Category — Iditarod

Athenae at First Draft suggests Let’s mail some Legos to Alaska. This was in response to all of the really rotten things that have been going on.

This is related to the campaign by rookie musher Blair Braverman and her #UglyDogs supporters to help Alaskan schools.

The address of the K-2 class being targeted is:

Miss Angela’s Class
DLMS
PO Box 90
Grayling, AK. 99590-0090

Grayling has a population of about 200 and is on the Yukon River. It can only be reached by bush planes, boat when the river is ice free, or dog sled & snow machine when it’s frozen.

Post cards from far away places are very appropriate to connect the kids to the outside world. I sent some Legos and will get some touristy post cards tomorrow.

The “widow’s lamp” was extinguished yesterday at 4:51:49 PM CDT [1:51:49 PM AKDT] when Victoria Hardwick & team ran under the Burled Arch in Nome. The Red Lantern Award is given to the final finisher of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. The musher receives a red lantern trophy.

As this year’s Iditarod Champion, Peter Kaiser received $50,000 and the Official Truck Award – a 2019 Ram 1500 4×4 truck valued at $40,000. He completed the race in 9 days 12 hours 39 minutes and 6 seconds.

Morrow, Peter Kaiser’s lead dog, a 7-year-old female who has led Kaiser’s team into Nome three years in a row, was chosen by mushers to receive the City of Nome Lolly Medley Memorial Golden Harness Award as the most outstanding lead dog. She received an embroidered gold-colored harness.

As the top placing rookie, Ed Hopkins received Rookie of the Year honors: a $2,000 check & a commemorative trophy.

As the musher who bettered her previous finish by the most places, Paige Drobny received the Most Improved Musher Award: $2,000 in cash & a commemorative trophy.

Mats Pettersson was chosen by fellow mushers to receive the Sportsmanship Award: a $3,000 check & a commemorative trophy.

Mushers selected Lance Mackey as the Most Inspirational Musher Award: a paid entry fee for the 2020 Iditarod.

Mushers gave Golden Clipboard Awards to both Rohn and Eagle Island as outstanding checkpoints. They received commemorative plaques.

Aaron Peck was selected for the Herbie Nayokpuk Memorial Award as the person who emulates “Herbie: The Shishmaref Cannon Ball” in his attitude on the trail. Aaron received $1,049 in “pocket change” inside a Northern Air Cargo jacket.

The race veterinary team selected Aliy Zirkle to receive the Leonhard Seppala Humanitarian Award for outstanding dog care while remaining competitive throughout the race: a paid entry fee for the 2020 Iditarod & a commemorative trophy.

Below the fold the checkpoint awards:
[Read more →]

When I logged on this morning the GPS tracker said Cindy Gallea (53) finished in Nome. It turns out that Cindy actually scratched at Safety. She was down to 7 pups and pulled out in the best interests of the team.

The winds have picked up along the Bering Coast and the dogs don’t like running into the wind. Sarah Stokey had to be ‘lead dog’ for much of the last 150 miles into Nome to get the team across the line.

Standings at 4:55PM CDT:

Finished at Nome
31 Jessica Klejka (24)^R
32 Alison Lifka (37)^R
33 Michael Baker (41)
34 Sarah Stokey (52)
35 Anja Radano (2)
36 Blair Braverman (11)^R
37 Jeremy Keller (48)
38 Kristin Bacon (8)
39 Victoria Hardwick (30)^RΦ

Earlier finishers below the fold
[Read more →]

Richie Beattie (50) has been withdrawn from the race following the death of Oshi, a 5-year-old female, probably from aspiration pneumonia. Seemingly this makes Ed Hopkins the rookie winner. Under the new rules, if a dog dies, the team is withdrawn if the musher doesn’t scratch voluntarily.

