IditaProject Forum

As coincidence would have it, I happened to be re-reading some of our "ask the musher" series, specifically Karen Ramstead. One thing she noted

Yes, the warm weather is a big issue for us. Not only does it slow the dogs down, it makes them more susceptible to pneumonia and infection, as well as tiring them out faster. We were extra cautious and avoided all but a few foot infections though.

She went on to say that the Sibes are built to conserve heat and there blood vessels are smaller and set deeper in their muscles. She noted that even her dog "who was almost bald" after blowing her coat, was still warm. Given the temps in the 1st part of the race, I'm sure this was an issue for Lisbet, too.

Yes. It isn't just about purebred Sibe teams, but a real concern for every thick or plush-coated long haired sled dog in harness.

It just speaks to managing dog care, and that will only approach "one size fits all" if all the dogs are perfectly matched, and how many years will that happen ?

Sad to say I see while checking the standings, Lisbet is listed as scratched. She is in UNK. Time listed for Kaltag to UNK is 22h52m.
Her GPS tag is still showing in UNK and so is her name on the Leaderboard list on the GPS page.

Anchorage, Alaska –– Veteran Iditarod musher Lisbet Norris (bib #43) of Fairbanks, Alaska,
scratched at 11:50 p.m. on March 16, 2022, at the Unalakleet checkpoint.
Norris made the decision to scratch in the best interest of her race team.
Norris had 10 dogs in harness at the time she made the decision to scratch.

If Lisbet gets kicked, my opinion is that she'll just do the Quest instead to qualify her Sibe stock and kennel for dual dog champion status.

Not sure of the details for earning dual dog champion status, but Lisbet HAS finished Iditarod in 2014, 2015, and 2016 and didn't enter 2017-2021. Is it a kennel designation that expires after a certain period or a dog designation that is limited to just those dogs that finish the race (and so the 2014-2016 dogs would be retired by now and she would need a new finish).
Regardless, not sure the Quest would be a better option since it is WAY easier logistically to scratch in the Quest since with the exception of a handful of middle checkpoints and dog-drops, your truck is sitting right there at the checkpoint. Bottom line is that this (and the Quest) is a race and more and more, the pace doesn't support a dog that can't lope at least some of the time. The average dog will produce about 650 kilocalories of heat for every 10 miles that they travel and must dissipate all 650 kilocalories to avoid overheating. If they can dissipate 650 kcal/hr, then they can travel at 10 mph (a lope). But if they can only dissipate 400 kcal/hr, then can only travel at 6 mph (a trot). It is informative to look at the runs between Nulato and Kaltag - that was a VERY fast portion of trail and most folks were blazing along at 10-12 mph. Lisbet was a bit over 8 mph.

Really interesting. Thank you for that explanation. I'm assuming the temps have something to do with how quickly they dissipate heat as well.

I am not surprised that Unalakteet is a decision point for scratches, or withdrawn. It is a main transport hub. All other check points along the Yukon river are flown to Unalakleet, to transport Anchoridge. It does save expenses, by having teams mush to Unalakleet. Did Lisbet scratch on her own? She is no fool, She has scratched from the Yukon Quest, because her team was going too slow. And yes she was falling farther and farther behind. and also going slower and slower. She arrived in Unalakleet 8 hours after the others in front of her had left. It is one thing to be in front and travel to Koyuk alone. But being alone at the back crossing that area, is another. Which is why the back of the pack is encouraged to travel across the bay together. In my opinion it was probably the right decision, no matter who made it.

She had 4 pizzas waiting for her in Unk according to FB. You need some time to digest all of that

It also say that Lisbet decided to end it, it's a short message. Doesn't really matter either way.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 19, 2022
Iditarod mushers Sebastien Dos Santos Borges, KattiJo Deeter and Jeff Deeter scratch
between White Mountain and Safety checkpoints
Anchorage, Alaska –– Iditarod mushers Sebastien Dos Santos Borges (bib #44, rookie), KattiJo
Deeter (bib #19, rookie) and Jeff Deeter (bib #34, veteran) have scratched from the Iditarod
between the checkpoints of White Mountain and Safety.
In the late evening on March 18, 2022, Iditarod Race Marshal Mark Nordman was notified that
all three teams had accepted assistance between the checkpoints of White Mountain and
Safety. Due to the ground storm and high winds, all three teams received snowmachine
assistance by White Mountain search and rescue to the Nome Kennel Club shelter cabin, where
they stayed until improved weather conditions allowed for Iditarod volunteers to assist with
transporting the mushers and their teams to Nome.
The mushers have been in direct communication with the race marshal while at the shelter
cabin and the race teams are reportedly in good health. Upon arrival in Nome, the race teams
will be given a full veterinary check.