Flashback: My First Iditarod, 2000

I was about as wide-eyed a rookie fan as there comes in 2000, somehow feeling like I'd fallen into some long-time fan's dream and was trying to make every minute count. To the best of my admittedly fuzzy memory, this was my first sighting of the sled dog statue along 4th Avenue.
Teacher Ann Morgan and DeeDee Jonrowe. Ann and I had arrived on the same flight and it seemed as if we'd instantly become friends.

DeeDee a bit later in the morning.

I was still wide-eyed enough of a rookie to be intimidated by Karen Ramstead (don't let it go to your head, Karen) and remember somehow thinking someone would run me off as Karen's family and friends grouped for a photo. Hey, I said I was a rookie and kept having the thought that someone would realize how much more deserving someone else was and toss me off the street and give my pass (which was courtesy of Plettner Kennels) to someone else.

Mallie and Dr. Sonny King. Sonny no longer races but I count Mallie as one of my first Iditarod friends and still appreciate her willingness to take this starry-eyed rookie under her wing.

Why was I so starry eyed? Photo opts like this one probably had something to do with it. I've only recently found some of my hard copy print photos from the race and have more, but simply being able to see Susan Butcher in the flesh was enough to make the day special, so toss in the rest and, like, wow!

What a hoot! I was tapped to work security at the restart, which was out of Bumpus Field in Wasilla that year. I'm pretty sure I took photos of each and every team that passed, figuring this adventure in Alaska was a one shot deal and that I'd better enjoy it cos I'd never be back. Uh, okay. Ha Here's Karen's team passing my position on her way to Knik. Karen yelled "Hi, June" to me and has no idea how impressed those around me were that I "knew" a musher. Suddenly, this rookie fan from Florida was fielding bunches of questions about how to volunteer and the race in general. Ah, if they'd only known....

This was the first race after the passing of Joe Redington Sr. Each musher had been given a flower to drop off at the end of the Redington's driveway on their way to the Knik Checkpoint. Vi was there to greet each as they passed. This is one of those unique memories that I talked about in "Becoming Alaskan" and it really did go a long way toward showing me how Alaskans operated. Everyone pulled together and was family, perhaps the most important element of the race to most of us, being a part of the Iditarod Family.

Iditarod Volunteer Meeting and a Peek at the Gift Shop

I parked where I'd never park in the summer, right in front of the path down to the little cabin and where Raymie would be giving rides to the left.

View from the end of the sidewalk.

Took this from just outside HQ, looking back across the lawn toward the cabin again and the parking lot, left. Big chunks of snow, huh?

Nothing had started yet, so I cruised the gift shop.

The big patch under the tv is this year's patch.

Hey, I know that book on the top left!

I actually pulled into the parking lot right behind Bob and Maureen, who are looking over the paperwork here. I didn't hang around long, so if anything of interest happened or was said, hopefully Maureen will fill us in.

People are beginning to gather in the meeting room.

But, since the meeting hadn't started, I wandered a bit more. These are this year's Volunteer shirts, available to only official volunteers as far as I know.

I call this the history corner or wall in my mind cos the wall is covered with old newspaper stories and interesting bits of race history.

Jon VanZyle designed Idita-shirt.

Ah, come on. You know you always need another stuffed husky, especially a mama one with puppy in hand, er, mouth.

For your Idita-cookies. Don't forget to share with the rest of us!

Ah, the meeting has started. Joanne had just asked for a show of hands from brand new volunteers. Deby Trosper standing, right. Deby, if you catch this, feed me the names of the others and I'll add them.

There were lots! Joanne, left front.

Sorry, Deby, you know it wouldn't be a photo day if I didn't manage to get you with your mouth open, tho' how else do you talk? The sign behind Deby on the wall is the one on the Idita-support web page on Yahoo, btw, tho' that shot was taken by Donna way, way back when. Anyway, I wandered away.... sorry had some other places to be, too ..... after this but if you've got questions about volunteering, you can find the info you need on the Iditarod's website or, for that matter, email me and I'll find the answer for you.

Wasilla Reads 1,000,000 Pages for Iditarod Time

The Wasilla Library was just beginning to put up their Iditarod display when I was there today. Eventually my books will be displayed here at the entrance with so many of the other books I've devoured in my quest to learn more about this sport and event. And, yes, I signed up to read.

Knik 200

Photo by Barb Redington, used with permission

Jon Little's daughter helping him get ready to run
Photo by Barb Redington, used with permission

Photo by Barb Redington, used with permission
This one had to be early on, but not sure what time Barb took it.

Cool photo, dogs and the moon
Photo by Barb Redington, used with permission

Must be getting close to start time...

Photo by Barb Redington, used with permission

Photo by Barb Redington, used with permission.

Barb's out near the end of the chute for this one, looking back toward the Knik Bar

This one and the rest are mine. I'm not real happy with these pix -- my camera was even less happy with the cold -- but figure something is better than nothing. In any case, Martin wasn't there but Sue Allen was there with one of his puppy teams.

Nice doggie coats.

Kim Trickett approaches the line to start.

Not sure whose teams, but think the one on the right is Jon Little's team. Always fun to look out over the prep area and watch the dogs being harnessed and then being impatient as they await their turns.

The race started at ten, so the light still wasn't real strong. This is Erin Redington waiting, Ryan (I think) right in front of her playing handler.

Erin's team at the line. I think she's wearing one of the parkas she made.

Erin heading off across the lake. One of her hurdles in this race is that the dogs essentially pass their kennel, so practice like this race is great for them to learn that you don't turn in just because you're passing your turn.

One of Lee Kearney's dogs slipped a harness, so everyone was reacting to that and heading to help.

