Congratulations, Snowhook!
Our team in the greatest sled dog race on earth. Here’s an informative – and pretty moving – final report from Rebecca, CEO of Snowhook. We thank Rebecca for taking the time to send us reports during the race. It’s great to have an insider’s perspective. Rebecca and AJ and all your terrific members of the nation within: get some rest!
He started the race with seven lead dogs, each with his or her own strength. Yet, with each call from the drop dog coordinator, I watched the number of lead dogs still on the trail dwindle. ‘This could be cutting it close,’ I thought to myself more than once. A dog team without a front end is an unguided missile. As the race continued and I watched his speed decrease and his rest time increase I determined that two things were happening: the dogs picked up something on the trail, and he only had enough lead dogs to go around. Upon is arrival in Nome, I would find I was right on both counts. That he nursed the dogs through a stomach bug was shared the dog lot, but my theory about limited lead dogs was confirmed as I watched the team run to the burled Arch.
Running next to Amy in lead was one of our rescue dogs, Harris. If she did not have his heart before, she certainly had it now. Running out of options, he made the command decision to try Harris in lead. After a couple looks of her shoulder in the early miles out of Kaltag from her new found position, he reassured her, “You’re doing good.” This encouragement was enough for a dog who once had no future to lead the team to the arch in Nome.
Once at the finish line, he wasted no time lifting his heart over his head to award her Snowhook’s biggest honor. With his first finish in 2011, a Snowhook tradition was established—lifting a dog who showed something extra on the trail to touch paw to burled arch. Well done, little one, well done.
***
I am proud of AJ and the dogs. Despite dropping leaders, a busted race sled that was swapped for a tank of a sled, and stomach bug—all reasons that can lead to a scratch—Snowhoook reached the goal line with eleven happy dogs. I could not be more proud.
Lead dog Harris (with namesake):
Tags: AJ, Iditatod, Rebecca, Snowhook
This entry was posted on Friday, March 18th, 2016 at 7:33 am and is filed under Chet The Dog. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
8:05 am on March 18th, 2016
We could not be more proud of our team, either, Rebecca.
Thank you to Spence and Rebecca for the reports.
So glad that you are safe.
Good morning all.
8:35 am on March 18th, 2016
Good morning.
Happy tears here, for Harris and the Hobbit, and AJ and Rebecca, and the entire Snowhook team, both racers and otherwise.
Still more teams out there. We pray for them all to return safe and healthy.
9:51 am on March 18th, 2016
Well done Harris! I hope everyone at Snowhook is getting a well-earned rest.
Good morning all.
9:58 am on March 18th, 2016
We just had some excitement. A stranger in a pickup drove in. He had two big dogs who we didn’t know. We were all over that truck. Oh yes we were. Mom was shook up and called the cops! Why? Does she think we can’t fight those two dogs and that old guy?
10:36 am on March 18th, 2016
Team Snowhook…We are So Proud…Sniff.
O’Howlers: YEEP!
10:42 am on March 18th, 2016
Howlers – we bet you could have taken them with one paw tied behind your back.
We are so glad that the teams are all doing well on the run. Do we know when the awards banquet is?
Getting ready for company dinner tonight. Vegetarian Bill the Drummer and Andy the Pottery Master are coming. The Storyteller has requested Caramel Apple Pie for dessert. Time to get cooking.
10:59 am on March 18th, 2016
Tupper’s Mama, Sounds like a fun evening. Nothing is as much fun as sitting around a dinner table and talking to friends.
Rebecca and AJ. Thanks so much for the updates. It is sort of bittersweet to think that this is your last Iditarod. At least for a while. I think AJ is right to continue his education and I don’t doubt that sometime in the future he may be a musher in the ‘last great race’ again.
I am having fun at the Henhouse this weekend. (Yes, again!) and will check back in tonight.
11:02 am on March 18th, 2016
Tupper and Gilly, in the litter that Truman, the puppy not the husband, is in is another puppy named Drummer, one named Fourhawks and one named Bev. That litter has to be special.
