Iditarod Re-Start in Willow, AK

Happy Spring to everyone. It has been so warm up here (in the 40's and 50's with lots of sunny skies) most of the snow is melting. Highways and major roads are clear but the side streets and mountains still have plenty of snow. You can see from one of my pictures the tree outside my kitchen window has fuzzy buds already blooming. You will also notice that David got a big boy toy so he can have his own adventure. He said he looks good on the Harley! I hope he has many happy adventures.

So here are the pictures from the "Official" Iditarod start in Willow. This "Iditarod" event was so exciting! The energy, the excitement, dogs, the people all added to the restart hype. We took pictures of an "Alaskan Tail Gate" or should I say an "Iditarod SnowGate". Alaskans just love to have a good time and it almost always involves the outdoors. The dogs on the truck were part of the "Ride a Dog Sled" ride for the public to experience. These dogs are so friendly and LOVE to be hugged and petted. For some reason I was thinking they would be somewhat skittish and high strung since they want to run 1,000 miles without a second thought. As we walked around Big Lake we talked to the sheriffs, loved on their dogs, asked the dog handlers questions, watched the kids being pulled on the sled, stayed out of the way the hundreds of snowmobiles, oops, snow machines, and helicopters. Did you know the sled dogs have to be taught how to go to the bathroom on the run? Think about that for a minute? They don't have time to stop and squat? We learned that the dogs burn about 10,000 calories a day. Move over Michael Phelps! They get fed about 2,500 calories per pound which includes fat, moose, chicken skins, salmon steaks,
lamb, seal and mink oil. The dogs can not eat all these calories in just 3 meals a day so they have to stop about 6 or more times a day so the dogs get plenty of food and water. If the dogs are given too much of this high calorie food at once they tend to get diarrhea. Now who wants to be the lead dog?!!! Mushers have to carefully portion out this delicious stew and send the prepackaged meals to each of the 18 checkpoints for the dogs to consume as they make the 1,050 mile trek to Nome. Amazing. Now you are getting an idea why it costs so much to register in the Iditarod. The Mushers also have to pay to have the dogs flown back home from Nome, and the flight costs for any dog that may be left at a checkpoint.

I hope you enjoy all the pictures. I had such a great time taking these photos. Musher #4 is Wattie McDonald, rookie year, finished 45th. Musher #5 is Zoya Denure, former model, who had to drop out along the trail; Musher #10 is Justin Sauids, Alaskan Rookie, also dropped during the trail. Musher #12 is Matt Hayashida finished 36th; #14 is crowd favorite Jamacian, Newton Marshall, who finished 47th; #15 is Jeff King who finished 3rd. The picture you see of Jeff King coming down the shoot was just before he "touched" my glove! I won't wash my glove! Just a few more notes, Dallas Seavey, 22 yrs old beat his legendary father, Mitch Seavey by two hours. Sam Detour, our sled dog musher from Thanksgiving event, finished 41st. Sam also received the "Badge of Courage" since he helped save the life of the unconscious musher. Way to go Sam!

You will notice the young lady who was "bored" with the whole ordeal. She is sitting on a frozen lake, 16 degrees with a pretty hefty breeze, and she was content reading a book and eating popcorn. I guess her parents made her join the family outing. Note the big bonfire on the lake. It had been burning for a couple of hours. It was definitely cold, because of the big breeze, on the lake. If you were moving it was fine but standing still you realized you were on a 5 foot deep frozen lake. The Viking fan had the beat seat along the mile long starting shoot. Next year I am taking a ladder to see above everyone else. The next pictures I took from the VIP shoot. This is the area next to the starting line. Please look carefully at these. Each dog team (16) had their very own handlers plus the team dog handlers. The handlers are really working hard to get the dogs to stop and wait for the 3,2,1, GO!. It is the very last second they unleash the extra harness and the dogs are ready to run to Nome. Take note of the 4 men that have to hold the sled at the starting line. The dogs have one thing on their minds, "Run!" so the sled holders have to work hard to keep the sled from moving off the start line. Amazing!!! Quinn Iten, musher #28, barely go to his sled when the words GO were said. He didn't seem to care that he was loosing a few seconds from his time. I guess with a race lasting 8 - 15 days what is a few seconds.
Karen Ramstead, #29, has the most photographed dog team. All of her dogs are white malamutes. Karen also withdrew during the race. Then there is DeeDee Janrowe, #31, is a local favorite. She recovered from breast cancer and then hit the Iditarod trail again. When she returns from this year's race, she will take care of her mother who was just diagnosed with breast cancer. Thus all her PINK. Each musher thanks, hugs, or shakes hands with the dog handlers and hugs each dog before the musher gets on the sled for the start. I have to say, attending the Iditarod was simply amazing! Gosh I have so much respect for the mushers and dogs and the 18,000 volunteers. Remember, I made the foot ointment that the dogs have under their "booties".

