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Posts by Kim Slade

Kim is the 2007 Iditarod Teacher on the Trail. Kim Slade is a math coach and resource teacher at J. A. Thompson Elementary School in Vero Beach, Florida, a quiet beachside community where she has taught at the elementary level for 16 years.

Learn more about Kim Slade »

Trail Tidbits 23

Date: March 20, 2007

FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Bryan Mills sends about 4 pounds of food per dog out to every checkpoint.  For him that breaks down to:

  • 32 – 40 pounds of kibble
  • 8 pounds of fat
  • 8 – 16 pounds of hamburger
  • 8 pounds of lamb
  • 8 pounds of fish
  • 8 pounds of liver

He sends enough for 16 dogs to every checkpoint.  It costs about $0.50 per pound to mail his food bags with Alaska’s By-Pass Mail (this is a special rate that is given to citizens since most things have to be shipped to the interior of Alaska – it only applies to shipments within rural Alaska). Think about the math here – How much does it cost to ship dog food out on the trail?

SPONSORS
Sponsors play an important role in the success of the Iditarod.  Why are sponsorships crucial?  What would happen if there were no sponsors?

ANSWERS
Tidbits 9 — Images from the Trail
Picture #

  • 1 – Doug Swingley’s water bottle
  • 2 – Musher’s battery pack for headlamp
  • 3 – Cooker
  • 4 – View from outhouse in Rainy Pass
  • 5 – Broken gear sled that was towed behind the Trail Breaker’s snow machines after traveling across the Farewell Burn
  • 6 – Jeff king’s handlebar heater
  • 7 – Ultra Sport check point sign in Nikolai
  • 8 – Aliy Zirkle’s sled seat
  • 9 – Tread from a snow machine

ONE SMALL SQUARE
Answers:
Tidbits #

  • 8 – Checkpoint building in Nikolai
  • 10 – Heet bottle – used by mushers to start cooker fire
  • 11 – booties
  • 12 – Hand Warmers used by all to keep hands warm on trail
  • 13 – Vet’s stethoscope with decorative cover
  • 14 – Wind blown snow on Yukon River
  • 15 – fish net in Unalakleet
  • 16 – on frozen pond north of Unalakleet
  • 17 – walrus vertebrae
  • 18 – my boot print
  • 19 – mussel shell found on Bering Sea shore in Unalakleet
  • 20 – branch from Christmas tree – Nome National Forest where everyone puts old Christmas trees on Bering Sea
  • 21 – Race Statistics sheet
  • 22 – Lance Mackey’s winning check

WHERE IS JACK?
Tidbits #

  • 4 – Musher’s Banquet with check
  • 6 – on the sled with Matt Rossi
  • 7 – at Restart in Willow
  • 8 – Nikolai on boat
  • 11 – on snow machine
  • 12 – school in Takotna
  • 13 – Checkpoint in Takotna with yummy pies
  • 14 – Community Hall in Grayling
  • 15 – on Bering Sea at sunset in Unalakleet
  • 16 – with dog handler in Unalakleet
  • 17 – with Iditarod Insider crew in Anvik
  • 18 – on trail north of Unalakleet
  • 19 – under Burled Arch in Nome
  • 20 – Nome Natural Forest – people stick their old Christmas trees in ice on Bering Sea
  • 21 – with Zack Steer
  • 22 – at Finisher’s banquet table

CHECK BACK SOON
Although the race is almost over, and I am heading back to Vero Beach, Florida, keep checking back to see more Images From the Trail.  I will also be posting new lessons.

Posted by Kim (2007) in Messages

Trail Tidbits 22

Date: March 18, 2007
p1070736.jpg by Kim Slade

Wells Fargo Awards Banquet (Finishers’ Banquet):

The awards banquet was a grand event. The Nome Recreation Center was packed with mushers, their families, and fans. It began at 4:30 and lasted well into the night. Sponsors spoke about the success of the race, there was an auction that raised thousands of dollars for the Iditarod Trail Committee, awards were given, mushers were recognized, and dinner was served.

The highlight of the evening centered on the mushers. Mushers who received awards on the trail, like the Halfway Award and the Gold Coast, were given to them to take tonight (mushers participated in ceremonies on the trail when these accomplishments were made, however mushers did not keep the trophies due to the nature of the race). Some other awards that were announced tonight were:

  • Rookie of the Year – Sigrid Ekran
  • Most Improved Musher – Tollef Monson
  • Sportsmanship -Tollef Monson
  • Most Inspirational Musher – Lance Mackey
  • Golden Stethoscope – Veterinarian Mike Gascoigne
  • Fastest Time from Safety – Cim Smyth (2 hrs, 4 min – 3rd fastest time in history)
  • Leonard Seppala Humanitarian Award – Ed Iten
  • Golden Harness Award – husky Larry from Lance Mackey’s team
  • (New) Herbi Nayokpuk Memorial Award – Louis Nelson – This award was given for the first time to the musher with the “Heart of the Iditarod”
  • For a complete list of awards and sponsors check out http://www.iditarod.com/2007/dailyarchives/story_377.html

Great stories from the trail were told as mushers were called to the podium and recognized. Allen Moore told of a time out on the Yukon River. He thought he might be going slow and knew it when a guy on a bike passed him. He decided at that point it was time to stop and snack the dogs to get them going (Since the Iditarod Trail is a public trail, there are people that travel the trail from Anchorage to Nome riding bicycles, running, walking, and cross country skiing).

Jim Lanier brought his young son up on stage and they sang a song that talked about counting sled dogs instead of sheep if you have trouble getting to sleep. He also told the story about losing his team twice on the trail. Each time the team continued on and he made his way to them. One time, they actually made it to the checkpoint without him. When asked by a vet if he was going to drop any dogs, he replied “No, but he was going to drop himself, because the team obviously did not need him to race.” Jim did stay on the sled and placed 27th.

Most mushers thanked the volunteers that help put on the race, thanked their families, their sponsors, their host families in Nome (people who let them stay at their homes after the race until mushers leave to go home), and they thanked their dogs!

Each musher received a packet with their statistics, a check, a certificate from the Governor, the Iditarod Musher Patch, and the Iditarod Belt Buckle if this was their first finish (mushers only receive one belt buckle when they finish the race for the first time).