We too are very proud of AJ and the Snowhook team! He looked very happy at the end of the race. And Harris and Amy looked like pros leading the way to the arch.
Thank you, AJ and Rebecca, for taking us along for the ride. We are honored to know and help sponsor Snowhook.
Thank you, SQ, for the forum for us to follow the last great race.
11:14 am on March 18th, 2016
We only wish every one of youse could have heard the fab interview with the BDHW just before the team’s arrival in the early morning hours yesterday.
Dawson: All of us miss Siber and mom so much. We are forever grateful for them introducing us to the Last Great Race and ultimately, via Whitey-Lance, our dear friends at Snowhook.
Whitey-Lance looking kool.
11:20 am on March 18th, 2016
And wasn’t he the First Team Member with Paw to the Burled Arch?
Have Fun Everyone…whether Enjoying Time With Friends or Playing With Fabric…Have a Great Day.
11:25 am on March 18th, 2016
Or better yet…as Our Good Friend Wose always says…Create a Good Day.
Now off to have the Best Meal of the Day…Breakfast…with a Big Bowl of Cawfee.
11:37 am on March 18th, 2016
Good morning, everyone! So much to love about Snowhook, the dogs, the people and the effort shown by those. Thank you AJ, Rececca Dr. Joe and all the racers and otherwise dogs.
Getting ready here to go Whale watching. BBL.
12:29 pm on March 18th, 2016
Before jumping on the boeat, I thought I’d put a couple more fotos from the Sea Life Center. One high school on the other side of the mountain decided to do a beach cleanup and picked up lots of things from the beach. They created this trash sculpture which they called Ophelia.
12:32 pm on March 18th, 2016
Not just ocean creatures are shown. This display shows an eider duck nest, complete with eider down.
12:34 pm on March 18th, 2016
They also have a nursery and if you look into the playpen/crib you’ll see a baby otter.
12:37 pm on March 18th, 2016
This strance critter is called a peach tree.
12:40 pm on March 18th, 2016
This ugly fellow is a warrior fish.
12:46 pm on March 18th, 2016
A large exhibit explained that the Good Friday earthquake of 1964 didn’t wipe out the salmon with the 40 foot tsunami since each year’s hatch will spawn over 2 years. An adaptation to outsmart mother nature. When salmon spawn their colors and looks change (and not for the better in my opinion).
12:51 pm on March 18th, 2016
Thanks for All the Photos, Herd’s Mom. We hope to Visit Steward Someday.
12:52 pm on March 18th, 2016
Who knew crabs could be so colorful?
12:54 pm on March 18th, 2016
The cops found our perp! They read him the riot act.
12:56 pm on March 18th, 2016
Some local original and very colorful artwork is displayed. Check out the sea lion.
12:59 pm on March 18th, 2016
BooBear – we would be willing to bet that Drummer will grow up to be funny, loyal and hardworking – if a bit scatterbrained. heh
HOH – we are loving the pics – we love Ophelia!
Howlers – if that perp ever comes around again, have Luna give him “the look”.
Looking forward to hearing more stories from the trail.
1:00 pm on March 18th, 2016
Howlers, I’m really glad that the cops got your guy and you didn’t have to grab him by the pant leg.
I thought this polar bear was beautiful.
1:01 pm on March 18th, 2016
Our Friend from the past. We miss him and his mom
1:04 pm on March 18th, 2016
I think that all of Harrises puppies will be special.
This Jay looks like quite a character.
1:16 pm on March 18th, 2016
Is that Siber H? Yes, he and his mom are missed!
The last painting is not in the same style. Nonetheless it is really great.
1:18 pm on March 18th, 2016
Sibe team in and out of Safety!!!! Go Sibes!!!! Yay Lisbet!
1:18 pm on March 18th, 2016
It is been snowing off and on here since we arrived. Isn’t sticking to the ground so it is very hard to prove that has been snowing but…here is proof!
1:20 pm on March 18th, 2016
ummm… Scratch that. Those Sibes are still in Safety. Come on Guys!
