The Iditarod

[longboard_ric]

That great dog sled race from Anchorage to Nome, The Iditarod is currently in progress. The teams left on Saturday and the leaders have just left a small town called Nikolai which is 400 miles from Anchorage, with another 700 miles to Nome. It's incredible to think that they can cover around 100 miles a day. It's a real test of strength and stamina for musher and dogs.

Anyway, you may ask what's my interest in the race. I had heard of it years ago but over here it doesn't get any coverage, so I never really paid much attention. Last year our daughter Wendy visited Alaska and worked for two months at Sheep Mountain Lodge about 110 miles from Anchorage. She still talks about the scenery and the people and had an incredible time. The owners of the Lodge are Zack and Anjanette Steer, who are just fantastic people. Zack is one of the top mushers in Alaska and is again competing in the Iditarod.

He recently finished fifth in Yukon Quest from Fairbanks to Whitehorse race and is looking for a good result again. Actually from what I can gather, just finishing the Iditarod is a good result!!!!

You can keep track of the race here : http://www.iditarod.com/

Live tracking is available but it costs $20. It looks like Zack is currently in 8th spot.

Go Zack!!!!!

[ken_j]

I had a co-worker that would travel to Alaska for the Iditarod. He was raised in Nome as his parents were transplant school teachers from the south. He did have more of a southern influence as he spent summers there.

[sodbuster]

After telling his girlfriend how much he loved her, and how he had travelled 100 miles by dogsled just to express his feelings, the young Eskimo girl replied, "sounds like a lot of mush to me,,,"

[jingle_jangle]

Did I tell you the one about the Eskimo who took his snowmobile to the mechanic because it stopped running?

No?

OK.

[kennyhowes]

http://www.hautewerk.com/index1.asp?sec ... g=IDITAROD

[longboard_ric]

Hi Kenny

Thanks for that. I watched the video as well. Well done!!!

I was looking through the list of entrants and believe it or not, there is a guy, Newton Marshall, from Jamaica competing this year.

http://www.iditarod.com/race/musherprof ... o_336.html

Coincidentally, last night here on TV, there was a documentary on the 2009 Yukon Quest which featured Newton. It went through his preparations and followed him through the event. Fact is stranger than fiction .

[melibreits]

Shane, Wendy was just here tonight using my computer to track the progress of the race.... It is fascinating!

And I love the Hautewerk song, too.

[longboard_ric]

Hi Melissa

It certainly is a tough event, and it appears tactics play a big part in it. It's not just strength and stamina. The next 24 hours should prove very interesting.

Poor Wendy: the internet connection at Bearskin is not the best and she has found it difficult to get information on the race. Thanks for helping her out. I don't know how she would cope without technology!!!!