End in Sight
What an endurance test the Iditarod is – and for CEO’s, too! Here’s Rebecca, our Snowhook CEO:
This could be another ‘No Post Today’ kind of a day. I am in Nome and my internet access is fairly non-existent.
After the obligatory White Mountain Wait, AJ will depart from the checkpoint and make the seventy-seven mile march to Nome where I will be waiting for him under the burled arch on Front Street.
Over the course of this training and race season, I have thought a lot about commitment to the dogs. Despite race records and standings, I am very proud of He is Not Cold For He Has Good Dogs for putting the dogs, their care and training ahead of personal interests, fatigue and other distractions.
I am proud of the dogs, too. They want to run. They need to run. They love to run.
Thank you to the Plunderers for making this possible for Snowhook. I believe a sniff is in order—such is the nature of the best-damn-handling-wife.
Tags: burled arch, Iditarod, plunderers, Rebecca, Showhook
This entry was posted on Friday, March 20th, 2015 at 8:31 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.
8:38 am on March 20th, 2015
Good morning, everyone (those who stayed up late, those who are early and those who katnapped)! Looks like AJ is not far from Safety now and gaining on Nome.
All kinds of “f” alliterations come to mind for Friday (frigid, frisky, friendly, fortuitous). Let’s try Final Friday on the march from Fairbanks to NOME!
8:45 am on March 20th, 2015
Thanks to Spence and Rebecca for the report, good morning to HOH, and Go Snowhook!
8:45 am on March 20th, 2015
Good morning! We here are so darn proud of our team! Woo Hoo!!! Just look at all those teams behind our team, and those who were not even able to finish. We always count on Our Musher and Our Team to beat the odds, and keep pushing forward. Onward Snowhook!!
Who will be lifted to touch the Burled Arch? And who was that last dog dropped? We are guessing that is still an unknown. Will that dog be shipped to Nome, to come home with the rest of the team, we wonder.
How about FABULOUS FINISH FRIDAY ? !!!!
9:05 am on March 20th, 2015
O’H, you are right: FABULOUS FINISH FRIDAY! Sorry, a little speep deps addled here.
9:33 am on March 20th, 2015
Good morning all. We love that – FABULOUS FINISH FRIDAY. Heading out now to Lena (2 hour trip) to meet with out accountant. Then lunch with friends, arriving back home before AJ arrives in Nome. We are thinking that will be about 4:00 our time.
We signed off early last night, but are adding our AMEN to that beautiful prayer. Thank you again Amalia and Leonard. And thank you Rebecca for the morning report.
Blessing today to all.
9:35 am on March 20th, 2015
Hey, Ole Doc, do ya think I can reach the burled arch from here? belch, snort
9:59 am on March 20th, 2015
DeeDee Jonrowe is in with 15 dogs. No one else in the race finished with that many dogs.
10:04 am on March 20th, 2015
AJ and the team are 30 miles out!
10:05 am on March 20th, 2015
Today is the first day of spring!
And a solar eclipse!
A perfect day for crossing under a burled arch!
We are very proud of our giant and we can’t wait to hear the inside story!
10:06 am on March 20th, 2015
But preferably not from the Insider.
10:09 am on March 20th, 2015
Ha ha. As if!
10:10 am on March 20th, 2015
I miss our Wose, sniff.
10:18 am on March 20th, 2015
Excellent report from the Best Damn Handler’s Wife (sniff). Thanks Spence, for making this possible.
I am extremely proud of our team! WhoooHooooo Snowhook! Almost to Safety!
10:23 am on March 20th, 2015
We love Fabulous Finish Friday.
This is the only time we wish we did have the insider, so we could watch AJ’s triumphant pass under the arch, and see the family back together.
But who knows. The Indider may not even show it.
Rebecca must be tingling right out of her bunny boots, waiting for her Giant. Is the Hobbit with her in Nome again?
