Iditarod (Cont’d) And Updated! (See Below)
“Here’s the latest on the progress of our Snowhook team in the Iditarod from Snowhook CEO, Rebecca,” Spence says. “That’s musher Justin (AJ), above.”
Dropping one dog earlier in the race, AJ has 15 dogs on the team right now. I won’t know which dog was dropped or why until I receive a call from the Drop Dog Coordinator. Several dozen dropped dogs may be flown in the Anchorage at once and then sent to the Women’s Correctional facility. Inmates care for the dogs until they can be picked up by handlers; they give such great care to the dropped dogs.
At the time of this post, AJ and the team are resting in McGrath. This is a delay in his anticipated schedule, but not unexpected. I received word from the trail on Tuesday that his sled broke earlier in the race. If I understand correctly, it isn’t as serious as when his sled was damaged last year, but it may impact how he drives the sled until he can repair it. Compared to last year, it should be an easier fix.
During the search for Snowhook’s infamous wanderer, Whitey-Lance, AJ was based out of McGrath. Not only were race officials and volunteers supportive of AJ in his search, the residents of McGrath rallied around him. McGrath is a special checkpoint in Snowhook’s history. Two of Whitey-Lance’s sons are named for the two trappers—residents of McGrath—that helped AJ in those heartsick days of Whitey-Lance’s absence. Abe and Marco, the dogs not the trappers are on the trail with AJ.
“And here’s Twig below,” Admin says. “Many thanks to Rebecca. Photo of Marco to come when we get some sort of tech issue resolved.”
Welcome Batman.
And here’s Marco!
Tags: Iditarod, Justin Savidis, Rebecca, Snowhook
This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 6th, 2013 at 8:35 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.
8:44 am on March 6th, 2013
Sorry to hear about the sled. I hope that it’s fixable. AJ looks calm and Twig is a beauty. That is interesting about the care the women at the correctional facility give to the dropped dogs. I’ll bet that the dogs brighten their day. Thanks Spence and Rebecca. Go Snowhook!
Good morning all.
8:46 am on March 6th, 2013
O man. Another sled issue. Good it is not as bad as last year. Our team needs a backup sled, like those Big Guys all seem to have waiting. Whitey-Lance, how much do one of those sleds cost? We are not going to let Mom see your answer.
Good morning to all.
8:58 am on March 6th, 2013
Good morning all. Sorry to hear about the sled issue. Hope it is easily fixable.
As we reported at the end of yesterday’s posts, Chi town weather is much better today. Cold, cloudy, but snow is over.
OHare is getting busy and lines are getting long. Some flights heading east may still be delayed or cancelled. Al Roker said travel is going to be affected thru Friday.
Glad Rose had a good night’s sleep, now let’s just get her home!
9:08 am on March 6th, 2013
Rebecca: Who is the black and white dog on the team?
Yes, Jasper’s mom’s email was apparently hacked. I deleted the message without clicking on the link.
9:11 am on March 6th, 2013
Morning to all. Wish all web cams were as big & clear as McGrath’s. Paws, toes, eyes and tails crossed for rapid sled repair. Rose & Prof’s adventures just go on & on…wowser. Our hearts are in AK today. SNOWHOOK
9:26 am on March 6th, 2013
I have reports that the handoff from Wookie to Zelda, Rory and Bridger went as smooth as silk.
Snow day here in Chevy Chase. Washington, DC is closed for snow (meaning the feds and everyone else) and we may have 10 inches by the time it is done. Who would think we would have that much snow in DC in March. Maybe Chevy CHase should be added as an additional Iditarod check point (just kidding). Just means more time to follow the team. And also hope the storm doesn’t affect Rose and the Prof’s arrival back in NY.
I have every confidence that AJ will be able to repair the sled and get on his way. He may also be missing the worst of the storm that lies ahead. Go Snowhook!
9:32 am on March 6th, 2013
Mom gets to work from home today and she was so looking forward to being able to follow the green flag in peace (without the boss asking her what she was looking at). So now she has no flag to follow. 🙁
9:44 am on March 6th, 2013
O’HOwlers. I would think working from home would be less oversight???
I am also wondering who got dropped.
Hope the sled will be good with minimal intervention. This means that AJ won’t get some rest I’ll bet.
Here is some Tchaikovsky for the morning. With Kodi the Kat.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obtfsA0oIKk
I deleted Jasper’s link also. Thanks for the heads up.
10:05 am on March 6th, 2013
Wow the checkpoint video called Run Dogs Run is GREAT!
10:13 am on March 6th, 2013
Unbelievable!…Martin Buser is coming up behind our team. He will reach McGrath soon…yeeep!
10:28 am on March 6th, 2013
Buser! Coming up from behind, but is what, TEN HOURS AHEAD of everyone else?
Good Morning!
