Snowhook Iditarod Update
“Any more news from Alaska?” says Admin. “What’s happening with our team, our in the sense that they – Snowhook – are the ones we care about.”
“This is just in from Rebecca,” Spence says. “She sure has a way of making it all come alive.”
Tomorrow is the Ceremonial start, the dress rehersal. It is a day for the fans. We will leave the kennel around 7 am and drive into Anchorage with 16 dogs in the dog box, even though we will only run 12 dogs through the streets of Anchorage. The Ceremonial Start is an 11 mile run, fans wave, take pictures and wish mushers well. We will enjoy the time before we leave the starting line with friends of the kennel.
The Ceremonial start doesn’t count towards race standings. We hope tomorrow runs smoothly. The first year we ran the race our dog truck was barely running. We had no idea what to expect for the Ceremonial start including that we would be stopped several times while be directed where to park. No problem for most people. Our dog truck wouldn’t start if we stopped it—we knew this, the volunteers did not. We opened the doors (the windows didn’t work either) and called to the volunteers, “Just point us where to go! We can’t stop!” They passed paperwork to us as we coasted by their station and onto the next.
And here’s AJ about to draw his race big #. Note mukluk.
Welcome Charlie.
Also – help: would someone please comment about exactly how to stream the race? Thanks – Admin.
Tags: AJ, ceremonial start, Iditarod, Rebecca, Snowhook
This entry was posted on Saturday, March 3rd, 2012 at 8:44 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.
8:57 am on March 3rd, 2012
Good morning all. Snow has stopped and we are plowed out, so all is good. Prayers going out to all the folks in Indiana. Can you imagine – an entire town gone!
We are excited about the final countdown for the race. I am glad the dog truck is better than their old one.
9:04 am on March 3rd, 2012
Good Saturday morning Plunders! Greetings from the west side of the mitten. Light snow here, about 1 inch. I am enjoying my visit with mom’s sissy, and their two doggies, Cubbie the dachsund (sp?) and Obi the pom. Mom is cleaning and cooking and drinking coffee. I’m helping by following her everywhere she goes and asking for pats and tummies.
That you Wookie’s dad for your SDD to mom. She’s thinking about forwarding your message to her BIL. Would that be okay?
BIL is running a temp, feeling increased pain and not doing to good.
Excited for Snowhook. Not so excited for Siber and the dentist. You just never know…
I am eating my hard kibble (good stuff) and am chewing on my bones. Feels good. A man’s just gotta bite on stuff, need that crunchy chaw feeling. Soothes my soul.
9:10 am on March 3rd, 2012
I’m leaving for Sam’s. We’re going to Les Miz this afternoon. Sam’s girl is here for this too. This evening I hope to catch up on the ceremonial race start.
10:13 am on March 3rd, 2012
Thanks Mike Baker! We’re Back!
10:40 am on March 3rd, 2012
I’m saying several bad words because I haven’t been able to get on Chet’s blog until now. What’s up with that??
I’d like to know more about streaming also.
Good morning all.
10:44 am on March 3rd, 2012
Mollypop’s Mom: You’ll enjoy Les Miz. It is wonderful!
10:46 am on March 3rd, 2012
BearSpiritDog asked me if I could put up the magnets and decals on Chet The Dog’s FB page. So I sent the picture to Our Favorite Author and he said yes. Unfortunately, i did not write the title of the new book correctly. 🙂
So I corrected it (surprised myself on that) and put it up on SQ, Zoe and Chet’s Facebook page. So if you’re a part of any other blog or whatever here’s the picture.
Just link it to the correct page on Snowhook’s webpage.
10:48 am on March 3rd, 2012
B.Stover: I was sent an email that gives the link for the streaming. Aren’t you a member of the Insider? I’ll forward that to you. Not sure how else to do it. Will have to wait for Siber-H to get back from the dog park.
10:52 am on March 3rd, 2012
So am I being impatient? I want to see the live streaming video. Not till about noon Central Time I think.
Drat!
10:54 am on March 3rd, 2012
The link went to here. http://iditarod.com/watch-it-live
It appears you need to be an Insider subscriber. Not sure how much it costs to do just the videos. The videos and GPS was $33.
Anchorage, AK 25 degrees, light snow. Wind: S 5 mph
10:58 am on March 3rd, 2012
http://www.happyzebra.com/timezones-worldclock/currentlocalusa.php
You can save this so you know what time it is where. Am I being impatient? Yes I AM!
11:04 am on March 3rd, 2012
I have made Staff step away from the computer. What a ditz!
To watch the video streaming (when it comes available) you go to Iditarod.com and click on the 2012 race link on the horizontal menu. (It is right under the D in Iditarod.) The second link down says Live Stream. Click on that and a video box comes up.
So far there is no live stream. I don’t expect it to be live until around noon central, so in FL or MA that will be around 1 in the afternoon.
Did I do that right Mr.Husky?
11:06 am on March 3rd, 2012
I am no tekkie, but I believe that the option for live streaming will be apparent once you are logged into the Insider and the race begins!
11:07 am on March 3rd, 2012
The Insider is listing AJ as number 37.
11:11 am on March 3rd, 2012
I hope that Kirby’s mom has a good turnout today!
11:21 am on March 3rd, 2012
Good morning to everyone. Did I sleep through some Blog madness?