10:27 am on March 20th, 2015
Mom is home with us us us! It is the First Day of Spring, and we are having a Snowstorm. Heh!
Mom told us we can watch the Snowhook Team finish LIVE on her big monitor, or maybe even on the BIG T.V.!!! YEEP!
10:27 am on March 20th, 2015
There are 33 mushers still behind Snowhook. The last 4 are still in Shaktoolik and seem to be staying close together and who could blame them? Nome will be a cloudy, mild 25*F today. 10*F for those farther back in the field.
10:29 am on March 20th, 2015
Howlers, you are some lucky dogs! WE have to sit and look over shoulders but at least we get to see it!
10:31 am on March 20th, 2015
Posts!….Those who post pretending to be me are the saddest of sads…grump!
Finish!….Yowser!…I thought I would be sleeping through our team finishing, but no! I get to see them finish LIVE come hell or high water…snort!
10:36 am on March 20th, 2015
Siber-Maw!…Quick like a spring bunny, go check your SDD…heh!heh!
10:37 am on March 20th, 2015
I’m glad the finish is in sight.
Good morning all.
10:47 am on March 20th, 2015
I really like today’s Google Doodle for the first day of spring.
10:58 am on March 20th, 2015
Barb!…So now Barb, everytime I look at the new cover art I feel like I am getting flipped off….grunt!…Thanks for that!
11:23 am on March 20th, 2015
Guys! Read this story about heroine Ellen Halverson finding and catching an escaped dropped sleddog! She is awesome!
http://www.adn.com/article/20150319/iditarod-musher-pays-bloody-price-rescuing-dropped-sled-dog
11:25 am on March 20th, 2015
It looks like our team is in Safety! Yeep!!!!
11:28 am on March 20th, 2015
In and Out. There’s no place like NOME!!! YEEP YARK!
11:35 am on March 20th, 2015
YARK!…Last stop NOME!….WOOOOO!
11:39 am on March 20th, 2015
Good for Ellen Halverson. Ouch for her nose.
Hooray for our team in Safety, a checkpoint sponsored by Jim and Vicki Sutterfield, friends of Snowhook Kennels.
11:45 am on March 20th, 2015
Blowing through to Nome. Get along little doggies!
12:04 pm on March 20th, 2015
If you go to the live finish you can see it is still dark in Nome. And on the right side people are chatting about AJ right now! People I don’t know…
12:14 pm on March 20th, 2015
Wolfie! Yes!! The First Day of Spring!!
A Wonderful Day to cross under the Burled Arch on this
Fabulous Finish Friday.
The Pixie will be waiting.
12:54 pm on March 20th, 2015
It does not look like Spring here. We already have 3.5 inches of snow and it is coming down heavy and is supposed to continue into late tonight.
1:10 pm on March 20th, 2015
Kamera!…I hope Rebecca stands in front of the live Kamera and waves at us…heh!heh!
1:11 pm on March 20th, 2015
Snow here in Chevy Chase too, although converted to rain mid morning. Sadly,I will miss AJ’s arrival in Nome in about an hour because of a work commitment, but I will be there in spirit.
1:20 pm on March 20th, 2015
Good day, everyone!
Howlers: What a story! Despite the pain she held on…but oh, her poor nose.
Having your mom home and getting to watch our team come in on the live feed, and on the wide screen no less, is the best.
The snowstorm? Not so much.
Riõ: That may have not been your post, but that foto of you and Doc is one of my alltime favorites. Your expressions are priceless.
Wolfie: We miss her too. sniff.
But I’ll bet she is lurking…Hi, Rose!
1:21 pm on March 20th, 2015
Nine miles and counting! Whoo hoo!
1:28 pm on March 20th, 2015
For those of you not on the Insider here is the interview with DeeDee Jonrowe at the finish.
http://iditarod.com/eye-on-the-trail-deedee-finishes-30th-iditarod/
1:39 pm on March 20th, 2015
Can anyone see anything on Insider?