As they struggle to get Lee's dog re-harnessed, the handlers move Lee's team over and Jon Little's team (rear) is brought into the chute. They'd get Jon underway, then let Lee go. BTW, today is Jon's birthday, so happy birthday, Jon, and have a great race.

A couple of Jon's dogs.

They're off....and my camera is whining that it doesn't wanna take a picture cos it's cold out there! Ha

I think these are Hugh Neff's dogs, which means I somehow missed Varan Hoyt. Sorry, Varan.

This is definitely Hugh, putting a dog back where it belongs as it hopped the gangline with seconds to spare.

Relo Burri, one of the new names to me.

Relo is off. See the ladder? See the person on the ladder? That's Barb Redington, who obviously took a hint from Jeff Schultz on how to get good angles for photos.

Sue Allen heading to the chute with a Buser puppy team.

Sue

And Sue again, surrounded at the line.

Caleb Hathaway, another new name for me.

Caleb. I was edging off the lake, gotta admit, hearing the warmth of the bar calling me, so this one was taken from behind the musher, giving you their view as they await time to go.

Ken Anderson, defending champion

Ken at the line. I kept having the urge to run up and fix bibs, but managed to restrain myself. Ha

Still back at the truck, Karin chats as she awaits her turn.

That's Doug Grilliot holding Dave Dalton's (#13) dogs.

As you can see, I'm working my way off the lake.

Sharing some love

The truck was Vern's, but not sure if the dogs are his or not and never got a chance to ask.

Last musher to go out, Misha Pedersen

Author Encounter -- Sue Henry

Sue Henry was at Annabelle's Books today doing book signings and I decided not only to stop by but to gift her with my two Iditarod books, which she was kind enough to pose with here. Sue is probably best known to Iditarod fans for her Jessie Arnold Series (think "Murder on the Iditarod Trail" and "Beneath the Ashes," seen in the photo) but check out all her books! Fun reading!

Newton is back in Alaska!

Doing these in sorta a rush, so may have mixed photos, but I think this set all came courtesy of Bonnie Foster. Theresa's given me the go-ahead to share some of hers, too, so will add more later as needed, tho' figure most of hers will hit Go Mush, so check out her site, too.

I'm not 100% sure of his name, I think it's Kyle, but Kyle is from the ADN and since Newton wasn't there yet, looks like he was chatting with Cain.

ADN Kyle, Cain and Tonya

Cain waits, cell phone in hand for entertainment

Gail and Theresa waiting on Newton. Not sure of the name of the other gal, someone let me know, but it was great to see folks out to welcome Newton back to Alaska again.

Here's Newton!!!

Jeff Chandler, Cain, Theresa, Newton and Tonya. No, Lance wasn't there.

Theresa, Newton and Bonnie

Theresa, Newton and Tonya

ADN Kyle(?) interviewing Newton

I want his video camera, thank you.

While Newton lets the folks back home know he's finally arrived safely (there were travel hitches), Tonya leads the way toward the great outdoors.

Newton, ready to head north to Come Back Kennel and get started training.

Mushing HIstory Conference, Sunday

Pre-conference, just hanging out, shooting the breeze: Pat Schue, Joe May, Rod Perry, Eric Rogers, and Bonnie Foster's back

Jane Haigh, author of Gold Rush Dogs, shows off a copy of Baldy of Nome not only signed by Esther Birdsall Darling but Baldy himself. No, don't think it was really Baldy's paw print, but Darling did provide the paw-tograph. Very, very cool.

Alas, the interior bookplate was faded, as were the autographs, but at least a closer look at what I got to hold!

Joe May talking to Talkeetna teacher-musher Rich Hum.

I couldn't resist stalking the presentation computer when I saw it cycling some photos, including this one.

Getting set up.

Back row attendees, who eventually moved forward when some folks re-configured the room a bit.

Jeez, guys, smile! Joe May was modest and thought he shouldn't be in the photo since he wasn't a presenter, but I put on my "boss the mushers around hat" and made him pose with Joee Redington and Jeff Dinsdale.

Post his presentation, Jeff posed with the movie about "Nikki," a Disney sled dog. He gave us lots of history about the dogs involved, including the fact that tho' there were many dogs used as Nikki, the chief Nikki was from the kennel of Joe Redington Sr, with Joee tossing in some added info about the dog, which had been Timmy's, he says.

I'm not sure if we'd worked our way up to lunch yet or not, but given that bodies are missing, we must have. As one who doesn't do mornings well, not to mention is outta practice doing them, I wandered away from home this morning without a sandwich, so my thanks to Pat for sharing part of her lunch with me. I really do need a keeper sometimes. Ha

Rod Perry, who ran the very first Iditarod ever. I managed to snag an autographed copy of his first book while he was there, but today's presentation was a bit of a dramatic reading focused on his second book, which will be the one to focus on the race itself. Think Robert Service, very dramatic and well done.

Chas dropped in to give us a sneak peek at the upcoming video by the Iditarod on the history of the race and, let's face it, mushing itself, too. He had a slide loop going behind him but right here he's reading a letter they've found that was written by Joe Sr. in the midst of trying to make that first race happen. A great conversation between many followed.

I don't think Chas will mind me sharing a photo of the actual letter to Howard Farley of Nome that he was reading from above.

Joee Redington, in the blue jacket, showed a powerpoint presentation he'd made with his dad for a symposium in Fairbanks. Joe Sr's voice was the narration and it was a look at "50 Years of Dog Mushing," including photos of the climbing of Denali with dog teams that Joe Sr. made with Susan Butcher.

I don't have everyone's name, so will wait for Helen to fill in blanks for me, but this was the bunch left at the tail end before I headed out.