Hello from Nome!

Teams continue to arrive off the trail with smiles of success. I have had
a couple of days to recover from the rigors of the trail and to savor our
winning run into Nome. On several occasions, I have had to pinch myself
to make sure that it wasn't a dream. But it really is true. I arrived here
first with a group of the finest sled dogs and dearest friends that ever
graced this planet. I couldn't be more proud of them as well as our team
that was left at home caring for the dogs and our homestead. This year's
stellar team includes Rick Wise of South Dakota, Therese from Sweden and
Mike Santos in Denali. Their dependability and dedication to our efforts
has put our team where we are today. To the hundreds of folks that have
written us e-mails, thank you for your well wishes and words of
congratulations. We look forward to seeing many of you at our homestead
someday soon.

Our execution of this year's event turned out to be exactly what we had
hoped for most; a spirited, energetic and well-trained team, emotionally
under control, willing and able not only to run like the wind, but to
contentedly rest while recharging their batteries. Consistently watching
some of my competitors traveling at faster rates of speed will always be
difficult to endure. But the textbook equation that to run farther we must
go a bit slower held true. I couldn't be more proud of our execution of
this very difficult strategy. Though the team as whole was spectacular, my
lead dog, Salem's, performance was near mythological. Glimpses of
supernatural power and dedication made his performance in this year's race
to be compared with Sea Biscuit's victory at Pamlico.

The awards banquet will be held on Sunday night and we will fly out to
Anchorage at midnight following the celebration. We should be home again
by Monday night. Now we are anxious to get home to begin planning for our
summer activities.

The brilliant arctic sun has already lured me to sign up for the April race in Kotzebue, the Kobuk 440. I'm not ready for this dream to end. Watch for
the Outdoor Life Network special Saturday night and Iditarod's documentary
which will be out by April 1st to relive some incredible moments from the
trail. Avid fans should look for our friend and neighbor, Lisa Frederic’s,
new book, RUNNING WITH CHAMPIONS describing her addiction to sled dogs, the Iditarod and the dogs of Goose Lake Kennel. You can order your book
directly from www.lisafrederic.com.

Happy Trails!

We are louging around Mary's comforatable home with our friends, drinking
coffee, eating homemade pastries and brainstorming (with Jeff's direction)
ideas for steam heating apparati for the sled. The Nome sun streams in the
windows and our day ahead of us is not full of duties and chores. Salem
and Bernard are here in Nome waiting to attend the Finish Banquet with us,
so, Ellen and Lisa are taking care of them now.

Teams of Iditarod successes continue to be announced by the Nome siren as
they head up onto Front Street. The tense excitement and anticipation of
the race start week has metamophasized into a calm mix of relief,
achievement and disappointment. Families and friends form safe cocoons
around their heros, both human and canine, as they saunter the streets from
Fat Freddie's (one of the only eating establishments that is definitely the
place to be to watch a parade of Iditarod personalities from race officials
and mushers, to vets and pilots) to the race headquarters. Stories from
the trail abound as each musher sits and relaxes with a crowd of admirers
remebering moments of the race and generously sharing those times to the
attentive faces before them. The days on the trail become a delicate world
and culture of their own. Crossing under the arch in Nome is like stepping
back out of the wardrobe into the real world. In most cases, that first
step is a reluctant one. As Jeff explained it as he visited with a crowd
of fans in the Convention Center just after his win, his relationship with
his team changes from being buddies to being a single, living organism not
unlike an octopus, each one of them an appendage or tenticle, and
interdependent. You can almost hear the tiny "pop" of that special bubble
of existance as the sled and dogs are taken away from their musher in the
finish chute and driven down to the dog lot. The world has changed for all
of them in a singular moment.

It was an amazing finish! And a perfect night to spend on the trail; a
full moon with clear skies and very little wind. It doesn't get any better
than that here in Nome! Jeff was smiling but exhausted and the same was
true of the dogs.

Ellen and I spent the first half of the day yesterday waiting nearly 4
hours for our plane to depart Fairbanks. At one point there was even talk
of cancelation and, as I stood at the desk, tears came to my eyes.
However, after half an hour of forcing ourselves to remain calm, an
announcement was made that we would be leaving in an hour. A specatcular
flight brought us to Nome about 3:30pm, a half hour wait for the luggage to
be brought in off the runway and we were trundled off to our
home-away-from-home here in Nome.