10:33 am on March 6th, 2013
My mama has had a long night of staring at a certain green flag willing it to move. It hasn’t. It is off schedule. This is okay, she has tried to convince herself, but I can see through the pacing and stomach ache. Once she realized, maybe accepted is the better word, that AJ decided to take his 24 in McGrath and stray from the plan she started to feel better. She knew eventually he would stop following the plan and run the race as it unfolds, but she liked knowing when she was going to sleep.
Please no one worry. I am going to tuck her in bed for a couple of hours.
10:37 am on March 6th, 2013
FTD set up and ready to follow Rose and the Prof the rest of the way home.
UAL6236 scheduled to depart O’Hare in 1 hr. 28 min.
A good morning to our cross country travelers! Hope you had a very relaxing night and that youse will have good trip home.
Now back to our regularly scheduled program.
10:41 am on March 6th, 2013
Whitey: Yes! That must be the new plan.
I know you will make sure your Lady gets some sleep.
We will watch the little green flag while she is dozing.
10:41 am on March 6th, 2013
I have a question. Does the mandatory 8 include the one 8 hour stay near the end of the race? Siber-H?
10:43 am on March 6th, 2013
Thanks, W-L. Now we are worried.
Staff, Mom does the same thing in the office as she does working from home, more or less. But when in the office, if the boss sees her looking at flags on her iPaw, he always wants to know what that is.
The Run Dogs Run video is really awesome. We wanted to tell youse that, but by the time Admin posted, we forgot. Thanks for remembering Staff.
10:51 am on March 6th, 2013
Good luck to Rose and The Prof. as they start the final leg of their trip. May it go smoothly with no delays.
Thanks, W-L. Make sure Rebecca gets some shut eye.
Barb is off to her p.t. Roads are clear and parking lot should be ok. What a difference a day makes!
10:55 am on March 6th, 2013
EEK! Catty Librarian is going to be late due to watching ballet and Iditarod videos. Tch, tch, she should never start reading Chet the Dog before work!
Go Snowhook!
10:57 am on March 6th, 2013
Run Dogs Run, is almost as good as the book “Go, Dogs, Go”. I read that 1,000,000,000,000 times. Both guys loved that book.
Sent the link to my sister to make sure her classes see it. She was not going to do the videos, but is now very happy she upgraded.
10:58 am on March 6th, 2013
Hi Elliot! Mom has the same problem sometimes!
10:59 am on March 6th, 2013
Wow Melanie, I learned how to take a pic from my computer screen. This is the McGrath Checkpoint a few minutes ago.
11:02 am on March 6th, 2013
Hi, Elliot! Tell your mama not to feel bad. Our days and nights are obsessed with the Race!
11:03 am on March 6th, 2013
WL, if AJ does not declare his 24 when he first arrives can he still take it? I mean does it still count?
Yesterday I discovered that the library has a community jigsaw puzzle going. It is not nearly as intimidating as 1000 pieces at home, demanding attention, plus quiet. I am off to puzzle for awhile, then to the store for the latest list of demands from The Recoving Man.
11:03 am on March 6th, 2013
WoooHooo! Staff!
11:15 am on March 6th, 2013
Melanie, I think the answer to your question is, yes. That 8 hour rest toward the end of the race prevents some crazed muishers from trying to race on into Nome.
Fellow Sibers, I have the same question you do, How much does one of those sleds cost? When we have some time, maybe we can search around on the internet.
Macy’s Mom, I think the answer to your question is, yes.
Whitey-Lance can come along and correct any of this if I am wrong.
11:16 am on March 6th, 2013
What!?…sniffle!…Guess I will watch Buser blow through all the checkpoints today…grunt!… I hope The Giant can get his sled repaired. We here were hoping he would take that 24 when he really really needed the rest though…snuffle!
11:19 am on March 6th, 2013
I wonder how much it costs to ship a second sled to whichever checkpoint the musher parks it in?
11:19 am on March 6th, 2013
Wow, In the Checkpoint video’s scroll down to DeeDee’s Wild Ride. Great description of the Gorge. Scary.
11:20 am on March 6th, 2013
Riö: Regarding your Forum topic: Does money matter? Yes it does!
11:25 am on March 6th, 2013
Masquers, I was thinking the same thing.
One thing we do know is that AJ is very good at fixing things, Thank Dog.
11:28 am on March 6th, 2013
Mom is tutoring a little boy at the school next to the library. He likes animals so Mom decided to follow the race with him. AJ and Rebecca are helping. He’s become a big AJ fan!
11:31 am on March 6th, 2013
Siber-H: Providing one HAD a replacement to send.
One of the Twins had a sled sent in to Takotna(?) which she will exchange for her broken one.
Macy: Sounds like your dad is Doing Good if he is Barking Orders. Heh, heh.
Oh, There you are Wolfie. We missed you yesterday.