1:40 pm on March 20th, 2015
Down to 6 miles! GO SNOWHOOK!
1:40 pm on March 20th, 2015
Thanks, Staff. Anything about AJ will be appreciated, too.
1:43 pm on March 20th, 2015
Come on, AJ! Woo Hooo!!!!!
1:46 pm on March 20th, 2015
I just talked to Trish on the chat board in the Iditarod site! YAY Trish!
1:47 pm on March 20th, 2015
WE saw a Trish, is that our UK Trish? The live feed is ???
1:50 pm on March 20th, 2015
We like the little kids playing in the Finish area on the live feed. Heh!
1:51 pm on March 20th, 2015
Staff: Our Trish? Woozer.
Waiting to Hear That Siren!
AaaaRoooooo!!
1:52 pm on March 20th, 2015
About 5 miles to go! I am watching the little flag. AJ is going 7.5 mph. At the live site right now there is only a couple people.
Charlie Benja is about 10 miles in back of AJ and traveling at 2.7 mph.
1:52 pm on March 20th, 2015
Future mushers!
1:52 pm on March 20th, 2015
Watcj for AJ he is near
1:55 pm on March 20th, 2015
Mom has hardly done a lick of work today. Who can work when there is a #19 flag to watch?
1:55 pm on March 20th, 2015
Trish is more computer savvy than many people I can think of. wish glad to know you’re watching the finish.
2:02 pm on March 20th, 2015
Waiting with baity breath.
2:04 pm on March 20th, 2015
We too M Kat
2:06 pm on March 20th, 2015
The Red Lantern position is now held by Cindy Abbot whose team has started off from Shatoolik across the ice to Koyuk. Brrrr!
Go Cindy!
Charlie Benja has slowed to 2 miles an hour. Go Charlie!
Our team rocks! WhoooooHooooooo! Go Snowhook!!!!
2:12 pm on March 20th, 2015
Staff: I don’t see youse in the conversation side-bar on the live feed.
Gah. Anyone else feel like that carpola little green flag is moving at a snail’s pace?
2:15 pm on March 20th, 2015
Our Team is up to 10 Miles an Hour!
GO SNOWHOOK!!!
2:16 pm on March 20th, 2015
Yes that was our Trish. I said “Hi” to her and she used my real name so that was her for sure.
Justin is going about 10 mph right now. He is getting close. Already on the Nome Council Road.
2:19 pm on March 20th, 2015
Over the River and Down the Road into Nome We Go!!!
WhooooHoooo!!!
2:21 pm on March 20th, 2015
Masquers, I believe I messaged her privately, although I don’t know how I did it.
THe horn just went off! Does that mean Justin is really close?
2:21 pm on March 20th, 2015
Siren just went off!!! Did you hear that?
2:23 pm on March 20th, 2015
Bella is on camera!!! YEEP!
2:23 pm on March 20th, 2015
Rebecca is standing waiting.
2:23 pm on March 20th, 2015
Hey Rebecca!!!! AWOOOOO!!!
2:23 pm on March 20th, 2015
Rebecca is in the middle of the live feed waiting for AJ to come in.
2:24 pm on March 20th, 2015
That might be Nicolas Petit she is talking to. Looks like him.
2:24 pm on March 20th, 2015
Plunderers have a working “insider”. Yay. Thanks, kids.
2:26 pm on March 20th, 2015
Oh My Dawg! IS that Rebecca!!!
2:26 pm on March 20th, 2015
OMD!!!! His tracker just disappeared off the map!!! wth!
2:27 pm on March 20th, 2015
They’re getting Rebecca ready for an interview AJ is close.
2:30 pm on March 20th, 2015
He is back. Just about up on Front St. now!!!! OMD This is so thrilling!
Bella posted on FB that the siren went off.
2:33 pm on March 20th, 2015
I just saw Sebastin and Rebecca
2:34 pm on March 20th, 2015
Yep! Dawson’s buddy Sebastian is right there with his big camera!
