Before the sun rose Monday morning, about one-third of the mushers and dog teams had passed through Unalakleet. Over night they braved wind and cool temperatures but not anything like the area is capable of producing. Through out the two days, the checkpoint will continue to be a busy place.

Winner of the Half-way award prepares to run up the coast.

Trent Herbst, winner of the gold at Iditarod, left UNK just before noon. He’s a fourth grade teacher from Ketchum, Idaho. Trent is on his fifth venture to Nome. In previous trips, he’s been driving puppies from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan belonging to Ed Stielstra. Trent has connected up with Jake Berkowitz for the current race. This is the first year for Herbst to “race’ and race he did to be first into Iditarod. His overall goal is to finish in the top 30 teams. He’s to the process of racing as puppies are to the trail their first year out. In talking with Trent while he booted in Unalakleet, he said that in learning the ups and downs, ins and outs of racing this year, he’d be prepared to seriously race in 2012.

Herbst left UNK with nine dogs. In the checkpoint, he was studying race times while eating sourdough pancakes smothered in blueberry syrup. Given the number of dogs pulling his sled at this point in the race, he’s questioning a top thirty finish. Strategy is important for everyone. Baker and the front-runners will cut rest but increase calories. At this point Trent has no intention of trimming rest time.

When asked what he’d change about his run so far, the guy with the wiry red beard said he’d have stayed longer at Shageluk. Passing through Anvik and heading up the Yukon was where his dogs seemed to lose their pizzazz. He figures that longer rests as he travels along the coast will give his dogs the boost they need.

It’s not surprising that Trent uses Iditarod as a theme for education in his classroom. His fourth grade students are extensively involved in his race preparation. They pack his drop bags and help with all sorts of other labor and time intensive tasks. In past years his fourth graders have built their teachers sled from broken hockey sticks – from designing to the finished product. Trent’s philosophy is why buy new when there is used to be used. The 4th graders wield saws and drills like experienced carpenters. Herbst’s class ventured to Anchorage last year to send their teacher and his hand made sled down the trial. In Alaska, they did presentations for schools and teachers while experiencing Iditarod up close and personal. It was experiential learning at its best.