11:41 am on March 6th, 2013
When did Macy’s dad bark orders? We are missing everything except AJ’s green flag these days. Sorry.
Mike Ellis is in to McGrath.
11:46 am on March 6th, 2013
If everybody puts away some treat money each week for the next year, would we have enough for a sled? Does he want a second one?
Onward Wose and The Prof!
Kirby T – that’s very good news. Excellent work from your Mom.
Staff – I was dizzy watching DeeDee’s Wild Ride and can’t even imagine what it’s like in person.
11:49 am on March 6th, 2013
O’Howlers: (and Macy) Just Kidding about the barking part.
We were referring to when Macy’s Mom said she was going to run out for some things the dad had requested.
We see Mackey left Ophir with 13 Dogs.
11:58 am on March 6th, 2013
Hello Kirby T, Wolfie and Elliot!
Woo Hoo Staff!
What I would like to see? If anyone knows an engineer that works in some what of the same field that could design (pro bono) a sled that takes in the shift in weight and drag because of AJ’s height.
I asked the Iditarod Trail Committee about layovers.
White Mountain is the last 8 hour mandatory. there is another 8 that must be taken on the Yukon from Shageluk to Kaltag.
So he must be doing his 24.
12:01 pm on March 6th, 2013
Hi, Kirby: That is exciting! Remembering her class at the library last year we were hoping your mom would be involved in the race this year also.
Siber or anyone: Is there a map of this years Iditarod on the Insider anywhere?
Whew! No cancellations…Flight 6236 is boarding!
12:01 pm on March 6th, 2013
Howlers, Check your SDD
12:06 pm on March 6th, 2013
Masquers, On the Iditarod’s website, click on “About” up there at the top. The drop down menu has an choice in it, “The Iditarod Trail”. Click on it and that is where you will find a map plus good descriptions of the trail.
12:14 pm on March 6th, 2013
Sled!….Seems to me that I asked Rebecca before about a second sled for the Giant. She said he already has one but they opted not to send it onto a checkpoint…snort!…I asked her this after last years crash and burn. I don’t know what they did this year – maybe he did send a second sled or maybe he didn’t…wheeze! …Whitey Lance will have to update us on this.
12:23 pm on March 6th, 2013
Thanks for the update on the Snowhook Team.
McGrath is where the Plunderers first met the Snowhook Team so it is fitting that Zelda, a Plunderer dog, and Rory & Bridger, Snowhook dogs, sponsor this checkpoint together.
McGrath has a population of approx 350 and is the northernmost point reachable by river barges on the Kuskokwin River. It was also an important refueling stop for planes flying to Russian in WWII’s Lend-Lease Program.
It would be cool if Abe and Marco the trappers get to meet Abe and Marco the dogs.
12:30 pm on March 6th, 2013
I remember that AJ has a guy that custom makes his sleds to accomodate his Giant status.
Paige Drobney’s man, Cody Strathe, makes sleds. Dog Paddle Designs.
12:34 pm on March 6th, 2013
Thank you, Siber.
Melanie: As far as we can tell, it looks like Buser & Matt Failor are the only ones who have taken their 24.
Dawson: That WOULD be kool!
Whitey won’t be there, but we need him here this year to man Race Central.
12:47 pm on March 6th, 2013
I wonder if W-L could mention his name.
12:48 pm on March 6th, 2013
It is almost certain Mikhail and his team of Chuckchi Huskies will win the Red Lantern this year.
Here’s hoping the Insider will do a better job of covering the last musher coming into Nome than they did last year.
And, what about the rookie musher Ulsom? Great first run so far.
I know Riö’s friend is watching his progress closely.
In about an hour and a half Rose and the Prof will be home!
1:47 pm on March 6th, 2013
Buser is in McGrath, so perhaps his strategy really will pay off. What bothers us is that if this works for him this year, other mushers will follow suit next year, and we don’t think there are many others that are as knowledgeable about dog care as Martin Buser. So we are afraid some of those would burn dogs out.
There is a dog in our county that has been missing since Feb. 14. He was reported being seen near here. So Mom drove around, but of course it is like looking for a needle in a haystack. Get this. His name is Rio.
2:05 pm on March 6th, 2013
Looks like two other mushers have already done their 24 hour lay-over as well, the last two in the race right now, Dvvid Sawatzky and Gerald Sousa, although not sure where. It also looks as though some other mushers may be doing their 24 hour layover in McGrath along with AJ. Does anyone remember where AJ did his 24 hour layover last year?
2:05 pm on March 6th, 2013
We do know that Our Musher would never do that. We don’t worry about his dog care. But there are others that we are not so sure of. whew! We are so glad that Professor Bee unburdoned us from the dangling participle guilt complex.
2:06 pm on March 6th, 2013
Gah. We have another Hour & a Half to wait for Our Little Green Flag #34 to begin moving again.
