The Red Team is clearly on a roll. After a six hour rest in Nikolai, they made another great run to McGrath and continued on to Takotna. This is all exactly according to their race plan, and the Team remains in solid position.
The Black Team also appears to be on a tear, setting a blistering pace from Rainy Pass to Rohn, then continuing -- at least according to the GPS -- to and through Nikolai.
There seem to be some problems with a few of the GPS trackers, and some missing updates to the current standings. I don't have any additional "inside" information at this time, but we hope to hear something from the Teams in Takotna tomorrow.
So, let's hope things sort out a bit over night and follow along in the morning!
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Iditarod 2010: Max's Midnight Mission
Earlier today, I promised to post a video from before the ceremonial start of something that you've probably never seen. This is it, but it needs just a little set-up.
My young friend Max -- my best friend's oldest son -- flew up from Atlanta and was a big help to the Team all last week. He was especially valuable to me -- and to you! -- by putting his camera skills to use. For example, the still photos we posted of both starts are his, along with many great candid shots like the one here that I would not otherwise have gotten while shooting video.
He also went on a "midnight mission" last Friday night, to get this footage of how Anchorage goes through a major transformation from bare city streets to the snow covered trail you saw on Saturday morning.
So, thanks to Max, here's a little "insider" view we hope you like:
My young friend Max -- my best friend's oldest son -- flew up from Atlanta and was a big help to the Team all last week. He was especially valuable to me -- and to you! -- by putting his camera skills to use. For example, the still photos we posted of both starts are his, along with many great candid shots like the one here that I would not otherwise have gotten while shooting video.He also went on a "midnight mission" last Friday night, to get this footage of how Anchorage goes through a major transformation from bare city streets to the snow covered trail you saw on Saturday morning.
So, thanks to Max, here's a little "insider" view we hope you like:
Iditarod 2010: Tuesday News From The Trail!
I just got off the phone with Bridgett, following a phone call she got from Aliy in Nikolai. Keeping in mind that we're racing and I can't tell you anything about strategy -- or anything that implies strategy -- in this public forum, here's the news from the trail:
Overall -- It was "a long, crazy ride from Rainy Pass to Rohn." The Farewell Burn had no snow in places, lots of hillocks and at least one "trail groomer" snow machine left for dead, upside down by the side of the trail. Extremely high winds the rest of the way into Rohn. Aliy hadn't planned to stop long in Rohn, but the wind was so bad she decided to camp amid some trees so the dogs could have a break. These conditions continued the entire run from Rohn to Nikolai. It was so bad that for most of the way she could not see her lead dogs despite wearing goggles. She will stay in Nikolai "for a while" then head on to McGrath.
Dogs -- Aliy dropped Snickers in Rohn. He suddenly stopped pulling as they approached Rohn, so she checked him out and believes he has hurt a toe on the rough ground. He was okay to run with the team -- though not pulling -- so she had him in wheel where she could keep a close watch on him until dropping him in Rohn. All the other dogs are in good shape, though she is paying attention to the usual "wrists and shoulders" every chance she gets. Their feet are good and they are all eating well, including "picky" Nacho and Quito.
Leadership -- ChaCha is totally in her groove. Aliy said, "It's Cha's race to win or lose. I can hardly see her most of the time, so she is definitely 'the boss' out there for us." One story is that while crossing a glacier, Cha hesitated about which fork in the trail to take. Aliy gently stopped the team and went up to help figure it out. While doing so, another team came up from behind, took the "wrong" turn and ended up sliding all the way down the glacier to face climbing it all over again. Aliy and Cha looked at each other, looked at the other fork and agreed that was the way to go. Does anyone still wonder why we love and trust our dogs?
Aliy -- She's eating! That may not sound like a big deal to those of you who are new to our website, but it is. Aliy is eating well and resting well. She is, according to Bridgett, "totally focused on the race and really on her game." You can see a glimpse of this in a recent (click here) Iditarod video.
So, it sounds like it's a helluva race so far. Aliy is right where she wants to be in the "top group" and headed down the trail with an almost full team of great dogs… Stay tuned!
Overall -- It was "a long, crazy ride from Rainy Pass to Rohn." The Farewell Burn had no snow in places, lots of hillocks and at least one "trail groomer" snow machine left for dead, upside down by the side of the trail. Extremely high winds the rest of the way into Rohn. Aliy hadn't planned to stop long in Rohn, but the wind was so bad she decided to camp amid some trees so the dogs could have a break. These conditions continued the entire run from Rohn to Nikolai. It was so bad that for most of the way she could not see her lead dogs despite wearing goggles. She will stay in Nikolai "for a while" then head on to McGrath.
