Thanks, Herb!

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A Heartfelt Thanks to Target

I feel very fortunate to have been a part of the 38th Iditarod.  Because of Target’s willingness to sponsor the Teacher on the Trail program, I had the opportunity to witness and share with students around the world one of the greatest sporting events in the world. By using Skype and the Target® Iditarod Teacher on the Trail Blog, I was able to communicate with students the experiences I was having as I was traveling the length of the Iditarod Trail. As I moved from checkpoint to checkpoint, students were able to ask questions about the weather, the people, the race, and the dogs. With my guitar, I was able to share folk songs and songs about the Iditarod with people in the villages. This has truly been a life changing experience for me, and one that I will continue to share long after I have returned to my daily routine.  Thank you Target for providing this wonderful opportunity, and for all the opportunities you provide for students and educators everywhere.

View a video clip from the starting line of the 2010 Iditarod, Herb was the Idita-Rider with Trent Herbst by following this link.

Target® Supports Education!  Learn more by following this link.

Ray Redington Jr. – 2010 Sportsmanship Award

Ray Receiving the Award

Ray Receiving the Award

 

If you read my last post, which listed the awards from the banquet, you would have seen that Ray Redington won the Sportmanship Award.  Many of you may not know the story of why Ray was chosen as the 2010 winner.  I’ll do my best to recite the story.

 

 

 

Ray was mushing along in the dark a few miles out of Shaktoolik when a tall figure appeared in front of him on the trail.  Ray said to himself, why isn’t that skier getting out of the way? He’s right in the middle of the trail.”  As Ray went around him he heard the skier yell, “Hey Ray! Is that you?”  From the sound of the voice and seeing that it was someone who was tall enough to hunt geese with a rake, he knew it wasn’t a skier, rather it was Gerry Willomitzer walking without his sled and dog team.  Ray quickly stopped and let Gerry get on the sled runners with him.  As they continued down the trail, Gerry told the story of how he fell asleep and fell off his sled.  After a few miles the pair realized that there was just not enough room for both of them to stand on the runners.  Obviously, there was only one solution.  Ray was going to be the one to jump on the sled bag since Gerry was too tall. (Gerry’s feet most likely would have been kicking the wheel dogs in the behind as the sled bounced down the trail, which would not have worked at all.) Gerry figured his dogs would go straight down the trail and on into the Shaktoolik Checkpoint. So onto the sled bag Ray went. As he comfortably lay down he said, “Mush me to Shaktoolik Gerry.” Through the darkness they mushed and into Shaktoolik.  Unfortunately for Gerry, there were no dogs pulling a sled waiting for him there.  After discussing things with the checkers, they decided to put technology to use.  Every sled is equipped with a GPS tracker from IONEARTH. They could easily get on the computer and locate the sled which hopefully would still have 16 dogs hooked to it when they get to it.  After locating the sled on the GPS Insider Tracker, they lit out on a snow machine to find it.  Finally, they were able to locate the sled and the dogs down in a dip with the sled tipped over.  A sled on its side does not pull very easily so the dogs just stopped and stood there with out causing any major tangles.  Gerry was able to right the sled and drive the team to Shaktoolik.  A happy ending for several reasons, Ray Redington Jr. saw another musher in need and knew that the right thing to do was to stop and help him. The folks at the checkpoint used technology to avoid what could have been a tragedy for both musher and dogs.  A tragedy for the dogs because it was -40 and dogs need care in those kinds of temperatures. A tragedy for the musher since it could have meant the end of his race. Instead, everyone worked together as a team.  Now we have a happy ending, a wonderful memory, and a great story. 

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Keep in mind that the Iditarod is a sled dog RACE.  Ray could have kept going and not stopped.  He had a choice to make.  Fortunately for Gerry, Ray chose to do the right thing.  Wouldn’t the world be a better place if everyone would stop and help someone in need? Let’s all follow Ray’s example when someone needs help.