LM is Running With 13 Dogs…he’s really pounding the Trail this year. Of course he has to make a Good Showing For the Camera Crew.
Thinking here of past adventures in McGrath. Master Whitey-Lance and I Are Kindred Spirits when it comes to the wandering gene.
Oh, the tales to tell!
Maybe a story for another time.
O’Howlers: Hope the Missing Guy is Found Soon.
2:06 pm on March 6th, 2013
Wookie’s Dad, AJ did his 24-hour in McGrath last year, because he had to fix that darn sled.
2:07 pm on March 6th, 2013
There has been some sad news along the trail – not with AJ or any of the other racers. A family who was flying out to volunteer at a checkpoint lost their lives in a plane crash. Here is the link if and only if you wish to read it.
http://news.yahoo.com/3-bodies-found-wreckage-along-124956378.html
We will be honoring that family in the prayer tonight.
2:10 pm on March 6th, 2013
Oh, No! Royal Mum, That is so sad. Sob.
2:16 pm on March 6th, 2013
That is very sad. We read a post this morning about a plane down. We think it was in Iditarod. But in that case, they reported that all walked away unharmed.
2:17 pm on March 6th, 2013
T&G: Jodi, the person not the puppy told my mama about the crash last night. One of the victims worked for Jodi’s parent company. My mama said a prayer as soon as she heard the news. That is her way. When a two or four legged passes away, she says a prayer.
2:20 pm on March 6th, 2013
Bear, he didn’t get in the MaGrath until NIGHT. That means about 4 am our time. I’m not sue exactly because the times will be made up then for the staggered start.
2:20 pm on March 6th, 2013
Bear, AJ didn’t check into McGrath until 23:32 (3:32 am EST). So we have to wait until tomorrow morning at that time PLUS whatever time is added on to make up for the back of the back’s start time.
2:20 pm on March 6th, 2013
Howlers: We like your version better. Sigh.
On a happier note…Rose’s plane has just landed and is taxiing to the terminal.
2:21 pm on March 6th, 2013
heh heh The Pack and The Howlers hit enter at the same time, with the same message.
2:24 pm on March 6th, 2013
Nice article on the Chukchi dogs.
http://iditarod.com/eye-on-the-trail-mikhail-telpin-on-through-skwentna-by-terrie-hanke/
2:28 pm on March 6th, 2013
Gasp! Youse are Right! He arrived near Midnight NOT Noon! I saw it the way I WANTED it to be.
We did read this morning: “We are exactly where we are supposed to be.”
And as someone mentioned earlier, perhaps the Layover will enable AJ to Avoid the Storm that is brewing down the Trail.
2:41 pm on March 6th, 2013
We here love the look of Marco. What bright happy eyes! We want to play with him!
2:49 pm on March 6th, 2013
Great piece on the Chukchi dogs! We like the part where they step back onto the trail their Tails Held High.
Woo Wooo…Deja vu…A good shake and I’ll be right back into the Now.
2:54 pm on March 6th, 2013
Wanna have some fun? We might be able to get more publicity for AJ and Snowhook for free.
Go to yahoo’s website and do a search for “Justin Savidis 2013”. Read whatever articles you like and then exit out of the yahoo site. Do this as many times as you like. We could just possibly start a “trending” string – upper right corner of the page. Once he is a trend, lots of yahoo people will start clicking on his name to see who he is. The more people click, the higher he will go in “trending”.
3:06 pm on March 6th, 2013
Fellow Sibers, I completely agree with what you said about Buser being successful with his race strategy this year and other mushers attempting it next year…not AJ, of course.
We have longer than 24 hours to wait for AJ to leave McGrath because the 24 hour layover is where they make up their time from the race start.
3:15 pm on March 6th, 2013
Fellow Sibers, The Chukchi Dogs….That is us 100 or so years ago.
T&G I will do Yahoo.
Nice idea about including the people in the plane crash in the prayer tonight. I read about it earlier today.
Thank Dog the other plane crash during take off at one of the checkpoints…the plane landed upside down, but the people walked away from it.
3:15 pm on March 6th, 2013
Reading!…Here is another article just in case you don’t have enough to read or watch on the insiders page…heh!
http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/03/06/3270037/lance-mackey-leads-alaskas-iditarod.html
3:21 pm on March 6th, 2013
Glad to hear that Rose has landed and is close to getting home. Looks like the weather was worse south of them, and that as Wookie’s dad said, D.C. is getting hit. Wonder if Rose has to work tomorrow.
Barb is back from P.T. and we are hiding out in the den. She has a cleaning lady here who is doing some of the things Barb cannot do right now. Will be nice to have the house all cleaned up!
3:25 pm on March 6th, 2013
T&G: Great idea!
Siber: Sigh. This will be a long wait(day).
Oh, oh…have to go…Mom is all poodled up about something.
