IditaProject Forum

Thursday 1 pm Update:

* Beringtons are to Cape Nome. Mike Williams to the blowhole in Topcok Hills.
* Joanna Jagow to Golovin Bay - flying at 10.4 mph
* Bailey resting just before Golovin Bay
* Gerhardt and Bridgett on the shore after Elim
* Jed and Jason resting in Elim

elsietee, do we have enough time for all the mushers to be in Nome before the banquet?

Beringtons arrival - transcribed in the chat:

This is Kristy's 14th ID
They do carpentry and landscaping in the off-season
Anna has been in AK since 2007
does fishing/construction/landscaping in off-season
8 dogs online
and Anna, with 9 - single dog in swing - seconds behind
Used to mush pet dog in WI, then sled tours in the Sierra
Best position 19th (K finished 16th that year)
sleds set up almost identical
Kristy goes first on the bag check
Kristy official! in 21st
Anna now being checked
Anna official! in 22nd
interviews both together
what does it mean to finish another race together?
can't think of anyone better to spend the race with
asked which is the eldest (don't know who responded)
Kristy raced first, but since then they've done every race together
<Anna sounds hoarse>
they have moved to Knik
been there for a while
Anna moved there first
good kennel community
Did you get stuck in the wind storm?
"What wind storm?" <laughs>
Trails?
no trails particularly challenging
the gorge was gorgeous
a little warm at the beginning
How did you deal with the heat?
dealt with it by living in Knik <laughs>
Talking about the mud in the Burn
says there's always "brown" through there
liked having more snow - the brake worked
Any favorite dogs on team?
Rampage - big blond lead dog.
old reliable
one of Ray Redington's old dogs
over 10 yrs old
Other sister: dropped a couple of key players
all her dogs wanted to lead
despite being rookies
mushers all a big family
glad they didn't finish at 2 am
Matt was out on the ice to give them a high five (unclear which Matt)

team dog in Anna's team still wants to play
wagging his tail and interacting with the person
dogs barking and whining to go
good looking teams!

fladogfan wrote:elsietee, do we have enough time for all the mushers to be in Nome before the banquet?

I think so. They are making good time:

* Mike Williams on the way to Safety
* Joanna and Bailey nearly to WM
* Gerhartd and Bridgett in hills before Golovin
* Jed and Jason still in Elim

Going by Mike Williams' times:

He rested 6:15 in Elim
Took 7.5 hours to get to WM
Rested 9:10 in WM
Should arrive in Nome in ~ 4-5 hours = ~10-11 hour run.

So about 28 hours from when he left Elim to Nome (ish).

What time's the banquet? 6 pm Saturday? If so, Jed and Jason need to leave Elim by 2 pm tomorrow - which I assume they will (they've been there ~4 hours already).

elsietee wrote:Jessie: 2h 39m
Dan Kaduce: 2h 39m
Christian: 2h 38m
Nic: 2h 12 m

Deke in 20th was also fast - 2h 27, but didn't beat Nic, so Nic gets it.

Elsietee, I think the banquet is on Sunday, if so even more time to get to Nome.

Cute pic of cheerleaders for Deke's arrival (I believe this might be his son Nolan... and I particularly like his drawing of the sled dog - lots of legs:


(the whole time Deke's talking, his dog - Oscar - is yipping in the background, sounding a bit like a maniacal joker).

Deke is the only one to finish with 12 dogs - the highest number in the race.

He talked about crossing Norton Sound - how that trail is always boring for him, and gets boring for the dogs... until they got three miles past the shelter cabin - and then the wind began to blow and because he has 12 dogs, he couldn't see the front four dogs and kept losing the trail. Turned around and went back to the shelter cabin and had a nice little camp out - until the dogs bit the gangline in half, so when he came out the door his team was in two different pieces. Got it fixed and got going.

Team really came together - by the time they got to the coast they had a competitive team, but when they got stuck in the storm they got cut off from the rest of the pack - right when he wanted to race.

Deke had the second fastest Safety-Nome time of 2h 27m.



.

fladogfan wrote:Elsietee, I think the banquet is on Sunday, if so even more time to get to Nome.

Oh! You're right (no wonder so many mushers are trying to leave early to get home in time for work on Monday).

Finisher’s Banquet
March 19th – 5:00 p.m AKST

So,, plenty of time for all mushers to get a shower and some sleep, except something happens.

Joanna and Bailey is just left Safety
Bridgett and Gerhardt is soon on the beach stretch to Safety

Jed and Jason can leave WM in 20 minutes or so, half past six so will make for a evening arrival in Nome so there should be a good crowd for Jason..

...and that's it

Gerhardt and Bridget safe in Nome