Right now I can only retrieve by number so it's a guess about what I upload on this site for now.


Fortunately I have this blog with some of the preferred photos of the past kennel year.

Trails Closed

With the official closing of the snowmobile trails, we have kept our trails, but now they are mostly melting down. The backwoods still has some very deep snow (two feet in spots) but we have put the sleds away and are already hauling straw. This is a bit early and perhaps we'll have another blizzard , but not enough for using it with dogs, I'm sure.

This is a photo of Sulatna, a retiree, as we checked out the trails yesterday. She and her Lab buddy, Chena, were loving the opportunity to free run all over the hills, after snow, pre tall grasses. It will be trail mowing time before we know it.

Neighbors have seen bear prints, but I haven't seen too much wildlife, other than rabbits, eagles, deer foraging and enjoying the new grass. I did see a single white swan flying over. It seems the wildlife is active at night , however, as the dogs have been a bit noisy .

Mushing Articles

MUSHING magazine , Mar/Apr, 2006, has numerous good articles this month.

"A Fan's Guide to the Iditarod", by June Price, is very informative and covers the basics of the race as well as some inside tips when attending an Iditarod. This is a photo of June in front of the 4th Avenue Theater sign, the theater a landmark in Anchorage, on the verge of 'extinction'. Each year photos of the Start of the Iditarod often have this landmark sign .

Gunnar Anderson has written an interesting article on the Jackpine 30 as well. I believe he's writing about 2003 but can't determine it from the article, will check on that.

Unfortunately I can't find a direct link to the magazine articles, although you can find MUSHING and SLED DOG SPORTS magazines via Google or Yahoo.

The second photo is of our team in the chute of the Jackpine 30, 2006, photo credit to Stan Rajala!

The magazine also features a write up on the movie "Eight Below" and information on how the dogs were trained, etc.

Spring Forward and Meltdown and Kennel Schedules

Today is the change to daylight savings time and this is the sunrise over the meltdown.

Any dog kennel in Spring meltdown is a busy place. We always start by digging trenches. The mud becomes deeper and more difficult to navigate and the mud boots get a workout. After we trench, we start pitch forking straw out of the pens. Hauling becomes a major chore and goes on into June.

The dogs seem to take the mud in stride and we try to get their kennels to dry as quickly as we can. The entry gates are often deep puddles.

Our schedule changes, too. All winter the dogs look forward to being harnessed and going for long runs. As racing season ends, then we allow them to free run two at a time, outside their pens. We have to shift away from that when the Spring smells are just too tempting and lure them off the trails . Now we are curbing the free running except for the very reliable
older dogs. Once the summer trails are re established we can start the free running again.

We always measure the coming of Spring by how long we have a snow trail. We still have navigable trails (if you are a dog or a deer), but the grass showing around the trails is very tempting as are the birds chirping and the wandering wild life. I think the latest we've kept a snow trail is April 10th, so Spring is just about here.

A few last photos of Iditarod 06

Long Lake out of Willow is a great place to watch the 'real' start, the re start of Iditarod.
We hiked out and set up and that also happened to be where the KTTU photograher, the official Iditarod photographer and the European contingency chose to view. The Europeans rigged a tripod for cooking and waved flags when their mushers came through.

While I couldn't take photos, I was flagging off snowmachines to protect the mushers/dogs as they entered the lake on the narrow trail. At this point, the mushers and dogs are very happy to get away from the crowds, finally.

The fur photo is of one of the many fur vendors along the route, including in the villages.
The whole Iditarod is a bit of a fur fashion show with the viewers wearing their best.

Wish they could talk

The black dog in the photo has been a leader of seven 1000 mile races and he is now retired. His name is Pedro. Having encountered and conquered mountains and blizzards and wildlife across Alaska , I do wish he could tell me his stories. He led the winning Yukon Quest team in 2000.

The red dog also led the YQ team in 2000 and she is still 'guiding'. A few years ago we had gone off this road into the trails , running young pups with us. We met a moose cow and her calf. Immediately the moose cow raised her hackles and we were hustling to grab puppies. Rubia helped us round them up safely. In the house she knew the schedule and was supervising me (ever so gently) . At night she would sleep next to me. She would pace in the morning when it was time to get out to the dogs. She is still leading in her retirement.

If only they could talk.