3:28 pm on March 6th, 2013
Siber, Have you figured out how much time will be added on to AJ’s 24? Or maybe your mom has? We here can’t do complicated math problems. 2
3:35 pm on March 6th, 2013
Whitey-Lance here. I had to help my mama do some work for her other job for a bit, but now I’m back.
The team should have a 25 hour and six minute layover before they can leave McGrath.
AJ does have an extra sled. It is heavier than his race sled, but would do the trick. My people talked about sending out a just-in-case sled as back up, but in the end decided against it. They estimated it would cost two to three hundred dollars to send out a sled on the trail. AJ is handy. If he can get his paws on a sturdy branch, he can attach it to the broken stanchion and be on his way. It won’t be pretty, but it will do.
3:36 pm on March 6th, 2013
I’ve asked the Iditarod Trail Committee Facebookie people.
Now I’m not only waiting for AJ to commence to begin (snicker), I’m waiting for our new exercise ball to stay 1/2 inflated over night.
I hate waiting.
3:37 pm on March 6th, 2013
Hi Whitey-Lance. How’s your lady holding up?
3:38 pm on March 6th, 2013
Rio (the one in our county) was found!!!! Rio’s should always stay in their yards! 🙂
3:40 pm on March 6th, 2013
Rio on this here blog: That was a very good article. Even the mushers with the big sponsors are struggling to make ends meet.
3:43 pm on March 6th, 2013
Backyard!….Thats the kind of guy who gives all of us a bad rap…grunt!…Because of his kind I have to stay in the backyard with nary a trip unleashed…sniff!
3:44 pm on March 6th, 2013
Fellow Sibers,(whispering) It is a good thing an Alaskan Husky can do the math that we can’t.
Wow! I’m glad Rio was found!
3:47 pm on March 6th, 2013
Movie!….This movie-deal should help ole’ broke Lance Mackey out…grunt!
3:50 pm on March 6th, 2013
Melanie: My Lady is doing better. Her stomach ache went away when she realized AJ was taking his 24 eighteen miles ahead of schedule. She is going into town today for provisions in the form of cheesecake. Jodi, the person not the puppy insists that my Lady must get out of the house during the team’s 24. Jodi has mentioned something about going to an early movie.
3:54 pm on March 6th, 2013
Rebecca!…Why don’t you go get some sleep while you can?…snort!… You’ve got a long road of sleepless nights ahead of you…wheeze!
3:59 pm on March 6th, 2013
Martin!…Buser looks just like a manager my friend used to have at a different busy-place…snort!…He was from Sweden and his name was Tor – short for something really long and swedish sounding…heh!heh!
4:09 pm on March 6th, 2013
Mom is on hold with a company who is playing the worst on-hold music we have ever ever heard. Tell her to HANG UP THE PHONE !
4:19 pm on March 6th, 2013
That hold music can’t be any worse than Comcast. Oy!
Of course the music at the doctor office is even worse – loud, scratchy oom pah music.
Sheesh – have these people never heard of Muzak? And WHEN did you ever think Muzak would actually be a preference?
4:29 pm on March 6th, 2013
Some one on The Iditarod Trail Committee said to add 2 minutes per sled for the extra time for the 24.
If Jesse is bib #34 and one person scratched before him . . That’s 32 sleds ahead of him. What does Hesse mean? Brain is MIA.
4:30 pm on March 6th, 2013
Grrr, I am way poodled up at what I found on Yahoo. From PETA of course.
It’s less than a week into the 1,150-mile-long doggie death march known as the Iditarod, and abuser musher Justin Savidis has already reported one of his dogs, 3-year-old Whitey, missing.
4:39 pm on March 6th, 2013
Macy: Ignore it. When Whitey-Lance was found happy, healthy and in good spirits, a fan of the kennel wrote them to give them the good news. They refused to post the update. Typical. There are some folks who speak from a position of ignorance and only want to produce what supports their perspective. People like that stop existing to us.
4:46 pm on March 6th, 2013
Data!…Thats awsome research on PETA’s part…heh!…Reporting on 3 year old data…grunt!
4:46 pm on March 6th, 2013
I really want to grab somebody by the pants leg. And maybe get a little ankle action in there too.
4:53 pm on March 6th, 2013
Macy!…Whats the date on the article – maybe it is an old one…grunt!
4:58 pm on March 6th, 2013
Some of those people are down right nasty. They do NOT listen to anything and you don’t want to give them any reason to target AJ.
On the other paw . . My sister showed 2 of her classes (the rest will see it tomorrow) the “Run Dogs Run” video. Some of them cried at the beauty of it.
5:07 pm on March 6th, 2013
Beauty!…snort!…Joar Leifseth Ulsom #32 – my friend says I have to track his little green flag…grump!
5:07 pm on March 6th, 2013
That is Sound Advice coming from the Top Dog himself, Whitey-Lance.
