Enjoy the images of GPS Trackers on sleds.  Click the picture to view a larger image.

GPS Trackers make it possible for race fans to follow the mushers more closely by viewing their journey along the Iditarod Trail on the GPS Tracker map.

There are a limited number of places to choose from, but mushers get to decide which spot the tracker is attached.  The activated tracker begins to transmit a signal.

If a tracker malfunctions during the race, the tracker needs to be replaced.  This is not a simple process because the Ion Earth team needs to be at the location where a musher is, to replace the tracker.   That means, a tracker just can’t be fixed instantly.  Weather, trail conditions, a musher’s location, and other factors are involved in how long it takes for repairs.

A link to GPS Tracker can be found at www.iditarod.com

A link to the Current Standings, which is the ‘Official Race Standings’ can be found at the same location.

Providing a musher’s tracker is working properly,  the GPS Tracker data is the most accurate information.  The Current Standings information will have a ‘lag’ time because the race data is sent by race volunteers via Internet to Race Headquarters in Anchorage.  The data is then put on the website.  Sometimes, the data doesn’t ‘push live’ for 15 minutes or more.

Between the Current Standings and the Tracker, following the race is exciting!  Don’t forget to watch the Insider Video clips, too!

Learn about Iditarod Insider at this link.

Each musher’s sled is equipped with a GPS Tracker so that the musher’s  location and other  important information can be transmitted to the website.

Sometimes, a GPS Tracker develops a problem.   If you are following the racers using the GPS Tracker, you may have noticed the wrong data or no data from a musher. To fix this, a spare tracker may be sent to replace a tracker on a musher’s sled.  Although switching out a tracker only takes a few minutes, the Ion Earth team may have to fly to the musher’s location.  Weather or available flights may delay this process.

If a musher’s tracker isn’t working, depending on the situation, it may take a while to get it fixed.

Herb is traveling by plane with the Iditarod Air Force.  He is updating his journal each day with pictures and information about his experiences and observations.

Visit Herb’s on line journal.

Insider Clip:  Herb Brambley:  If you are an Iditarod Insider member, when logged in, be sure to click on the Insider interview with Herb.  The clip is called:

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Picture 1 of 6

Click on the image for a larger view.

Back from the Iditarod Trail, out of the hospital after his crash and scratch from the 2010 Iditarod, Pat Moon and one of his lead dogs wandered around the hotel visiting with race fans.

This year’s race is over but Pat remains confident and hopeful to race Iditarod again.  He is planning to go to Nome to see the finish of this year’s race.

By Martha Dobson, Finalist for Target® 2011 Iditarod Teacher on the Trail,™ North Carolina

Standing on the runners of his future with his history and culture for a foundation, this young boy embodies Native Alaskan lifestyle. His story is where he came from, a great-grandfather who carried antitoxin on a leg of the 1925 musher effort to deliver medicine to Nome to treat the diphtheria outbreak. His story is where his father is, running dogs now in the Iditarod. His story is where he will be, running dogs in the future, carrying his past to the present and beyond, on the runners of a sled

Choosing just one picture to represent the Iditarod and all that the experience means is next to impossible.  There are so many faces intent on the experience, so many moments waiting to explode and so many hearts skipping a beat captured in just one click.  That is why I chose this picture.  I was absolutely fascinated by the fascination itself.  The lengths that a photographer will go to to capture a fleeting experience are very revealing.  We are fascinated by the dogs, but we are also fascinated by ourselves and the highs to which we can rise.

A photographer, for a moment, actually becomes part of the moment, part of the story itself and that is what we all want to do.  Our experience is vicarious, but as we select it and photograph it we become part of it.  As we become part of it our collective experience grows and our world becomes a little bit bigger.

In many ways that is what teaching is about.  We capture moments, we capture worlds that our students might not otherwise touch and by so doing enlarge their worlds and understanding beyond the microcosms in which they live.  I can’t wait to share all of my pictures from this trip with my class because within every picture lies a constellation of stories that brings to life a world my students long to imagine and I can’t wait to share and relive.  We can never take too many pictures because we might miss something.

Another advantage to the click of the camera is our subsequent ability to then analyze the moment.  Just as hind sight is 20/20, the ability to analyze experience allows us to perfect it.  There becomes no limit to what we can do.

There are only a few special happenings each year that bring us all together in this kind of feverish excitement and the Iditarod is one of them.   People from all corners of the earth, all walks of life, young and old all focused on the dogs, the mushers, and the challenge of a lifetime.  Click on!!!

I used to think the Iditarod was all about dogs.  Dogs and the relationship between dog and human.  Man against nature.  Overcoming obstacles.

The Iditarod is all these things, but it’s so much more.  It’s about connections and relationships.  It’s about teamwork.  I could show you an entire album of pictures that illustrate the different types of teamwork developed during the Iditarod.  Pictures of mushers and their handlers, veterinarians and dogs, volunteers at work setting up fencing, and even three ladies from New York, California, and North Carolina vying for a coveted position yet working together.