Most told of the great respect they have for Lance Mackey and his achievement. It was said that Lance showed it takes more than money to run the Iditarod – It takes determination, willpower, and heart!

Where is Jack?

Where do you think Jack was tonight?

One Small Square:

Something important is in the frame. What is it?

Auction Math:

Tonight, at the banquet, two pieces of Lance Mackey’s and Paul Gebhardt’s Trail Mail Caches were auctioned off. Mackey’s sold for $800 and $875 dollars. Paul’s sold for $350 and $325 dollars. What is the average selling price of all four pieces?

Fastest Time from Safety:

Cim Smyth had the third fastest time in history from Safety to Nome at 2 hours, 4 minutes. He also holds the second best time at 2 hours, 1 minute. John Cooper has the fastest time at 1 hour, 59 minutes. What is the difference between each time? What is the difference between first and third? What is the average of all three times?

Enjoy the scrapbook of images!

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Posted by Kim (2007) in Messages

Trail Tidbits 21

Date: March 17, 2007

by Kim Slade

Mushers Sign For Fans:

  Saturday, March 17, 2007 – Day 14 of the Iditarod – Sunny with winds 22 mph, 18°F. Fans descended upon the Mini Conference Center today to meet and greet their favorite mushers. All the mushers that are in Nome at this time came down to sign autographs for Iditarod enthusiasts. The place was packed! There were a variety items that mushers signed, such as Race Guides, t-shirts, Official Iditarod prints, cards, hats, and books just to name a few. Even sleep deprived, mushers had smiles on their faces and were willing to take time to talk with supporters. As I walked around, I noticed many faces that were sporting battle scars from the trail. Scars from frostbite seemed to the most common, but some like Sigrid Ekran, still had remnants of broken bones. They are a great group of people and I commend the hard work they have done providing us with a fabulous race – way to go mushers and thank you!!

Trade Beads:

These are beads that came from all over the world and were traded to Native groups in America. I went to a Native Craft Fair and learned that some of the beads that were in the beadwork were considered to be “trade beads” and were traded long ago with Europeans. The most sought after colors were typically blue and white. At one time, one Italian bead would be traded for 3 animal pelts (furs). Think about this: If a Native wanted 6 beads, how many pelts would they trade? What if they wanted 100, how many pelts would they trade?

Basketball:

Basketball is huge in Alaska. It is the one sport that can be played all year long because you can play inside. All of the schools I visited had gymnasiums and many of the communities had recreation halls with gyms. Nome hosts one the nations largest basketball tournaments that is played the week of the Iditarod – the Lonnie O’Connor Iditarod Basketball Classic.

The Businessman’s Sled Dog Race:

The Nome Kennel Club sponsors a three dog, three-mile sled dog race each year around the Iditarod. Congratulations to my friends Kathy Cappa, John White, and Lindy Franciose for a great run!!

Where is Jack?

Who is Jack with now?

One Small Square:

What do you notice about the item in this frame?

Just a Note:

Urtha Lenharr wants to say congratulations to Fairfield Elementary School in Pennsylvania, for their Iditarod Challenge!

Prices to Contemplate:

In Nome:

  • A 16 oz. Coke costs $3.29
  • A 12 pack of coke costs $10.99
  • A gallon of mile costs $6.99
  • Bananas are $3.99 a pound

How much do these items cost in your area? Why might these items cost more in Nome?

Click on images for a larger picture:

Posted by Kim (2007) in Messages

Trail Tidbits 20

Date: March 16, 2007

by Kim Slade

More Teams into Nome:

Friday, March 16, 2007, day 13 of the Iditarod – Nome sunny Low -10°F, High 10°F. Teams continue to make their way under the burled arch all hours of the day and night. The dogs are looking great and are still full of energy as they pull in to get their check-ups. It’s also nice to see mushers that have finished go out to greet the teams as they come into Nome. Many mushers can also be found at the Mini Conference Center hanging out socializing with peers and fans.

Dogs:

Dog drug testing is being done at the Iditarod. Random tests are conducted before the race, during the race, and at the end of the race. Officials are looking for signs of high performance drugs like amphetamines, aspirin/ibuprofen, or steroids. These are considered drugs harmful to athletes unless prescribed and monitored by a veterinarian. Normally 3 to 5 dogs are sampled by collecting urine and the samples are then sent off to be tested in a lab. At the end of the race, it is common to test the top twenty teams, otherwise the testers check random mushers, random dogs, and at random checkpoints. I helped collect samples in Nome and got to spend some time walking the dogs. Baggies & plastic containers are used to collect the samples and it does not hurt the dogs.

Gold:

Gold has played a huge roll in the development of Nome. If it weren’t for the gold found in 1899, Nome might not be on the map today. I had the opportunity to walk through a dredge to see up close what the mammoth machine once did to retrieve gold from the earth. Thanks to Pat, a Nome resident, I learned how the machine worked and got a guided tour today. The dredge was huge and had many aspects to its operations. Four men could run the machine, which was powered by a large electrical cord. It dug into the earth scooping up buckets full of soil and rock, and then would separate the gold from that material. To find our more check out the following website – http://explorenorth.com/library/weekly/aa072999.htm or contact the Nome Convention & Visitor Bureau for a diagram of a bucket-line dredge – tourinfo@ci.nome.ak.us.

Life On and Under the Sea Ice:

On a snow machine ride out onto the sea ice I got to discover some of Nome’s sea inhabitants. Pat took myself and another teacher out to check his crab trap and we got to see more than crabs – there were sea stars, sea urchins, shrimp, krill, and crabs! Pat cuts a rectangular hole in the ice using an ax, drops a baited trap into the sea, and then checks it daily. The trap is baited with fresh fish and attracts many animals including crabs. After we checked the crab trap, we noticed seal holes as well. Seals make these holes in order to breathe. We even spotted one sunning itself. There are two species of seals found off the coast of Nome – the bearded seal, or oogruk, and the common seal.

Where is Jack?

Jack is enjoying himself – where is he?

One Small Square:

Sketch the item in the frame.