2:36 pm on March 20th, 2015
They’re making the announcement he’s on his way
2:39 pm on March 20th, 2015
RIO, I replied to your SDD.
2:39 pm on March 20th, 2015
Weeping openly here
2:42 pm on March 20th, 2015
Me too, Golinka.
2:44 pm on March 20th, 2015
He in the dogs are safe. Hallelujah
2:44 pm on March 20th, 2015
Sob, Sob We’re So Proud!!!
2:45 pm on March 20th, 2015
Mom is weeping too, Tupper.
After 1000 miles, AJ asked them if they were ready to go, and they were STILL jumping in the air to go go go!!! What a team!!!
2:45 pm on March 20th, 2015
The camera under the burled Arch set ups that we could not get a picture of AJ in the lead dog.
2:46 pm on March 20th, 2015
Yes, we are damn proud Bear! Our dogs are home. NOw I want to know which Dog got to touch the burled arch. Not a white one. It could be Rio Junior…cough cough cough..
2:46 pm on March 20th, 2015
So happy, so relieved, so proud of our team!
2:48 pm on March 20th, 2015
It wasn’t a black one either, Staff. We think it may have been Louisa Mae again?
2:48 pm on March 20th, 2015
Excellent job Snowhook!
2:49 pm on March 20th, 2015
Yay, Sebastan! Shortly he will have a fine report on AJ and the team.
Have we mentioned how proud of AJ, Rebecca, and the Snowhook dogs we are? sniff.
2:49 pm on March 20th, 2015
Yipee! I just watched AJ come in! I was in an informal meeting and had my laptop on. The others thought it was great, too.
I am so happy for the dogs, for AJ, and Rebecca. I know my sister was right there with them in Nome. That was her dream.
2:50 pm on March 20th, 2015
Rebecca, AJ, and Dogs…WE ARE ALL SO PROUD OF YOU GUYS!!
YARK AND WOO WOO!!
2:53 pm on March 20th, 2015
Dawson: Did you him chuckle, when asked about trail, that it was “a long story”?
I, for one, cannot wait to hear it!
2:56 pm on March 20th, 2015
Wow! After that, what more is there to do today? We are exhausted!
Way to go AJ!!!
Way to go Rebecca!!
Way to go Snowhook Team!!!!! You guys totally rock the Iditarod!!
3:01 pm on March 20th, 2015
Wow!…I’m exhausted!…snort!…Way too much excitement!!…snorkel!
3:02 pm on March 20th, 2015
Congratulations Snowhook!
Masquers: Yes, I heard that. Also that they couldn’t see from one marker to the next.
3:03 pm on March 20th, 2015
Thank Dog.
3:10 pm on March 20th, 2015
Pixie blurry fotos follow
3:19 pm on March 20th, 2015
But only 1 since we promised.
3:20 pm on March 20th, 2015
Now a nap is in our future.
3:36 pm on March 20th, 2015
Someone Here managed to Mess Up the Live Finish trying to switch to Full Screen, and ended up with an Echo, for Dogs Sake.
It Turned Out Okay though because we got to Hear Everything Twice, and We Savored Every Word.
3:39 pm on March 20th, 2015
Bear! I had lots of problems too. I kept trying to enlarge the screen and hitting the off button instead! Gosh was I annoyed. Grump. But I didn’t miss too much.
Thank Dog.
3:50 pm on March 20th, 2015
A video of AJ is up on Insider.
3:51 pm on March 20th, 2015
The siren is going off for Charley Bejna! Wonder what he will say about the trail?
3:52 pm on March 20th, 2015
Thanks, B!
3:55 pm on March 20th, 2015
AJ’s video link
http://iditarod.com/race/?vid=115189
3:56 pm on March 20th, 2015
Waiting to see and hear about Charlie.
3:56 pm on March 20th, 2015
Just got home and turned on the computer. Good timing! We are so happy that they are in and safe. Go Snowhook!