Roads in Alaska

When I picked up my rental car it had a list of roads that one should not travel while there... they include all the roads I have often traveled on... Chena Hot Springs road was one of them.
This photo is just off of Chena Hot Springs Road... it is Grange Hall Road and a sign says, Slow for Dog Teams. It is a busy training trail for many mushers, including Aliy Zirkle, Rick Swenson,
Jessica Hendricks, Judy Currier, Ray Redington, Jr. Mountains are in the distance, hard to see.

In 2000 we went by dog sled to go camping down this road in the photo, heading for the frozen Chena River. It was in the minus thirties as we took off late day under a full moon. I remember the peace and the silence out on the frozen river, going into the brush to cut bows for the dogs beds and the Big Dipper and full moon highlighting our camping site. We camped in a tent with a small stove which I fed with sticks of spruce all night long. The dogs fared well and were raring to go the next morning.

I did see a small bull moose on the road out here in March... saw many more last September.
This road is at about the 21.5 mile marker. Last summer, I believe it was, at 17.5 miles, two grizzlies went into a dog yard looking for food. They were young and unfortunately one of them did not learn, but the other was able to relocated.

Aurora Borealis

One of the things I enjoy most about Alaska are the surprises around each bend in the road, or moment to moment. Every once in awhile a glimpse of mountains, or a full face view of mountains, or also the Aurora which I'm sorry I couldn't capture too well on my small digital.

Interruption

We're sorry for the long interruption, but I lost connections in Alaska, but after all, it is Alaska.

Aliy had a great race but her dogs slowed on her , became a bit ill , out of Unalakleet, ending her hopes to be up with the top finishers. It was a new experience to be on the receiving end of the finishing dogs this year. As Ray drove them into the drive and then carried each kindly to their houses, the Northern Lights came out and danced in the sky... a welcome home for the dear dogs. The whole dog yard erupted in howling cheers and the returned dogs were very happy to join in, happy to be home.

Two Rivers, AK is a wonderful small community of dog mushers, the roads are dog trails, and I enjoyed my time there very much, away from the more hectic race activities.

I especially enjoyed time with Stella and with Fats, Flood, Pedro and Rubia all retired leaders, as I've said before.

I did see a bit of wildlife, a bull moose along the road, some beautiful red birds that I did not identify, a sign of Spring I'm sure. The mountains are always there in almost any directions I'd look.

Rubia patiently walked with me along the road each day as I walked other dogs on leash. Although Spring is coming, it was in the minus twenties each night.

And, after all, it is wonderful to be home in the Midwest... the white birches stand out after having looked at the small spruces of the Interior of Alaska.

Aliy is 24ing in Takotna

If you haven't received the update on Aliy, this will let you know she has declared her mandatory 24 hour rest in Takotna. Making up for her bib number she'll be there about close to 26 hours, having arrived there at (from memory so may not be accurate) 4:59 a.m.

Having been to Takotna, I know it's a neat place to 24... they have a separate place to sleep up on the hill... you can park your dogs out of the way and the dogs rest well. The villagers keep large pots of water hot on the edge of the river for all mushers to use. School is out for the day so the village children are helpers as well.

When you land in Takotna it's literally on top the mountain. We hitched a ride in the back of a pickup down to the checkpoint/village.. very scenic and friendly. They served wonderful mooseburgers in the little village building for the mushers, where we were also able to eat.
Very nice checkpoint.

Aliy dropped Sporty , a sprint dog who hadn't run distances before. He made it 400 miles, wonderful dog. I'll reunite with him today, hopefully, as I'm headed for the kennel now and will take a photo of him and of Sparky, her two returned dogs.

Paul Gebhardt ran into a tree and resulted in him having to chase down his team when the gangline broke. He hitched a ride for a bit with Doug Swingley.

Sue Morgan scratched and the press release indicated it was a result of a cracked rib. Am sorry to see her have to drop as she looked ready and fit at the restart as did her dogs.

Trent Herbst left Rainy Pass this a.m. at same time as Glenn Lockwood and I would imagine as rookies they're traveling that challenging trail together in the day light.

Fairbanks Photo Section on Iditarod

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/galleries/207-16.html?SITE=AKFAI&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

There's a great photo of Aliy in this section of photos in the Daily News Miner.

She's riding at fourth right now with the other top guns.... Bjorner Andersen lost the trail for a bit yesterday but he's back in the lineup now, in case you were wondering whyhe had dropped back .

I'm leaving Anchorage for Two Rivers and Aliy's kennel tomorrow... it's snowing here... not used to that in Anchorage usually... warm and soft snow, visibility limited but planes are flying out.