Dogs -- Aliy dropped Snickers in Rohn. He suddenly stopped pulling as they approached Rohn, so she checked him out and believes he has hurt a toe on the rough ground. He was okay to run with the team -- though not pulling -- so she had him in wheel where she could keep a close watch on him until dropping him in Rohn. All the other dogs are in good shape, though she is paying attention to the usual "wrists and shoulders" every chance she gets. Their feet are good and they are all eating well, including "picky" Nacho and Quito.
Leadership -- ChaCha is totally in her groove. Aliy said, "It's Cha's race to win or lose. I can hardly see her most of the time, so she is definitely 'the boss' out there for us." One story is that while crossing a glacier, Cha hesitated about which fork in the trail to take. Aliy gently stopped the team and went up to help figure it out. While doing so, another team came up from behind, took the "wrong" turn and ended up sliding all the way down the glacier to face climbing it all over again. Aliy and Cha looked at each other, looked at the other fork and agreed that was the way to go. Does anyone still wonder why we love and trust our dogs?
Aliy -- She's eating! That may not sound like a big deal to those of you who are new to our website, but it is. Aliy is eating well and resting well. She is, according to Bridgett, "totally focused on the race and really on her game." You can see a glimpse of this in a recent (click here) Iditarod video.
So, it sounds like it's a helluva race so far. Aliy is right where she wants to be in the "top group" and headed down the trail with an almost full team of great dogs… Stay tuned!
Iditarod 2010: Happy's Ceremonial Start
I've finally had a few minutes to check out the Iditarod discussion forums and saw some of the dialogue about "Happy The Sled Dog."
My apologies for leaving you all in such suspense for so long. There's a lot to Happy's story this year, and I will try to give you a full account soon. For now, let me just say that I was as surprised as you were that she ran the Ceremonial Start on the Red Team. Truth is, I actually didn't know she had run until after it happened and I saw her in the video!
Speaking of which... Many of you commented about trying to see her, and I want to try to help you out. So, I've taken a piece of the footage, slowed it down and zoomed in on Happy. I hope you will enjoy viewing her starting line antics in this more recognizable format. I think you will also see that she is favoring her left front leg, which explains pretty much everything.
Just for fun, I've replaced the now-garbled audio track with a little tune called "Look At All The Pretty Lights" by my friend Jeff Tolbert... It just seems fitting for our Happy girl!
Again, I will try to give you "the rest of the story" about Happy soon... Please bear with me, I'm doing the best I can!
My apologies for leaving you all in such suspense for so long. There's a lot to Happy's story this year, and I will try to give you a full account soon. For now, let me just say that I was as surprised as you were that she ran the Ceremonial Start on the Red Team. Truth is, I actually didn't know she had run until after it happened and I saw her in the video!
Speaking of which... Many of you commented about trying to see her, and I want to try to help you out. So, I've taken a piece of the footage, slowed it down and zoomed in on Happy. I hope you will enjoy viewing her starting line antics in this more recognizable format. I think you will also see that she is favoring her left front leg, which explains pretty much everything.
Just for fun, I've replaced the now-garbled audio track with a little tune called "Look At All The Pretty Lights" by my friend Jeff Tolbert... It just seems fitting for our Happy girl!
Again, I will try to give you "the rest of the story" about Happy soon... Please bear with me, I'm doing the best I can!
Iditarod 2010: Tuesday Morning Update
Aliy is out of Rohn and on her way to Nikolai with 15 dogs of the Red Team. I do not know which dog she dropped in Rohn. According to a text message I just received from Bridgett, Aliy is ahead of her "race plan" and doing very well.Allen's Black Team is also out of Rohn and -- again according to Bridgett -- is right on his plan. He has dropped two dogs, only one of which I know to be Olivia who has a sore shoulder.
I am still in Anchorage after a day/night of snow, and now plan to drive back to Fairbanks tomorrow. I will try to pick up Olivia -- plus any of the other dropped dogs who have made their way back here by tomorrow morning -- and drive them back to the Kennel with me.
Later today I plan to edit and post some video from before the start that I think you will find interesting. Almost certainly something you haven't seen before… Stay tuned!
Monday, March 8, 2010
Iditarod 2010: Final Black Team Roster
Thus, the substitutions are as follows:
Oddball is in for Nacho who moved up to the Red Team. This is a pretty even trade of power/speed, and adds experience to the team. Honda is in for his sister Malibu whose early-season wrist issues flared up again last week. Honda is bigger and stronger than Malibu, but does not have her leadership potential.
