No Deaths During Iditarod Race

Mon, March 22, 2010

This year’s Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race chalked up a record four in a row wins for Lance Mackey, but the race made headlines of another kind.  For the first time in as long as anyone can remember, no dogs died on the trail.  That’s good news. Six dogs died last year, a record for the race.

Ellen Lockyer, KSKA – Anchorage

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Mushers Helping Support Care for Autistic Children in Bush

Mon, March 22, 2010

Parents caring for autistic children face challenges anywhere they live, but in rural Alaska, where a child can wander into angers not faced by urban youngsters,  keeping up with the challenge can be daunting. One Unalakleet family is dealing with exactly that problem, and they have come up with a unique solution, with the help of Iditarod mushers.

Ellen Lockyer, KSKA – Anchorage

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Nome Greets More Mushers

Wed, March 17, 2010

Nome’s fire siren blared at intervals through Tuesday night, announcing incoming mushers two miles out of town.

The Iditarod’s elite top ten dog drivers completed their races by the wee hours of  Wednesday morning as the second wave of  early finishers continued through the day.

Paul Gebhardt (left) was among those mushers and teams that arrived in Nome on Wednesday.

Photo and Story by Ellen Lockyer, KSKA – Anchorage

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Iditarod Field Notes: #7

Wed, March 17, 2010

Blog by Ellen Lockyer, KSKA – Anchorage

Nome Wednesday

Lance Mackey pulled it off. Hans Gatt almost caught him. Jeff King finished his Iditarod career in third place.

The Last Great Drama played out on Front Street Tuesday afternoon, with records created, records shattered, and a brand new Iditarod in the offing.

Lance Mackey won his fourth championship in a row, breaking his personal Iditarod finish record by about a day,  but not quite topping Martin Buser’s eight day, 22-hour run.

Mackey lacked but an hour to break that record.  Not a great disappointment, considering the four-in-a-row win.  Hans Gatt did a masterful job of  jumping two positions from Unalakleet.  But he couldn’t catch Mackey when Mackey had his mind set on getting there first.

Jeff King, followed the two down Front Street, reminisced about his first Iditaord run, and kissed the race, and a dog named Shannon goodbye with a tear in his eye.

That was all on Tuesday.

The Nome fire siren has been braying intermittently all night, announcing mushers two miles out.  Dog drivers have been arriving at regular intervals, and the top ten has made it in, followed by four of the top twenty.

Familiar names are popping up on the Iditarod website’s stats page.  Ken Anderson,  John Baker,  Ramey Smyth, Hugh Neff, Sebastian Schnuelle, Dallas Seavey and Mitch  Seavey.

Mackey Wins 4th Consecutive Iditarod

Tue, March 16, 2010

Lance Mackey (above in bib) won an unprecedented fourth consecutive Iditarod on Tuesday.

He arrived in Nome ahead of Hans Gatt and Jeff King.

King (right) led for much of the race and praised his team but said they needed more rest than Mackey’s in the final push to the finish. Ken Anderson is expected into Nome after King.

John Baker, Hugh Neff, Ramey Smyth, Sebastian Schnuelle, Dallas Seavey and Mitch Seavey round out the top ten in the standings. So far, 14 mushers have scratched and 54 are still on the trail.

Rookie Hank Debruin currently holds the Red Lantern. He is resting at the Nulato checkpoint, almost 350 miles from Nome.

Photos and Story by Ellen Lockyer, KSKA – Anchorage

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Mackey Wins Iditarod

Tue, March 16, 2010

Lance Mackey won  his fourth consecutive Iditarod arriving in Nome just before 3 p.m. today.

Hans Gatt and Jeff King were expected in Nome sometime after 4 p.m.

Other mushers of interest (and the number of dogs):

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Mackey In and Out of Saftey Racing With Lead

Tue, March 16, 2010

Lance Mackey continued his drive to win another Iditarod stopping only a few minutes in Safety about 11:37 this morning. He was racing with 12 dogs.

Hans Gatt, who had passed Jeff King on Monday, left White Mountain about 6:40 this morning with  11 dogs. King left about 7:06 with 12 dogs. They are the closest to Mackey but still trailing.

Other mushers of interest (and the number of dogs):

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Mackey Leading Out of White Mountain

Tue, March 16, 2010

Lance Mackey was out of White Mountain early Tuesday morning and on his way to Nome with 11 dogs and what appeared to be a commanding lead in the Iditarod.

Hans Gatt, who had passed Jeff King on Monday, left White Mountain about 7 this morning, according to the GPS system tracking the mushers. He was about 13 miles behind Mackey. King was still in White Mountain at 7 a.m. Gatt and King had 12 dogs.

Other mushers of interest (and the number of dogs):

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Iditarod Field Notes: #6

Mon, March 15, 2010

Blog by Ellen Lockyer, KSKA – Anchorage

Nome –

Remember that line in the Rocky Horror Show where the guy says: “Come up to the lab and see what’s on the slab and tremble in anticipation.”

Well, Nome is trembling in anticipation right now.

Downtown, the burled arch is up, the cameras stand ready and someone was testing the town’s scratchy loud speakers on Front Street. They sounded just as scratchy as the last time I was here. Brilliant sunshine adds to the excitement. Spring is on the way and folks have shed their winter cocoons of parka, muffler and heavy boots.

