Iditarod (8) Cool Place Name Edition
Overnight report from Snowhook’s Rebecca. (We have AJ running 40 out of 73 remaining. And a big congrats to Dallas Seavey, into Nome! And thus the winner, for any newbies out there.)
There are many tricks of the trail that mushers know like there is pie in Takotna, fail to leave an offering at old Old Woman cabin at your own risk, and look for the lights of Koyuk. This last trick has served AJ well in the past.
In 2012, the trail markers between Shaktoolik and Koyuk were blown out by a storm. For hours AJ tried to find his way to the checkpoint through a maze of jumble ice. When some race fans called for his rescue, he did not give up on the dogs, nor they on him. Instead, they waited for darkness to fall. With the lights of Koyuk as a beacon, the team made it to the checkpoint, and with some rest, continued to the finish line. This is not the only time the lights of Koyuk have been a welcome sight for the team.
In 2015, under a bluebird sky, the team reached Shaktoolik. While tending to the dogs, AJ was told by an Elder that a storm was coming. He was counseled to leave the checkpoint earlier than he planned. I have a couple of my own tricks of the trail for AJ—please and thank you go a long way, and listen to the Elders. With the latter echoing in his head he prepared to leave. Before pulling the snowhook, he tried to rally other teams to hit the trail early. He left the checkpoint alone.
Sitting at home, I watched his GPS tracker as well as the trackers of the pack of teams that left a couple hours ahead of him. I also watched as one of the pack fell behind and then stopped for far too long. AJ, now traveling in high winds and low visibility, had no way of knowing another team was camped in the trail ahead. I watched as AJs GPS came upon the tracker of the other team. In the matter of just a few refreshes, with AJ serving as pace car, both teams were moving toward the lights of Koyuk. In the hours to come, other teams in distress would be reported in that same stretch—could they see the lights of Koyuk?
Yesterday evening, the team reached Shaktoolik. After resting, they will head for Koyuk when our slice of the world is asleep. Running to the lights of Koyuk—not a bad way to start the day.
Tags: AJ, Iditarod, Rebecca, Snowhook
This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 15th, 2016 at 9:23 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.
9:28 am on March 15th, 2016
Not at all a bad way to start the day. Thank you, Rebecca.
Good morning all.
Go Snowhook!
9:34 am on March 15th, 2016
Our team is out of Shaktoolik. Time to hold our collective breaths. Yikes!!!
Anyone know what the weather is like on that coast now?
9:38 am on March 15th, 2016
Good morning all.
9:44 am on March 15th, 2016
Report! I can report that it is windy on the trail between Shaktoolik and Koyuk with windchills below zero. I can also report that a certain Damn Pixie can’t stop watching the tracker in this stretch. Step away from the tracker, Pixie and nobody gets hurt.
10:02 am on March 15th, 2016
Right there with ya Pixie. Pass the cheesecake.
11:19 am on March 15th, 2016
I do not like this part of the race, no I do not!
Be safe, AJ and doggies! Belle Starr, how many dogs does AJ still have running?
11:37 am on March 15th, 2016
BooBear: This part of the race makes me nervous, too.
It’s raining cats and dogs (sorry) here today.
11:40 am on March 15th, 2016
Yikes!
I do not like the jumbled sea ice, no I do not! Go Snowhook!
Aliy Zirkle is headed to Nome in 3rd place. She certainly has the Plunder On spirit. Go Aliy!
11:42 am on March 15th, 2016
My memories of the 2012 trek from Shaktoolik to Koyuk still bring shivers down my spine. It reach a point where I just could not watch the GPS Tracker anymore. But as word filtered through the blog that AJ was on the right path to Koyuk, finally I could breathe again. Go Snowhook and smooth sailing to Koyuk! And once past Koyuk and on the way to Elim, Wookie in spirit, aided by Teddy RR and Zeta, will guide the way.