Standings at 10:00PM CDT:

Finished at Nome
21 Ed Hopkins (33)^Q
22 Martin Buser (21)
23 Aaron Peck (47)
24 Charley Bejna (31)
25 Michi Konno (43)
26 Lance Mackey (44)
27 Jessie Holmes (5)
28 Martin Apayauq Reitan (39)^Q
29 Ryan Santiago (49)^R
30 Jason Campeau (12)
31 Jessica Klejka (24)^R
32 Alison Lifka (37)^R
33 Michael Baker (41)
34 Sarah Stokey (52)
35 Anja Radano (2)
36 Blair Braverman (11)^R
37 Jeremy Keller (48)
Beyond Safety
38 Kristin Bacon (8)
Beyond White Mountain
39 Cindy Gallea (53)
40 Victoria Hardwick (30)^RΦ
[Read more →]

I’m back to using the GPS.

Standings at 10:05PM CDT:

Finished at Nome
21 Richie Beattie (50)^Q
22 Ed Hopkins (33)^Q
23 Martin Buser (21)
24 Aaron Peck (47)
25 Charley Bejna (31)
26 Michi Konno (43)
27 Lance Mackey (44)
28 Jessie Holmes (5)
29 Martin Apayauq Reitan (39)^Q
30 Ryan Santiago (49)^R
31 Jason Campeau (12)
32 Jessica Klejka (24)^R
Beyond Safety
33 Sarah Stokey (52)
Beyond White Mountain
34 Michael Baker (41)
35 Alison Lifka (37)^R
At White Mountain
36 Blair Braverman (11)^R
37 Anja Radano (2)
38 Jeremy Keller (48)
39 Cindy Gallea (53)
40 Kristin Bacon (8)
Beyond Elim
41 Victoria Hardwick (30)^RΦ
[Read more →]

Richie took ‘rookie of the year’ honors. He and Ed have been having their own race over that.

Earlier finishers are here.

Note: I’m using the GPS positions as the official standings are so slow to up date.

Standings at 10:00PM CDT:

Finished at Nome
21 Richie Beattie (50)^Q
22 Ed Hopkins (33)^Q
23 Martin Buser (21)
24 Aaron Peck (47)
25 Charley Bejna (31)
26 Michi Konno (43)
27 Lance Mackey (44)
28 Jessie Holmes (5)
Beyond Safety
29 Ryan Santiago (49)^R
30 Martin Apayauq Reitan (39)^Q
31 Jason Campeau (12)
Beyond White Mountain
32 Jessica Klejka (24)^R
At White Mountain
33 Sarah Stokey (52)
At Elim
34 Michael Baker (41)
35 Alison Lifka (37)^R
36 Anja Radano (2)
37 Kristin Bacon (8)
Beyond Koyuk
38 Blair Braverman (11)^R
39 Victoria Hardwick (30)^R
40 Cindy Gallea (53)
41 Jeremy Keller (48)Φ
[Read more →]

Standings at 9:00PM CDT:

Finished at Nome
1 Peter Kaiser (9)
2 Joar Leifseth Ulsom (28)
3 Jessie Royer (14)
4 Aliy Zirkle (19)
5 Travis Beals (51)
6 Matt Hall (3)
7 Paige Drobny (40)
8 Ramey Smyth (6)
9 Mitch Seavey (32)
10 Aaron Burmeister (38)
11 Richie Diehl (29)
12 Linwood Fiedler (15)
13 Jeff King (23)
14 Wade Marrs (36)
15 Jeff Deeter (25)
16 Kristy Berington (26)
17 Anna Berington (10)
18 Matthew Failor (17)
19 Seth Barnes (45)
20 Mats Pettersson (4)
Beyond White Mountain
21 Richie Beattie (50)^Q
22 Ed Hopkins (33)^Q
23 Martin Buser (21)
24 Aaron Peck (47)
25 Charley Bejna (31)
26 Michi Konno (43)
[Read more →]

Peter arrived at the Burled Arch at 06:39:06 CDT with a race time of 9 days 12 hours 39 minutes 6 seconds. Joar came in 12 minutes 16 seconds later.