2010 Iditarod Awards Banquet

Inside the Rec Center

Inside the Rec Center

Sportsmanship Award

Sportsmanship Award

 

 

 

 

 

 

PenAir Spirit of Alaska award – Jeff King

 GCI Dorothy G Page Halfway Award – Dallas Seavey

 Millennium Alaskan Hotel First to the Yukon Award – Jeff King

 Wells Fargo Bank Alaska Gold Coast Award – Lance Mackey

 Rookie of the Year – Dan Kaduce

 Nome Kennel Club Fastest Tome Safety to Nome – Paul Gephardt

 Horizon Lines Most Improved Musher Award – Sam Deltour

 Fred Meyer Sportsmanship Award – Ray Redington

 ExxonMobil Mushers’ Choice Award – Jim Lanier

 Northern Cargo Herbie Nayokpuk Award – William “Middy” Johnson

 Golden Stethoscope Award – Dr. Carolyn Griffith

 Alaska Airlines Leonhard Seppala Humanitarian Award – Sebastian Schnuelle

 City of Nome Lolly Medley Golden Harness Award – Maple (owner Lance Mackey)

 Northern Air Cargo “Four Wheeler” Award – William “Middy” Johnson

 Red Lantern – Celeste Davis

 Outstanding Checkpoint Award – Cripple Checkpoint

 

 Interesting Facts

 1. First time ever that all mushers reached Nome before the banquet.

 2. Fastest Red Lantern Ever

3. First Jamaican Musher to finish the Iditarod

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Doing Her Personal Best

Jane Heading for the Finish

Jane Heading for the Finish

Have you ever tried to do something and just didn’t seem to be able to get it right?  Maybe it was in math.  You just didn’t understand the problem.  Or maybe you just can’t seem to learn how to spell.  Or maybe you’re trying to hit a baseball and just keep on striking out.  Well, learn a lesson from Iditarod musher Jane Faulkner.  It’s not always important to come in first, sometimes you just need to do your personal best.  Sometimes it’s more important just to finish rather than worry about being first.

 

 

 

Finishing; A Great Accomplishment

Finishing; A Great Accomplishment

Jane finished the Iditarod today in 53rd place out of 55 mushers.  That’s 3rd to last place.  Not even close to winning.  So why did she continue down the trail?  Why didn’t she just give up and scratch? She was at the back of the pack almost the entire race. She knew she wasn’t going to win.  I asked Jane that very question.  Jane said she didn’t plan on winning.  She just wanted to do her best.  She doesn’t compete for anyone else.  She isn’t worried about doing better than the other competitors. Her main competitor in any competition is herself.  Hence, her main goal is to try to do her best, to do better than she did last time.  So, take a lesson from Jane, don’t worry about what your peers are saying.  

Do it with integrity, do your personal best and try to improve.

 

Jane Signs the Official Checkers Sheet

Jane Signs the Official Checkers Sheet

Behind the Scenes

Crowd In Convention Center

Crowd In Convention Center

As the fans swarm into the Mini Convention Center, and the mushers sign autographs, outside not more than 100 feet away the Nome Dog Lot people are busy taking care of over 400 canine athletes.  These dogs just raced 1000 miles and need some serious TLC.  Kathleen Zwolak, a 3 year veteran of the Nome dog yard, is the manager of dog lot.  She is the perfect person to make sure the dogs are treated according to the mushers instructions.  Some mushers want Kathleen to feed their dogs, other mushers like to take care of their own dogs.  Not only do the dogs need food, snack, and water, they also need protection. After a 1000 race, the dogs need to rest and relax.  A crowd of people walking through the lot would excite the dogs and cause them increased stress.  Kathleen and her staff provide security 24/7.  Another job Kathleen is responsible for is plotting out where each team will go when they arrive.  There is a limited amount of space, so she has to make sure she uses the space efficiently. She recently added a line along the snow bank.  The mushers liked this because the dogs were protected from the wind by the snow.  The Dogs didn’t seem to mind either.

Kathleen, Dog Lot Manager

Kathleen, Dog Lot Manager

Kathleen told me a funny story about Gerald Sousa and Sebastian Schnuelle’s dogs.  Both teams were wearing blue coats.  Kathleen saw a dog with a blue coat on a wrong line and noticed that Gerald’s line was missing one dog.  She immediately took the dog over reuniting it with its team mates, or so she thought.  Unfortunately, Sebastian now had a hole in his teams line. About that time, Sebastian showed up and watched as they franticly looked for his dog. After allowing them to search for several minutes Sebastian asked, “What are you looking for?”  Kathleen said to Sebastian, “One of your dogs.”  Sebastian chuckled as he said, “Oh, that’s Skunk.  He’s like a pet.  He slept in my truck last night!”