11:51 am on March 15th, 2016
Always Listen to the Elders…Good Council yesterday, today and always.
11:53 am on March 15th, 2016
Well, this could make us crazy today. Internet is fading in and out. Took us all morning just to get to the blog and see the comments. Now that AJ is nearing the final stretch, the #%&^$^#$% internet provider needs to quit fooling around!
Good morning everyone.
Howlers – hit the hay…heh heh (or should we say hay hay?)
12:05 pm on March 15th, 2016
Yeep! Has musher no. 41 Linwood Fiedler gone off course between Elim and White Mountain?
TM & the Storyteller: It’s not just you…we have been struggling to get on the blog all morning.
12:16 pm on March 15th, 2016
I’ve been having a problem getting back on the blog…again. What’s the problem Baker Media?
12:34 pm on March 15th, 2016
Report! I can report that we haven’t been able to get on the blog for some time. I’ve seen that damn pixie swear at the GPS tracker, but this morning she was cursing the error message each time she tried to get on the blog.
I can also report that there are no reports of jumble ice this year in the Sound. I also believe the winds are not as bad right now so he should have trail markers all the way.
Howlers: We would pass the blow pops, but Ole a Doc says the StoryTeller ate them all. He also tells me that we are running low on peanut butter.
12:38 pm on March 15th, 2016
Here in Seward we sre in the black hole of cell reception. Took over an hour to down load fotos. ????. Will try again.
Worry most about this leg of the race.
12:53 pm on March 15th, 2016
By the way….What are blow pops?
12:54 pm on March 15th, 2016
Me too.
Trouble getting on the blog again.
Belle Starr: Good news that there is no jumble ice this year.
HOH: Looking forward to pictures from Seward.
Go Snowhook! Onward towards the 2 pugs and a friend checkpoint, Koyuk! Gulp! And Snort!
12:57 pm on March 15th, 2016
Good day all. Cheesecake time for humans, Slim Jims for dogs.
2nd attempt…got the error message that I am posting too fast. At least this is not happening while #46 is going in circles on the ice. Snowbella, when do you go to Nome?
1:11 pm on March 15th, 2016
Must be a slight trail detour after Elim…now #79 is showing offtrack.
1:35 pm on March 15th, 2016
Bee – BlowPops are a very silly human invention. They take a perfectly good lollipop, and stick a bunch of bubblegum in the middle of it. So therefore, just when you get a good crunch going, all of a sudden your teeth are all stuck together.
Harumph.
But the good news (so far) is that we were able to get right to the blog page this time.
1:39 pm on March 15th, 2016
Maybe not so much.
We are hereby relegating Mr.Baker to the same category as that dam otter!
1:46 pm on March 15th, 2016
Gah! Aliy is on Front Street and the &&^%$# Live Stream isn’t working!
2:03 pm on March 15th, 2016
Live Stream isn’t the only thing that Isn’t Working.
2:15 pm on March 15th, 2016
Hi everyone. I couldn’t get on the blog earlier either. Glad to hear that the ice and winds are not as bad this year.
I voted earlier and am now going to go pick up Lyla and Jack.
GO SNOWHOOK! BBL
2:26 pm on March 15th, 2016
Oh sure!
Just when Aliy Zirkle is coming into Nome the ^&*(054%^7&** live feed goes out. Sheesh and snigglefritz!
I’m going for a walk under the clouds.
Carpola!
Supposedly I am posting too fast.
Took 1/2 hour or more to post this.
2:57 pm on March 15th, 2016
This town is just north of Seward. Love the name.
3:19 pm on March 15th, 2016
Thanks for the postcard from Alaska.
Wondering about the blog because we couldn’t get on until now and we got an email solicitation from One Hour contractors website. When I went to the unsubscribe link, my avatar from the blog showed up. Chet’s is the only place that picture was ever posted.
Just sayin’…Mr. Baker was hacked?
