Hi Everyone,
Hope you are still enjoying the race as much as I am. How are your favorite mushers doing? Thanks for all the comments you’re leaving on the blog. I really enjoy reading them.
I have been looking at the update page and I noticed that mushers were staying at certain checkpoints for long periods of time. Then I noticed boxes to the far right of the race update page and saw little boxes that said 24 hour and 8 hour. I decided to do some research and found rule #13 called Mandatory Stops in the musher’s rules. Mushers are able to rest anywhere along the trail. Mandatory Stops are rests that they must take. They have to be taken at a checkpoint and the mushers must sign in and out to start and end all mandatory stops.
Mushers are required to take 3 mandatory rests during the race. The first one is a 24 hour stop. It can be taken whereever the musher feels would be the best for the dogs. It looked like most mushers took this rest in either McGrath or Takotna. I’ve heard both places are nice and have good food. They both seem like really good places to take a long rest at. Mushers take this time to rest their teams, rest themselves, fix any equipment that needs fixing, and trade stories with each other. During this rest, the starting differential is figured into the time the musher must stay at the checkpoint.
The next rest is an 8 hour stop that must be taken at one of the checkpoints on the Yukon River. Many mushers take this stop in Cripple or Ruby. That’s right after a couple of long runs and it’s a good time for a longer rest.
The last Mandatory stop is another 8 hour rest that must be taken in White Mountain. White Mountain is 77 miles from Nome. This will be the final rest for most of the teams.
Most mushers have already taken both their 24 hour and 8 hour on the Yukon River. In the next day or so, the front runners will be at White Mountain. Watch to see if the order the mushers come into White Mountain is the same order they get to Nome in. If the race is close, this will be a time the mushers will plan a strategy to either stay ahead or get ahead.
I’m off to check the updates to see how everyone is doing.
Happy trails,
Gypsy
34 Comments
We love tracking the race! Each day we can’t wait to see who is in the lead. Luckily this year there have been no mishaps. Mrs. Buckley’s class
I think you are so cool! I like your article Bye! molly
thank you molly, Gypsy
I am going to read the book Running with the Big Dogs, by Lori Hanuchi obn Tuesday to my 1st graders, we are intently following the race. My question is: are any of the Sled Dogs that are running this year from Denali Kennels (that is were the story takes place)? Ms. Barr
This is the first year I have followed the race. What a pleasure!!! I love it! I penpal with a fourth grade class and got them interested in it too. They’ve each picked out their own musher to win!! Soo Cool! Wish I could see the finish in Nome!
Enjoy and Thanks for the coverage and info.
Beverly
Thanks for reading and writing. I glad you are enjoying the race. Gypsy
Dear Gypsy,
What is your favorite color? Do you know that you look a little bit like Zuma? I am writing to you, Zuma, Sanka, and Libby! You must be a great dog.
Love,
Mikaela
Walnut Trails School
Hi Mikaela, My favorite color is blue. That’s why I’m hoping to get a blue harness next year for running on my team. Zuma is a beautiful dog so thanks for the compliment. Gypsy
In our class we’ve been following Jeff King, Lance Mackey, Kjetil Backen, Martin Buser and Rohn Buser. We were following Jessica Hendricks, but of course she scratched! I’m sort of confused about the rules of the race. What things are the mushers required to bring along the way? Molly
The rules are a little confusing, so that is why we put them on the website so you can read them. Go to the http://www.iditarod.com website and click the words: For Mushers and you can look at and read about the rules.
Lots of Tail Wags,
Zuma
Hi Molly, I also posted an article about what to pack. If you go to K-9 reporter Gypsy, you can look through all the articles I have written and you will find it.
Gypsy
Hey Zuma,
My class and I check the website everyday. Who is your musher? I am really excited to see who wins. I will promise to check what place everyone is in. You seem like a pretty inteligant dog. Remember…I am rooting for you.