Click on images for a larger picture:

Posted by Kim (2007) in Messages

Trail Tidbits 19

Date: March 15, 2007

by Kim Slade

Today:

Thursday, March 15, 2007, Day 12 of the Iditarod – Sunny in Nome -9°F. I traveled back on the trail, flying to Koyuk and Elim today. I had the opportunity to visit the Koyuk Malemute School and talked with a couple of teachers. Their school has about 120 students K-12. It was a gorgeous campus!

I was flying with Jeff Schultz again, so we landed on the sea ice between Koyuk and Elim to get some shots of Dave Monson and Tekla (Susan Butcher’s family). They have been traveling by dog teams a week and a half, having left last Tuesday from Manley Hot Springs (outside of Fairbanks). They are on their way to Nome and should arrive some time Saturday. We also got to watch them pull into Elim where they rested their teams. I was amazed to learn Tekla is only eleven years old and has driven her own team across Alaska. But after watching her with her team, I can see that she is experienced and a natural. Wearing her mother’s mushing suit and boots, she was all smiles and is embracing the trip.

Back in Nome, mushers continue to cross under the burled arch, which represents the end of a long journey.

The Burled Arch:

The famed burled arch first welcomed mushers in 1975 and has been the official end to the Iditarod since. That was not always the case – in 1974 the finish line was marked with Kool-Aid powder and mushers Joel Kottke and Red Fox Olson both carried paper plates attached to trail markers saying “The” and “End.” It was the next year that the arch was erected. Olson, the Red Lantern Award winner from the year before, carved it. In 1999, the historic arch fell apart when city workers were moving it to the spot next to the City Hall where it served as a tourist attraction the rest of the year. When the Iditarod Trail Committee decided to replace the arch, word went out across the state. Before long, a logger by the name of Jim Skogstand contacted the committee saying he had a beautiful burled spruce tree on his property in Hope, Alaska that he would be willing to donate. Bob Kuiper, of Sterling, volunteered to carve the 28-foot section of log into the new arch, and by the 2000 Iditarod a new burled arch was completed.

Burls are outgrowths on trees. They begin as a gall – a tumor on plant tissue caused by fungi, insects, or bacteria. Evidently, only slight irritation to the bark can cause a gall. The gall grows to become a burl – a massive, hemispherical structure sometimes very large in size. Once started the burl grows with the tree, each year building in size. An affected tree may grow more than one growth. The burled arch has more than 50 burls of all shapes and sizes. Trees with burls seem to grow in a cluster – if one tree has burls, it is very likely to find others in that area with burls as well. Burls do not seem to hurt the tree and there is no reason to control their spreading. They are very popular in a small industry that uses them for arts and crafts, especially in unique furniture production.

The famous burled arch is an icon that continues to represent the end to the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race and is recognized around the world.

Where is Jack?

See if you can figure out where Jack is “hanging” out!

One Small Square:

Can you figure out what is in the frame?

Enjoy the slide show!

Posted by Kim (2007) in Messages

Trail Tidbits 18

Date: March 14, 2007

by Kim Slade

There’s No Place Like Nome:

Nome claims to be “The Most Famous City in the World “due to the discovery of gold in 1899. News of the find spread and by 1900, 40,000 people came to Nome. The gold was found by the “Three Lucky Swedes” in Anvil Creek, three miles north of present day Nome. They brought several thousand miners from other gold camps in Alaska and the Klondike. It was a remarkable discovery of gold on the beaches the following year that started the stampede of thousands up the coast by ship to the boomtown of Anvil city, soon named Nome. People not only came from other states, but from every European country. Some of them had mining experience, a few struck it rich, but many found other ways to survive in a town that blossomed almost overnight with shelters made from white-walled tents to Victorian-styled buildings.

In the turn of the century Nome was the largest city in Alaska. The mining industry and the town continued to grow. The beach gold was quickly scooped up and soon drift mining performed underground took place of the steam-sluicing. Eventually, large scale mining operations using gold dredges dominated the countryside. Not needed any longer due to the machinery which did most of the work, over time many miners left the region. Epidemics further reduced the population and in a few years, Nome had shrunk to a smaller, more stable town with a winter population of about 800 by the 1920’s.

Nome came to fame once again during the 1940’s during World War II. As part of the effort to protect North America against Japan, the government built Mark’s Air Force base at Nome. It was at this base that the U.S. supplied aircraft to the Soviet Union for the Eastern Front. During and after the war, many Eskimo people and other civilians moved to Nome to take jobs.

The face of Nome has changed some since the days of the gold Rush due in part to ocean storms and large fires it has suffered. However, many of the original buildings still stand and the city still has that old west aesthetics. Today the population of Nome is culturally diverse with over half of its inhabitants being of Eskimo heritage. Several people can trace their families back to the gold miners who came to settle as early as 1899. Nome now enjoys daily jet service and is visited throughout the summer months by luxury cruise ships, and is visited by people from all over the world during the winter for the Iditarod.

The Race Continues:

The top ten mushers made it into Nome all by 12:30 p.m. today, Wednesday, March 14, 2007. Tollef Monson was the tenth musher to make his way under the Burled Arch. He spoke briefly about the race. He felt the worse part of the trail was from Ophir to Iditarod – the trail here had very little snow and a lot of tussex (clumps of grass that can be very dangerous).

Alaskan Vocabulary:

Bunny Boots – these boots are very popular on the trail. The boots were originally used by the armed forces and are large insulated boots used to protect against frostbite.

Bush – the Bush is usually referred to as any part of the North Country not reachable by road. Light aircraft are used to reach these areas and are usually referred to as Bush planes.

Kuspuk – is an Eskimo woman’s shirt or dress often made so that an infant may be carried piggyback-style inside. The kuspuk is made of a lightweight fabric, typically calico, trimmed with rick rack and ribbon.

Where is Jack?

Can you figure it out?

One Small Square:

Do you see any patterns in the frame?

Enjoy the Slide Show!

Posted by Kim (2007) in Messages

Trail Tidbits 17

Date: March 13, 2007

by Kim Slade

Off to Nome!

I headed to Nome this morning, flying over Norton Sound which was unbelievable. It may be deceiving on a map, but let me tell you – Norton Sound is huge! Coming across the vast openness and then spotting a team was surreal. They looked so out of place out on the sea of ice.