It's hard to not have trail photos this year as usually I'm out at a checkpoint but going to Aliy's kennel to care for her dogs and be in the midst is great fun for me... more later.

News links and photos for Iditarod

This is a link to the Anchorage Daily News....
http://www.adn.com/
On the right there is an Iditarod 34 section and they have great daily photos from the trail in that section.

Aliy is out of Rainy Pass into Rohn, in fourth right now, traveling well! Sparky is the dog she dropped, a tough little black and white gal.

Also good source is the Fairbanks Daily News Miner, but I don't have the link right now.

The Story of Wager

Trent purchased Wager in Alaska and drove down the Alcan Hwy with her in the front seat, hoping to assist in her socialization. As he said, after ALL of those miles, she chose Florence, WI to jump out the window at the local coffee shop. The coffee shop owner told them she'd call us, local mushers and we WOULD catch her. Thanks for the vote of confidence, Lisa!
So for four days a battalion of us chased her, lured her with salmon, drove through fields with lights, lost our hearts when she ran across the highway more than once in front of trucks, and FINALLY, with the help of our good Skinny and our neighbor, we cornered her off the highway.

She lived in our living room with two leashes until Trent could get back up to pick her up again and we loved her. She was very shy and very hungry but our house dogs welcomed her. We told her if it didn't work out for her for Iditarod she is always welcome back with us.

So to see her in her truck and to hear that she is his main leader now, was very heartwarming.
These are photos of Wager in her truck and running Iditarod, in this photo in point , not lead, just until she gets past the scary people.

Dog Drop and other

Left, Jeff Schultz, Official Iditarod photographer; right, Teacher on the Trail, Teri, 2006 from WI!












I just walked out behind the Millenium Iditarod HQ a few minutes ago and this is a photo of the area where dropped dogs are flown in for care. I tried to not i.d. dogs too closely with the photo, but just show that they are well attended and loved while awaiting reunion with their humans and /or veterinarians.

Aliy has dropped one dog but I haven't heard yet which dog it was. The lobby of the Millennium is a high traffic area as various people involved with the race are moving in and out. I'll work over there tomorrow in the telephone room.

And mountain photo through wet windows is just the best I could do for anyone wanting a quick mountain view for now.

Iditarod continued, computer glitch this a.m.

Here's a link to Ramy Brooks' website... they are providing coverage too...

http://www.ramybrooks.com/

Also, of course,
www. iditarod.com
www. dogsled.com

And will try to get the link for Bill Borden's Cool Dreams site as theya re posting photos too.

There was a computer glitch this a.m. so appeared that there were a kazillion mushers still in Skwentna. I believe they do not have to sign out of checkpoints this year so it will be anyone's guess who is where at times.

Go Aliy!! and Trent! and Ed!

Dogs of Iditarod

These are photos of teams coming onto Long Lake in Willow at the Restart... Aliy Zirkle,
Bjornar Andersen and Dee Dee Jonrowe.

Faces and Places of Iditarod

We had an extremely full day today at the Restart of Iditarod in Willow, Alaska.
I had hoped to not work today but they asked me to wave a big flag warning off snowmachines on a tricky little hill for the departing mushers, so I did just that all afternoon.

Prior to the trail guarding we did have a great chance to visit Aliy, Trent Herbst and family and Wager, his escaped dog we were able to catch and rescue last fall and Sue Morgan (who has Brant, the partially blind dog). From our perch with the flag we were able to share good wishes with numerous mushers as they headed down the second lake toward Nome, including, Aliy, Ed Stielstra, Karen Ramstead, Trent and many others.

We have many photos of musher's faces, dog's faces and the places of the Iditarod. Wager runs a fantastic lead for Trent he said... that was quite a lucky for him he said that Wager could be caught.

For starters here is Aliy (eyes closed) who is looking just great as do her dogs and Trent and Cali. Also a photo of Sue Morgan in center in front of her truck... It will take me a bit to sort these photos but each year I also try to take a photo of Iditarod's official photographer, Jeff Schultz, so am including that as we also had a nice chat today.

Two tired guards

We were laughing after a day of attempting to create a fun AND safe environment for viewers.
Most fans are so much fun and eager to cooperate... just a very few who hassle the guards and we had a few of those, too. This is a photo of a guard captain and me laughing with relief that our shift was over... The most fun are the excited children. I did get a photo on another camera of four young native children who stood with me to watch their mushers... ages 11, two 9 year old twins and an adorable five year old boy.... it was my highlight of my day.