Lexi
Hi Lexi, I am a K-9 reporter who runs on a recreational team. That means we don’t run races- at least not this year. Keep following the race and have fun. Gypsy
My class is tracking the Iditarod. We each have a musher, my musher has eight dogs if he loses 3 more dogs he will have to drop out because he will have 5 dogs and you have to cross the finish with 6 or more dogs.
I think Lance Mackey is going to win, he is really good my friend has him. BYE!!
Sounds like you are having a great time following the race. Thanks for reading and writing. Gypsy
My 7yo daughter and I are Washington residents and cheering for Laura Daugereau. We are a homeschooling family and learning so much by following this race. I think this will be incorporated into our homeschooling every spring. The Iditarod provides lessons in a variety of subjects–geography, science, math, reading, history–even art!
Go Laura!
I so happy you are enjoying learning about the Iditarod. It’s a great way to learn through real life experiences. Thanks for writing. Gypsy
dear zuma
I love the 2008 Iditarod as much as you do. I just want to say “good luck all”!! Serena
hello again
i have been looking thru lots of the info but can’t find out if there is a minumum number of dogs that can lead a team? i know most start with 16 but what is the a number of dogs that a musher can not continue driving?
keep up the great work - we love reading what you write
Meg and Nellie
Hi Meg and Nellie, Rule #17 states that a musher must finish with at least 6 dogs. Hope that helps. Gypsy
What is the difference between scratched and withdrawn when a team is out of the race?
Great question. Scratched means that the musher has decided that he can no longer race for some reason. Withdrawn means the race marshall, a race official, or a vet has made the decision that a team should not proceed. It does not mean the musher has done anything wrong. This year, Kim Franklin was withdrawn because she came into a checkpoint with fewer dogs than she left the previous checkpoint with. She had two dogs break loose and she could not find them. She proceeded to the next checkpoint to get help. The dogs were found and are fine but Kim could not go on in the race. The rules state you must get to the next checkpoint with the same number of dogs you left with. Hope that helps. You can go to http://www.iditarod.com and look at the race rules for more information. Gypsy
Hi Zuma,
The iditarod rocks. I really really want Art Church Jr. to win. But i dont think he will.he isnt doing so well. He is in 74th.
}=(
Remember, not everyone’s goal is to win. Many mushers have other goals like being able to finish. That means it doesn’t matter what place they are in, they are doing well, because they are meeting their goal. Gypsy
My person I picked droped out, Jason Barron. If he had not droped out what place do you think he would have got
Kelsey, that’s a hard question to answer. As you can see, places change all the time and many factors affect how well a team does. Gypsy
do u like reporting for iditarod. is it fun. portland me.
Hi, I am really enjoying being a K-9 reporter. The best part is all the great letters and comments I get. Thanks for writing. Gypsy
What is the least number of dogs you can have racing? how much can the sled weigh? Why don’t the musher’s use the same route each year? Can you please get this back to me by today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you! Good Luck in the race!!
awesome page i read it evrey day
Thanks for reading and writing. Gypsy
Though we live in the SW corner of Ohio, probably nearly 3000 miles from Iditarod, we are outdoors kind of people and so we are engrossed in everything about the race. So appreciative of all the work everyone is doing to write about and photograph THE RACE.
We are of an age where we probably will never get up to Alaska nor out on trails so the articles and pictures are our only way to enjoy this premier event. So, a great big THANK YOU to everyone involved.
Gene; about 15 miles East of Cincinnati, Ohio
Hi Gene, Thanks for the nice comments. I hope you can make it to Alaska some day. It’s an incredible place. Enjoy following the race. Gypsy
Hi Gypsy,
Gypsy
Do you think you will ever see the Yukon River?
Thanks again for the explanation of military time. It was very helpful to see the chart that you made.
We are especially following Lance M. and Laura D.
‘Bye for now!