1:20 pm on March 18th, 2016
Howlers, good news about the Huskys ????
1:31 pm on March 18th, 2016
Herd’s Mom: Very Cool Polar Bear!
Tupper&Gilly: Thank You for that Photo of Someone We Miss very much. Sob.
Go Rob Cooke! Go Huskies!!
1:36 pm on March 18th, 2016
O.K. Now Lisbet and her Sibes are out of Safety and on their way to Nome!!!! We hope our stupid DSL stys up long enough to watch them arrive.
BSD, Rob Cooke is still in White Mountain. He has been there since 16:41 yesterday. His page reported that he decided to give his Sibes more rest. They are tired but o.k.
1:42 pm on March 18th, 2016
O’Howlers: Thanks for the Update on Rob & Team.
Go Lisbet! Go Sibes!!
1:46 pm on March 18th, 2016
Hat tip to the two beautiful Harris’s!
Thank you for the report, Rebecca and the daily reports. Ditto to the Chet the Dog blog for hosting and supporting the Snowhook team.
Herd’s Mom: Cool photos! Love the polar bear painting the best. Ophelia is amazing. Thanks for the glimpse of Seward, Alaska.
Tupper’s Mama: Loving the Siber!
1:54 pm on March 18th, 2016
Masquers: Whitey-Lance is sooo kool!
Staff: Let’s see, quilting or smelling skunk, not really a tough choice.
Seems quite a few teams are needing more rest at Safety this year.
Go Lizbet!
1:57 pm on March 18th, 2016
Dswson: Speaking of Safety, have you or anyone heard anything more about Nathan Schroeder’s extended 36 hour stay around Safety? We are assuming illness…either him or the team.
1:59 pm on March 18th, 2016
I really like the painting of the last bird. That you for the photos Herd’s Mom.
2:14 pm on March 18th, 2016
Masquers: Nathan’s dog went on strike, according to this newspaper article. Dogs have the final say.https://www.adn.com/article/20160316/lesser-known-iditarod-tussles-and-sit-down-strikes-dogs
2:15 pm on March 18th, 2016
Wonder if there is some kind of bug going around this year?
2:16 pm on March 18th, 2016
I am still shook up from this morning’s intruder. The police found the guy and he lives at the other end of our township. He has apparently been going thru our trash, and we think he was back here to see what else he could help himself to. Also, we think he’d been back here before, because our camera caught the Howlers going crazy about something/someone outside while we were at work.
For those who don’t realize how private and secluded our farm is, this is like knowing an intruder has been in your home.
2:24 pm on March 18th, 2016
Glad the howlers are safe even if they are a little shaken. Hope that your little visitor does not come back soon.
Appreciated the article about dogs running and sit down strikes. Perhaps the new speed is close to a breakneck speed.
2:31 pm on March 18th, 2016
Looks like Lisbett is 15 miles out of Nome and “the boys” (Daugherty and Beale who wantered around the first day) are 17 miles out!
2:35 pm on March 18th, 2016
Did anyone read the intervie of Aliy: “But when asked about the impact it had as she took her eight-hour break in White Mountain, 77 miles from the finish line, she said, “It changed my life.” Wow. I hate that.
2:37 pm on March 18th, 2016
Howlers’ Mom, any violation of one’s person or even space changes a life. Sad some people think it is okay to do this to others.
2:48 pm on March 18th, 2016
Time to bundle and go line up for the boat. BBML (a 4+ hour tour).
3:00 pm on March 18th, 2016
Dawson: Excellent investigative reporting! Yes, as the article stated, the dogs do have the final say. If not getting the required rest they will not hesitate to go on strike.
HOH: Several mushers reported team members coming down with a bug of some sort.
Keep warm on that brrry cold tour!
Howler’s Mom: That intruder story is very scary…especially considering he brought his two dogs along with him. He no doubt figured he had nothing to fear, thinking you would be at work today as before. So relieved the cops caught him! Can you put some kind of silent alarm on the gate to the farm?
About Aliy…as you will remember, her statement was brief. She would not go into any detail and stated this was the last time she would speak publicly about what happened during those frightening 2 hours on the trail.