Jasper: That is an excellent picture of the little wannabee Iditaroders. I feel their anticipation and excitement in the air.
I am sending prayer out for Jasper’s and Wolfie’s families.
Hoorah! Admin and Spence will be “streaming the Race!” As soon as we figure it out. Thanks Alice for instructions.
The Snowhook Kennel truck from 2010 reminds me of several vehicles I have owned. Funny to look back on from a safe distance, but very annoying at the time.
Hip hip Hooray for #38! (Or #37…) Go Snowhook Kennels!
11:22 am on March 3rd, 2012
Thanks for the links and infor Melanie and Staff.
I renewed my subsrciption to the Insider yesterday.
11:26 am on March 3rd, 2012
Forgot: I’m supposed to be getting an email from the Insider every time AJ checks into a checkpoint. I think I’m getting nervous…..
11:29 am on March 3rd, 2012
B: That’s strange…last night he was #38…are we still in the Twilight Zone?
Staff: This dawg thanks you for the Time Zone Map. Whew!
11:31 am on March 3rd, 2012
A Big Thank You to Melanie!
Good RACE DAY Everyone!!!
11:32 am on March 3rd, 2012
The Anchorage Daily News is a wonderful place for Iditarod news. While waiting for the ceremonial start I am reading a series called “Meet the Sled Dogs”. It is great.
Some news: One of Zoya DeNure’s (a well-known musher name) lead dogs got injured in a moose attack and her sled was damaged.
I hope the moose do not do anymore damage.
11:38 am on March 3rd, 2012
I am afraid that Mom’s brain will blow a fuse keeping track of all the time zones.
Yikes!
11:38 am on March 3rd, 2012
Dawson: Yikes! Moose attacks are becoming more frequent because they are coming out to forge for food. Karen Ramstead’s team also had a moose encounter recently (as did AJ) Safe travels on the trail to all teams and mushers.
Siber: I couldn’t find the video of Susan Butcher that you and the Howlers were talking about yesterday. Can one of youse give me instructions on how to find it?
COUNTDOWN: 2 hrs. 22 min. 22 sec. UNTIL RACE TIME!
11:47 am on March 3rd, 2012
LOL reading Rebecca’s story of the ailing dog truck. I swear, Bella, you have the making of a great book. Reminds me of that scene in Little Miss Sunshine where they couldn’t stop the van and had to keep going around in a circle to pick up a passenger. Love the photo of AJ at the ceromonies.
Off to check on some last minute details before the Race. I’ll be back shortly.
11:51 am on March 3rd, 2012
“ceremonies” (iPaw spell-check where are u?)
11:53 am on March 3rd, 2012
Thanks Spence and Rebecca! Yes, we are very fortunate that the team’s mom is also a very good writer. Someday, Rebecca will be a published author.
When the live streaming begins, the Iditarod’s home page will have a banner on it that says click here for live streaming. You will have to be an Iditarod insider and be logged in to do that.
Or , if you are already an Insider, you can use the link on the email they sent all of us.
That email has a lovely photo of a team of Sibers on it instead of Alaskan Huskies. What’s up with that?
11:54 am on March 3rd, 2012
Anchorage!….Whew! We all helped clean the basement and organize long strips of brightly colored paper this morning…burp!… Those things sure can get tangled in my teeth…sniff!…Now she is getting ready to go on a Brutal Walk because it is suddenly Spring outside. All the wind and nasty weather has FINALLY left the area…snort!…When she comes back we will watch the Ceremonial Start together and then it will be Beau and my turn to go for walks. She says I’ve gotten fat over the winter and am not up to the Brutal Walk (thank you Zingers!..yeeep!) …So I have to work up to that again. Her mother even commented on how fat I am when I was sleeping sitting up the other day…grunt!…I’m fat and happy, what can I say?…heh!
GO! Snowhook!…snort!….Number 38 is Great!…heh!
12:07 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Hi all – came out of the Mud Room long enough to find that we could now get into the blog. At last! Can you imagine if the race started and we couldn’t all talk to each other?
We admit it – we are not doing the Insider. We think that this constitutes Cruel and Unusual Punishment to Corgis, but Mama thought long and hard about it and knew she would stay glued to the computer instead of working in the Mud Room. And since she said our treat budget is dependant on her work, we guess we will have to let her do her thing.
So, we will be checking on the blog for what’s happening. And we will be posting the Iditarod Prayer every night at 9 pm EST. We will make sure that there isn’t any reference to mukluks in any prayer so the moderator doesn’t have fits.
And now, back to playing with clay – talk to you all later
12:11 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Now is a good time to talk about technical problems. I have learned all of this from experience…the hard way.
If you have technial problems with the Iditarod Insider during the race, or live streaming, or whatever, go to the Iditarod Discussion Forums and click on the topic, “Iditarod Insider”. There, you will learn if other people are having the same problem. They probably are. The Iditarod Insider people do post there and talk to people about the problems and they do get them fixed as soon as they can.
The Iditarod Insider has re-invented itself this year, so I do not know what will happen as far as technical problems go
If you want to sign into the Iditarod message boards, there is nothing to it. Mom lets me do it and she won’t let me do much of anything on the internet.
Bear, I will look for the Susan video for you.