We flew over Shaktoolik and Koyuk only stopping at Elim. This village has a population of about 300 and sits well above the Bering Sea. It was here that I got to try dried seal soaked in seal oil. Wow! What an experience that was – this was definitely not my favorite!

I got a quick tour of the school and then walked down to the checkpoint with a class to see if we could see Ramy Brooks coming up off the sea ice.

After our short visit, we were off towards White Mountain when we got word that Lance Mackey was out and on his way to Safety. We made our way towards Safety and came across Mackey on the trail. Here the trail looked barren, and at some places there was only sand. The way Mackey was flying out there on the trail, we decided we needed to get to Nome.

Nome:

This old gold town looks like something out of the past. The streets were bustling with volunteers and tourists here to see the Iditarod. There is not much snow around town and like Anchorage; they had to bring in snow in order for the sleds to come down the street. By 8:08 p.m., Lance Mackey and team were standing under the Burled Arch. The emotions of the finish were felt all around – everyone was excited to see Lance’s dream of winning the Iditarod come true. He was wearing the same bib number, 13, as his father and brother when they won their Iditarod.

Lance thanked his dogs, the trailbreakers, the race sponsors, and the crowd. He was especially happy to receive a new Dodge truck, saying that he was in dire need of a vehicle that didn’t need repairs. Later Lance spoke inside to fans and reporters about his amazing team (many of which had just run the Yukon Quest several weeks before). It was here in the convention hall that Dick Mackey, Lance’s father and 1978 winner of the Iditarod, came in to congratulate his son. Note: Dick’s airplane broke down in Seattle and it had looked like he would not make it at all today, but thanks to the close relationship amongst the Iditarod community, another plane was found.

Coming in a short time later at 10:28 p.m., Paul Gebhardt made his way down Front Street to the Burled Arch to take a second place win.

Expected later tonight is Zack Steer, Martin Buser, and Jeff King. It should be interesting to see how these teams place!

Iditarod Money Math:

For his first place win, Lance Mackey received a check from Wells Fargo for $69,000. When giving the winnings, a representative for Wells Fargo said, “This in no roll of quarters.” This got me thinking – how many quarters are in $69,000? See if you can figure this out. What did you do in order to calculate the answer?

Where is Jack?

Jack has been getting along the trail effortlessly. Where do you think this picture was taken? And who are these guys?

One Small Square:

Where did this item come from? Sketch and describe it using adjectives.

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Posted by Kim (2007) in Messages

Trail Tidbits 16

Date: March 12, 2007

by Kim Slade

Today:

Monday, March 12, 2007, Day 10 of the Iditarod – Sunny, 1°F. I was a guest on the BSSD Pod-cast this morning and then was off into the wild blue yonder! We flew to Kaltag and I got to speak with Tim Osmar. He was in good spirits, having just got off the phone with his family. He was looking forward to a nice run to Unalakleet. I also had the chance to help load some drop dogs, taking them to the airplane. It was very comforting riding with dogs laying over me in the sled – they were great cuddlers!

It seems that the dogs have had very few injuries and have fared better than the mushers this year. I have been told that most dogs have been dropped due to being tired. All of the dropped dogs I have seen looked pretty good, were very friendly, and have been given a lot of TLC.

There was a fire on the trail! As we were flying back from Shaktoolik, we noticed quite a bit of smoke. When we got closer, we saw that it was about an acre-size fire burning right at the trail. It was about 8 miles north of Unalakleet. There was just small brush and tussex burning and it didn’t appear that it would cause a problem for the teams.

Doggy Math:

Take a look at the number of dogs each musher has on their team. Take the number of dogs and divide it 16 (number of dogs a team starts with). This will give you a decimal. Now, multiply the decimal by 100. This will give you the percentage of dogs still on the team and/or the number of dogs that have been dropped. Example: Lance Mackey has 14 dogs: 14/16 = .875 x 100 = 87.5%. Lance has about 88% of his dogs at this time in the race and has dropped only about 12% of his team.

It’s a Race Now!

Things are really heating up on the trail with the leaders all jocking for the top position.

Right now, Mackey is in the lead, but it should be interesting to see the strategies used by the others. I am heading to Nome first thing tomorrow morning so I am there to see the top runners go under the Burled Arch!

Where is Jack?

Take a look at where Jack is now! See if you can tell what part of the trail he is on.

One Small Square:

Look deep inside the frame. What do you notice? Use figurative language to explain the details.

Posted by Kim (2007) in Messages

Trail Tidbits 15

Date: March 11, 2007

by Kim Slade

Unalakleet:

Sunday, March 11, 2007, Day 9 of the Iditarod – Sunny, 1°F. The village of Unalakleet sits on the Bering Sea and has been a major trade center as the last stop for the Kaltag Portage. It is the largest town (population 747) between Anchorage and Nome. Jutting out onto a point, this fishing village utilizes the Unalakleet River and the Bering Sea for its catches. I spoke to a local, who told me that they fish for 5 species of salmon, arctic char, halibut, flounder, herring, and whitefish. They also harvest king crab, mussels, and clams from the water. Other foods such as blueberries and cranberries are picked from July to October, and moose are hunted too.

This checkpoint is the first along the coast and usually has strong winds, but the past two days have been virtually wind free. Being Sunday, the kids of the village were out in full force, as was most villagers, welcoming the mushers. The first musher into Unalakleet gets the Wells Fargo Gold Coast Award and $2,500 in gold nuggets. This year it was Jeff King. It was an exciting race into the checkpoint, with Lance Mackey surprising all when he pulled in second before Martin Buser and Paul Gebhardt. Lance has 14 dogs at this point and his team is still strong. He was also the first to leave.

The Bering Straights School District is here filming and doing live video on the race. The kids went out about 8 miles to set up a live feed as mushers came by heading into Unalakleet. It is an impressive setup. GCI and Apple computers are working with the district to provide a state-of-the-art technological program that goes well beyond most I have seen. Checkout their website – http://mushing.bssd.org/. Way to go BSSD!!