3:32 pm on March 18th, 2016
HOH! A 4-hour tour!!! We heard of a boat named Minnow that had planned a 3-hour tour. For some reason, the movie star and millionaire packed luggage. Heh!
Masquers, we do not have a gate, nor an alarm system. Pop said the dropcam will now be set up to watch our driveway between the barn and the house.
4:09 pm on March 18th, 2016
Lisbet is only 5 miles from Nome. Run Sibes Run!
By the way, don’t you all think that Whitey-Lance looks all-Sibe?
4:24 pm on March 18th, 2016
Live feed is not working! Does anyone know how we can watch?
4:29 pm on March 18th, 2016
Oh dear – no live feed for Lisbet’s triumphant finish?!? Well, she certainly has our respect and praise.
4:43 pm on March 18th, 2016
HOH & Dawson: Good to know those teams going in circles at the beginning of the race ultimately pass under the burled arch.
Howlers: Armed Sibes couldn’t hurt…of course the lack of opposable thumbs is always a problem.
Damnit! live feed is dead again.
4:48 pm on March 18th, 2016
Damn damn damn!!!
Why does Insider hate us Sibes?????
4:59 pm on March 18th, 2016
I went into town so missed the teams coming in.
My theory on the live cam is that whenever too many viewers are trying to see the video, it crashes. Whatever is happening, it is very annoying.
Yikes!
Howlers: How scary for your Mom and Pop to have some stranger rooting through their things way out in the boonies.
5:26 pm on March 18th, 2016
Dawson, that wimpy guy wouldn’t stand a chance against me. And neither would his dogs.
5:32 pm on March 18th, 2016
Zeus! We Have No Doubt!
6:13 pm on March 18th, 2016
Rob Cooke finally left White Mountain.
6:37 pm on March 18th, 2016
Go Sibes!!
Hopefully that cursed live stream will be fixed by the time he comes in.
The last status report was titled “postmortem”, advising there were power issues at their datacenter and the problem had since been resolved. That message was from yesterday so obviously not.
8:23 pm on March 18th, 2016
Reminder: tomorrow midnight EDT is the deadline for phenomenal photos.
8:24 pm on March 18th, 2016
Rio: You mentioned a possible Auction and Spring Boutique Fundraiser.
Dog knows we have Plenty of Items here to contribute.
Just say the word.
8:30 pm on March 18th, 2016
MP&LLM: Yeep! You mean we still might have a chance?
BTW…Someone here wants to know if any fotos she sent came through.
8:36 pm on March 18th, 2016
Well, we have leftovers from dinner. Bill the Drummer got a last minute call to go to New York for a music gig with a famous group. More tomorrow when we know more.
But we had a giant veggie lasagna, Parmesan zucchini sticks, and the infamous pie. Andy ate like a trooper, as did the guys here. But plenty more to spare – Bill better get back in town and come get his share.
And Zeus – we are pretty sure you would have had back up from the Donut.
8:44 pm on March 18th, 2016
Masquers, did she use a bearessentials email?
9:42 pm on March 18th, 2016
MPM: Yes, she did. How many showed up?
10:04 pm on March 18th, 2016
Tomorrow!…Yeeep!…Someone here better get cracking!..snort!…Time. Where does it go. Who keeps it?….sniff!
10:05 pm on March 18th, 2016
MollysMaw!…We are just now watching Idol and the last 6 performers….yeep!…Of course I have faves. La’Porcha…sniff!…She is so good she doesn’t even need to win to make her career…heh!heh!
10:12 pm on March 18th, 2016
MollysMaw!…Mackensie Bourg. He is my Winner. In my heart anyway. I love his style…heh!heh!.. (of course La Porchia is a huge winner no matter what else happens!)…chufffle!…Best Last Season EVER!…snort!
10:14 pm on March 18th, 2016
Harris!…sniff!…I’m so glad I got to meet both of them in the same year. Both amazing….snort!…Thanks be to The Harris’s!….WOOOOO!