Sebastien Dos Santos Borges (46) scratched at Unalakleet in ‘the best interest of his team’.

Blair Braverman’s GPS unit hasn’t updated for 24 hours and there is no indication that anyone is checking on her.

Standings at 9:45PM CDT:

Finished at Nome
1 Peter Kaiser (9)
2 Joar Leifseth Ulsom (28)
3 Jessie Royer (14)
4 Aliy Zirkle (19)
5 Travis Beals (51)
Beyond Safety
6 Paige Drobny (40)
7 Matt Hall (3)
Beyond White Mountain
8 Ramey Smyth (6)
9 Aaron Burmeister (38)
10 Mitch Seavey (32)
11 Richie Diehl (29)
12 Linwood Fiedler (15)
At White Mountain
13 Jeff King (23)
14 Wade Marrs (36)
15 Jeff Deeter (25)
Beyond Elim
16 Mats Pettersson (4)
17 Kristy Berington (26)
18 Anna Berington (10)
19 Seth Barnes (45)
20 Matthew Failor (17)
21 Aaron Peck (47)
[Read more →]

After leading for half of the race Nicolas Petit (20) scratched at Shaktoolik essentially exhausted.

Lev Shvarts (13) scratched at Unalakleet in ‘the best interest of his team’.

Brett Bruggeman (35) at Shaktoolik and Niklas Wikstrand (42) at Kaltag have scratched in ‘the best interest of their teams’.

Ryan Redington (22) has scratched at Shaktoolik in ‘the best interest of his team’.

Standings at 8:30PM CDT:

Beyond White Mountain
1 Peter Kaiser (9)
2 Joar Leifseth Ulsom (28)
At White Mountain
3 Jessie Royer (14)
Beyond Elim
4 Aliy Zirkle (19)
5 Matt Hall (3)
6 Travis Beals (51)
7 Paige Drobny (40)
8 Mitch Seavey (32)
At Elim
9 Aaron Burmeister (38)
Beyond Koyuk
10 Jessie Holmes (5)
11 Ramey Smyth (6)
12 Richie Diehl (29)
13 Jeff King (23)
14 Mats Pettersson (4)
15 Linwood Fiedler (15)
At Koyuk
16 Wade Marrs (36)
17 Kristy Berington (26)
18 Anna Berington (10)
19 Seth Barnes (45)
20 Jeff Deeter (25)
[Read more →]

Robert Redington (34) scratched at Kaltag ‘in the best interests of his team.

Standings at 9:45PM CDT:

Beyond Koyux
1 Peter Kaiser (9)
2 Joar Leifseth Ulsom (28)
3 Jessie Royer (14)
Beyond Shaktoolik
4 Nicolas Petit (20)
5 Mitch Seavey (32)
6 Jessie Holmes (5)
7 Aliy Zirkle (19)
8 Matt Hall (3)
9 Travis Beals (51)
10 Matthew Failor (17)
11 Aaron Burmeister (38)
12 Paige Drobny (40)
At Shaktoolik
13 Ryan Redington (22)
14 Mats Pettersson (4)
15 Richie Diehl (29)
16 Jeff King (23)
17 Ramey Smyth (6)
18 Linwood Fiedler (15
Beyond Unalakleet
19 Wade Marrs (36)
[Read more →]

[[!!Don’t forget the time change!!]]

Cindy Abbott has scratched at Iditarod. I’m not surprised as she has been taking longer rest stops and slowing. Cindy has climbed Mount Everest and completed the Iditarod. During one race she went 600 miles with a broken pelvis because she lives with the pain of Wegener’s Granulomatosis 24/7 and thought the pain was part of her condition. She continues until she doesn’t believe she can take adequate care of her team.