I chose instead a picture of mentor and student.  The mentor is Jim Lanier, veteran Iditarod musher from Alaska.  The student is Guillermo Anton, exchange student from Madrid, Spain.  The story is simple.  Guillermo came to Alaska in August to spend a year in America.  His host family, the Laniers, showed him various wilderness activities: fishing, canoeing, and eventually dog sledding.  Guillermo took to it quickly.  This sixteen year old started to run races after just a few months training.  I met Guillermo at the end of the Jr. Iditarod this year.  He was the sixth racer to cross the finish line out of 13 teenagers—all the others being from Alaska.  I thought that was an amazing accomplishment, but what I really noticed was the pride in Jim Lanier’s face while they talked about what happened on the trail.

Take a good look at the picture of mentor and student.  Guillermo was clearly tired but had the strength to answer every question Jim asked.  He didn’t act cranky or annoyed.  He showed a deep respect for his teacher and his appreciation for the opportunity afforded him.  Now turn your attention to Jim.  Look first at the mouth.  It appears as if Jim is trying to keep from grinning ear to ear, but the internal smile shows through.  Now look at the eyes.  They can’t hide his feelings.  Do you see what I see?  An incredible sense of pride, with a hint of love and respect.

I found myself looking at this picture several times this week, and I wasn’t quite sure why.  Now I am.  I’m drawn to the relationship it represents—the mutual respect and teamwork that comes from a mentor and teacher working together to accomplish a goal.  The giving of one’s experiences to another in hopes they embrace them, make them their own, and grow from it.

Or, maybe I’m just drawn to it because I’m a teacher and it reminds me of the experiences I want to share.  But, it also reminds me that I’m a student and have so much to learn from those who have lived longer or differently than me.

This week in Alaska made me feel like a mentor—that as an educator I have a lot to give.  This week in Alaska also made me feel like a student.  There’s still so much to learn about Alaska and its people, the Iditarod and the world of dog sledding.  My goal is to continue my journey as both.

Hope you enjoy and thanks for this opportunity!

Sincerely,

Liz

************************

The Iditarod

Musher,

Rookie, racer,

Dogs, leader, challenges,

Control, cold, lack of sleep, sick, can’t breathe

Musher,    dogs ,

Sleighing, freezing, leading,

Leaders, racer, challenges, Husky,

Racer,  runners, challengers,

Food, lead dogs,

Musher

By  Jai

*****

THE IDITAROD

In the Iditarod you have to go through cold weather.

There is a lead dog .There is a musher.

They have to bring a stove and food.

Dogs have to wear booties so their feet don’t get cold.

By: Zarian

*****

Iditarod

dark, challenging

freezing, snowing, mushing

sleigh, Huskies, swimming, running

scorching, Opening, Closing

interesting, colossal

Summer Olympics

By Margot

**********

Huskies

Skiing with Huskies is hard at night when  Huskies like to steal and fight.

The wind in your face is no delight .

Seeing thing gives me a fright, putting on booties is a fun sight.

I learn to do  things I have never done before .

By

Alexandrya

**************

Anchorage

Beginning,   nervous

exciting,  smiling ,   snowing

sled  ,   snow,   mountain,  trees

standing,   thinking,  crying

happy,  tired

Nome

By Tarria

************

The Iditarod

I’ve done this a few times before,

But each time it never gets easier,

When the first time you do it no kidding you will get hallucinations

Always tired with no sleep,

Slipping and sliding through the snow,

Trying to find your way through restless

Nights

Lots of people dropping out because of the cold,

it’s a very hard race to win and can be

dangerous but is great fun to

Win!

By Shyla

**************

The  Iditarod

Dogsled, racer

pulling, racing, running

Husky, sled, ice, hockey stick

Skating, shooting, blocking

Ice Hockey

By:    Raequann

******************

• I don’t know but I’ve been told
• You getta lack of sleep and food that’s cold.
• Gee Haw left right mush whoa stop and go
• I don’t know but I’ve been told
• The Iditarod is long and freezing cold
• Gee Haw left right mush whoa stop and go
• I don’t know but I’ve been told
• You go through 200 booties and loose ‘em all
• Gee Haw left right Mush Whoa stop and go
• I don’t know but I’ve been told
• To win the Iditarod you gotta be bold
• Gee Haw left right Mush Whoa
• I don’t know but I’ve told
• you gotta be fast to get to Nome.
• BY; Jason

****************

The Iditarod

Iditarod

Difficult dangerous

Freezing  daring  racing

Little  time  to  sleep

Challenging

by Elizabeth

******************

THE DOGS

The Dogs…   They Love To Run…

Love To Pull…

Love To Race…

But Why…?

It’s In Their BLOOD!

By  Cooper

***********************

Musher

dogsled, racer

racing, steering, hallucinating

Husky, sleigh, skates, ice

skating, gliding, dancing

ice, glider, skater

By: Benjamin

***************

Musher

Fast racing

Wanting sliding gliding

Pulling up in front

Confident

By ZEANNA

************************

Iditarod

Dogs are challenging.

They are hard work.

In the Iditarod you need to do what you can.

By James

********************

Dogs

fun  cool

pulling  sleeping  running

booties on their feet

Leader

By: Kassie

********************

Musher

nervous, scared

racing, risking, willing

snow, cold, wrecking, hero

delivering, racing, willing

happy, excited

Balto

By: LeQuentin

**********************

Iditarod

Frigid, slip

Sledding, looking, thinking

You might get gold

Race

By Raven

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