Congrats and Goodbyes

Sunday morning, the last dog team in the 2011 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race crossed the finish line in Nome.  The race was over.

Monday morning, the front end loader came onto Front Street in Nome and with the help of an industrial strength snow blower and a dump truck, began to move the snow that had been brought in to create the finish line.  With the two feet of hard packed snow removed, the front end loader was used to remove the Burled Arch that is the finish line.  The Burled Arch is the monolith that, over the years, has been the stuff of dreams for so many young and old mushers, men and women.  To cross under it, behind a team of dogs while standing on the runners, is the goal.  47 teams out of 62 that started the 39^th running of this race made it to Nome and crossed the finish line.  This is a very tough event, these are very tough people.  The Arch has been put away for the off season.  It will be brought out again next March a few days before the first team arrives.  This race is over.

The Iditarod Finisher’s Banquet was held last night.  A long drawn out affair, the event is casual, no tuxedos, and no gowns. This is the blue jean and carhartts’s crowd.  Sure there were some people wearing fur, but for warmth not for show.  The event is the last time until next March that many in the crowd will visit with each other until next year.  Congrats and good byes.  The last man to speak was the first to

John Baker working on dogfeet in the middle of the race

finish.  And quietly, deliberately, articulately, and with grace, John Baker accepted the accolades thrown at him.  The $50k and the new truck that go to the winner are obviously significant.  But Baker is the 2011 Iditarod Champion and that is move valuable that any check, any prize.  Baker is a great champion for the Iditarod. 

Ramey Smyth, the runner-up was as gracious, as thoughtful, and as much of as a sportsman as Baker.  From about the halfway mark, observers thought this team might be able to win if he can catch Baker’s.  You know how that worked out.  Ramey did not falter in his race; Baker just had a better 1,000 mile race. 

Things you might want to know…

• Ellen Halverson earned the Red Lantern, there was no conspiracy between Halverson and Siirtola as to whom should be last.  Halverson had a tough run to the finish; she took a rest break outside Nome while Siirtola kept going.  Halverson was honored to receive the award.
• Baker’s lead dogs, Velvet and Snickers won the Lolly Medley Golden Harness Award given to the best lead dog(s) in the race.
• The Lolly Medley Golden Harness Award is named after Ramey Smyth’s late mom.  Lolly ran the Iditarod way back when.
• Lance Mackey did have the fastest run from Safety to Nome, the last 22 miles of the race.  Mackey said, the day before he finished, that he would try to be the fastest.  This 4 time winner, finished 16^th, two spots in front of another 4 time winner Martin Buser.
• Things are all moving in the right direction for young Pete Kaiser.  Besides finishing in 8^th place, Kaiser also won a 4-wheeler at the banquet.  Mushers use 4 wheeled atvs for training early in the fall before there is snow to run the sleds on.
• The Burled Arch isn’t really an arch.  It’s two massive upright spruce logs with a massive horizontal spruce log spanning the uprights.  It does have a lot of burls that grew in the logs when they were alive.
• Each Iditarod finisher receives an Iditarod belt buckle the first time they complete the race.  This is the most coveted buckle in Alaska.  Scott Janssen said at the banquet last night that he spent about $120,000 to get his.
• I’ll continue to write about the aftermath of the 2011 Iditarod through the end of March.