Unusual Foods:

I have had some unique culinary experiences this trip. I had moose stew at several villages in Athabascan country and now that I am on the coast with the Inupiaq, I have had Muktuk, which is raw whale, and beaver bacon. The Muktuk tasted like an chewy, very oily sushi (it would have been better with some wasabi). The beaver bacon had a strong taste and the texture of liver. The moose was similar to a beef boiled with vegetables and broth. All were pretty tasty, but my favorite was the moose stew!

Sea Ice:

Have you ever done an experiment to test if salt water freezes? What did you find? We have been taught to believe that it does not. Well, one look outside Unalakleet and you can see that the sea does indeed freeze. Sea Ice is a thin, solid layer that forms in the Polar Oceans. The ice forms a boundary between the relatively warm ocean and the cooler atmosphere (just the surface freezes). When the ice forms, it does not freeze all of the salt and returns the rest to the bottom of the ocean. Ice that forms in one winter is smooth and about .5 to 1 meter (1.5 to 3 feet) thick. Ridges of ice are compressed, broken pieces of first year ice. Multi-year ice is rough and can be 3 to 5 meters (9 to 15 feet) thick. For more information checkout the following website – http://www.beringclimate.noaa.gov/essays_mcnutt.html.

Where is Jack?

Take a look at Jack’s surroundings – Where is he now?

One Small Square:

What is this item used for?

* Due to Internet problems, Kim could not upload images for this article and ‘housed’ them on a PDF with her lesson plans.  CLICK HERE and view the PDF.

Posted by Kim (2007) in Messages

Trail Tidbits 14

Date: March 10, 2007

by Kim Slade

Today:

Saturday, March 10, 2007, Day 8 of the Iditarod – Sunny, winds 25-35 mph gusting 45 mph, 0°F. After leaving Anvik this morning, we flew to Grayling, the last village until Kaltag. There were several teams resting around the village. Because it was Saturday, many of the school kids were wondering around soaking in the sites. I shared some shells with several students and then made my way to the school where I met the PT (principal/teacher) Maryland Johnson. She gave me a tour and we talked shop. The school, David Lewis Memorial, has 42 students K-12, 5 teachers, 2 ancillary staff, and 3 part-time staff members. It is the biggest village school I have visited along the trail. Maryland said the entire village is celebrating the race by having community gatherings such as cakewalks, cookouts, and spaghetti dinners. The younger students made goodie bags for the mushers and the older students painted a huge sign a mile outside of town welcoming the teams.

Eagle Island:

Although the teams were resting back in a slough, Eagle Island checkpoint was easy to spot with the bright orange tents and canvas buildings. This checkpoint is very primitive and a little unusual – they used ice blocks as building materials – very unique construction!

Memorial:

Flying over the trail on our way to Unalakleet, we past Old Woman Mountain where I learned David Monson and his girls will spread Susan Butcher’s ashes along the trail. I have a feeling this will become a very spiritual spot for the mushing community.

Traveling the Trail:

One of the things I have enjoyed most on my travels has been flying with Danny Davidson, a pilot with the Iditarod Air Force, and Jeff Schultz, Iditarod’s official photographer. Danny and Jeff have allowed me to see the trail from a vantage point not many have seen as it circuitously winds across Alaska. We have swooped low and landed in front of teams in order to get that great shot! I am very lucky that they have taken me under their wing and allowed me to tag along. I have seen the race from a unique perspective thanks to them.

My hat goes off to all of the Iditarod Air Force pilots I have flown with this trip. Joe, George, Bill, Bruce, and Danny, Thank you – It’s been a wild ride so far!

Where is Jack?

Can you figure out from this picture where Jack is now?

One Small Square:

The details in this frame may be harder to see, but if you look closely you can observe several details.
* Having Internet problems on the trail – images could not be uploaded.  Check back later for more information.

Posted by Kim (2007) in Messages

Trail Tidbits 13

Date: March 10, 2007

by Kim Slade

p1060552.jpg Slow Start:

Friday, March 9, 2007, Day 7 of the Iditarod – Sunny -10°F. I had planned to leave Takotna with Jeff and Danny again today about 9:30 a.m., unfortunately, Danny’s plane had to go into the shop for repairs. Seems that when we landed the day before, the handle he needs to control the flaps broke. Fixing it took a little more time than we thought, so we got a late start. It was after noon before we were on our way to Shageluk.

Shageluk:

We landed in Shageluk with time for Jeff to take some shots and me to visit the school. As I was going up the steps, the kids were coming out, but they stopped to talk to me a bit and get their seashells – I am passing out shells to all the students I see along the trail. I call it ‘leaving my footprint along the trail.’ I have been giving each school a book on some Florida topic (thanks to the faculty at JAT in Vero) as well. The school in Shageluk, Innoka River School, is the biggest school I have visited along the trail. It has 34 students and 3 teachers – primary, middle, and high school. Thanks to a special grant, the school now has an art teacher too. I got to speak to the teachers as we watched teams leave the school grounds. The school is in session during the Iditarod with the staff feeling the race provides a wonderful learning opportunity for the students. They have had many visitors this week – a person form Iditarod Communications, a veterinarian, an Iditarod Air Force pilot, and Gary Paulsen. Check out the school’s website to see what they have been learning – http://shageluk.iasd.schoolaccess.net/. One neat project I got to see was hanging on the Washteria’s wall (this is a place were villagers can shower and wash their clothes). The students adapted the artistic style of Keith Haring, a modern-pop artist. The dogs they painted were fabulous!

I found a friend on the trail while in Shageluk – fellow educator Jean Polluck from New Jersey was working at the checkpoint. It was nice to see a familiar face. Jean said she is thoroughly enjoying working in Shageluk.

Anvik:

We arrived to the Yukon just as musher Ramy Brooks was coming up the river. Danny circled around so Jeff could get a shot of the team coming up onto the bank and into Anvik. We landed on the river and had a little hike to the checkpoint. The village is located high on the banks of the Yukon River and has a bit of a rise to hike – and in my huge arctic boots it’s not fun!