These people have ceased to exist for us also.
People see what they WANT to see and there is no convincing them otherwise.
5:12 pm on March 6th, 2013
We here have Rookie Ulsom on our tracker also, and the Russian guy.
Good article about the Expenses mushers incur.
O’Howlers: Thank Dog the lost Rio was found!
5:15 pm on March 6th, 2013
Counting on paws 54 minutes extra is my calculation for AJ bib #34.
5:16 pm on March 6th, 2013
PETA has gone the way of so many groups that were founded on good ideas. Now it is the fanatics who are running the groups. We have even seen literature from a PETA spokesperson who suggested that keeping any kind of animal as a pet was cruel and unusual punishment, and said that all pets should be turned loose so they could live their lives as nature intended.
Well, as a Royal Corgi, I am here to tell you that nature intended me to have my own soft bed in a warm, loving household, safe from coyotes and speeding cars. I was intended to get properly vaccinated so I can stay healthy, and to get nutritional food, rather than have to scrounge for scraps and carrion. And I was intended to get belly rubs and ear scritches from the ones who love me. THATS what Nature intended.
But, if the Wrotten Kats want to go live on their own, who are we to stop them?
5:19 pm on March 6th, 2013
Tupper!…heh!snort!heh!…I know Beau would not exist for very long on his own…snort!…I’m sure he wouldn’t mind the carrion though. That guy eats everything…sniff!
5:29 pm on March 6th, 2013
Wow, the second thing on yahoo was a link to Jeff Schultz Photography. It was a photo of Justin crossing an ice bridge over Dalzell Creek last night. Fantastic photo.
5:36 pm on March 6th, 2013
Staff: Yes! Very kool photo!
5:38 pm on March 6th, 2013
Staff, will you put the link up to that?
5:52 pm on March 6th, 2013
Hmmm, on Facebook The Iditarod Trail Committee ha a link to an article about a “tour guide” that took his snowmobiles out on 35 miles of the actual trail. They ruined it. Different kinds of machines than the trail breakers. Very bad for teams trying to run into Iditarod. They are hoping the trail will freeze again tonight and be better in the morning. Link in a minute.
5:55 pm on March 6th, 2013
No link. It’s under Runyan’s stuff and labeled 10 am. Snow Falling
5:59 pm on March 6th, 2013
Perhaps Jeff Schultz will put that photo of AJ up for sale.
6:30 pm on March 6th, 2013
Carpola! Don’t people have anything better to do than to hack my mom’s email? Sorry for any troubles….
6:41 pm on March 6th, 2013
Jasper: No worries…we knew it wasn’t you.
7:00 pm on March 6th, 2013
Joyce, No worries. We knew you were hacked.
7:08 pm on March 6th, 2013
Just now started getting our favorite musher updates by email. They must have had a glitch in the system.
7:19 pm on March 6th, 2013
I’m still not getting any emails.
7:52 pm on March 6th, 2013
Jasper – sorry about that. We think it might have been those Wrotten Kats. You know how they are – hack, hack hack -splort.
7:53 pm on March 6th, 2013
Photo!…Of AJ by Jeff Schultz? Where is it?….snort!
8:08 pm on March 6th, 2013
T&G: you and those kats. Your household must be very interesting. Good thing for you that kats tend to sleep a lot; although when they are awake, they tend to be mischievious.
8:19 pm on March 6th, 2013
Ya – I got your hack hack hack right here
8:30 pm on March 6th, 2013
Nighty noodle. Barb still can’t stay up late. Sorry to be signing off so early, she just can’t keep her eyes open.
8:30 pm on March 6th, 2013
Gah!…Kats!….burp!fart!
8:36 pm on March 6th, 2013
Rio: The photo is on facebookie at Jeff Schultz Photography.
It may be on the Insider too.
Time for me to see What’s up For Supper.
BBL
8:41 pm on March 6th, 2013
Bear!…He always has his priorities straight…snort!
9:00 pm on March 6th, 2013
Creator – we thank you for this day of calm and quiet rest. In days to come, when all seems so frantic, let us remember this day, and find room in our thoughts for peace, for reflection, and for tranquility.
Creator – we ask you to be with AJ and the team when they leave their rest tonight. Let their muscles and minds remember this restoring interlude in their run, and begin the rest of the trail with sound bodies and light hearts.
For the comfort of all the dogs on the trail, we ask you to breathe softly on this night in Alaska, and let the cold air surround them. Let their joy in running be restored by arctic temperatures, and icy breath. Let the snow under their feet be hardened by the cold so that they may skim the surface with the grace of their passage. Let the trail be frozen into a dense path of icy diamonds that the sled runners glide easily.