Standings at 8:30PM CDT:

Beyond Unalakleet
1 Nicolas Petit (20)
2 Peter Kaiser (9)
3 Joar Leifseth Ulsom (28)
4 Jessie Royer (14)
Beyond Kaltag
5 Mitch Seavey (32)
6 Matt Hall (3)
7 Jessie Holmes (5)
8 Aliy Zirkle (19)
9 Matthew Failor (17)
10 Paige Drobny (40)
11 Ryan Redington (22)
12 Aaron Burmeister (38)
13 Mats Pettersson (4)
14 Travis Beals (51)
15 Richie Diehl (29)
16 Linwood Fiedler (15)
17 Ramey Smyth (6)
[Read more →]

According to Sebastian Schnuelle at Kaltag: lots of wet snow and overflows [water over the ice] on the river. The temperature is in the mid 30s. The snow is deep and teams will have to break trail from Eagle Island to Kaltag and on to Unalakleet.

Emily Maxwell (18) and Marcelle Fressineau (27) both scratched at Iditarod “for the good of their teams.” The trail conditions are “warm & wet” with occasional rain in addition to wet snow.

[[!!Don’t forget the time change!!]]

Standings at 8:30PM CST:

At Kaltag
1 Peter Kaiser (9)
2 Nicolas Petit (20)
Beyond Eagle Island
3 Joar Leifseth Ulsom (28)
4 Jessie Royer (14)
5 Matthew Failor (17)
6 Mitch Seavey (32)
7 Aliy Zirkle (19)
8 Ryan Redington (22)
9 Jessie Holmes (5)
10 Richie Diehl (29)
11 Ramey Smyth (6)
12 Paige Drobny (40)
13 Matt Hall (3)
14 Linwood Fiedler (15)
15 Travis Beals (51)
At Eagle Island
16 Aaron Burmeister (38)
17 Mats Pettersson (4)
18 Lev Shvarts (13)
[Read more →]

Almost every team has finished their 24-hour mandatory stop which included the start differential, meaning that their current position reflect their actual positions. Nicolas has reached the Yukon in the middle of a winter advisory for heavy snow and blowing snow with minimal visibility.

Standings at 9:10PM CST:
At Grayling
1 Nicolas Petit (20)
2 Joar Leifseth Ulsom (28)
3 Jessie Royer (14)
4 Peter Kaiser (9)
5 Mitch Seavey (32)
Beyond Anvik
6 Aliy Zirkle (19)
7 Richie Diehl (29)
Beyond Shageluk
8 Ryan Redington (22)
9 Matthew Failor (17)
10 Paige Drobny (40)
11 Aaron Burmeister (38)
12 Matt Hall (3)
At Shageluk
13 Jessie Holmes (5)
14 Mats Pettersson (4)
15 Travis Beals (51)
16 Linwood Fiedler (15)
17 Lev Shvarts (13)
18 Michi Konno (43)
19 Jason Campeau (12)
20 Brett Bruggeman (35)
[Read more →]

The forecast for the lower Yukon Valley [the trail ahead] is for winds, snow, ice and temperatures in the 30s – miserable weather for sledding.

Standings at 8:30 PM CST:

Beyond Iditarod
1 Nicolas Petit (20)
2 Joar Leifseth Ulsom (28)
At Iditarod
3 Aliy Zirkle (19)
4 Martin Buser (21)
5 Jessie Royer (14)
6 Peter Kaiser (9)
7 Richie Diehl (29)
Beyond Ophir
8 Ryan Redington (22)
9 Mitch Seavey (32)
10 Matthew Failor (17)
11 Wade Marrs (36)
12 Paige Drobny (40)
13 Matt Hall (3)
14 Travis Beals (51)
15 Sarah Stokey (52)
16 Mats Pettersson (4)
17 Linwood Fiedler (15)
18 Jessie Holmes (5)
19 Aaron Burmeister (38)
20 Lev Shvarts (13)
[Read more →]