Behind Snow Bank

Behind Snow Bank Volunteers Feed the Dogs

White Mountain – Sunny and Warm

A Soft Pillow

A Soft Pillow

I arrived in White Mountain today to be greeted by a warm sun with temperatures in the upper 30’s.  The dogs were soaking up the sun as they relaxed on their straw beds.  I was interested in hearing what the mushers had to say about the warmer weather and how it might affect their strategy for completing the race.

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Trent Herbst

Trent Herbst

There were 3 mushers at the checkpoint when I got there; Trent Herbst, Scott White, and Chris Adkins.  Trent has only dropped 4 dogs from his team of yearlings.  He said his team is doing great, however on warm days, such as today, he doesn’t run them hard and tries to run more at night.  Warm temperatures are hard on the dogs because they can overheat.  Trent said he will wait until the sun goes down before he leaves White Mountain.

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Chris Talks With Some Fans

Chris Talks With Some Fans

Chris Adkins is the son of one of the first Iditarod veterinarians.  He came to compete in the Iditarod because he heard his father describe the things he saw and this motivated Chris’s desire to see the same thing.  Chris has been mushing with 8 dogs since Galena. He feels the 8 dogs he has are race hardened and will be able to finish the race without a problem.  Chris also said the warm weather takes a lot out of the dogs and that he will not push them hard.  Chris is enjoying his trip up the Iditarod Trail and is taking a lot of pictures as he goes.

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Scott Enjoying the Sun

Scott Enjoying the Sun

Scott White is another back of the pack musher who is enjoying his trip.  Scott is from the state of Washington and runs a construction company.  Scott has 7 dogs still running out of his original 16 and feels his dogs are up to the challenge of finishing the race.  He said he doesn’t really feel any pressure to beat anyone but just wants to finish.

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I think these 3 back of the pack racers should be commended for the great attitude they have about the task before them.  They are not worried about what anyone else is doing or has done in the past.  They are concentrating on doing the best job they can personally do and focusing on good dog care.

Golovin

Martin L. Olson School

Martin L. Olson School

 

I arrived in Golovin Wednesday.  Golovin is a very beautiful village on the coast.  The school has 45 students in grades k through 12.  Again, the  people made me feel very welcome here.  The native Alaskans have gone out of their way time and time again to introduce themselves to me.  Half the people in the villages know my name before I leave and greet me every day with a smile and a hand shake. It is always sad to leave the friends you have made in each village.

 

 

 

 

Baldy

Baldy

 

This is the hill where the kids slide down called Baldy.  It looks like a lot of fun!!!

 

 

 

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They have a well equipped health clinic.

 

 

 

Golovin Power Plant

Golovin Power Plant

 

 

 

All of the remote villages that I visited have their own power plant that generates the electricity for the village. Most of the power plants have 3 or 4 diesel generators. The generators are run 1 at a time.

 

 

 

Golovin Books to the Trail

Golovin Books to the Trail

 

 

 

This is some of the students with the books from the “Books to the Trail” program.  Reading plays an important part in all content areas.  Reading the book “The Cruelest Miles” is how I got interested in the Iditarod.

 

 

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Jay and Tracey

Jay and Tracey

 

 

 

This is Jay and Tracey Petervary. They are biking from Knik to Nome. Tracy is on pace to break the woman’s record. The trip from Knik to Nome is about 800 miles and will take them about 18 days. Go Tracey and Jay !!! Read more about there biking adventure on alaskaultrasport.com

 

MVI_2428 -  Click to View – Golovin From the Air

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Snaking Their Way Across the Ice

Watch as Wattie McDonald’s team winds its way across the ice into the village of Golovin.

Video 1 – MVI_2494

Video 2 – MVI_2495

Video 3 – MVI_2496

Question of the Day: Why aren’t the dogs going in a straight path across the ice?