We ask you to withhold the blowing winds. Let this run be one of joy and safety. In calm polar air, AJ and the team leave the village of McGrath where they have paid honor to the kind people who have helped them in the past. We ask you to watch over these good hearted ones who stopped their own lives to help a stranger. Bring to them the goodness that they have shown to others.
Creator – there are many good hearts in this world; those that defend the ones who cannot defend themselves. Good hearts that nurse ones needing assistance. Good hearts that stop to rescue a frightened dog by the side of the road, or a shivering baby kitten lost in the woods. There are good hearts that put an extra can of food into collection bags, or send money to those in need. There are good hearts that give their time and energy where it can do the most good. Tonight Creator, three good hearts are on their way to you. Their time on this earth is done, but their time of watching over others will continue. We ask you to make their path to you a gentle one; let them dance to you on the music of the Northern Lights, and ease the broken hearts of those who will miss them.
Creator – tonight and every night, we strive to be among the good hearts of this earth. We ask you to help us be gentle and forgiving in our ways. Teach us to show kindness and generosity to every other being in your world, for all your creations are worthy of the best that we can give.
Creator – we thank you for this day of calm and quiet rest. In days to come, when all seems so frantic, let us remember this day, and find room in our thoughts for peace, for reflection, and for tranquility. Let us always find room for love.
9:05 pm on March 6th, 2013
Amen and night-night. In a few hours it begins again in earnest.
9:06 pm on March 6th, 2013
Golinka!…Your lovely prayer tonight has brought tears to my friends eyes…sniffle!…She loves your Iditarod Prayers and she wants me to tell you she loves you very very much for posting them for us and Rebecca…snort!…I’m sure The Giant will read them to his A-Team when he is home safe and sound….wuffle!
9:13 pm on March 6th, 2013
Amen, and very well said, Rio.
9:16 pm on March 6th, 2013
Amen, and nicely said, Rio.
9:25 pm on March 6th, 2013
Amen and thank you.
9:26 pm on March 6th, 2013
Amen.
9:29 pm on March 6th, 2013
Amen. Thank you, A&L.
Riö: You have expressed purfectly what is in our hearts.
9:30 pm on March 6th, 2013
Tupper!…Tell your Stinky Momma to sneak a peek at her SDD…snort!
9:34 pm on March 6th, 2013
Amen.
Bed calls with sweet tones.
9:37 pm on March 6th, 2013
Rio – peeked, and responded
9:43 pm on March 6th, 2013
Melanie!….I’m sure you meant “Bed calls with sweet toys.”, didn’t you?…heh!heh!
9:46 pm on March 6th, 2013
CHobbit: How’s your jaw doing?
9:52 pm on March 6th, 2013
Amen, sniff
9:57 pm on March 6th, 2013
Masquers: my jaw continues to improve and I am weaning myself off chocolate as a food source. :-{
10:04 pm on March 6th, 2013
Thanks once again A. & L. That prayer really spoke to me, but all your prayers do.
I am feeling very calm and relaxed tonight because I had a massage this afternoon. It was a great one. When I went in to this new person she noticed my Chet the Dog patch. She said her 5th grader came home from school this week and said they were studying the Iditarod. She had never heard of it, and then I walk in with my patch. Her daughter loves animals especially dogs. I am mailing her my one extra patch. (Not Dawson’s so stop worrying dear Sis.)
I told her to have her daughter follow #34, Justin Savidis, because now she knew someone who was a sponsor of that team. I felt really proud to be a sponsor. GO SNOWHOOK!
10:06 pm on March 6th, 2013
Oh Rio. I got this for you if you can’t find it on facebookie. I know you are not allowed to go there but maybe you can have your friend look for it for you. Jeff Schultz Photography.
10:06 pm on March 6th, 2013
Staff!…Wow!..heh!…Usually I make fun of your little off-track adventures, but this one is very on-track and great!…snorkel!
10:14 pm on March 6th, 2013
Foto!…That in my humble pug opinion…cough!…is not a good photograph. How can you even tell it is the Giants team?…wheeze!….I sure can’t.
10:17 pm on March 6th, 2013
Amen.
Sage, I bet you are a mean drunk. Are you a Jersey cat?
10:19 pm on March 6th, 2013
Wonderful prayer. As always.
Mom hurt her paw yesterday and stayed home from work today. She may have to go the human vet tomorrow. That’s why she has been on the quiet side.
10:23 pm on March 6th, 2013
Mean-drunk!….heh!snort!heh!…Sage, are you a Jersey Kat??…chorkel!
10:25 pm on March 6th, 2013
Wolfie: I hope your paw feels better fast.
Rio: I can’t see the musher in that photograph much less tell who it is.
10:31 pm on March 6th, 2013
Macy – Jersey? Fa-ged-aboudit! Haven’t you figured out this is a Bawston accent?
Don’t know about a mean drunk, but let me bring over some catnip, and you and me can have a party.