Musher is Chad Schouweiler in Start chute, from Tomahawk, WI and! his Iditarider, Susan, a professor from the University of Central Florida... thanks for info, Susan. Susan, says, yes, she was cold.

Link to Cabela's Jon Littles thoughts on contenders

Jon Little, an accomplished musher, writes for Cabela's. This is the link to his article on thoughts on contenders for Iditarod 06....http://www.cabelasiditarod.com/coverage_2006/cov06_mar04_01.html

Particularly of interest to us is his comment that Aliy Zirkle is tantalizingly close to the single digits. Completing in 11th last year, she has the wonderful dogs , the competency and the drive to do just that. She's looking extremely fit and well prepared.
Photo is of Aliy and sister, Kaz, at the Musher Banquet. Kaz is the manager on all fronts of this racing endeavor. Team Zirkle has great depth in both dogs and people... Cha Cha, Girlfriend,
Frita's daughter, Bullet , etc. I will name her team after the takeoff.

Allen, Kaz, Ray, Mickey,Doug are all great handlers for Aliy. I'll be doing dog kennel care for them while they follow Aliy on the trail and am thrilled and challenged to do that. More from there.

Iditarod 06 Start

Teams of interest to us are , of course, Aliy Zirkle... our corner gave her a loud cheer but I couldn't get a photo , Trent Herbst whose runaway dog we rescued in Wisconsin last fall , Ed Stielstra from the U.P. of Michigan, Karen Ramstead with her beautiful Siberians and there are many others as well.

Photos are of Trent's team in the Start chute, and just a quick early photo of Team Norway's truck.

Iditarod Anchorage Start 2006

It was a great day for the Start of the Iditarod, March 4, 2006... a bit of groundfog in the early a.m. as the dog trucks started to roll in... the snow on the trail was hauled in but not too deep or punchy although it's always tough on the handlers.
We worked as Security Guards which is an o.k. way to volunteer, but doesn't allow for much photo taking.
Tomorrow we will go to the Restart in Willow and hope to get some better photos.

The photos attached here are, first, of Eric Roger's dog trailer in the very early a.m. hours and then of Ed Stielstra's team taking off near the end of the Start ... you can see a bit of the mountains if you look at top of photo.

Nome webcam in Iditarod week

One more time, the link for the Nome web cam is:
http://www.nomealaska.org/vc/camimage/704x480.html
This will get very interesting within the week as you'll actually see the traffic of Iditarod on the camera. There will be another one at the finish line , not too far from this cam.

Talk with Quest musher

Had a chance tonight to talk to the musher who had been lost during the Quest, as previously posted on here. His story of survival is quite incredible and I don't think I can do it justice, in the repetition of it. Suffice it to say, his first concern was the dogs, who with the Man Mat harness system, were secure , not tangled and lined out, safely waiting.
Also incredible is the story of the woman who was stranded on the mountain, slept in her sled, to wake up to someone knocking on it... unzipping her sled bag she saw a helicopter directly over her sled and a man saying "We're here to rescue you." Which they did, along with the stranded dog team, waiting for their musher. All ended well as we formerly noted, but to hear it from principals involved gives it a whole new look, and one more time points out the great relationship between mushers and their dogs.

Iditarod Fever

Anchorage is filled with the Iditarod frenzy pre race. Last night was the very looong Musher's Banquet which always ends with the mushers drawing their bib numbers. Aliy Zirkle, our friend, chose bib 26. This year they could select their position based upon the order of their signup. Some veterans chose late numbers.
Nothing is more energizing than to hear Hobo Jim singing, "I did, I did, I did the Iditarod Trail" as he entertains the very large banquet crowd at the Sullivan Arena. We had a great reunion with our Iditarod friends from around the world and made some new friends as well.
Tonight we are heading out to a celebration for Aliy and family and then getting, hopefully, a good night's rest in order to be at the Start on time tomorrow, where we plan to work all day as Security Guards.

North to Alaska Stella is at home , almost

Stella and Julie had a safe trip to Anchorage. Today we went for a walk on some city streets,
with Stella and her uncle, Fats, (also our Skinny's father). Stella is used to free running and seems a bit confused about this new regime , but she is on to very good things and we've been so fortunate to have her for a winter. Fats has returned from visiting out of State and is retiring back at the same kennel with Stella. They were both delighted to walk the quiet city neighborhood with us today.