12:17 pm on March 3rd, 2012
May the GPS work
May the Internet have no bugs
May the weather through out the country allow us to keep informed
May Mike Baker keep the blog working.
Getting nervous here.
12:21 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Just between us, I hope that Mike Baker is aware that we will have record activity this week! I shudder to think of what would happen if the blog goes down this week.
Remember when Bee and Melanie and Melanie’s cane had to take charge?
It wasn’t pretty.
12:29 pm on March 3rd, 2012
amen, Melanie
Wolfie, very well said about the cane.
T&G You won’t miss anything by not having the Insider. We will be discussing everything here on the blog. Your mom is right about it taking up so much time. Mom and I don’t get much of anything accomplished during the Iditarod.
Bear, I am screaming again, but not at you. I can’t find the Susan Butcher video anywhere. The Insider has made one big, blasted mess of their videos.
Before this year, all the videos were always up there…no problem
12:41 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Just a quick update on my boy, Chad. We didn’t hear from him until yesterday. He has been trying (but not very hard) to contact Teen Challenge. I am trying to stay out of it but I did step in momentarily and found out that the guy that Chad has been leaving messages with isn’t there. Chad needs to get some blood work done and once we have the results, I need to take him to a Teen Challenge detox center. He will be there for up to a month and then he can start the program. Hopefully we can get him there by Thursday.
12:45 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Susan Butcher: You go to “Videos” (under the “A” in Iditarod) then scroll down (almost to the bottom) until you see Susan’s name in a heading. Very moving.
12:46 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Siber-H: Very disappointing news about the Susan Butcher video. We had a bad feeling it might not be up for long…maybe going to the Iditarod Discussion Forums?…don’t know if this would help, but at least our voices will be heard.
12:47 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Dawson: Just saw your post…thanks…I’ll try that.
12:48 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Googling … This is by Riyad Adeeb taken of one of Snowhook’s dogs. Fall training.
I thought these guys didn’t drool??
12:48 pm on March 3rd, 2012
12:48 pm on March 3rd, 2012
1 hr. 11 min. 11 sec. TO GO UNTIL RACE TIME!!!
12:54 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Dawson, Thanks! You found it!
Wolfie, We are praying that Chad gets himself there this week.
12:59 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Dawson: We found the Susan Butcher video! (I swear it wasn’t there before…Siber-H, back me up on this)
Wolfie: There is still hope. Continuing prayers coming your way from the Island.
1:01 pm on March 3rd, 2012
I am still not seeing the Susan Butcher video. Is it under the ‘Featured’ heading?
1:08 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Wolfie: WhoooHooo! No expectations but hopeful For Chad.
Susan Butcher: You don’t click on anything after you click on “Videos”. You just scroll down.
1:08 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Love to Google. Found the Official Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race 2012 Guide.
http://itcteacheronthetrail.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/2012-rg.pdf
We’re listed on page 60 as some of his sponsors.
There’s a picture of AJ thawing water on page 6. That’s from 2011.
1:09 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Bear, I am most definately backing you up on this.
Wolfie, I am going to try to find it again by following Dawson’s instructions.
1:10 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Wolfie: Good luck. At least he was doing some of what he was supposed to be doing,
1:13 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Yark, Wolfie, the video isn’t there for me either and I am logged into the Insider.
1:16 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Whew! Finally done with chores, and sitting in front of the 48″ flat-screen which is hooked up to Insider. We are posting on the iPaw. We are so excited we are ready to hyperventilate (or maybe Mom is…we Sibes are always Kool).
We received our QUILT TODAY!!!! Is that a good omen or what? You tell me. Mom plans to hide under it when her nerves get the best of her.
Last night’, Macy posted about being cut out of something…what was that about?
ONWARD SNOWHOOK!
1:19 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Wolfie, Good news about Chad. Will keep paws crossed.
1:20 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Susan’s video was there 5 minutes ago, but now is not. Drat
1:21 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Sitting here listening to the music of the Live Stream. It says I’m in the right place.
NINE MORE MINUTES!
1:33 pm on March 3rd, 2012
First the video wasn’t there when scrolling down, so went back a page…wasn’t there…came back to first page and there it was!
This is what’s called an Alternate Reality folks.
1:34 pm on March 3rd, 2012
First the video wasn’t there when scrolling down, so went back a page…wasn’t there…came back to first page and there it was!
This is what’s called an Alternate Reality folks.
IT’ ON!!!!!
1:35 pm on March 3rd, 2012
YEAHHHHHHH!!!
1:36 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Oh my gosh…The live stream is actually working!
Bear, I’ll try your method.
1:37 pm on March 3rd, 2012
ARGGGG!
1:38 pm on March 3rd, 2012
I’m watching the live stream!
1:43 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Pre-Race!…We are settled in and watching the Pre-Race…snort!…How cool is this? I sure hope my old computer doesn’t explode…grunt!
1:44 pm on March 3rd, 2012
The sound isn’t great. Still…WOOO Triple-HOO !!!!!
1:47 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Crap.I am not getting the live stream.
2:00 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Dad would not hook us up to the big screen, but we are here on the iPaw and watching on the laptop. Pant pant.
