Iditarod 2009!!!
About This Page:

lukeandbrookesmom · 03-16-2009, 09:01 AM

Another great update with some interesting articles - thanks Toni!

Tonichelle · 03-16-2009, 10:19 AM

Well, good morning, all!

Lance is still well out ahead of the rest of the pack. He's in and out of Shaktoolik while others are just in and out of Unalakleet. Basically the race is really who is going to get second at this point because unless some tragedy befalls Mackey's team there's going to be no catching him.

Jeff King is, this morning, in 3rd, Mitch Seavey 5th, Dallas Seavey 11th, Gebhardt 13th, Jonrowe 15th, Swenson 17th, Buser 20th....

Rob Loveman, who scratched a couple of days ago, withdrew due to Iditarod Rule 36 which states the ITC (Iditarod Trail Committee) can withdraw a team that is no longer competitive. I figured as much when he just kept sitting in Ophir after his 24 and everyone else was passing him by. The press release gave no more information than that, though.
Another team, Kurt Reich, withdrew today. No word yet as to why.

A good blog from the Iditarod website, by Bruce Lee, gives a look at the Musher's side of athletics - Eye on the Trail » Mushers are Athletes Too!

Jen Seavey is the ADN's newest Musher profile - Hooked on dogs: 2009 Iditarod 37 | adn.com - it's a fantastic article on one of my favorite people. I'd heard that Dallas' team got hit by a moose, but honestly didn't know if it was true or not of if the people talking about it were even referring to the Iditarod and not one of his other races this year. Now I know!

Another article on Mackey *yawn* but also a great story about John Baker losing his dogs for the second time this trip! - Mackey reaches coast; Baker loses dogs again: 2009 Iditarod 37 | adn.com

that's it for now. gotta get ready for work!

Minnie Lor · 03-16-2009, 10:33 AM

Ooo, guess I should've reported about the moose. He talks about it on a video. He said that they were lucky in that the moose actually there were two that crossed is path in the middle of his dog team. He said that he would've lost half the team if they had turned and run in the same direction of the dogs. As it was, two dogs got thumped but were ok.

Minnie Lor · 03-16-2009, 10:36 AM

So by my estimate, Lance could be into Nome at the minimum of 34 hours from now. I'll be watching via the internet. Toni, do you get it on TV?

Tonichelle · 03-16-2009, 10:46 PM

You know, the race started out promising a really good race... no such luck... even the other mushers have conceeded to Lance winning his third and they've decided to fight for second place. Blah. - Top mushers give up on beating Mackey: 2009 Iditarod 37 | adn.com

It's being predicted that Mackey will get into Nome early Wednesday.

Lorie - It really depends on the time of day that they come into Nome, or who does it... if and when Lance wins his fourth (most likely in a row) I'd bet they'd break in... and if it's during a news hour on Wednesday then yeah I see them breaking in with the footage, but I honestly won't expect it...

Minnie Lor · 03-16-2009, 10:55 PM

I still see him coming in about 11 pm your time tomorrow night BUT only if he get's a move on soon. Sebastion has caught up to him at Koyuk and I'm sure needs a rest. Lance has been resting 7 hours so far. Could get interesting if Lance over sleeps.

Tonichelle · 03-17-2009, 12:16 AM

It *could* but I don't see it happening... lol

Tonichelle · 03-17-2009, 12:22 AM

Quote:

FROM:

Quote:

Mark Nordman, Race Marshal
Earlier today (at approximately 2pm Alaska Time) Iditarod Race officials deployed an Iditarod Air Force (IAF) aircraft to check on the whereabouts of Iditarod Rookies Lou Packer (bib #43), Kim Darst (bib #52) and Blake Matray (bib #9). All three mushers were overdue on their run to Shaguluk. Packer was located approximately 22 miles past Iditarod. He signaled that has was in distress. The (IAF) pilot landed and found that two of Packer's 15 dogs were deceased. A plane load of dogs were immediately flown out and a second flight is underway to airlift Packer and the remainder of the team.
A group of local residents from Shagaluk are on the trail to assess and assist Darst and Matray.
A necropsy will be conducted by a board certified pathologist to make every attempt to determine the cause of death of the two dogs.

interestingly enough it's now 8:30pm and they have no further info on the other two mushers, and they haven't indicated that Packer has scratched.

Not sure how to take that news. hopefully this doesn't get out of hand... it's worrisome about the other two!

Minnie Lor · 03-17-2009, 12:27 AM

Oh how awful! I can't imagine what they are going thru. I don't know how they stay on the trail especially with the blowing snow and covering their face so much.

Minnie Lor · 03-17-2009, 12:29 AM

The weather off the coast is horrendous. I've never seen anything like it. They look like they are walking on water but it's the blowing snow. I heard that Neff may have frostbite on his face and is heading back to the nearest checkpoint.

Tonichelle · 03-17-2009, 10:21 AM

Welcome to Alaska... a storm blew in so fierce in 1985 that the Iditarod officials forced all mushers to stay in their checkpoints. they even went and retrieved those already on the trails and made them go to the nearest CP... but no one could find Libby who'd left several hours before anyone made the decision. Her team came loping into Nome and history was made...

at least that's the story as it's told now

(actually it now involves a lead cat, if you go by her book "Danger the Dog Yard Cat" which is a personal favorite of mine)

Mackey's still in first he's in Elim, I don't expect his lead to ever be really threatened. ho hum

the top 10 hasn't really changed...

they found all three of the lost mushers... and the two that were still roaming when I went to bed last night had actually been found and have scratched. They still have packer on the current standings board as in th erace, but I can't see how that's possible since they AIRLIFTED his team to the next checkpoint. I'm pretty sure that disqualifies you, and if it doesn't it should.

I guess with the winds and all the trail disappeared and they were having to walk in front of their teams and break trail for them. Now in the beginning of Iditarod that's what you had to do, but since the other races started going through this trail (Iron Dog and the biking version of the Iditarod) they've been grooming this trail. The mushers have been spoiled. The ADN readers are calling for better groomed trails. And I think that's a stupid idea. The race is supposed to be hard, if it wasn't more people would attempt it.

claytrgtshooter · 03-17-2009, 08:03 PM

that is why its the last great race, not the last great stroll. dressing the trails is one thing, packing them so there is no work is another. I know the vultures from PETA and the Humane Society of America are probably gleefully ginning up their news releases on the inhumane treatment of the dogs,focusing on the two that Mr Packer lost, regardless of what the cause was. I wish these people would get a life and a real job instead of living off the donations of others.

Looking forward to your continued updates and insight. By the way, did you shoot the picture on your signature. I'm loving it.

scottjs · 03-17-2009, 08:12 PM

I agree with you about the PETA vultures!!!!

I believe these dogs love to run.

Minnie Lor · 03-17-2009, 08:26 PM

Update - Lance is thru Golovin. Sebastion is in 2nd, John in 3rd, and I've read but unconfirmed that Dallas is in 4th.

Edited: Ramey Smyth is 4th and Dallas is in 5th.

Tonichelle · 03-17-2009, 09:37 PM

how the heck did THAT happen... come on Insiders forget me updating!!!!
holy cow that's awesome *not going to get her hopes up* I have a feeling he's been planning this push to the end for a while

and yes the pic in my signature was taken during the World Champion Sprint Races the last weekend in Feb.