March 15, 2007
There are now over 30 mushers in Nome and another 29 on the trail trying to get to Nome. New finishers since my report last night include:
Aaron Burmeister finished in 13th position followed in order by Jason Barron, Ramy Brooks, Hans Gatt, Ramey Smyth, Ray Redington, Jr., Ryan Redington, Hugh Neff, Sigrid Ekran, Jessie Royer, Sebastian Schnuelle, Louis Nelson, Sr., Sonny Lindner, Rick Swenson, Silvia Willis, Jim Lanier, Aliy Zirkle, Matt Hayashida, and Gerry Willomitzer in 31st position.
Bill Pinkham was out of Safety at 5:12 p.m. and on the way to Nome. Jon Korta was out of White Mountain at 6:13 p.m. this evening. Pinkham should be in Nome well before midnight while Korta will not be there before the morning hours.
Seven teams are in the White Mountain checkpoint, completing their mandatory 8-hour layover. (Tim Osmar, Scott Smith, Clint Warnke, Rick Casillo, Thomas Lesatz, Allen Moore and Mike Williams)
Matt Anderson is the only musher on the trail from Elim to White Mountain and there are no teams in Elim right now. Robert Bundtzen, Dallas Seavey and Andrew Angstman are out of the Koyuk checkpoint tonight while Cindy Gallea and Brian Mills rest at the checkpoint.
Matt Calore is out of Shaktoolik and Hernan Maquieira is out of Unalakleet. Seven teams are out of Kaltag, no teams are in Kaltag at this time. (Out of Kaltag: Jeff Wells, Matt Rossi, Kevin Morlock, Jeremy Keller, Dan Carter, Aleksandar Nikolich and Kelly Williams)
The final four teams have departed from Eagle Island and are on the way to Kaltag. (Bruce Milne, Donald Smidt, Heather Siirtole and Ellen Halverson) It will be several days before this group reaches Nome.
It is still bitterly cold on the trail and as you may have noticed in the photos I have shown you, several of the mushers have frost bitten places on their face. I would think there are probably some frost bitten fingers and toes too, but no one has told me that as yet. Frostbite is not good at all and can be so bad at times, that there is a loss of fingers, toes or even hands and feet. Many mushers have scares on their face from previous encounters with frostbite. It is very important that you always make every effort to keep frostbite at bay when you are outside in really cold weather boys and girls. It is really nasty stuff. I want you to be very careful not to stay outside in really cold weather until you freeze your hands or feet.
I hope you are all doing your homework assignments and listening to your teacher. Education is the most important thing in your life, do the best you can with it.
Write to me soon at zuma@iditarod.com
Until next time,
Lots of Tag Wags,
Zuma
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