2:01 pm on March 3rd, 2012
All white! Cool
2:03 pm on March 3rd, 2012
71 years old! There’s still hope …
2:09 pm on March 3rd, 2012
A Massachusetts Gal! Cool
2:09 pm on March 3rd, 2012
They better not run a commercial when Snowhook is up!!!
2:11 pm on March 3rd, 2012
What’s up with the numbers?
2:11 pm on March 3rd, 2012
The real start tomorrow will be much different. There won’t be two extra people and an extra sled the dogs are pulling. They do this today to keep the dogs from going too fast.
Tomorrow, the dogs will be hauling @ss out of Willow.
2:13 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Siber-H is any of this yanking?
2:14 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Heh! Those guys look like twins!
2:17 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Yarking iPaw learn it dern it
2:19 pm on March 3rd, 2012
I saw those twins too Bear really cool!
2:19 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Hey! We got to see Susan’s video in the Race history background! Kool. Anyone else having their video cutting out?
2:22 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Macy, Alaskan Huskies seem to bark more than us Sibers do, but, yes, they can yark. I don’t think it is their “thing” like it is ours.
I just got very impressed looking at John Baker’s dogs. They look like they mean business.
2:27 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Bib Numbers! I see that the first racer, Ray Redington Jr. was wearing bib #2. I believe there is an honorary musher (Dave Olson) wearing bib #1 which is why the discrepancy in bib #’s.
SiberH: John Baker’s dogs do look smooth and strong.
2:33 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Hey! I’m at the top!
Dawson thanks for the bib explanation.
2:39 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Dad came to my rescue! I’m watching it now!
2:39 pm on March 3rd, 2012
We couldn’t get on the blog all this time!
2:40 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Excited!…We here are getting very excited to see AJ the Giant and Rebecca LIVE!…snort!snort!…Not to mention the Team!…Wooooo!
2:42 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Chechpoint Rio! Woo Hoo!
2:42 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Fantastic, Wolfie…You will get to see AJ!
2:49 pm on March 3rd, 2012
How about that guy in the kilt, talk about freezing your under it’s off!
2:52 pm on March 3rd, 2012
OMD! I CANNOT WAIT FOR AJ!
2:54 pm on March 3rd, 2012
There’s another Scotsman coming up. Waddie? or something like that.
2:55 pm on March 3rd, 2012
I keep hearing all kinds of huskies yarking but when me and Gus run outside, they aren’t there anymore.
So confusing!
2:55 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Those guys are wearing Whitey Lance coats!
3:03 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Want a be(s)!
3:04 pm on March 3rd, 2012
More twins! (2-legged this time)
3:07 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Wattie (the Scotsman) MacDonald travelled with AJ for quite a ways in last years race. Go Wattie! He wore a kilt and carried a Scottish flag at the ceremonial start. What bib# is he?
3:11 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Did you notice the focus of #34’s lead dog? Wow.
3:15 pm on March 3rd, 2012
No commercials for 38 heart pounding paws sweaty go go go!,,,,,,,
3:15 pm on March 3rd, 2012
A wide range of mushers: young, old, rookies, veterns.
Almost time for Snowhook and AJ!
3:16 pm on March 3rd, 2012
I thought the same thing, Melanie. The focus of a Border Collie.
3:20 pm on March 3rd, 2012
AJ just left the starting point. Rebecca is on the sled right behind him.
3:20 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Over too soo . Rebecca in stormy pink, love it!
3:20 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Screen grabs coming up!
3:20 pm on March 3rd, 2012
What a great shot of Rebecca and AJ!!
WOO WOO
3:22 pm on March 3rd, 2012
OMD!!! We love laid-back AJ and lovely Rebecca and our team!!! Love seeing the pink SK.
3:22 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Did you guys see the Chet the Dogs patches Rebecca sewed on the jackets of the Plunderer sponsored dogs! (Bear knew, but couldn’t tell)
3:22 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Sigh!
Is there anyway that we can rewind it?
I think our team has a lot of fire. Go Snowhook!
3:24 pm on March 3rd, 2012
3:24 pm on March 3rd, 2012
OK I made Mr.Staff wait until we saw AJ off. Now I can go to the Bluegrass weekend and listen to music. See y’all later.
3:24 pm on March 3rd, 2012
3:25 pm on March 3rd, 2012
3:25 pm on March 3rd, 2012
3:26 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Great Job Melanie!
3:27 pm on March 3rd, 2012
I loved the focus of 34’s lead dog. Wow!
3:28 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Good Girl Melanie!! Thanks
Those are great photos!
3:29 pm on March 3rd, 2012
They are glowing with happiness!
3:29 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Don’t tell me you all missed it? Say it isn’t so! See the guy with the black jacket in Melanie’s last photo? He’s wearing a CTD patch.
3:32 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Love the patch! Is Rebecca wearing one on her jacket? Thanks for the pictures Melanie.
3:32 pm on March 3rd, 2012
I noticed the look on # 34’s face also. “Why are we wasting time? Let’s hit the trail.”. He may be disgusted when he has to stop after only 11 miles.
He is a force to be reckoned with.
3:34 pm on March 3rd, 2012
That’s the problem with not having HD. When I grabbed the pics, the patches didn’t come out.
I have to say that this is great. Dan had a good time watching with me. I hope the filming for the network went well.
3:34 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Great pics, Melanie! We are so glad you got those.