Solitude

The Trail Winds Its Way From Unalakleet

The Trail Winds Its Way From Unalakleet

A Musher on the Way to Shaktoolik

A Musher on the Way to Shaktoolik

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dee Dee Going In To Shaktoolik

Dee Dee Going In To Shaktoolik

 

Besboro Island

Besboro Island

Norton Sound

Norton Sound

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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outhouse sundog

Old Shaktoolik

Old Shaktoolik

Click to Watch Video -  - Willam “Middy” Johnson on his way to cross Norton Sound – Middie Johnson, 43, was born and raised in Unakaleet.  His grandfather, Henry Ivanoff, was part of the original serum run, having been the one to hand off the serum to Leonhard Seppala.
Why is there Old Shaktoolik?  The village was originally located six miles up the Shaktoolik River, and moved to the mouth of the River in 1933. This site was prone to severe storms and winds, however, and the village relocated to its present, more sheltered location in 1967.  Reindeer herds were managed in the Shaktoolik area around 1905. To read more about Shaktoolik go http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaktoolik,_Alaska

Kaltag to Unalakleet; A Transition

IMG_2280The bright sun and blue sky made it a beautiful day to fly from Kaltag to Unalakleet.  The white sparkling snow was separated into patches of green by sparsely branched spruce trees.  

 

 

 

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The snowy crags seemed to reach out toward the tips of the bush plane’s wings as we snaked our way along,  800 feet above the Iditarod Trail.  As we meandered along, the picture in my mind was that of a heavy wooden freight sled pulled by a team of large, well haired huskies driven by none other than Joe Redington, the father of the Iditarod.

 

 

 

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Unalakleet suddenly came into view, just like it had been dropped from a space ship onto the edge of the sea.

 

 

 

 

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 As we approached the village of Unalakleet, its appearance was much like that of a ghost town in the middle of a dry desert. The snow looked like wisps of sand being blown across the lonely surface by a constant wind.

 

 

 

The above is the best I can do at describing Unalakleet.  Unalakleet is like no other place I have ever been, and I’ve been a lot of places.  It’s a place that you have to see in order to understand.

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Unalakleet to Shaktoolik

A College Degree is a Tool    

 This is Nancy Persons the 3rd grade teacher from Unalakleet. Nancy has had an interesting teaching career.  She hasn’t spent her time teaching in one place, but rather has used her teaching degree as a tool to experience life in a variety of locations world wide. What an interesting IMG_2264approach to life. She hasn’t used her college degree to reach the end of her trail, but rather has used it to expand her trail. Nancy has taught in Peru, Bolivia, Oman, and Morocco.  Since coming to Unalakleet, Nancy has rejuvenated the ski program. She has her team practicing skiing for 6 months out of the year!!! I’m jealous Nancy. I wish our skiing season in Pennsylvania was 6 months. Her team will be going to the Arctic Winter Games, which every country that touches the Arctic Circle can compete.  They even have dog mushing and biathlon, which is skiing and shooting, at the Winter Games.

 

Preserving the Traditional Ways

 Meet Donna.  Donna works at PennAir in Unalakleet.  Donna was raised in Barrow, Alaska. Barrow is north of the Arctic Circle. When Donna was in 6 through 12 grades, she had classes in Arctic Survival.  She learned things such as navigation by the stars, building snow shelters, and IMG_2267building fire using a certain kind of rock with gold specks. I thought that was great, but I had to wonder what they used for fuel. I look across the landscape and all I see is snow, and snow doesn’t burn well at all. So, I had to ask her what they used for fuel.  She said there is a certain kind of moss that will burn.  She learned how to build 2 different kinds of snow shelters.  One was the traditional igloo type; the other was the cave type, which was built if time was limited. She also learned how to hunt polar bear, seal.  To this very day, the fishermen bring her seals because they know that she has the skill to process them the old way. She uses every part of the seal.  For example, the intestines are dried and can be used for making raincoats and the bladder can be used for making a bag.  Donna also teaches a community coarse on making Heart Sole Mukluks. This is the traditional boot with a seal skin sole. 

 

Donna is interested in preserving the old ways which were taught by the elders and have been passed down from generation to generation. The value in learning the old ways gives us “a sense of who we are,” Donna said. 

 

Wow Donna!!! That is a profound statement.  I agree with you 100%.  As a matter of fact, that is exactly what the Trail to Every Classroom program from the National Park Service is all about. This program, if you read in an earlier post on my blog, is being adopted by the United States Forest Service for the Iditarod Trail. I hope Donna will get involved with this program and hopefully get some support for educating students in traditional Alaskan ways.

 

 Going at the Shak

 The toilet at Shaktoolik is not the traditional toilet, or maybe it is. I guess it depends on who you are and where you live.  Going at the Shak requires climbing skills.  In order to sit upon the throne you have go up several steps.  This is required because it is a composting toilet which IMG_2317has a mechanical devise for stirring.  The stirring devise needs room in order to operate properly, therefore, the raised platform.  When the contents have sufficiently decomposed, they can then be removed.  There are several types of composting toilets.  Check them out online.  If you want to really find out something interesting, go to the NASA sight and find out how they treat waste in space. 

