IditaProject Forum

Why that would be Rick Swenson Frozen, my he looks young here!

Di* wrote:Why that would be Rick Swenson Frozen, my he looks young here!

That looks like his famous leader Andy in front.

Rob Stapleton photo, Anchorage Daily News archive.

Taken from: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2464429/posts


Probably the most famous Idit photo, but the one of Riddles on her way to a win is a close second. Is that the "Swing Man" with Dashdel's cap, or the other way around? I was no more than 25 feet away when this shot was taken (not by me). Notice ***** Mackey's bib #. That could be the most recognized number in mushing circles. I remember that day almost as clear as a spring day along the Idit trail...

Awesome photo. Is that just a bedroll of some sort folded up on the sled? Saw a similar thing on Swenson's sled in Dashdel's photo. Racing sleds and equipment have seen some changes over the decades, but it's still all about a team of dogs and their human moving along the trail. Timeless.

I'd love to see more of these historic pics if folks have them to post. The stories that go along with them are appreciated, too.

Moose wrote:Awesome photo. Is that just a bedroll of some sort folded up on the sled? Saw a similar thing on Swenson's sled in Dashdel's photo. Racing sleds and equipment have seen some changes over the decades, but it's still all about a team of dogs and their human moving along the trail. Timeless.

Very keen eye Moose, that you have. What's that phrase, "familiarity breeds blindness" or whatever. Those of us that grew up around sleds and dogs since the 50s, 60s, and early 70s have seen the evolution of technology and the utilization/incorporation of that in day to day life. In the 50s all thru the early 70s, a canvas tarp made of heavy cotten fabric was used to keep supplies dry and in one place on a sled. It was very heavy material and even heavier when wet. Then, sometime in the early 70s, they came up with polyurethane or propelene.

The first 2-4 Iditarods, the heavy cotton canvas was used. It looks like Mackey, in his one second win in '78, is using one of the first poly tarps to come out. They were as light as they are now. The first ones didn't have eyelets. In 78 and maybe thru the early 80s, mushers used the light tarps (which have always been blue as far as I can remember). They were using the latest technology then, but were still folding it over the ends and sides and using long, long rope to tie the supplies from one end of the sled to the other, which it looks to be like Mackey and Swenson did.

When Libby came, almost outa the blue, to win in 85', she had a zippered tarp. I remember that, because she said in that Shaktoolik flats storm she got hit by, she mentioned that all she did was "zipper herself into the sled", thereby ensuring her front runner status while all the big boys were hunkered down in warm, cozy homes in Shaktoolik. She woke up the next morning, took out a peice of chocolate, gulped it down with a glass of seal oil (an extremely heavy dose of energy!), and went on to become the first woman...you know the story...One wonders how she would have weathered that bad Bering Sea hit if all she had was rope and heavy canvass..., which by the way another musher, the famous Shishmaref Cannonball had, when he hit the same type of storm in the same area, ultimately ceding to the winner (was it that other Mackey?), which was back in the early 80s.

Well, by the time Butcher came along and started winning, they were using velcro to seal their loads.
You also notice the heavy bib overalls Mackey and Swenson are wearing, and Dashdel's carhartts. By the late 80s, early 90s, mushers started wearing lighter snowsuits, and before you know it, Dee Dee and Susan are color coding and matching their clothing and sled covers. This is altogether another story...But Moose, gotta give it to your keen observation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQ4zeLLJTZo From the archives!

wow great photos!

some real memories and some history making shots. i love the old photos and stories.

a bit off topic, frozen, do you have any stories, knowledge or pics of kayaking in the days of old in alaska, do you know...as the kids always say when i ask who invented the kayak, mr kayak... does a mr kayak exist????

matty

tanglefoot wrote:a bit off topic, frozen, do you have any stories, knowledge or pics of kayaking in the days of old in alaska, do you know...as the kids always say when i ask who invented the kayak, mr kayak... does a mr kayak exist????

matty

Yes, indeed he does, Tangles, be a bit patient, and I'll tell the story...

But first, AC, that's great footage of early Ak. That one sledge in the video parade in Nome, the 73' Idit had mushers rivaling the size of that sled!

oooh frozen! you got me all excited now haha.... hey you want to meet up in the chat room?