Bear, we were so busy jumping and twirling and watching Rebecca kiss her Giant that we missed the patches. But not to worry. We think we can re-watch it all later. Can’t we Siber?
3:35 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Great photos. Thanks, Melanie.
Calm down, Bear. Go get a snack or something.
3:38 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Sibe team up next!
3:38 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Yes, number 34’s lead dog was all concentration. He was looking straight ahead, ignoring all the noise and the dogs jumping and yarking behind him…letting nothing else destract him. Don’t think I’ve ever seen that before.
Who is the 34 musher?
3:39 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Fellow Sibers, We should be able to watch it later, if the Insider does what it has done in the past.
3:39 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Jasper. Tell your mom that she should definitely feel free to forward my dad’s email to her BIL. Hope it helps.
Go Snowhook! Woo! Woo!
Wookie
3:40 pm on March 3rd, 2012
B: Rebecca sewing the CTD patches on the jackets…kool, heh.
btw: How is Charlie enjoying the view from your easy chair? (he was supposed to have a patch on his jacket too) sob, sob.
3:43 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Go Sibers!! Show them we can handle that deeper snow!
3:54 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Karen Ramstead’s Sibe team up next!
3:54 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Musher 34 is Dallas Seavey. Now I’d like to find the name of the lead dog…..
3:57 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Charlie want to be at the Iditarod.
SH: What is the bib number of the team of Sibers?
I also liked the team with all white dogs.
3:58 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Siber: Your guys should do well in the deeper snow, right?
4:00 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Siber, that man on the broadcast does not like our kind. Pffft
4:03 pm on March 3rd, 2012
The Howlers have a great set-up…big screen tv, iPaw in hand, and the Snowhook quilt to snuggle under (and I’m sure there are some munchies at hand also. lol
4:06 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Going to take a break now. Some Agatha Christie’s Marple is just what is needed to calm down a bit.
4:06 pm on March 3rd, 2012
umm Maskers…I am hoping, but I just thought that sounded good.
Stover, I don’t know the bib number, I just know the names of the two mushers that are running Sibers…Karen Ramstead and Hank Debruin.
Go Karen and Sibers!!!
4:11 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Greetings from vilds of Alaska. Is cold. Is snow. Is VONDERFUL.
Crowds cheering like mad for all teams, but ve think is extra loud for the Snowhook. Is maybe for Rebecca’s pink hat, but ve think is for vonderful doggies pulling sled #38.
Natasha vill stay on sidelines for now. Tomorrow vill be on duty vith encourage team.
Maybe vill make nice vith lead dog of #34 team. Little distraction for other racers is ok, yes?
4:13 pm on March 3rd, 2012
B: Karen Ramstead with the Siber team has bib #56.
4:15 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Fellow Sibers, I caught that from the announcer, also. And, he was wrong. We were not bred for hauling freight.
I do not expect great things from these two teams of Sibers. They have never come close before to setting a best time record for Sibers. Blake Freaking and his team of Sibers set that record three years ago and it was respectable for Iditarod Sibers. Blake hasn’t returned to the Iditarod since then, sigh.
4:22 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Snowhook!….Wooooo!….That was so much fun seeing those guys and the team. I did not see any of Chet’s Patches though…sniff!… Our computer froze up right after those guys took off on their sled (talk about luck!) …grunt!….So we went outside for some fresh air and a good walk, but its windy and chilly again so it wasn’t a Brutal Walk (talk about lucky again!!)….Woooo! Snowhook!….chuffle!…I’m so damned proud of those guys!…sniffle!
4:26 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Natasha, I think you should really make nice with #34 lead dog. That dog looks like determined trouble.
GO SNOWHOOK!!! That was such fun seeing them.
4:26 pm on March 3rd, 2012
B: Dallas Seavy #34, with the kool lead dog, is said to be a serious contender.
Ah, there’s the Balto statue, but now that we all know the TRUE story…..
4:30 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Siber & Howlers: Right. And another thing the announcer failed to mention was AJ’s 2010 Adventure with the Infamous Whitey-Lance… which would have made a nice side note.
4:34 pm on March 3rd, 2012
We can eventually learn the name of that lead dog because Dallas Seavey is such a contender…be careful Natasha, it could be a girl dog.
4:43 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Right, Karen Ramstead is bib 56 and Hank Debruin is bib 48.
4:59 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Oh so much excitement, and the racing has not even begun. Mom already finished off one of her packages of candy Boston Baked Beans.
Siber_H what happens now. Will there be live coverage along the race, will their be video? We could just wait for the answers to come, but that it TOO long to wait. Mom and Dad had the laptop on the table while they ate Lupper. Dad has some kind of app on his iPaw that mom is going to get too.
Har-har, did y’all see that guy who lost his other sled as he pulled away? I bet the person riding on it was PO’d.
Do the Iditiriders pay for that privilege? (are they the ones riding on the main sled?) Inquiring Min-Pins want all answers at once. pant-pant-pant
5:04 pm on March 3rd, 2012
I saw the Chet the Dog patch on the very excited dog with the black jacket. Which dog is it that was jumping to one side, then the other of his/her partner in harness? Then I had to run away, dogonit. I am making no more commitments until the Iditarod is over!
5:23 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Dawson: The guy wearing the patch on his black jackets was one of our sponsored dogs, but I don’t know which one… Whitey-Lance, Orion, Twig???