Kaltag; The Place to Be

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Sebastian Dances Up a Storm – Sebastian Dances Up a Storm2 (Click for the full effect.)

The Kids Were Great – IMGP1356

A Little Time for Computer Work – IMGP1359

Snowboarding behind a snow machine – IMG_2179

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Trails That Cross

The last 48hours has been a whirlwind tour for me.  I started in Takotna and have visited Galena,Nulato and Kaltag.  At each location, the most interesting part of my trip has been the trail crossings that I have experienced with the wonderful people I have met. The people in the villages have been very friendly and welcoming.  The children in the villages have caused me to miss the children at my school at the Southern Fulton Elementary back in Pennsylvania.  And the volunteers for the Iditarod, which come from all over the world, are interesting, friendly, and fun.  Some of these people are a long way from home, but they have come for the dogs, for the people, and to work together as an international team to make this race a success. 

Volunteer (Picture later) This is Tracey.  She is from New Zealand.  She was a volunteer at the Iditarod last year and got hooked on dog mushing.  She IMG_2208corresponded with some Iditarod mushers and ended up at Jeff King’s kennel as a handler.  She wants to see the world so she is taking some time off and traveling the world.  She is certified in Canine Behavior, and has a diploma in veterinary nursing. She wants to do further studies in the field of Canine Behavior in order to become a specialist.  We want to wish Tracey lots of luck in her endeavors and thank her for working as a volunteer.  Question of the day: In what hemisphere is New Zealand?

 

 

 

(picture later)  This is Ruth.  Ruth is a veterinarian from Germany.  Ruth volunteered with the Iditarod because a fellow veterinarian had visited Seavey’s kennel and talked her into applying. Ruth has enjoyed her visit to Alaska and loves working with the dogs.  Danke schoen Ruth.  We appreciate your efforts.

Connections With People

Tom Jarding from Pennsylvania is walking the a Trail from Knik to Nome.  Tom lives about an hour from where I live back  in Pennsylvania.  He walks about 50-60 miles per day.  Tom pulls a sled behind him with food, a sleeping bag, and white gas for his stove. He doesn’t have a tent, but has devised a system by which he sleeps on his sled and uses the tarp as a tent.  Tom is on pace to break the record of 22 days and 6 hours to walk the trail. I saw Tom from the airplane as we were flying from Galena to Nulato. We buzzed him a couple times and waved the wings at him.  He was really trucking. Go Tom go!!!  We’re pulling for you!!! (Don’t forget to duck next time Tom.)

(picture later) This beautiful family is Keith Ramos, his wife Tabitha, and their son Kaden.  They moved to Alaska from sunny Florida.  Keith works for the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.  Tabitha is studying to be a physical education teacher.  Tabitha and Keith love Alaska and feel that it is a healthy place to live and raise a family.  I actually have 2 connections with Keith.  The first one is we both have had training at the National Conservation Training Center in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, which is a great place to study and eat, and eat, and eat. . . . The second connection is that we both have taken classes in Missoula, Montana. Keith has mule packed in the Bob Marshal Wilderness. (Check the Bob Marshal Wilderness out online, and then go there.) As some of my readers know, I mule packed for the United States Forest Service and mule pack recreationally.  We wish Keith, Tabitha, and Kaden well and hope our trails cross again.

(picture later) This is Monica from Dillsburg, Pennsylvania. She is a volunteer at the Nulato checkpoint. Dillsburg is about an hour from where I live. Monica and I both know Urtha Lenharr, an Iditarod finisher from Pennsylvania.  See you back in PA Monica!!!

(picture later) This is Melanie Hans.  I ran into Melanie last year at the National Conservation Training Center.  She is a biologist for the United States Fish and Wildlife Service in Galena, Alaska. It was wonderful to be able to go so far away from home and see a familiar face.  Melanie was one of the followers of our NCTC band.  Many a day was spent studying, and many a night was spent playing music at the social center. Stay warm Melanie!!!!