Glad AJ’s off the ice and closer to Nome and home. It feels like a very, very long few days.
4:03 pm on March 15th, 2016
We Can sometimes Post but Can’t Refresh.
BlueCat: You may be right…YEEP…Chet Has Been Hacked!
4:36 pm on March 15th, 2016
The Hobbit Hotel is quiet for a few days and Sadie is mopping. She is wondering where all the people went who called her a “good dog” and “pretty dog” and where all those hands are who petted her in just the right places. Either that or she is wondering if bacon will ever again appear for breakfast.
And just when I was going to ask Teddy RR for advice about suing for ‘Alienatin of Affection,’ Sadie is mine all the time and wants me All.The.Time. I left a sad dog at home to go pick up my sister at the the airport.
Gloomy, chilly day here.
5:20 pm on March 15th, 2016
Chilly and gloomy in Seward, too. Rain and big wet flakes this AM. May be an inch of snow tonight…TN snow since it will go away very soon. Going to try another (1 1/2 hour) foto. Cross your fingers. This is one of 2 waterfalls on the road to the spit south of town.
The other is taller and thinner.
5:20 pm on March 15th, 2016
I am not caught up with the blog at all but I wanted to report that one skunk has crossed the rainbow bridge. As far as I know no one raced to welcome him/her. Sad but true.
5:22 pm on March 15th, 2016
Wowser, I am on a roll. Here comes another…
this is the view out of our hotel across the bay.
5:29 pm on March 15th, 2016
This snow deprived mountain is just before entering Seward. Pretty but somewhat green for mid-March.
5:30 pm on March 15th, 2016
I thank all of you, at Snowhook, on the blog, on Facebook and E mail for your love of Melanie and for remembering this wonderful person who means so much to all of us.
She was a very special human being and I am very fortunate to have been her mom.
5:32 pm on March 15th, 2016
This snow deprived mountain is just before entering Seward. Pretty but somewhat green for mid-March.
5:36 pm on March 15th, 2016
Great to hear from Zoe. Glad this here blog seems to be functioning a bit better.
This monument is to the student who lived in Seward and designed the Alaska State Flag.
8:05 pm on March 15th, 2016
testing, testing, 1-2-3
8:07 pm on March 15th, 2016
Staff: We welcomed the skunk. We couldn’t help it. What had to see what all the fuss was about on your Side of the Bridge. To our surprise, skunk scent smells like Slim Jims in This Side of the Bridge. Talk about being Restored to Prime.
More to staff: The Creator is mindful of all creatures.
8:08 pm on March 15th, 2016
We were so excited about being able to post again, we forgot the ‘e.’
8:12 pm on March 15th, 2016
We would like to get out front of any hacking rumors and claim our innocence.
8:17 pm on March 15th, 2016
Thieves – you can claim all the innocence in the world – ain’t no one gonna buy it.
Luna has told all.
8:21 pm on March 15th, 2016
GRAPGIC FOTO…HUMOROUS TAXIDERMIST (and maybe 4-5 more)
A Bear Butt!
8:23 pm on March 15th, 2016
ANOTHER STUFFED BEAR
8:27 pm on March 15th, 2016
AN LASTLY,I GET TO GIVE Y’ALL THE BIRD 🙂
8:27 pm on March 15th, 2016
Paws crossed there will be No Problem Posting the Prayer this evening.
Hounds, Thanks for the Photos.
8:30 pm on March 15th, 2016
Hmmm…no sure about the Bear Butt.
8:42 pm on March 15th, 2016
There is a backup plan for the prayer.
If the blog is not working properly, we will email it to the SDD addresses we have for everyone. If you don’t get it, please send us an SDD, and we will reply.
Also, we will be sending it directly to SnowBella, with Luna’s blurring back and forth. She can post on FB or her blog.
But, for now we are hoping that Empress Bee has beaten a certain Blog Tech into submission with her almighty Cane of Wrath, and therefore no more blog hiccups.