Like Macy, I have questions…why did some mushers have trial sleds behind and some (like AJ) not? Who was riding in AJ’s sled?
5:25 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Macy, There will be coverage all along the race. There won’t be live coverage after tomorrow’s real start until the finish line in Nome. There will be videos…lots of videos if the past is anything to go by. It really makes it easier to watch the videos on our own time instead of having to be there for the live coverage. There are the GPS Trackers to follow. The Iditarod website will also put up printed news articles about the race.
As Dawson already mentioned, The Alaska Daily News is another good place to get free race coverage. Their videos are usually well done. I check their website every day during the race.
For some of the mushers the Iditarod Riders bid on the opportunity to ride in the sled for the Ceremonial start. I think the money goes to the Iditarod Race Commitee instead of the individual mushers. Yes, they are the ones riding on the main sled. For the other less well known mushers, it must just friends and family riding on the sled.
5:27 pm on March 3rd, 2012
or Fritz?
Siber-H: No GPS tracking for this short race to Willow, right?
When do you think the videos will be up for the Ceremonial Start?
?????????????
5:27 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Melanie, Thanks for the great pictures. I will email them to the Grands. I sent them the map and they know we are doing some sponsoring, so they are into it too!
5:34 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Bear, It would be a matter of the musher’s personal choice how he/she wants to distribute that extra weight to slow the dogs down…like that second sled trailing along.
In the Ceremonial Start, the dogs are really working to pull all that extra weight. They won’t be pulling like that when the race gets underway. It will be much easier for them and not a heavy load at all for each indivudial dog.
I don’t know who was riding in AJ’s sled.
5:41 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Bear, that is correct. No GPS Trackers until the real start tomorrow.
In the past, they have gotten the video of the Ceremonial Start up within 12 hours. I don’t know what the new improved Insider will do. I can no longer predict what and how they will do their videos, but they claim they will be getting up a lot of videos soon.
5:49 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Here’s a link to some great pictures of the 2011 Ceremonial Start. All about Snowhook.
http://twoakhuskies.blogspot.com/2011/03/iditarod.html
5:55 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Will try to remember to put this up daily …
5:55 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Melanie: Thank you for the wonderful snapshots. I can see the white Chet the Dog Iditarod patch on the dog with the black jacket on the far right of the last snapshot.
Orion and Twig led AJ on the last leg into Nome last year.
The Seavey’s are a multi-generation mushing family. Dallas, whose birthday is March 4th, will be 25. He is the only musher ever to run the Jr. Iditarod (14-17 year olds)and the Iditarod (18 years +) in the same year! Dallas won the Yukon Quest last year and one of his relatives (a nephew?) just won the 2012 Jr. Iditarod. There are 3 Seavey’s running the Iditarod this year. The grandfather Dan, the father Mitch and Dallas.
6:00 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Masquers, we thought that announcer would mention Whitey-Lance’s Great Adventure also. Instead he just said that AJ scratched in 2010.
Melanie, you should post the sweet AJ and Rebecca pic on Stormy Kromer’s Facebook page. They will love it.
It is hard to come back down to earth now. We can’t wait to watch some of it again, as soon as they put the video up. We want to see Snowhook again, and study the patches and our guys. Also want to see #34 Lead Dog. We also think that team has an excellent chance of winning. Unless Natasha comes along at the right time, that is!
6:23 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Thanks, Melanie, for the link to the Snowhook photos.
I am looking forward to seeing #34 lead dog tomorrow if he/she is still in the lead tomorrow. They do switch their leaders around, but I would want that dog taking me out of Willow.
6:23 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Tomorrow!…It’s hard to believe the Last Great Race is going to start tomorrow afternoon…snort!… We’ve sure come a long way since last March. I hope the Snowhook family gets home safe and sound and everyone gets extra love and extra kibble tonight, even AJ…heh!heh!
Photos! …Great photo grabs Melanie!…snorkel!
6:32 pm on March 3rd, 2012
We are being told to take a break here. Mom says we need to calm down. Moi? I’m always a Kalm Kool Kat. Now that other guy…..
6:36 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Newsflash!!
I have found the missing Iditarod videos. Click on videos up at the top (not the video choices in the drop down menu)and then when that comes up, scroll down and there is the Susan Butcher video and Libby Riddles video. Libby was the first woman to win the Iditarod.
6:52 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Thanks, Siber. We just watched the Libby Riddles video.
7:01 pm on March 3rd, 2012
The way they have the videos arranged now must be the way they will go on doing the videos. If so, this is manageable.
7:13 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Somehow I managed to post on yesterday’s blog instead of today’s, so…take two.
I just re-read the account of AJ’s encounter with the moose and realized…he was moose-tipping, an Alaskan variation of cow-tipping, except cows are a little more mellow.
7:13 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Melanie, your photos are wonderful.
The Alaska Dispatch site has a slideshow with photos of the mushers. The most handsome musher just happens to be # 38.
7:26 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Plunderers! We are just leaving Anchorage and heading home. I’m glad you noticed CTD patches! It’s been a long day. More later.
7:30 pm on March 3rd, 2012
I believe I see what Roes was saying. This is from the Alaska Dispatch.