As I have written before, Nome is a fantastic place to visit during
Iditarod time. It's an incredibly friendly spot and the town goes all out
to entertain visitors. Contests abound. Art shows, a giant basketball
tournement, shopping and visiting in the Mini Convention Center which
houses the race headquarters all keep us busy and stimulated. Not to
mention watching these incredible teams arrive! I judged a local art show
just after arriving yesterday that was a treasure trove of talent, both
young and old. We had dinner with a group of dear friends and then off to
the dog lot to prepare for our team's arrival.

The finish line is a well orchestrated event in itself. We sorely missed
Cali and Tessa but I spoke with them just before Jeff and the dogs crossed
under the arch and they (along with many friends!) we poised in position in
front of their computers to watch the live finish on The Iditarod Insider.
Jeff spent at least an hour answering questions to a large group of media
and fans in the "Mini" as friends assisted in caring for the dogs. The
dogs are immediately assessed by a trio of veterinarians upon arriving and
settling in the Nome Dog Lot. 4 hours later the "Pee Team" arrive to
collect urine samples for drug testing. This is done in several
checkpoints along the race route. After several large meals and lots of
fussing, the dogs enjoy a long snooze in the fresh straw.

I just awoke to head down to the dog lot to meet with the Alaska Airlines
crew to load up the dogs for the flight home this morning. Mike will be
waiting in Anchorage for them to wisk them to their nice, warm beds at
Goose Lake. Another job well done.

I apologize for missing the update yesterday. Stay tuned, I will include
at least one more update from Nome!

It appears as all’s well. 
 
I have just arrived home from a day in Fairbanks and quickly updated myself on the race happenings.  Jeff arrived in Nikolai just after noon today which is right on his proposed schedule.  That is always a great sign.  The trail is in great shape across The Burn and the good trail conditions are evident by the close proximity of the teams and the very few team members that have been sent back home.  That makes for a wonderful race to participate in and to watch.
 
A good friend braved the snowy elements yesterday and actually flew into Rainy Pass.  Rod was able to speak with Jeff for a few minutes before Jeff was off for a nap.  He was relaxed and confident.  The dogs were “eating like pigs” and looking good.  The real key to these long distance events is to have dogs with ravenous appetites.  Nothing warms a musher’s heart more that the smacks and splashes of an eagerly eating dog team.  All mushers would agree that it is the key to success.  So, in essence, Jeff is doing a fantastic job of managing his race.
 
It is a bit difficult to determine the true running order at this point.  The teams are running on different run/rest schedules and doing a bit of hop-scotching.  Be aware as well that the teams only need to check into the checkpoints and not officially check out so that the out times can be incorrect.  Beware, don’t count minutes!
 
I’m a bit confused over Martin Buser’s stats.  It shows him still in Rohn as of 11:30pm last night, and no record of him into Nikolai.  .  The best assumption is that he is completing his mandatory 24 hours break.  It’s a bit of a surprise to have him break so early because over the past years teams have moved farther and farther down the trail to take the long break.  However, for many, many years Rohn, Nikolai and McGrath were favorite spots for the mandatory stop.  As always, it will be interesting to watch the outcome.
 
Once again, at this point in the race, the teams are just maintaining and adjusting their schedules as necessary to stay in good shape and position.  Like a delicately played game of chess, this race will unravel with slow deliberation and control. 
 
For articles from the trail and race stats visit www.cabelsiditarod.com   Also be sure to check out the new video updates on www.iditarod.com on the Iditarod Insider.

Breaths come slow and easy for spectators, sled dogs and mushers as they all ease into the race.  These first few days of the race are simply spent getting over the excitement and chaos of the start and developing a rhythm of the trail.  Once the teams have traveled through the bustling checkpoints of Yentna and Skwentna, the collective sigh of relief is nearly audible.  Jeff is “on schedule”, according to his pre-start proclamation, arriving into Rainy Pass just after noon today.  His pace is good and consistent.  It will be days, if ever, until he will take much notice of the teams around him.  His focus now is on his own dogs and his own schedule.  As spectators, it is very easy for our imaginations to take charge and create exciting scenarios of tense, competitive, strategic, mind games amongst the racers.  The top teams will have no time nor interest in such time wasters.  They have fine tuned and prioritized their thoughts, motivations and focus to encompass their own small world on the Iditarod Trail.  It is their constant challenge to assess weather, trail conditions, time schedules, feeding of the dogs and of themselves, hydration of all, the health and motivation level of the dogs, their equipment, rest, etc.(the list truly seems endless) and formulate the best approach to the trial ahead.  To be concerned about the team next to you at this point in the event is an inherent waste of time and energy.
 