8:49 pm on March 15th, 2016
Mr. Baker: You’re always taking a chance ticking off a cane wielding Plunderer. If you want to live on the edge, might I recommend bull riding, synchronized skinny dipping in a pool of great whites, or competitive blurring. All are much safer endeavors, but to each their own.
8:58 pm on March 15th, 2016
Blog!…Just now got on the Blog. Geeze freakin’ Louise!….grump!…And it was MY CHECKPOINT and i couldn’t even post about it…sniff!grumble!
9:00 pm on March 15th, 2016
Creator – we thank you for the velvet night that has come softly over the mountain. The winds are calm; the sky is clear. We thank you for the hours of rest that make both the dogs and the mushers strong again. Let them feel the restorative power of the earth under their feet. Let their energy return as surely as the stars return to the sky.
Paws are running,
Always running,
Traveling over the snow,
Heading to the final line,
Heading to the heart of their home.
Hearts are trusting,
Always trusting,
Trusting in the man they love,
Knowing that they are his,
Knowing that he is theirs.
Spirits are dancing,
Always dancing.
Their joy is what they do.
Working as a team and running;
Happy to live their life.
Love is calling,
Always calling,
Their love is calling them home.
She is running with them in spirit.
She is waiting at the end of the trail.
Love is answering,
Always answering,
Their love guides their footsteps home.
They keep on moving forward.
They will soon see the one they love.
Creator – we thank you for the velvet night that has come softly over the mountain. The winds are calm; the sky is clear. We thank you for the Medicine the Native people give. We thank you for the hours of rest that make both the dogs and the mushers strong again. Let them feel the restorative power of the earth under their feet, the cold air in their lungs and light of the northern sky. Let their energy return as surely as the stars return to the sky, for now they are headed home.
9:01 pm on March 15th, 2016
This blog is run by hamsters on a wheel. Sometimes Mike Baker has to pedal real fast too. In his favor, for the first time since 2007, we are on the correct time after daylight savings. Go Mike!
9:03 pm on March 15th, 2016
And amen. Thank you.
9:09 pm on March 15th, 2016
Amen and amen.
9:12 pm on March 15th, 2016
Amen. Onward and homeward
9:13 pm on March 15th, 2016
Amen.
9:18 pm on March 15th, 2016
Amen. That is a really touching prayer. Thank you!
9:26 pm on March 15th, 2016
Amen.
9:37 pm on March 15th, 2016
MollysMaw!…There is so much I could say to The Fabulous Baker Boy, but I will refrain as your comment, “This blog is run by hamsters on a wheel.” pretty much said it all. And very well too!…heh!heh!
Prayer!…I just love the Prayer Song…snorkel!…It really is amazing and wonderful because it is so true for the Team and the Musher and The One who Waits at Home…sniffle!
9:42 pm on March 15th, 2016
Amen. I could feel them running.
9:51 pm on March 15th, 2016
Amen and amen.
Thank You.
9:53 pm on March 15th, 2016
“hamsters on a wheel.”
Good one MPM.
9:55 pm on March 15th, 2016
Do you suppose the hamsters on the wheel are any relation to Staff’s pet skunk?
9:58 pm on March 15th, 2016
“Hamsters on a wheel”.
Hmmm
Wonder if we could find a way to work that into a prayer song….
10:11 pm on March 15th, 2016
Wheel!…My friend feels like she is a Hampster Upon An Evil Wheel when she is at the busy-place…sniff!…Can you use that Golinka? Can you pray that she will be able to work somewhere where her creativity is useful and even her cooking abilities made to use? (which are very rusty right now)….grunt!
10:14 pm on March 15th, 2016
Mother!…Was feeling poorly tonight with sinus headache…snoort!…Someone warned her about the Sic-A-More trees leaves and yet she continued to bag them up…wheeze!cough!…So now she is under the Sinus-Headache weather. Soooo my friend made a simple supper that actually had flavor…weep!…My friend is hoping the “cooking” thing will finally fall back into her hands…chuffle!…We shall see….