Due to our late departure earlier today, we unfortunately missed the First to the Yukon Award. This award is sponsored by the Millennium Alaskan Hotel and rewards the musher who makes it to the Yukon River first a seven-course feast prepared at the checkpoint and a $3,500 cash prize. This year it was Marin Buser and the menu included: king crab-apple tower, smoked corn bisque, king prawn & scallop, seared ostrich medallions, grilled jicama, chocolate crepes, and port poached pear. The rustic setting of the checkpoint was transformed, as a formal table with fresh flowers, crystal, fine china, and silver candelabra was set. After dinner, Martin was presented with an “after dinner mint” – $3,500 in crisp one-dollar bills served on an engraved Alaskan gold pan.

I met with Mary Walker at the Blackwell School in Anvik. She is the principal and a teacher. There are 23 students, two teachers, and one intern at school. The students here also get into the spirit of the race – some of the students took snow machines and helped put up trail markers before the race began. The school is very successful having met AYP two years in a row. Even though the school is small they do have a basketball team, and the coach? He is a 6th grader here at the school. The team has traveled to Holy Cross to play against their team and plans to host games here at the school as well.

Where is Jack?

I bet if you think about it, you can figure out where Jack is in the picture.

One Small Square:

This item belongs to a vet. Name the all the parts. What makes this one item different than others?

Note:

I plan to disclose the answers to all the questions and puzzles at the end of the race, so don’t give up!

Going on an Iditarod Haiku Hike:

Have you heard a Haiku poem? It is a traditional Japanese poem usually used when describing nature. It is comprised of three lines – the first has 5 syllables, the second has 7 syllables, and the third has 5 syllables. Check out the following website to learn more – http://www.gigglepoetry.com/poetryclass/Haiku.html.

Today, I am going on an Iditarod Haiku Hike! Join me and write your own Iditarod Haiku. Use the Iditarod website to find more information about the trail and the race. Take a look at Jeff Schultz’s photographs to get inspired. Here are some examples:

Snow

White, frozen snowflakes

Falling to the ground

Like a soft blanket

Iditarod Dogs

Energetic teams

Racing the Iditarod

Love every moment.

Have fun on your Iditarod Haiku Hike!

Posted by Kim (2007) in Messages

Trail Tidbits 12

Date: March 8, 2007

by Kim Slade

Takotna:

Thursday, March 8, 2007, Day 6 of the Iditarod – Snowing lightly and -10° F. As I wondered around the village this morning, I was able to find a couple kids working to lend a hand with the race, because their school is not in session this week. The students do many things to help out: work inside the checkpoint serving food, they help park teams, bring straw & food bags, haul water, and keep the fire going on the hot water barrel, which is provided as a courtesy for mushers. The kids told me they love being out of school and find the Iditarod exciting. Even their teacher was busy working to help out by maintaining the computers at the checkpoint. There are 13 students that attend Takotna School ranging in ages from 8 to 18.

Moving Along:

I had the opportunity to fly out on the trail with Jeff Schultz, Iditarod’s official photographer. We backtracked to Nikolai to see some of the teams. I was excited to see Matt Rossi there! He told me he was glad to be there too, saying he never expected the trail to be so tough, so early in the game. He went on to say it got down right scary out there on the trail with the winds howling through the mountains. The team appeared good, as did Matt after a short rest. Paula, if you are reading this – Matt looked great!

After spending a short time in Nikolai, we flew over Ophir, then on to Iditarod – the halfway point on the southern route. This ghost town turned checkpoint, has some amazing history. I had the opportunity to talk with Tore, an 81-year-old head checker/historian who is considered by most to be the “Mayor” of the checkpoint. He explained that in its heyday, in the early 1900’s, Iditarod was a booming town of about 10,000 people. After a flood, and the river route changed in the 1940’s, the people of the town just up and left, taking only their money and a few personal items. Remnants of the old town still remain. In what appeared to be the blacksmith building, horseshoes lay scattered around. In one building there was part of an old boot and in the bank vault many receipts still can be found.

The checkpoint is an old trapper’s cabin and although it still contains an old wood-burning stove, the temperature inside was only 44° F. Although the inside was cool, it offered a warm meal for the mushers who stopped. It is here, at Iditarod, that the first musher to the halfway point receives the GCI Dorothy G. Page Halfway Award -$3,000 in gold nuggets. I had the opportunity to hold these nuggets – boy it didn’t seem like those nuggets were worth that much money!

Probably the most exciting thing I did today was hike down the trail with Jeff Shultz to wait for some teams to pass. We had our spotter Danny in the air and when he announced that not one, but two teams were heading our way, we got into position. The first team to pass by was Martin Buser, with Jeff King following close behind! WOW!! What a treat!!

We left a short time later heading back to Takotna and those legendary pies. My favorite is the blueberry! Thanks Jan and gang!

Where is Jack?

Jack is enjoying his trip along the trail. Guess where Jack is now?

One Small Square:

Use alliteration to describe what is inside the frame.

Enjoy the slide show!

Posted by Kim (2007) in Messages

Trail Tidbits 11

Date: March 8, 2007

by Kim Slade

Along the Trail:

As I have been following along the trail and visiting checkpoints, I am finding it hard to put into words what I have been seeing. There are so many facets of this race that it becomes hard to focus on what to write. I hope to capture all the pieces of the Iditarod by giving you some tidbits along the way!

Mathematically Speaking:

When flying, a plane’s propeller spins around and looks like a blur as it goes around. But through a camera, you can see the blade. This is known as the Nyquist Frequency. It basically means that in order to see the prop, the camera must capture the image at twice the speed.

When landing, if the plane is not coming in at the correct angle to land safely, the pilot will see white lights on a light bar found next to the runway (well, at least some runways – most are makeshift runways on lakes and rivers). When the plane is at the correct angle to land, the lights will be red. No one changes the lights, the different colors can only be seen when the correct angle of sight is accomplished. I learned this from Bill, an Iditarod air Force pilot.

Science on the Trail:

Two young men at the Top of the Kuskoswim School won a very prestigious award here is Alaska when they participated in the state level competition of the Native American Science and Engineering Fair. The boys represented the Iditarod School District in Fairbanks with their science fair project – Which type of log burns hotter; birch or spruce? They used seasoned logs and conducted 14 tests to find the amount BTU’s (British thermal unit – the amount of heat required to raise the temperature) measured by each type of log. They found that the best log to burn to get the most amount of heat is birch. Phil and Derek represented their school, and district, well by winning the Elder’s Award. So mushers, if you are out on the trail and need a hot fire, find some birch logs!