Mrs. Wood’s class at PMS Grade 7 Navigator’s Team
Mrs Wood, Thanks for writing. I don’t think I will ever get to see the Yukon River. I’m not an Iditarod dog. I’m glad you and your students are enjoying the race. Oh yes, please say hi to my brother Mica and give him big husky hugs from me
I am really sad. Because in class we picked a musher and i picked Art Church Jr.
Today he got scrachted…….
Wow Lance Mackey must have very fast dogs because he has been leading for like the whole race. Have you ever met Lance Mackey? Please reply…..
Sincerly,
John
Hi John, If you go to K-9 reporter Gyspy section, Lance Mackey was my first interview. I met him when he was here in New Hampshire for the sled dog trade show. Hope you enjoy the article. Gypsy
GO LANCE MACKEY. Ty
Good luck Aliy Zirke. go go go. Ali
hizuma!!!
I hope you told Silvia Willis I’m a cheering for her!!! Carly
Dear Zuma,
We enjoy the articles that you post on your webpage, they have helped us to follow the iditarod. It is the first time most of us have ever followed the race. If it is possible will you please answer.
1. Does the winner get prize money or any type of gift if so what or how much and does the second or third place winner get anything?
2. Is it Mandatory to stop at White Mountain?
Hi, Thanks for writing. You can find out about prize money by checking the main Iditarod site. Also please re read the article about Mandatory stops and you will find your answer about White Mountain. Hope you are enjoying the race. Gypsy
Hi Zuma,
My class is following the Iditarod.We all picked numbers of mushers to report to teachers about how there doing and how many dogs they have. I picked numbers, 12, 51, and 81. I’m very sad that Ryan Redington and Darin Nelson dropped out, but it was for the team so, I can’t bliam them. But it’s a good thing Joe Gans is still in the race. “Lots of tail wags! -Danielle
Hey Zuma,
Thanks for replying. I am suprised to hear from a dog. I am also suprised to see Lance Mackey in the lead everyday. As a class we pick a musher to write about and do reports on. My musher that I picked is Ray Redington Jr. Have you met him? I read the biography on him and he seems like a family lover. Have you met him on the trail? Well reply soon.
Lexi
Hi Lexi, My human met the Redingtons when she was in Alaska a few years ago. She says they are all really nice. Thanks for writing. Gypsy.
Dear Zuma,
the race is going fast like a Nascar race!! every time I go back to this website theres always someone that went as far as posible! but when ever you get information on Ed Stielstra and his team please tell me.
Scinceraly
Martin R. Johnson
P.S. what are 8 of his dogs names just wondering?
Hi Martin, I do not know what the names of Ed Stielstra’s dogs are. Sorry. Hope you are enjoying the race. Gypsy
One ariticle was so cool but can a dog stop wnen they have to keep going and what does scrathed and withdrawn in the Iditarod ricardo
Zuma
Kool Kat
I may be Kat but I’m in the Iditarod
I walk at a slow pace or jog
My name is decieving because you might think I wasn’t a dog
Brittany
My name is Heather. I have been following the race at school. My musher is Heather Siirtola. You can tell why I picked her, anyways, she is in 77 place right now. Well I have enjoyed following the race latley.
I did this at my old school in 3rd grade.
I think the Iditarod is AWESOME!Do you?
Nice talking to you, I mean typing to you.
your pinpal,
Heather
Hi Heather, I enjoy following the Iditarod. Thanks for following the race. Gypsy
We are enjoying tracking the race but we would like to more about the trail breaker. We enjoy reading all the articles and watching the videos. MH
Its me again Heather. MY question is how many dogs do you have
Hi Heather, At my house, we have 9 dogs living here. It’s lots of fun and I have lots of friends to run and play with. Gypsy
RAY REDINGTON JR. RULES!!!!!!!!!
in my class at school we are following are mushers at school my musher is Sue Allen “i think she is in 73 place”!
Hope you’re having fun. Gypsy