Comments on: Iditarod XL Day 3

By: Bryan

Bryan — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 01:34:34 +0000

In reply to JuanitaM. The norm is 14 dogs in the Quest, but Michael Telpin, a Chukchi from Siberia, started and ended with his every-day 9 dog team. I would think that lighter mushers would opt for fewer dogs, but if they own kennels, it helps to have dogs that finished the Iditarod.

By: JuanitaM

JuanitaM — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 23:49:20 +0000

Thanks for the info on the dogs, Bryan. Somehow I thought they ALL started with 16 dogs. Oh well, another case of making a wrong assumption! But yeah, I can see that each individual would have their own strategy about that.

And I’m completely with Maple on that crowd thing myself…

By: Bryan

Bryan — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 23:01:33 +0000

Actually, Pat Moon only started with 12 dogs, and they are all going, and I think Kelley started with 14. 16 is the maximum, but it’s not required.

Normally, they are dropped for paw injuries. Even with the booties, a dog can get cut or bruised on the ice chunks. People will drop dogs quickly in the early part of the race, some just because they are slow, because it also reduces the amount of food and bedding you have to carry, as well as the time it takes to care for them.

I assume Maple is up front. She led his Quest team, and was the leader on his last win. Her one noted drawback is that she doesn’t like crowds. Lance is having a much better run than he had on the Quest, which makes me think that he has mixed in some veterans with the young dogs.

The next big decision will be where to take the 24-hour stop. Takotna is the most popular spot, as it has the best facilities.

By: JuanitaM

JuanitaM — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 18:29:07 +0000

Noticed Colleen dropped a couple of dogs in Rohn but don’t know why.

I don’t know much about Kelley Griffin – she hasn’t been on my radar much in the past, but she’s only about an hour behind Colleen. Still, I noticed she’s down to 13 dogs at this point. That doesn’t sound great as there’s an awful long way to go yet.

Most of the “top ten” still have all or most of their dogs including Lance who’s hanging in there at #10. Wonder who’s leading the team for him this year?