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This is George Nyce.  George has been a resident of Alaska all of his adult life, but he was actually born in the same town in Pennsylvania where I was born.  The connection doesn’t stop there though. His father owned a planning mill in Doylestown, PA where we used to buy lumber 40 years ago.  It’s a small world!!!  What are the chances of occurrences such as this happening.  I traveled thousands of miles to walk on a snow covered road in Alaska’s interior(a place with no roads to or from) to meet this man.  George, it was great meeting you.  We’ll have to do it again sometime. 

Folks, these trail crossings are wonderful experiences, but they only happen if you take that first step.  It may be as simple as saying, “hey, how’s it going,”  or as simple as stopping and helping someone along the way.  One connection may be all it takes to change your life or to help someone who has lost their way along the trail of life.

Concert in Takotna

Oh Howl I Can Sing

Oh Howl I Can Sing

 

Check out the all the good music at Takotna.  Join in!!! Let’s hear you howl!!!

A Team Being Left Behind (Click to hear song) – Hey Wait For Me

A Team Leaving (Click to hear song) – Meet Me In Nome

A Tribute to Newton Marshall from Jamaica -(Must have the Insider)  http://insider.iditarod.com/index.cfm?event=media.show&mediaID=5114F857-EEF8-4EF8-3FAD1E089BCA804B

Takotna Checkpoint

Post Office

Post Office

School

School

Takotna is a fine place to be.  I visited the school yesterday.  There are 2 elementary students, one in kindergarten, and one in sixth grade.  The high school students and the elementary students are in the same building.


This is Regan.  She is a comms person at the Takotna Checkpoint.  She remembers her 3rd grade teacher using the Iditarod in the classroom as a teaching tool.  She also remembers reading books by the author, Jack London, who wrote stories about the north. Between her sophomore and IMG_2015junior years in college, she joined AmeriCorps and ended up in Anchorage.  While in Anchorage, the Iditarod Ceremonial start rekindled her interest in sled dogs and the Iditarod.  At the start of the race, she saw how excited the dogs were about pulling.  She said they tugged and barked and were having so much fun.  Last year she was an official comms person in Nome, this year in Takotna. Regan said, “I love volunteering and watching the mushers interact with their teams. Iditarod ensures that mushing skills are passed on to the next generation. The bond between mushers and dogs is neat.”

Thanks Regan!!! And, all you 3rd graders watch out if your teacher is using the Iditarod in your classroom.  You might end up in Alaska as a volunteer at the Iditarod.

Larry is a native Alaskan.  He is a race judge.  He grew up with dogs in the north western part of Alaska.  While he was growing up, his family IMG_2006depended on dogs for hunting and transportation. He said the original Alaskan huskies were much bigger than dogs used in the Iditarod today.  Their hair was thicker and they weighed more. Dogs back then were bred for pulling heavy loads, not for going fast.  He started competing in dog sled races in the 1960’s and raced for several years. Unfortunately, he found it too expensive and time consuming to continue since he had to provide for his own family. He was away from dogs for many years, but dogs have always been in his blood. He is glad to be back around the dogs as a race judge.  We are glad he is here also, and love that he shares his knowledge and experience about dogs with us. Thanks Larry!!!

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A team rests in Takotna.

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The landing strip on the river in Takotna is marked with spruce bows.

More About Nikolai

Hi Everyone, (Click on the pictures to expand them.)

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Coming into Nikolai.  You can see the dogs lined up on their straw at the checkpoint.

 

 

 

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It was -36 last night. So, the planes are frozen up as of 12:00 noon.  I may not get out of Nikolai today.  Not that I want to leave.  The people are very friendly here.  It was so cold, the Insider movie cameras were freezing up.  Even during the day today they could only stay outside for a short period of time before their cameras would stop working.  The picture is the road through the center of the village.

 

 

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This is the tent being used as a resting place for the mushers.  The kids put spruce bows on the ground inside, so it is soft and it smells like Christmas.

 

 

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The stove keeps it toasty warm inside.

 

 

 

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This is a native Alaskan by the name of Philip who is a hunting guide.  He tells some great grizzly bear hunting stories, and stories about surviving bush plane crashes.  We sat around the stove for a while and listened to him spin a yarn.  Maybe sometime I will hire him to guide me on a hunting trip in the Alaska Range.

 

 

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I spoke to the K-6 classes this morning.  The picture doesn’t include all of them.  I think there’s a total of 11.