10:49 pm on March 6th, 2013
Rose!…So is Rose home safe and sound now?…snort!…I sure wanna believe that is so….chuffle!
11:14 pm on March 6th, 2013
Run!…Dawgs! Run!….sob!sob!sob!….This video is one of the best we here have seen…sob!…It makes my pug eye leak…wuffle!…Such beautiful video-ography, I am flabbergasted. This is award winning stuff….sob!sob!sob!
11:26 pm on March 6th, 2013
Ok – we surrender. We simply have to go to bed. And when we wake up tomorrow, AJ and the team will be running!
G’night all
11:42 pm on March 6th, 2013
Bed!…Well, Beau is down here begging me and my friend to come up to our warm soft beds….grunt!…Looks like we will not be staying up to see the Giant and the A-Team off…wheeze!…Seeing as it will be around 3:00am our time this morning, I can understand the decision to go to bed….snort!… I bet I wake up around 3:30am and will think of AJ and I will say some pug prayers for him and the team…wuffle!…That should do it. He will be fine. Goodnight all!
11:44 pm on March 6th, 2013
Abbie the Kitty is pacing around me also. Time for bed here also. I don’t know how Rebecca stands it staying up so much. She is still young and they have amazing stamina. I used to do it….heh
No longer
Night all and especially Liz in Oz who lives in tomorrow land.
12:20 am on March 7th, 2013
Staff: My Lady doesn’t feel young and you should see the dark circles under her eyes. She tried doing simple math a few minutes ago, but her mind is so tired she had to use a calculator. Me? I’ve never been good at math.
Macy: My Lady says check your SDD quick like a little min-pin.
My Lady and I are going to try and get a couple hours of sleep in before the team leaves McGrath.
1:11 am on March 7th, 2013
Thank you WL. Dainty licks.
1:23 am on March 7th, 2013
I hope all of us sleep tonight and are ready for tomorrow. I wonder what AJ will start to do to get the team ready to roll. Breakfast, booties, water for them. Make sure the sled is up to par. Maybe a little time to get something together for himself to eat along the trail. Harnesses on, last check and then off he will go. It will be dark there. The middle of the night. I hope the auras are dancing for him.,
Here it will be very early morning.
Smooth Runnings, Snowhook!
4:06 am on March 7th, 2013
Almost all the green flags are stopped for 24. Martin Buser moving. He is 50 miles behind the leaders (LM) who are taking their 24 in Iditarod.
4:19 am on March 7th, 2013
Aj will start to move as soon as I get back into bed. ZZZzzzzzzzzZ.
5:00 am on March 7th, 2013
They’re moving!
5:03 am on March 7th, 2013
On the trail again,
Oh we can’t wait to
Get on the trail again
WooooHoooo!!!!
5:05 am on March 7th, 2013
Gah! I missed the screen shot at McGrath! You could see the lead dog coming out.
5:11 am on March 7th, 2013
Should have taken the screenshot when we had the chance…..well we sort of saw them leaving…the McGrath webcam took too long to refresh.
Godspeed to our Team Snowhook!
5:26 am on March 7th, 2013
MUSHER ALERT: Justin Savidis checks out of McGrath at 00:50:38 (AKST) on March 7
I can see AJ & the team’s sled tracks in the snow 🙂
5:51 am on March 7th, 2013
Hi ho, hi ho, it’s off to Nome, they go . . .
5:56 am on March 7th, 2013
Good morning Melanie and Patsy.
5:57 am on March 7th, 2013
and Rebecca too, if you’re still awake.
7:04 am on March 7th, 2013
My Lady and I are here. We’re waiting for the team to get to Takotna. He will need to stop to change his runner plastic.
7:12 am on March 7th, 2013
Had my cawfee and I’m back…ready to watch our little green flag #34…eyes may be a bit crossed.
7:18 am on March 7th, 2013
Per the latest musher update he checked into Takotna at 3:10.
Rebecca: Why does the runner plastic have to be changed after such a short distance? (from McGrath)
7:21 am on March 7th, 2013
Masquers: It will be the first chance he had to change the runner plastic since the start of the race. It’s not that the short distance between McGrath and Takotna are the reason, rather we put new runner plastic in his Takotna drop bag expecting him to take his 24 there.
7:26 am on March 7th, 2013
Thanks, Whitey. That makes sense.
Sorry I missed the shot coming out of McGrath. 🙁
7:30 am on March 7th, 2013
They’re on the move again!
Masquers: No need to apologize to me or my mama. We just like seeing the green flag moving.
7:41 am on March 7th, 2013
Whitey: I Have a Question too. Are there Two More Layovers? One 8 hour and a mandatory 6 at White Mountain? Or only 1 more?
(this information has gone in and out of my mind since yesterday)
7:48 am on March 7th, 2013
AJ Racing Ahead of John Baker at Mile 310!
6:44 pm on July 17th, 2013
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