4:11 pm on March 20th, 2015
Dangit, I took a nap and woke up in time for Charley. I MISSED AJ.
4:16 pm on March 20th, 2015
ML, Wowser gal, when did your timing become soooo good?
4:17 pm on March 20th, 2015
Here is a post from Sebastian that ITC just put up on facebook:
http://iditarod.com/musher/justin-savidis-is-in-nome/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=facebook
4:19 pm on March 20th, 2015
When y’all think about gifts for great dogs, remember this:
5:08 pm on March 20th, 2015
ML: Oh no! That’s funny but not really because you missed a very beautiful BDHW waiting for a tall handsome musher and a happy herd of hounds.
With the camera angles I couldn’t actually see the burled arch which was a detriment, especially when AJ took a dog and touched the paw to the arch. Blast!
Congratulations to Snowhook Kennels for another successful race!
5:16 pm on March 20th, 2015
The video on Insider shows the burled arch, and AJ lifting Mae up to it very well, Dawson.
6:08 pm on March 20th, 2015
Seth Barnes is due in shortly…then it will be at least 4 hours before the first of 5 mushers leaves White Mountain.
There are many teams on their way from Elim and Golovin to that last rest stop before Nome.
It will give us time to take a break and feed the Bear.
7:16 pm on March 20th, 2015
Good pictures of AJ and Rebecca and the team. To finish in the first half – heck, to even finish at all – is an amazing accomplishment. We are so proud of him and his team.
7:19 pm on March 20th, 2015
Rio, LOL. So sorry to set up that cactus visual for you, but it just pops out at us!
8:03 pm on March 20th, 2015
To finish the Iditarod once is a lifetime achievement. To finish it often is miraculous. To not finish one time bedause one doog went on a walk about is a special gift. Our AJ and Rebecca and Snowhook fit into all of the above!
8:14 pm on March 20th, 2015
Barb!….Did you notice the little guy on the cover art?..snort!…I’m betting that is Chet’s offspring….snorkel!
8:27 pm on March 20th, 2015
Finally! We Will Learn Something About the Chet-Mini-Me.
8:36 pm on March 20th, 2015
Rio, we agree on the little guy. And, Thank Dog, Chet is not looking like a BC in profile. Nothing wrong with a BC, it just isn’t Chet. Wonder if Chet Jr. will end up helping on the jobs in the future?
8:49 pm on March 20th, 2015
Chet!….His profile is the Chet I imagine him to be….snort!
8:59 pm on March 20th, 2015
Never let your guard down. Spence will mess with your mind. He is one sick puppy. We are looking for two or three plot twists.
9:01 pm on March 20th, 2015
Creator – we thank you for hearing our prayers.
The journey is done, and our friend is home. He ran the trails of this beautiful North. He ran with the ice and snow and cold. He met himself on this adventure. He stayed strong, and his courage has won.
He Is Not Cold For He Has Good Dogs. He has honored the spirits, and lived up to his name.
Tonight his family is complete again. Tonight we rejoice that he has won.
The stories will come, and the race relived. We will honor his journey for years to come.
Tonight his family is complete again. Tonight we rejoice that our friend has won.
Creator – we thank you for hearing our prayers.
9:08 pm on March 20th, 2015
Amen.
9:11 pm on March 20th, 2015
Amen.
9:11 pm on March 20th, 2015
Amen and thank you to Amalia and Storyteller for the prayer.
9:14 pm on March 20th, 2015
And amen.
9:16 pm on March 20th, 2015
Amens!….Dis has been da best day ever in ever….sneeeze!….Da team is safe in dat Nomes an all is well wiff each an every one of dems guys on dat team….chuffle!…Dis is a Victory for dat Snowhooks…sneeeze!
9:18 pm on March 20th, 2015
Cough!….Why is dat big ole cactus flippin’ me da bird?…sneeze!
9:26 pm on March 20th, 2015
Amen, and thank you.
Beau, Oh no, you see it too?