Foreign Students on the Trail:

There are many students from Norway living and working in Takotna. Back in Norway, students are required to participate in Outdoor coursework after high school, before going on to the university level. The students here are participating in an Arctic course. This half-year course has brought these students to Takotna where they are now working hard to park teams for this year’s Iditarod. You can recognize many of these students by their unusual boots – pointed-toed boots made out of reindeer. Thank you to Æyuind Skarsaune for talking to me – I hope I got it right.

Where is Jack?

Jack is really a great lead dog! He has kept me going in the right direction along the trail. See if you guess where he is now?

One Small Square:

Take a look at the frame. What do you see? Use colorful adjectives to describe the image.

Posted by Kim (2007) in Messages

Trail Tidbits 10

Date: March 7, 2007

by Kim Slade

Mike Williams:

Although musher Mike Williams was battered with a head injury from the trail, he took time out of his busy Iditarod schedule to talk to students at the school in Nikolai. He talked about sobriety, which is a huge reason he is running the race. He told the kids, “You know right from wrong, so make the right choices.” He gave advice about what to do if someone in their family drinks. Having a support system was key to his counsel. He suggested that the village organize a support group for children, like in his village, they started a Boys and Girls Club that provides a place for kids to go when they just need to get away. Having Mike speak meant a lot to these students, and is just another sign of the close Iditarod community.

McGrath:

I stopped in McGrath this afternoon. School is not in session, so I went to the Iditarod Area School District Office and met Assistant Superintendent Karen Ladegard. We talked about the district, compared curriculum, and spoke about the McGrath School. It was a beautiful day and I walked through McGrath taking in the sights.

Posted by Kim (2007) in Messages

Trail Tidbits 9

Date: March 7, 2007

by Kim Slade

Images From the Trail:

I have come across many things along the trail. See if you can figure out what I have been seeing!

Posted by Kim (2007) in Messages

Trail Tidbits 8

Date: March 6, 2007

by Kim Slade

Skwentna:

My flight from Swentna was a little bumpy due to the headwinds we encountered on my trip. Our flight airspeed (the speed the plane is set to go) was 130 mph and at one time we were only moving 87 mph. We headed first to Rainy Pass to drop off Art Church, a race judge for this year’s race – Art ran the Iditarod back in 1995 and I found out he now makes sleds. Art mentioned he would like to run the Iditarod one more time. He also commented on how he was seeing the trail from the air for the first time, and how different it looked compared to being on the trail.

Jack and I worked – we helped wake mushers from the sleep break some took while their dogs were resting. Mark, who worked communications, has showed us the ropes too.

Dogs aren’t the only animals along the trail – we had a bald eagle hanging out at the Skwentna Checkpoint too.

Rainy Pass:

I got a chance to fly into the Rainy Pass Checkpoint, at Puntilla Lake, and had lunch at the lodge. The wind was really blowing out there, but it did not take away from the scenery and views from the checkpoint. The dogs were nestled in the straw and riding out the wind quite nicely.

Nikolai:

I am staying at the school in Nikolai. Joyce and Denis Gardella and their students have been great hosts. The school is not in session this week (due to the Iditarod coming through), but the school is open and the kids are selling food to the volunteers and fans. They are providing free meals, showers, and a warm place to sleep for the mushers. (I got to sit next to Lance Mackey at breakfast and shared my computer with him – he wanted to see the standings and look at some Insider clips). The Top of the Kuskokwim School has 2 teachers and 10 students ranging from ages 8 to 16 – grades 2 to 10. The students are raising money for a field trip to the lower 48 (they say Florida is a possibility). Last year they went on a cruise to Mexico – now that’s a field trip!

Nikolai is a small Athabascan village along the Kuskokwim River. It has a population of about 70. There are only 5 vehicles here and only about 3 miles of road they can travel. Not all the vehicles can run during the winter – I only saw one truck with a snowplow on the front. The cars are not really needed, but the elders like to drive around in them and check on things happening around the village. There are quite a few snow machines though and are the primary means of transportation here in the winter. Gas costs $6.00 a gallon! It is shipped by barge down the river during the summer months.

School was in session for part of the day today. I presented, talking about the Iditarod and Florida connections. Gary Paulsen also presented – the students read his book Hatchet and had many questions for him. Sheryl Cater, of Eden Prairie Schools, is working with Gary, as they are visiting five native village schools along the trail. Students in Eden Prairie have been learning about these places and are participating in a cultural exchange by using web cams and video.

Veterinarian, Gayle Tate from Woodbury, Tennessee, is here at Nikolai. He said to say “Hi” to Ann Bartholomew and Short Mountain Grammar School (See his picture).

Where is Jack?

Take a look at what Jack has been doing! Can you guess where he is?

Posted by Kim (2007) in Messages

Trail Tidbits 7

Date: March 5, 2007

by Kim Slade

Today’s the Day!

Racers are off on the 2007 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race! 82 Mushers met at Willow Lake for a 2:00 p.m. Restart. As I walked along the frozen lake, the teams were pretty laidback and taking it all in strides. As the day progressed, and the early numbered teams started hooking up dogs, the more intense it got. The excitement was catching! I spoke to a musher who commented on that phenomena saying, “the dogs communicate better than we do.” By the sound of things out there, I think he was right!

It takes a lot of volunteers to run a race of this size, so I helped check microchips, which all dogs must have. I worked with some wonderful volunteers and we checked using a special machine that reads the numbers electronically. With a quick, simple wave of the device across the neck area of the dog, it automatically read the information on the chip. This was very exciting for me, because I had the opportunity to meet one of the people who designed the microchip. The gentleman told me there was a problem initially when the chip was first developed. When vets went to check the dogs, they could not find it. He said they found the chip had moved down the shoulder and leg of the dogs as they ran (of course this never hurt the animal). I meet him a few months ago – he is retired and living in my hometown – what a small world!