Cabs buzz everywhere and tourists are pouring in.

You can tell them apart from the locals by the newness of their winter outfits. Designer arctic duds. But everyone seems to be having a good time. We talk to a lady from Upstate New York, who is here with her whole family just to see the finish.

Speculation is rife as to when the actual finish will happen. About noon on Tuesday? Earlier? Later? Depends on when the leaders are out of White Mountain, and we will just have to wait. [Lance Mackey reached White Mountain Monday evening - about 8:45.]

Mackey Continues to Build on Iditarod Lead

Mon, March 15, 2010

Away from the spotlight that is directed towards the frontrunners of the Iditarod, other races are taking place further back on the trail.  Mushers in the middle or back of the field might be trying to climb up a few positions in the standings, or they might be challenging themselves just to keep moving down the trail.

Tim Bodony, APRN

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Iditarod Afternoon Update: Mackey Leads, Gatt Passes King

Mon, March 15, 2010

Lance Mackey  raced in and out of Elim this afternoon taking only a 15-minute break. Mackey has led the race for several checkpoints. He is down to 11 dogs.

Hans Gatt passed Jeff King in Elim after taking only a 16-minute break. He left with 12 dogs. King left just before 5 p.m. with 12 dogs. King rested just over an hour and a half in Elim.

The next official checkpoint for the leaders is White Mountain.

Other mushers of interest (and the number of dogs):

Follow the Iditarod on APRN, at APRN.org and on Twitter @APRN or @Iditarod.

Iditarod Field Notes: #5

Mon, March 15, 2010

Blog and Photo by Ellen Lockyer, KSKA – Anchorage

Monday Morning in Unalakleet

Top drivers moved out with the Unalakleet wind Sunday night or early this morning.

Lance Mackey and Jeff King moved up to Shaktoolik against biting winds. Race leaders now into and out of Koyuk. But back in downtown Unk, there is the slow, quiet feel of a Sunday morning. Mushers still coming in, but more relaxed.

Jason Barron tells me this mad push for faster and faster runs will take its toll eventually. He chats over breakfast with the Yukon’s Michelle Phillips, red faced from the wind, just off the trail and laughing over breakfast. They swap advice on how much downtime to take in Unk. Talkeetna’s Gerry Sousa in after feeding his team. He’s relaxed and ready for more trail time.

Last night, Martin Buser, Rick Swenson, and Sonny Lindner showed up one at a time like subway cars. Buser in high spirits, chatting with friends and tourists. Swenson, cranky as a grizzley – Lindner relaxed and chatty and ready to get back to the trail. He says he’s exactly where he wants to be.

Gerry Sousa tells me at breakfast about the reserve energy dogs have, that most mushers won’t want to tap into until the end. Dogs have a built in safety factor he says. They simply won’t go when the gas tank is dry.

Iditarod Noon Update

Mon, March 15, 2010

Video by Patrick Yack, APRN – Anchorage

Lance Mackey  was the first out of Koyuk today – just a couple of minutes before 6 a.m. – with 12 dogs.

Jeff King left Koyuk about two hours later with13 dogs.  Hans Gatt – with 12 dogs – left Koyuk about an hour after King.

Other mushers of interest (and the number of dogs):

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Iditarod Start: From Snow Level

Mon, March 15, 2010

You can hear the dogs coming a block or two away, even at a slow pace during the start of the Iditarod.

Here’s what they look like from snow level.

Mackey Leads Out of Koyuk; King and Gatt Right Behind

Mon, March 15, 2010

Lance Mackey  was the first out of Koyuk today – just a couple of minutes before 6 a.m. – with 12 dogs.

Jeff King was still in Koyuk with 13 dogs when Mackey left. Hans Gatt – with 12 dogs – reached Koyuk about an hour after King.

Other mushers of interest (and the number of dogs):

Judy Currier scratched in Galena.

Follow the Iditarod on APRN, at APRN.org or on Twitter @APRN or Iditarod.

Lance Mackey: Fan Favorite

Mon, March 15, 2010

They want his autograph.

On the photo they have taken.

On their Iditarod program.

On their sleeve.

They ask about his dogs. His strategy.

He smiles. Always. Poses. Pats a back.

Lance Mackey is a folk hero. He is an Iditarod champion.

Musher Newton Marshall

Mon, March 15, 2010

Blog and Photos by Tim Bodony, APN

Musher Newton Marshall arrives in Galena over the weekend. Marshall is making his first Iditarod.

Although a rookie, Marshall has been running near the middle of the field.

Larry, Lance Mackey’s famous lead dog with three Iditarod victories and four Yukon Quest victories to his credit.

Larry was put in charge of the team that Mackey provided to Marshall this year. Marshall reported that Larry is limping a bit, but wasn’t sure he would need to be dropped.

Video by Patrick Yack, APRN – Anchorage

Mackey and King Battling as They Reach Norton Sound

Sun, March 14, 2010

Lance Mackey and Jeff King continue battling to reach Nome first.

Mackey and King were out of Shaktoolik and making their towards Norton Sound. Mackey had about an hour head start out Shaktoolik with 12 dogs. King had 13.

Other mushers of interest (and the number of dogs):

Judy Currier scratched in Galena.

Follow the Iditarod on APRN, at APRN.org or on Twitter @APRN or Iditarod.

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