10:21 pm on March 18th, 2016
Got home safely from the 4 hour tour. Didn’t pack a bag but wore most of what we had here in Seward and boy, did we guess right. First hour was pretty and calm with darkening skies. Then the wind began to twitch, the boat, to pitch and suddenly about half the people on the boat began to wretch. The DDD and I were not included (Me only because I had wrist bands with pressure points). The camera acted up so I will try to find any fotos later.
10:32 pm on March 18th, 2016
HOH, was there a First Mate with a funny hat on that boat trip? A professor?
I want my photo taken. Kat’s aunt won’t be able to resist me. But does Mom remember to take photos of me me me? Nope!
10:36 pm on March 18th, 2016
WristBands!…My friend swears by them…snort!…Some folks say they are a mental thing and don’t really work…grunt!…She and her brother and others were on an Alaska Cruise way back when the weather went south and the big-ass cruise ship was rockin’ and rollin’…gah!…Everyone was green and sick. Not her and her brother. There were wearing their wristbands with pressure points and played in the on-board casino all by theirselves. My friend won big that day…snort!snort!
10:37 pm on March 18th, 2016
WristBands!…My friend swears by them…snort!…Some folks say they are a mental thing and don’t really work…grunt!…She and her brother and others were on an Alaska Cruise way back when the weather went south and the big-ass cruise ship was rockin’ and rollin’…gah!…Everyone was green and sick. Not her and her brother. There were wearing their wristbands with pressure points and played in the on-board cas-ino all by their-selves. My friend won big that day…snort!snort!
10:39 pm on March 18th, 2016
Monitor!…My first post has been monitored ….grunt!…I did a bit of creative editing and i worked…heh!
10:42 pm on March 18th, 2016
Sigh….My understanding of the Blog Monitor is getting very blurred….grunt!…Can someone give us some simple rules to post by?…wheeze!
10:45 pm on March 18th, 2016
Riõ: Very clever improvising.
10:55 pm on March 18th, 2016
Anything to do with footwear or games of chance are forbidden. And don’t try to pick items up from the corner far-ma-see either.
10:58 pm on March 18th, 2016
I liked the clever improvising 🙂 I have used the band for 30 years in planes, boats and cars. I can feel if the bands move off the pressure points and feel woozy. Fix them and all is good.
10:59 pm on March 18th, 2016
Maskers!…It was the first time my friend saw Alaska!…snort!…She met a guy who owned Bed m’ Breakfast in a beautiful seaport town. She prayed and prayed that she would one day be able to go back to Alaska and run a Bed m Breakfast…wheeze!…Part of her dream has been answered in a very unique way…heh!
11:12 pm on March 18th, 2016
Cousin!…It was just a bit over a year ago that my friend’s cousin had a stroke while swimming in her pool. She was my friend’s most adored cousins. She was amazing. She was an amazing person. She had unbeknownst to us created an amazing Bed and Breakfast in Alaska. ..snort!…It was “a beautiful fairy land” her husband said at her funeral…sniff!sob!…He built if, she turned it into a Fairy Land wonder. It was/is beautiful….sob!… We here feel sad about all of this. She was living my friend’s dream and neither of them knew it…sob!
11:17 pm on March 18th, 2016
Howlers!…I am very sad an sick that this intrusion happened to you. You live on a farm to get away from this stuff. But even when my friend was a wee child there were intruders on the farm…snuff!…There are so many displaced people…so many in need….sob!…I’m so glad you are safe and sound.
11:23 pm on March 18th, 2016
Here is a nice quilt that was finished at Faye’s today.
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11:27 pm on March 18th, 2016
Staff!..Can I have it?…heh!
11:33 pm on March 18th, 2016
Riõ: We remember your Friend telling us about that beautiful bed and breakfast property in Alaska. sob.
11:36 pm on March 18th, 2016
Staff: That kool wolf quilt is for the next auction…right?
12:06 am on March 19th, 2016
Staff, beautiful quilt!
DAwson, I just beat the DDD 5 games out of 6. Whoo hoo!