10:17 pm on March 15th, 2016
Alert!…AJ and the Team have left Koyuk!….WOOOOOO!
10:19 pm on March 15th, 2016
Skunk!…Ole Doc do you mean the Dead Skunk In the Middle of Staff’s House…snort!…Or the Skunk that is yet to be dead sooner than later….gasp!cough!
10:30 pm on March 15th, 2016
Amen!
10:30 pm on March 15th, 2016
MollyPop&LouLou’s Mom: Wondering if the Extreme Effort to Sync up Daylight Savings Time and Blog Time caused the Big Crash today.
You know how those Quantum Particles are. Snicker.
10:36 pm on March 15th, 2016
Thank dog the dead skunk was in the yard. Mr.Staff took it away on a shovel and put it in a very safe place inside two plastic bags. I will not miss it. I am hoping that it did not have a friend. Or a family. Only time will tell.
I had troubles with the blog this afternoon also. I tried to get on at the quilt shop but had no luck.
10:44 pm on March 15th, 2016
Dead!….Staff how did the dead skunk die?….snort!…Was it at the paws of Alice?…gah!
10:48 pm on March 15th, 2016
Amen to the prayer and thank you.
Things are looking up. I found a video of Aliy coming into Nome, plunderers are posting again and AJ is on the move out of the pug’s Koyuk checkpoint and towards Elim, the checkpoint of Teddy and Zeta and Wookie (in spirit).
Go Snowhook!
10:49 pm on March 15th, 2016
STUFFED ST. PATRICK’S PRE-WARNING
10:57 pm on March 15th, 2016
We are going out to the glacier tomorrow, to the Sea Life Center on Thursday and whale watching on Friday then back to our Anchorage “home away from home” to Hobbit, Sadie Mr. Big and Sammie Saturday AM.
10:59 pm on March 15th, 2016
The wheels of the Pug go round and round
Round and round
Round and round
The wheels of the Pug go round and round
All through the Vat O Beer.
11:08 pm on March 15th, 2016
Golinka!…A Song for Me!…snorkel!…My life goes Round and Round, but I only get the Vat O’ Beer during Auctions and Boutiques!…sniff!…Not Fair! Maybe we need to organize another one soon to help with unpaid Iditarod Bills….guff! Just an Idea, what say youse all?…snort!
11:12 pm on March 15th, 2016
HOH: Intrepid explorers, thank you for the pictures of another place in Alaska.
11:22 pm on March 15th, 2016
Team!…Our Team is on their way to Elim traveling at 8 miles per hour!…snort!snort!
11:26 pm on March 15th, 2016
Rio, It wasn’t Alice and that is all I am going to tell you. snort.
Go Snowhook!
11:41 pm on March 15th, 2016
Totally different topography here on the Kenai Peninsula. There is the Kenai Fjords National Park and the mountains come right up out of the water. Lots of fish packing plants and fishing guides.
12:48 am on March 16th, 2016
Tell me this doesn’t look like Grizzly Adams and his bear 🙂
1:21 am on March 16th, 2016
Herd’s Mom: absolutely. Rain here maybe turning to snow. Might get a couple of inches
1:23 am on March 16th, 2016
Ahhhh, it’s totally them!
5:09 am on March 16th, 2016
Oh no! Our skunk had a friend. Oh NO!
I am sitting in my quilt room with the windows open freezing my tush off and listening to the geese on the slough and coyotes. Come here little coyotes and take a skunk! grump.
5:11 am on March 16th, 2016
http://nature365.tv/march-15-2016/
wolf in the snowy morning woods.
7:56 am on March 16th, 2016
We made it to Elim. We will keep watch over the team and AJ here and send them safely on their way. Go Snowhook!