The last picture is from my school. This is the doorway to the playground. Snowshoes lined up ready for use. The kids finished a unit called Snowshoe Softball. They are quite good at running in these lovely boots. Also, Ben and Sarah, teachers, received a phone call on Saturday evening that they were selected to be the parents of a new baby girl. They will call her "Izzy". She is adorable. Sarah will be on "mommy leave" until next fall.

I can't believe it has been 8 months that I have been in Alaska. I have 8 more weeks until I return to Memphis for the summer. I will be returning to Alaska for one more year and that is exciting. David and I are just like several of our friends who has a spouse that works in a different city. Albeit, most of our friends can see their spouse within a 4 hour flight. David and I have a bit longer flight!. I want to share something with all of you. It was exactly one year ago when I was sitting on the couch reading my horoscope which I cut out and saved. I have showed this horoscope to David and few friends before I new about my adventure. I knew I needed a change but I had no idea what that change would look like. This is what it says and I quote, "Go ahead and smile because it's time for you to take a well-deserved break. Venus and the full Moon rising promises to be as delightful as you could possibly dream. There is a triple threat happening around the 22nd with Jupiter, Neptune, and Chiron meeting to support and sustain and nurture you. The trio allows you three times the chances to make one big dream come true. Persistence takes this cake. Soon you will be enjoying an even bigger slice of life. Place a calm image of a far-away place in the travel, and envision yourself writing to your friends and loved ones and telling them what a great time you are having." Was this adventure meant to be? This horoscope is taped to my dresser mirror and I glance or read it each day. Who would have guessed how right a horoscope can be? I am living a dream by teaching in Alaska and thank you Kathy for setting up my blog so I can write and share my adventures with all of you.
I hope you all have enjoyed reading about my adventures. I will continue up-dating my blog as close to each week as possible. I have a few more small trips to take before the end of May. Then when I return in August, I hope to particate in the Salmon Derby. Last year the winner won $45,000 for the big catch. I just want to catch one - no matter how small or how big.

Happy Spring,

Happy Easter,

Happy Passover

Hugs from

Sheryl the Nanuq of the North.

Fur Rondy Is Here!!!!

Hello Family and Friends. I am back to my weekly up-dates on my adventure blog. One thing I have noticed about Anchorage folks - they have fun in any way possible. In Alaska, it is about surviving the winter. Winter can be from October through May and a bit dark during most of that time. I personally didn't think it was as dark as I expected. Remember, moonlight and sunlight reflect brightly off of white snow! People in Anchorage not only have a frontier spirit but a wonderful sense of humor and a lot of events that include weird costumes. Remember the Ski for Women costumes? The end of February began the 75th Fur Rendezvous, affectionately known as the "Fur Rondy" up here which serves up 10 days of crazy winter fun. The last 10 days of Fur Rondy leads up the to start of the World Famous Iditarod Dog Sled Race (1,050 miles from Anchorage to Nome). Dog sled racing is a major part of the Fur Rondy which includes the World Championship Dog Sled Races where 30 mushers and their teams compete for $80,000 purse , on a 25-mile course that begins downtown Anchorage to Campbell Air Force Base and back to Anchorage. That is where the competition ends and the fun begins!

I watched a variety of events ranging from the sublime to the ridiculous, including Snowshoe softball, where most of the competitors fell a lot! Costumes are optional for the Frostbite Footrace (5K and 10K ) on snow in bare feet! I kid you not! Then the festivities were topped by the World's Largest Outhouse races. Then I watched the Fur Rondy Running of the Reindeer, which is Alaska's version of Pamploma and draws thousands of spectators. Yes, I was a spectator this year. Next year you will see me participating in many of these fun activities! I will try the Frostbite Footrace and Run with the Reindeer. I am trying to convince a group to create an Outhouse for the race. Any creative outhouse team names? Past them along - ha ha.

