Iditarod Comes to Fairbanks

Due to a lack of snow in Anchorage, the last great race on Earth was forced to start in Fairbanks this year. And as transplants of "the city you can see Alaska from," we were ecstatic to have the sled dogs come to our new home. 

These photographs were taken via nordic ski on either the Tanana or Chena rivers. Gretchen and I parked at the Tanana boat launch at the end of Chena Pump Road, approximately 5 1/2 miles from our house. 

The race kicked off at 10am from Pikes Landing, roughly 2 miles up river from the Tanana boat launch. 

The temperature at 10am was around -2F (two below) and didn't warm much. Around 11am a gentle breeze started blowing up river.

 At the mouth of the Chena, its confluence with the Tanana.

Number 19: Justin Savidis.

Justin and Rebecca run Snow Hook Kennel in Willow, Alaska. All three of our wonderful dogs (Jasper, Jack, Jodi) have come from Justin and Rebecca.

We skied up the Chena about 3/4 of a mile. The Chena is a much smaller river than the Tanana and was out of the wind.

Number 29: DeeDee Jonrowe

There were people scattered up and down the Chena.

Number 31: Rohn Buser, son of Martin Buser a four time champion and owner of Happy Trails Kennel. Martin was the first musher we saw (Number 4) and I didn't have my camera out, but we did pause and watch him run by. In passing, Martin looked right at us and said, "Hey, I saw you last week!" I think he recognized Gretchen. I sincerely believe he remembered us.

Three weeks ago the Susitna 100 ski race began and finished at Happy Trails Kennel. Martin graciously shared his trails and property, his B&B and his visitors center, with racers and their families. He hung around shaking racer's hands at the start. He mushed out several times and checked on the racers and the volunteers running the checkpoints. While I was sipping hot chocolate and munching on pringles he showed up at the Cow Lake checkpoint with a team of about 8 dogs. Through the canvas tent walls I heard him ask if anyone needed a ride out. From there I had 23 miles left to ski and was determined not to scratch, to finish under my own power. But after 77 miles of skiing, it was tempting to take a ride from this kind musher.

Back on the Tanana, around noon, the wind constantly tingled at 10mph. It gave me an "ice cream  headache."

Number 52: Rick Casillo born and raised near Buffalo, NY (like my parents) and now runs Battle Dawgs Racing, a kennel not only focused on training for the Iditarod, but also provides healing excursions for warriors of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

Number 59: the infamous Jeff King.