Some observations that I may make at this point in the race is that the trail is good.  Some new snow along the route near Finger Lake doesn’t appear to have slowed the teams much.  The number of dogs sent home from the trail are very few; another indication that all’s well.  The heavier snow conditions through the Alaska Range bodes well for safe passage of dogs, sleds and mushers.  I have not heard the conditions of The Burn (a notoriously gnarly stretch of trail between Rohn and Nikolai) but with the recent snows, even this section of trail may be relatively forgiving.  We are currently being blessed with a wonderful snowfall here in Denali which could very well be consistent with the rest of the Alaska Range.  Temperatures are very moderate.  With snow and these temperatures, many of the hydration concerns for the dogs become eased.  As the ambient temperatures drop, so does the moisture level in the air making hydration for both dogs and mushers a paramount detail to be reckoned with.
 
Jeff’s newest innovation has raised some attention once again this year.  He displayed his heated handlebar at the Restart yesterday on which Jon Little composed a wonderful article on www.cabelasiditarod.com .  This is an idea that he has thought about for the past couple of years but literally awoke in the night about two weeks ago with the creative details of construction.  It was pleasing to hear about all of the “Tail Dragger” style sleds that left the start line yesterday (any estimated 26 of the 83 teams) each with a few new innovations of their own.  I did not get an accurate report on the number of teams leaving without attached necklines, nor the number of the short style of harness;  both recent applications of Jeff’s.  I have read that new ideas are first laughed at, then furiously rejected and finally accepted as normal.  We humans are interesting creatures.
 
It is too early in the event to begin making accurate guesses on the strongest teams in the race.  I believe many of the top teams will be taking their 24 breaks farther down the trail than has been traditionally accepted.  Cripple, Ruby and Galena tempt the top contenders for their choice of long rests.  We’ll see what the weather and trail provide for these teams and their ultimate decisions within a few days.  At that point, we can begin to let our heart rates rise and our breathing become more rapid in anticipation.
 
I will try to provide insightful updates daily each evening.  To truly follow this event, be sure to check www.cabelasiditarod.com or www.iditarod.com

Today is the Restart Day in the 2006 Iditarod Sled Dog Race.  What that really means is that it is the day when the clock actually begins as the mushers head along the trail to Nome.  I sit home simply imagining the start today. Though I am sure that my imagination is fairly accurate, I still miss being at the exciting scene.
 
The start of any sled dog race is an absolute rush of energy, adrenaline and joy.  The starting line is the great equalizer among teams.  Each dog, no matter what the training or genetics, is a champion at the start.  Lunging, screaming and full of sparkling excitement, these dogs all look like thoroughbreds in the gates.  Each musher is full of optimism and anticipation of the wonders of the trial ahead.  It is a wonderful aura that is undoubtedly contagious. 
 
The Ceremonial Start on 4th Avenue in Anchorage yesterday was relaxing and full of fun for the Goose Lake Team.  The pressure is off on this particular day because there is no clock ticking, no last minute panic, and no real goodbyes.  This is just a fantastic opportunity to show off the best of the best in the world of dog mushing.  There are smiles all around; on both humans and canines.  The Iditarod Start has evolved to a brilliantly orchestrated show for thousands of spectators each year who travel from just-about-everywhere to share in the thrill of this great event.  Iditariders, the folks who are the highest bidders for a ride in each of the contestants sleds, are probably the most nervous with anticipation…except for the dogs, who do not realize that this is not actually a real race!  The teams traveled 11 miles before getting loaded up in their dog trucks, their home-away-from-home.  Another 24 hours would have to elapse before the true race begins.
 
The race start order was determined in a new fashion this year.  Each musher, in order of sign-up, was able to choose his or her starting position at the Banquet on Thursday night.  This alteration in the process is a good solution to the challenges that the new, 2:00pm, restart departure time caused last year.  This option encouraged early sign-ups last June.  Jeff chose to leave in the 30th position to avoid some of the warmer, daytime temperatures and to dovetail into his run-rest race schedule.  The starting position is arguably of no strategic importance, but it does provide something to stew over in the days before each team finally pulls the hook.
 
Jeff is absolutely thrilled with his team this year.  He believes that it is the best group of athletes that he has ever put together.  Of course, now is the time to make our wagers on who will win the 2006 Iditarod…..  I know who my first pick is!  For more information on the mushers and the race, be sure to visit www.cabelasiditarod.com
 
In addition, this year the Iditarod Committee is providing a new option for keeping up with the race.  Subscribe to The Iditarod Insider at www.iditarod.com   for up to date video coverage of the race and much more.  It will be the best $19.95 you have ever spent!