The week's festivities end with a spectacular fireworks display. 25 minutes of beautiful sparkles in the sky. I had to be educated that that Fur Rondy fireworks were the big fireworks of the year. Remember, it is dark by 6 pm in the end of February BUT it is light all night long in the July so the July 4th celebration does not include fireworks. Makes sense doesn't it! Most of Fur Rondy events take place on main Anchorage streets downtown where some of the streets are purposefully left unplowed and mounded in the middle of the street so the mushers could race through the people-lined streets.

It was an experience to see a huge carnival plopped in the midst of a snow-filled parking lot. It was only 10 degrees and I braved a ride on the Ferris Wheel. I was so motion-sick that I spent the entire ride looking forward with a scared look. It was fun seeing little kids riding the carousel wearing snowsuits, boots and mittens. Funnel Cakes was the still the biggest hit of the carnival.
I did participate in the Native Blanket Toss. I held my rope handles of the seal-skin blanket as we tossed people high into the air. I did not brave the toss but I helped toss.

The first few pictures are from the Fur Rondy parade. Not much different from from Lower 48 parades, except it was 10 degrees outside and every float, etc was riding on snow-covered streets. You will notice the abundance of furs. The Fur Rondy is the big fur auction of the year. You see everything made out of fur - hats, mitts, coats, boots and of course a jock strap (top picture). You will notice many pictures of Natives wearing their kuspuks or parkys (jackets). Many are lined with fur,made with velvets, and beautifully trimmed. Look closely at the father holding the little girl in her fur jacket. The fur trim is bigger than she is!!! The Fur Rondy Princess and Junior Princess reminded me of the Cotton court in Memphis! The Shiners in their motor cycles, the Harley Boys with their fur hats, the Green Tractor with Rudolph on front, and our very own Anchorage Roller Derby girls!!! They floats and parade people through out some candy but most of them tossed out "lip balms" and hand warmers! Isn't that cleaver???

The mushers all took off every two minutes for 10 mushers and then there was a 3 minute commercial break. Then the next 10 mushers left for the races. They left downtown Anchorage to the Campbell Air Strip and back. These "sprints" (25 miles) ,seem like a very long sprint to me, are so fun to watch because the mushers and their dogs pass other sleds, tip over, and return to the finish line with frost on their faces and face hair. It was cold. By the way, do you know the three words all mushers use with their dogs? Gee, Ha and Whoa. Why these three little words. Think about traveling 1000 miles in subzero weather with snowfall and gusting winds, your face is so frozen all you can see is "gee" "ha" and " whoa".
The picture of the "Native" musher is Sam from Kozabue. He was so gracious and answered all my questions. Do you know the mushers have to train the dogs to go to the bathroom as they run? Who would have guessed! The Outhouse races were a hoot. The Sarah Palin look-a-like enjoyed the celebraty moments. I am open to any Outhouse names for next year. The first picture of Run with the Reindeer is the traditional Fur Rondy Princesses run with the Reindeer.
Don't you think her earmuffs are large? Then think about how difficult it is to push a stroller in 2 feet of snow. Even the packed down paths are difficult to manuver those wheels. See the gentleman who ran with the Reindeer in nothing but his gym shorts? Remember by this time it was below closer to 6 degrees outside. Brrrrrrrr! Did I mention that there is a lot of alcohol comsumed during this festival? And finally the amazing native Blanket toss.

It was amazing to be a spectator throughout these 10 days of fun and festive activities. I hope to be a participant in a few of these activities next year. I hope you all are welcoming in the spring weather. We have been experiencing some spectacular weather up here (40 - 50 and sunny). I will show our Iditarod pictures next week. David, Poli, Bruce and I enjoyed every moment of this "The Last Great Race" and all the other Alaska activities. It was fabulous having them up here for a visit. They all agree the scenery is amazing, the people are friendly, the food is superb, the cultural events were extrodinary and they found their new favorite beer, "Alaska Amber". The door is always open to anyone else who would like to visit!!!

Have a wonderful day!

Hugs from

Sheryl the Nanuq of the North.