7:34 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Hi everyone – we are just catching up – wow, what a day!
ummm – not sure if this is important or even if there is anything that can be done about it, but at the Iditarod web site, on AJ profile – they have the wrong web site address for Snowhook.
We just think so much of Snowhook that it makes us crazy that other people who might want to find out about them are getting the wrong address.
The Ceremonial Start looks like it was very exciting (thanks for the photos, Melanie!) – tomorrow is going to be incredible.
Wahoo – GO SNOWHOOK!
7:37 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Rose you are right as usual. Number 38 is our choice too! Mom says AJ looks like a handsome Snow Viking.
7:41 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Bear just learned a new trick with assistance from Melanie.
Standing by…..
7:41 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Giant!…Is that the Giant with long(ish) hair?…snorkel!…What a great guy! Nice, but tough as nails…gruffle!
7:50 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Spence!…He is in Disneyland this weekend…grunt!…I wonder if he will get to see the Ceremonial Start at some point…snort!…Spence, that is My Checkpoint buddy, don’t miss the excitement!…wuffle!
7:50 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Rebecca, The announcer had very nice things to say about AJ when he was at the starting line.
I got the name of the newspaper wrong in a earlier post. It is the Anchorage Daily News, not the Alaska Daily news.
T&G I think someone should try to get Snowhook’s web address corrected on the Idotarod’s website. Maybe Rebecca should try, but I know she has a zillion other things to think about right now.
8:06 pm on March 3rd, 2012
T&G and Siber-H, please check SDD.
8:07 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Siber and everyone else – Mama just sent an email to the Iditarod web site support folks about the error. Hopefully there is someone there to get the email, and hopefully there is someone there who will take action.
And now, back to the Mud Room…
8:11 pm on March 3rd, 2012
guess the folks at the Iditarod will know there’s a mistake for sure….
8:13 pm on March 3rd, 2012
checked up on Musher #34. One of Dallas Seavey’s lead dogs is a girl (Guiness) so watch out Natasha. I don’t think she will fall for your wiles. Diesel now, he might check you out. snicker
http://community.adn.com/adn/node/156064#diesel
This link is to the anchorage daily news. Good idea Mr. Husky. Lots of news there.
8:38 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Thank you Staff.
8:38 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Macy, mom wants to know the name of your folkses ipaw app!
8:51 pm on March 3rd, 2012
My brain is getting foggy, but I think two emails have just been sent to the Iditarod people about Snowhook’s incorrect web address. Thank you Melanie and T&G.
The Iditarod will receive them and read them. They need to correct it.
We can hope that Guiness is gay.
8:54 pm on March 3rd, 2012
What a glorious day! Snowhook, four and two footed, looked like they were on top of the world.
Been trying to think of a name for the sounds AJ will be hearing. The sound the sled makes over snow or ice, the dogs panting, their paws in the snow, the wind, the sound of stillness. Haven’t come up with a name for that sound scape.
Any ideas?
TTFN
8:58 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Melanie: That sound is home. Peace. Bliss. Perfection.
9:11 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Hello Plunderers from Wasilla, Alaska!!!
Now I can reveal my secret…when I found out that no Plunderer could come to Alaska this year, I made plans with Rebecca to attend if possible. I would have felt terrible being home while AJ took off at the official start of the race. I am representing all of youse. I kept it a secret because it is a long, hard drive and if the roads were bad, I might not be able to make it. So I left home this AM and drove over hill and dale and 6 mountains…road adventures later. 6.5 hours and nowI will get something to eat and visit my first Target store (almost as exciting as the Iditarod for me–or as I told Rebecca,”Target is my personal Mecca”). I stopped for a total of 15 minutes on the road–to top off my gas tank before I left civilization,to take mountain photos for Siber-H, and to use the one outhouse open on the road during winter (that rated four photos in itself).
I will meet up with Rebecca and team tomorrow in Willow–usually a 40-minute drive away but longer on race day. My new digital camera is supposed to hold 700 photos. I am usually in the running for world’s worst photographer because I never can see In the frame what I am shooting so it is like Iam blind. I hope that out of 700, there will be 10 Melanie-quality that I can post.
Well, I am super hungry and exhausted from typing on this iPaw–how do youse do it?
9:18 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Rebecca!…They are home finally!…Woooo!…Now go to bed and get some sleep…sniff!
9:19 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Rebecca: hi! I am safe and sound in Wasilla. It sounds like the traffic tomorrow will be crazy. I found out that Target is open until 111PM tonight and it opens at 88AM on Sunday. How cool is that? 🙂
Behind in the blog but I hope today went well.
9:25 pm on March 3rd, 2012
SURPRISE!….C.Harris what a great surprise!….WOOOOOOO!… I’m so glad you made it safe and sound to Wasilla….snort!snort!… You are one DareDevil gal, I must say! …sniff!… What a WONDERFUL thing you have done. Awesome! And Amazing! …Take some really great photos of AJ and the Team, AJ and Rebecca, Rebecca, AJ…The team…chorkel!…You get the idea…heh!…WOOOOOOO!WHEEEEEEEE!
9:28 pm on March 3rd, 2012
IPaw!…Am I the only one who does not have an IPaw?…snort!…I ask youse guys?
9:29 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Wow,C.Harris. Super cool! Thanks for getting there to represent all of us.