 

 

 

Breaking Trail for You,

Herb

Target 2010 Iditarod Teacher on the Trail  

McGrath and Nikolai

After leaving Skwentna checkpoint yesterday, we were flown back to Anchorage for the night.  The weather had gotten too bad for us to continue IMG_1917up the Iditarod trail.  Today we boarded a Cessna Caravan, which is a slightly bigger aircraft than the one we had been flying in, and it can carry about 9 passengers.  It is able to fly in bad weather when there is low visibility because it has the proper instruments for the pilot.  Bush pilots fly by the seat of their pants, not by instruments for the most part. (I underlined the figurative language in this sentence. What does it mean?)

 

We traveled North West over the Alaska Range to a town called McGrath. The peaks in the Alaska Range were steep and covered with snow.  They were absolutely gorgeous.

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It was much colder in McGrath than in Anchorage.  Can anybody explain why?

 

 

 

Visibility in McGrath was about 1 mile because of a snow storm. So, we were grounded again.  I checked in with the comms people and asked if IMG_1936there were any interesting places for me to visit while I waited for a flight to Nikolai. They told me I had about an hour and a half and to check out the museum.  About 15 minutes after finding the museum, a snow machine operator came screaming into the library parking lot looking for me.  They had found a pilot going to Nikolai. That means I needed to go immediately. We jumped onto the snow machine and darted back to the airstrip. Unfortunately, when we got to the airstrip, it was snowing and we were grounded again.

 

 

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It’s back into the Iditarod Trail Cafe for another wait.  This is where I found out what trail breakers do when they get a few minutes.  Keep in mind that this is in the middle of the café in downtown McGrath. 

 

 

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I was lucky enough to finally get out of McGrath and get to Nikolai before nightfall. Nikolia is a beautiful village along the Kuskokwim River.  Here’s a musher coming off the river to the checkpoint.

Bored? Nothing to do?

Have you ever felt bored on the weekends, after school, or during the summer?  What do you do if you have to wait for a ride?  Monday the check station workers at Skwentna were stuck because of the weather.  Poor visibility and strong winds had us pinned down. No planes were flying in or out.  Keep in mind that the nearest road to Skwentna is 60 miles away.  The mail is flown in by bush plane to a small airstrip and the postmaster crosses the river on a snow machine to retrieve the mail and bring it back to the post office. The post office covers about a 2400 square mile area. There are no Wall Marts, grocery stores, or towns for us to visit while we wait for a plane.  However, there are some very productive ways to spend our time.

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Working at the computer.

 

 

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Playing a musical instrument.

 

 

 

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My favorite, eating.

 

 

 

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Sleeping.  (Especially after being awake all night checking in mushers.)

 

 

 

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Discussing plans for making future improvements.

 

 

 

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Writing in a journal.

 

 

 

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Practicing the lost art of story telling.  (Skwentna is actually Joe’s homestead.  He moved here in 1948 and has been here ever since.  He hasn’t been to town for 3 years. Joe has some amazing stories to tell.)

Race Day

IMG_1831It’s finally race day.  I wasn’t able to make the festivities on Willow Lake for the start of the race because I had to be ready to leave from Lake Hood right outside my hotel in Anchorage.  The lake literally is 75 yards from the back door of the hotel.  So out to the plane we went and we were airborne in a matter of minutes. 

 

It was interesting to the pilot explain the gauges.  The altimeter is really just a barometer that is calibrated to tell how many feet above the ground we are when we are flying. Because it’s a barometer, it needs calibrated or adjusted every time the pilot flies since air pressure varies Jr. Iditarod 065with the air mass that is present at any given time.  If you have just a simple home weather system that has a barometer and you want to see how pressure changes with altitude, put the barometer in the car and drive up a mountain or down into a valley.

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Here’s a picture of the comms room for the Iditarod.  This board shows all of the flights leaving Lake Hood, the tail number of the plane, who is on the plane or what supplies are being transported, who the pilot is, the ETD (Estimated Time of Departure), and the ETA (Estimated Time of Arrival). Can you find me on the board?

IMG_1836Does your local post office look like this? Skwentna is a refreshing step back in time.

 

 

 

 

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The ladies are cooking up a storm!!! The Skwentna Sweethearts did an excellent job at keeping our strength up. The meals were fantastic!!!

 

 

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How do you set 2 poles up on a river?  Does anyone have any ideas?

 

 

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 All ready for some mushers to roll in.