Saturday- February 24, 2007
Iditarod Education Department Update
The start of the Jr. Iditarod also signifies the start of the 2007 Wells Fargo Teacher on the TrailTM Kim Slade’s journey along the Iditarod Trail. This morning, Kim arrived at Knik Lake at the staging area of the race and observed the Jr. Mushers as they began to get ready for the start of the race. The dog trucks were parked on the frozen lake. The mushers unloaded their dogs and got their gear and equipment ready for the trail. As the start time approached, the dogs were harnessed and hooked to the gangline. The families and friends of the mushers, as well as race fans, cheered the mushers as “5 – 4 – 3 – 2 – 1 Go!” signaled a team on the trail.
You can read about the race at the following website: http://www.jriditarod.com/special.php?id=17
After the last musher left for the trail, Kim got on to an Iditarod Air Force plane and flew out to the halfway point of the race, Yentna Station Roadhouse. Kim will observe the mushers arrive at the checkpoint and spend their 10 hour mandatory layover before heading to the finish line at the Willow Community Center. Kim will return from the trail on Sunday and attend the Jr. Iditarod Musher Banquet.
Watch for Kim’s next journal entry. She will share her observations and experiences during the 2007 Jr. Iditarod.