9:27 pm on March 20th, 2015
Beau – not only is the cactus flipping you the “American” version of the bird, but on the right hand side of the cactus, it is giving the British two finger flip off as well.
Harrumph! What would the Queen say?
9:32 pm on March 20th, 2015
Amen and thank you.
Rebecca and AJ – thank you for sharing your dream with us.
Beau – snort.
9:34 pm on March 20th, 2015
Cactus!….Dats a nasty cactus….sniff!sneeze!…Is dat really gonna be da next cover story?…guggle!
9:40 pm on March 20th, 2015
Beau, do you think the illustrator is playing a little trick on us?
9:48 pm on March 20th, 2015
Illistrationalist!…sniff!….Da girl Rio tole me about who does all da cover stories is a sweet hearted persons who luvs her two guys…snuffle!…She would never have designed dis nasty cactus on purposefulness….sniff!…I do believes dat with my pug heart…sneeeeeze!…In facts maybe she did not do dis cover story an someone else did…gasp!
9:49 pm on March 20th, 2015
T&G she might say, “Oh, my goodness!”
10:00 pm on March 20th, 2015
Cacti!…I like the Cactus. It has an opinion!….snort!snort!…Maybe two!…heh!burp!
10:09 pm on March 20th, 2015
We are so glad team Snowhook is safe and with loved ones. Night night, don’t let the beg pugs bite.
10:14 pm on March 20th, 2015
Amen. and Thank You, Both. We Echo the Thoughts of All.
BlueCat Said it Beautifully…Thank You for Sharing the Dream.
And Thank You to Siber-H and Whitey-Lance for bringing us together with Snowhook.
10:20 pm on March 20th, 2015
Journey!…We have all been on a journey together…snort!…One day my paw will touch the burled arch. It won’t be in Nome but it will be my own burled arch and I will have completed my journey, as we all will one day…snorkel!…Lets all raise a bowl of beer or champagne or clear sparkling water to our Team Snowhook!…snort!snort!
10:34 pm on March 20th, 2015
Hear, hear!
10:39 pm on March 20th, 2015
I will raise my glass of ginger ale to that thought Rio.
10:44 pm on March 20th, 2015
Yark!…For once the Drew Sisters agree with me…heh!heh!…This has been a great season and we should all be proud to be part of it…chuffle!
10:48 pm on March 20th, 2015
Proud Indeed. Our Bowls Runneth Over.
10:50 pm on March 20th, 2015
Cheers!
Sleep well AJ, Rebecca and pups. You did good.
10:51 pm on March 20th, 2015
I like your sentiments, my friend. Clink.
11:03 pm on March 20th, 2015
Amen to the prayer, amen to the day and amen to a bowl of beer….or maybe ginger ale!
11:05 pm on March 20th, 2015
Hear, hear, and good night.
11:09 pm on March 20th, 2015
It has been a Long Journey and Our Great Adventure on the Iditarod Trail has come to an end once again.
We Sleep Peacefully tonight for we know those We Love Dearly have been reunited…hand in hand, paw in glove and heart to heart.
Sled Dog Dreams Everyone.
12:51 am on March 21st, 2015
2nd dog in Lance Mackey’w team has died.
http://www.adn.com/article/20150320/2nd-dog-lance-mackeys-team-dies-iditarod-trail
7:42 am on March 21st, 2015
Amen to Amalia’s most heartfelt prayer. We here were busy toasting AJ and The Snowhook Team with pizza and wine. Oh yes we were!
And about that cactus…now that’s all we see too! Thanks B,M&L!
Gotta read that story, Hobbit, although we don’t want Mom to see it.
8:19 am on March 21st, 2015
This woman came up against Aily Zirkle in an arm-wrestling competition, and came away with a broken arm. Moral of the story: Don’t mess with Aily.
http://www.adn.com/article/20150320/post-race-arm-wrestling-match-leaves-fan-broken-bone-and-musher-zirkle-mortified