As I walked around wishing teams good luck and taking advantage of some awesome photographic opportunities, I overheard one spouse saying the first night after her husband leaves on the trail, is difficult – she feels a little bit guilty sleeping in a warm, cozy bed when she knows her husband cannot. I am getting ready to see first-hand how mushers sleep out on the trail. Matt Rossi showed me his sled – it has a tent big enough for his sleeping bag attached to his sled bag. How cool is that!!

Where is Jack?

Jack is still with me! Saturday he got to take his first sled dog ride, so I wasn’t sure he would end up with me, or if he was going to jump onto a sled and head out on the trail without me!

Keep checking back to see what is happening out on the trail!

Posted by Kim (2007) in Messages

Trail Tidbits 6

Date: March 3, 2007

by Kim Slade

Iditarod 2007!

Today the streets of Anchorage filled with thousands of people all coming to watch the 2007 running of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. The first Saturday in March is the celebratory start of the Iditarod and is a time where many can come downtown to view the teams up close. Mushers are in relaxed moods, so they are willing to talk and sign autographs. This year eighty-two teams signed up to give fans a show. For many it was not their first trip to the race. I spoke with a couple that has been coming for thirteen years to see their favorite mushers and the dogs!

I meet many people and dogs on the streets (See below to see the different breeds). The primary dog of the Iditarod is the Alaskan husky. These dogs have been breed to be excellent long distance runners. Their bodies are relatively small and although muscular, they typically weigh about 45-50 pounds – unlike the Siberian husky that can weigh twenty pounds more. As you may be able to see from the pictures below, the Alaskan huskies do not have a very thick undercoat of fur. Alaskan huskies also come in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes.

Hike!

Thanks to Wells Fargo, I was fortunate enough to ride as an Idita-rider and rode in the sled of musher Matt Rossi. He, his wife Paula, and their handlers went out of their way to make this an unbelievable experience! I got to met the team, stand on the runners of the sled for pictures, and find out more about the sport.

As I settled in my seat – made up in the basket (where the gear is normally stored), tears came to my eyes as I realized what I was about to do. It was a very emotional time, so I recorded it – that way I can reflect back again and again and relive those precious moments. As we headed off down the trail, the fans shouted and cheered for Matt, – wishing him luck and congratulating him. One thing I noticed as we went through the city, the dogs seemed to take a while to find their rhythm, but once we were along the ski and sled dog trails of the city’s parks, they found a comfortable pace. Mushing on, I also noticed the sound of the sled changed as the snow conditions changed. It was very quiet and extremely serene.

Thank you to Matt Rossi and his dedicated team of dogs! This was a beautiful experience I have tucked it inside my heart and will remember always!

Where is Jack?

As Jack continues to follow along the trail with me, he too is getting to experience some amazing things. He found out today that it costs about $1.00 to $1.50 per dog, per day when feeding a kennel of dogs. Help him figure out how much that would be for a kennel of 40 dogs for the entire year.

Posted by Kim (2007) in Messages

Trail Tidbits 5

Date: March 2, 2007

by Kim Slade

Is it Christmas Eve?

It sure feels like Christmas Eve – I can’t sleep because I am so excited about tomorrow! It’s Iditarod time again!

I walked through the streets of Anchorage just hours ago and the city is bustling with activity. Dozens of workers have converged on the city in order to get the streets ready for race day. Fencing is being erected, snow dumped, and the trail formed. Everything needs to be ready before the first teams arrive early tomorrow morning.

Check the website to view the starting order – teams will leave the starting line, with their Idita-riders, every two minutes beginning at 10:00 a.m., then continue down the trail for approximately eleven miles through Anchorage. They will travel on city streets, sidewalks, and through city parks ending at Campbell Airstrip. Check out the Iditarod’s Insider for video of the start!

Thank You!

Before things get crazy around here, I would like to take the time to say thank you to a few people. I would like to thank Wells Fargo for sponsoring such an invaluable position; the Iditarod Trail Committee for seeing into the future and going for it; Diane Johnson for guiding me through the process; Terri Hanke for helping this Florida girl get packed; the Van Zyle’s for their advice and cherished gifts; and to the teams, who make learning exciting to students across the world! The Wells Fargo Teacher on the Trail program has been very beneficial to me in the past, as I know it will be in the future. Thank you for making a dream come true!

Posted by Kim (2007) in Messages

Trail Tidbits 4

Date: March 1, 2007

by Kim Slade

It Was All About the Mushers Today:

It was a busy day for mushers. They met at the Millennium for the mandatory musher meeting where sponsors gave gifts, pictures were taken, and rules were reviewed. At lunch, they met with their Idita-riders and talked about their run on Saturday (In the Idita-rider program, fans bid to ride at the Celebratory Start with their favorite musher).

The day didn’t stop! Mushers met fans at the Sullivan Sports Arena tonight for the annual Musher Drawing Banquet. Here mushers picked their starting positions, signed autographs, and enjoyed the evening. Fans, volunteers, sponsors, and race officials mingled with mushers and got to know one another.

As I listened to the mushers being introduced, I was excited to hear how many are involved in various aspects of education. Many mushers work closely with schools across the country, or are actually educators themselves. Matt Rossi, the musher I will be riding with on Saturday as an Idta-rider, is very involved in education and has a partnership with Bark River Racing and the University of Minnesota Duluth. Find more information about this educational opportunity at http://www.barkriverracing.com/.

Some highlights of the night included Jim Lanier singing the National Anthem, Lance Mackey did indeed choose #13 as his starting position, and Susan Butcher’s husband, David Monson, gave a heart felt speech in Susan’s honor. In memory of Susan, she has been named the Honorary Musher.

Where is Jack?

Did you figure out what Jack was riding? He was riding on a stagecoach.

I was lucky enough to meet the life-size Jack tonight at the banquet. He accompanied the Wells Fargo crew and danced to the song “Who Let the Dogs Out!”

Special Treat:

I had a special treat today when John White, from Vero Beach, showed up at race headquarters. John is an avid sled dog lover and has owned Siberian huskies throughout his life. On many occasions he has visited my school to talk with students about huskies and his experiences raising them. John will be riding with Karen Ramstead on Saturday as an Idita-rider – Karen runs an entire team of Siberian huskies. Welcome to the Iditarod John!

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Posted by Kim (2007) in Messages