Iditarod 2007

[Julia]

I'll have to look into the communication systems - if any - that are used...

This article talks about a missing musher found and it says

It was not immediately known if she carried any tracking device or two-way communications, but for her to do so would have required prior approval from race officials.

So I guess it needs approval. You'd think it would be mandatory to have at least a tracking device (GPS).

It's said "The Iditarod is a celebration of the loyalty and courage of the sled dog." With that in mind, I see where the numbers of dogs may decrease at certain checkpoints due to injury or illness or whatever. But I haven't found additional information on which dog and why. You see, I'm wondering if Rolex is ok and how Spot is doing.

megsk8z is next

 

[Julia]

Speaking of dogs, Matt Rossi lost his team - they just ran off and Rossi had to hitchhike to McGrath. They were found later...sleeping.
The article is here.

 

[Tonichelle]

normally they don't report the dogs unless they have a website and the webmaster makes a note... the only thing that the Iditarod PR people record is how many dogs came in and how many left

the trail has been really bad this year... I don't blame the dogs for running away

 

[Tonichelle]

Buser and King have taken their two manditory layovers and have both hit the Yukon. This is a dangerous part of the trail due to the fact that they're on the ice of the Yukon and it can be quite thin. These veteran mushers know what they're doing, though.

Buser has about a 2 hour lead on King, but this is the part of the trail that King blows past everyone, so it should be exciting...

19 mushers - from the time of this posting - have scratched... that is one shy of the 'record' number of scratches...

 

[Tonichelle]

the top 6 have all made their way out of Kaltag and are on their way to Unakleet (if they haven't made it already, seems the website is slow to update today...)

Jeff King had a ten minute lead on Martin Buser when they left this morning

once the mushers hit Unakleet the end is in site. They begin their trek along the coast...

Buser holds the record for fastest time 8 days, 22 hours, 46 minutes and 2 seconds. Talk has been going on that we may see that record broken this year... but we're already on day 8, so I don't see that happening lol

it's so stinkin exciting!

oh and just so you all can see why I adore Martin Buser so: http://www.iditarod.com/2007/dailyarchives/story_308.html

 

[Tonichelle]

Well Jeff King was first into Unakleet, in just under twelve hours... Martin Buser was 3rd into the check point... looks like those who have made it in are taking a well needed rest

the 'big news' from the site, though, is there will be a documentary filmed next year and that Rachel Scdoris, the legally blind musher who fought to be allowed to race 3 years ago, will be back for her third race next year: http://www.adn.com/iditarod/race_2007/features/story/8701408p-8602492c.html

 

[Tonichelle]

We may see the new Iditarod Champion cross teh finish line... and it quite possibly will be a first time winner

Buser and King have dropped behind. One of the reasons is they have dropped a significant number of their teams... both I believe are at 11 dogs each... the race has been run and won with less... but it's still tough to keep up momentum this far in... especially if the members having to be dropped are the 'team leaders' (not nessecerily the lead dogs).

In other news Sunday brought some bad news as the first casulty of this years race came at 11pm. A canadian musher lost her dog Snickers. She scratched this morning so she could travel home with her team to mourn their loss. A necropsy is pending - http://www.adn.com/iditarod/race_2007/features/story/8703028p-8605046c.html

Also, Susan Butcher's( a 4 time champ who died this past fall after her bout with Leukemia) ashes have been scattered along her favorite part of the trail. Her daughter and husband are making the trek into Nome. A very touching story that can be found here - http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17572101/

to get an idea of what the top 5 have dealt with the last couple of days this is a fun read - http://www.adn.com/iditarod/race_2007/race/story/8701439p-8602538c.html you get to know the mushers and their dogs a bit...

 

[Julia]

Thanks for posting Tonichelle. I'm still keeping up but RL rears it's ugly head from time to time. I keep trying to watch Alaska on some of those webcams. There's one in Nome that showed some lone guy wandering back and forth in the street at 3AM Alaska time. haha

So sad about Karen's dog Snickers. If I read that right, Snickers died at the checkpoint after resting 7 hours, so it was not in the middle of a run. If you see anymore about this please post.

The Leaders: I never picked a musher to cheer because I didn't know any. But I've gotten quite an education on the Iditarod the past week largely thanks to Tonichelle. I liked Sorlie at first because he made dog videos.
I like Mackey's story about his father and brother winning the Iditarod on their 6th try, both wearing bib 13. This is Mackey's 6th try wearing bib 13. Talk about fate, destiny...but that's another topic. So if he won that would be cool.
Will we see the winner today? Will there be streaming video of the finish?
I wanna be there. Of course I'd be playing with the dogs and ignoring the winner.

 

[Tonichelle]

It's the one sport that I can feel somewhat of an expert on. I don't mind talking to myself...

As for Snickers, I haven't heard anything new, but necropsy's take a couple of days before being reported. Depending on what they find or don't find it could take longer if they have to test fluids and what not.

Buser's lead dog got in a fight and he had to drop him, that could also be a possibility. If a wild dog, or just a loose dog from another team, gets into where the dogs are it can cause a whole mess of trouble.

Of the two non champs in the 'running' I'm cheering on Gebhart just because he's from the area I grew up in!

also meant to add that this year a record has been broken - 21 mushers have scratched so far, breaking '03's record for 20 scratches...