Roy is in for Happy who showed signs of minor soreness at the end of the last long training run. Although Happy is a late-scratch due to the Kennel's "100% fit and healthy" requirement for running the Iditarod, our "Happy Girl" was allowed to join the Red Team for the short ceremonial start run. According to Aliy, "We can't let her run the Iditarod, but we wanted to at least let her run in front of all her fans in the ceremonial start!"
I'm sure many of you are as disappointed as I am that we won't see Happy in Nome again this year. Happy doesn't know unhappiness, of course, but I plan to pretend she does and keep her as my "pet dog" for a few days when I get back to the Kennel!
Iditarod 2010: Final Red Team Roster
Thus, the only change between this roster and the one shown in last week's Howler is the substitution of Nacho for JJ, a dog who is normally so totally steady and reliable that it was very surprising he showed signs of minor soreness in the last training run before leaving the Kennel. As always, it is part of SP Kennel's "Dog First" policy not to start any dog on the Iditarod who is not 100% fit and healthy.
Although not having JJ means that Aly is "down" one lead dog, she has plenty of leadership depth on the team. She chose to take Nacho because his size, strength and fast-trotting pace will be great assets to her team. Congratulations to Nacho for making the Red Team!
(Note: The Black Team's final roster changes are a bit more complicated, but I will sort them out and post it ASAP... Stay tuned!)
Iditarod 2010: Monday Afternoon Update
Earlier this afternoon, Aliy was fourth into Rainy Pass with all 16 dogs:
While that certainly is "good news" and fun to see, I want to remind all of you that it really doesn't mean anything. At this initial stage of the Iditarod, teams are leapfrogging each other like crazy, all depending on who rested when, where and for how long. We want to see Aliy stay up toward the front of the pack, but don't be surprised if you see her -- or any of the teams -- bounce from 4th to 14th and back again... Okay?
It looks like Allen has dropped a dog. I have no information about who that was, but I will tell you anything I learn as soon as I learn it.
Along those lines: Unlike the CB300 where I could drive to checkpoints to meet the Teams and get current info for you, the Iditarod is entirely "out of reach" for me. If you actively watch the Iditarod website, you will know practically everything I know at any given moment. What I will be able to do is give you some interpretation and analysis -- even some semi-educated guesses -- about the information.
We are hopeful that Aliy's mom -- who is "flying the trail" with Sky Trekking Alaska -- will be lucky enough to intersect with the Teams at a checkpoint or two and -- hopeful again! -- that she will be able to call me with updates. I promise to share this info just as soon as I have it.
We also have a "fantasy" that Aliy will be able to send me a chip out of her camera from some checkpoint early on the trail. I think the odds are fairly slim that this will work out, so I don't want to build your hopes up. But, we've done everything we can to put the option in play and can always hope for the best.
Finally, I have seen your many questions as I've approved your comments. I hope to answer as many as I can as fast as I can, both in the "Final Team Roster" posts that I am working on right now and in "reply comments" that I will try to post soon.
In other words, folks, the Iditarod is almost impossible to "cover" but we have put some facilities in place that we hope will give us some quality updates along the way. I will do my best to keep you posted... Stay tuned!
While that certainly is "good news" and fun to see, I want to remind all of you that it really doesn't mean anything. At this initial stage of the Iditarod, teams are leapfrogging each other like crazy, all depending on who rested when, where and for how long. We want to see Aliy stay up toward the front of the pack, but don't be surprised if you see her -- or any of the teams -- bounce from 4th to 14th and back again... Okay?
It looks like Allen has dropped a dog. I have no information about who that was, but I will tell you anything I learn as soon as I learn it.
Along those lines: Unlike the CB300 where I could drive to checkpoints to meet the Teams and get current info for you, the Iditarod is entirely "out of reach" for me. If you actively watch the Iditarod website, you will know practically everything I know at any given moment. What I will be able to do is give you some interpretation and analysis -- even some semi-educated guesses -- about the information.
We are hopeful that Aliy's mom -- who is "flying the trail" with Sky Trekking Alaska -- will be lucky enough to intersect with the Teams at a checkpoint or two and -- hopeful again! -- that she will be able to call me with updates. I promise to share this info just as soon as I have it.
We also have a "fantasy" that Aliy will be able to send me a chip out of her camera from some checkpoint early on the trail. I think the odds are fairly slim that this will work out, so I don't want to build your hopes up. But, we've done everything we can to put the option in play and can always hope for the best.
Finally, I have seen your many questions as I've approved your comments. I hope to answer as many as I can as fast as I can, both in the "Final Team Roster" posts that I am working on right now and in "reply comments" that I will try to post soon.
In other words, folks, the Iditarod is almost impossible to "cover" but we have put some facilities in place that we hope will give us some quality updates along the way. I will do my best to keep you posted... Stay tuned!
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