9:34 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Excitement!….I sure hope Bear doesn’t have a heart attack when he learns Charris is going to be at the Start of the Iditarod with Snowhook….snort!….He was a tad over-excited today and hopefully Maskers was able to calm him down with some “OmmmmmOhmmmming”…chorkel!sneeze!
9:36 pm on March 3rd, 2012
OMD! The steps are back!!!
http://community.adn.com/?q=adn%2Fnode%2F160036#storylink=cpy
9:42 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Rio. Don’t worry about not having the IPAW, it has some real limitations. We could not get the streaming video to work on our IPAW, only on our computer, although we could watch the stored videos. Wookie
9:45 pm on March 3rd, 2012
CHARRIS!!!! You wonderful, sneaky, glorious Plunderer!!
We are so happy for you and for Bella and of course for all of us who will be waiting for pictures. Have a great time at Target.
9:59 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Happy!…. Oh Charris! My friend is so happy you will be there with Rebecca when AJ and the A-Team leave on their daring quest tomorrow afternoon…snort!….She felt like she really let Rebecca down by not being able to be there with her this year. Kudos to you my dear friend for being the brave one and representing all of the Plunderers this year!….snorkel!
10:02 pm on March 3rd, 2012
CHarris made it to Willow!! This is so exciting! One of us is there! We are so proud of you and looking forward to your reporting and photos. We want to hear about your road adventures when you have time.
Rio, I do not have an IPAW, but I love the funny mistakes they make when people are using them to post on the blog. CHarris is typing very well on that IPAW especially after such a long day.
10:05 pm on March 3rd, 2012
CHarris: How wonderful! Thank you.
10:07 pm on March 3rd, 2012
This is wonderful, CHarris!
A very lucky omen indeed, for everyone involved!
I have a Target debit card that gives me 5% off! It is free! Hopefully it is a national promo!
10:08 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Fellow Sibers, I’m glad you found that article on the Steps.
You are right…They are back! This gives us something else to worry about, but they are such an important part of the Iditarod trail.
10:12 pm on March 3rd, 2012
For some reason I keep posting on yesterday’s blog, one more try.
10:13 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Siber, now we will be even happier when AJ and the guys get to your Rainy Pass checkpoint. That is just after the steps, isn’t it?
10:19 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Siber– I had to retype things several times so it took ages took to post which is why I got so hungry. Yes it is weird what the iPaw types “for you.”
I will keep my eyes peeled for Natasha tomorrow but she is really good at being undercover. I will be on the lookout for crazy headgear but I think everyone will be wearing hats. I have one that makes me look like a dork so I hope to find a replacement at Target. Also heavier socks as my Lobbins are too big and I made a mistake with my shoes. Just because I am “south” doesn’t mean it is warm and I will be outside hours tomorrow.
Once I leave the hotel I may not have a wireless connection to post tomorrow and will be home late (hoping to be home by midnight–no sub for me tomorrow).
10:20 pm on March 3rd, 2012
For some reason I keep posting on yesterday’s blog, one more try.
10:22 pm on March 3rd, 2012
OH No!….snort!…The Steps….wheeze! …Rebecca will need to go buy another cheesecake just for this….gurgle!
10:24 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Macy – too funny!
Whilrling and twirling off on our way to our soft, warm bed. No baseball toys, but we will make do.
Good night all – thank you for your great reporting on the Ceremonies today. Talk to you all tomorrow.
10:25 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Good grief a pictorial Double D.
I was just watching “Meet the dogs” on the newspaper site. Somebody look at “Jody” and tell me if that dog is meditating or what. I wasn’t even sure she was real for most of the interview.
I will have to get back to you
Wolfie, about the app. Dad is filling out applications for jobs, and is quite cranky, so I am NOT going in there.
Yea!!! CHarris. Mom had to laugh while reading about Target. When her aunt from Anchorage used to come down to Texas the first thing she wanted to do was go to Target and Olive Garden.
10:28 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Yes, Fellow Sibers.
Then after Rainy pass they have the infamous Dalzell Gorge.
10:40 pm on March 3rd, 2012
SiberH!….Do tell! What is the Dalzell Gorge?….snort!…And how much cheezecake does it require?…sniffle!
10:49 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Well, it is another downhill like the Steps. Once they get to the bottom of the Dalzell Gorge, they travel along the bottom of the canyon for awhile and a stream. Then, they on their way out of the Alaska Range and the journey through the interior of Alaska begins.
I don’t know how much cheesecake the Gorge requires because I have heard mushers say there was nothing to it and I have heard other mushers say it was frightful.
10:58 pm on March 3rd, 2012
We should have bought stock in cheezecake.
11:18 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Mom is making me turn in now. She says I may have to start practicing breathing exercises with Masquers.
I am so happy that CHarris has made it to Willow and the real start of the Race! Hope all of you up there get a good night’s rest.
night all
11:25 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Charris: The secret has been killing me. I can’t wait to meet a real life Plunderer from this here blog. Twirl, twirl.
Plunderers, I need to ask for more prayers tonight. Rory, a rescue dog and one of AJ’s main leader is not feeling well. She was fine in the Ceremonial Start, fine when we got her home, yet refused her dinner. She is in with me right now. I will keep an eye on her through the night so AJ can sleep. Please pray for our girl. It is times like these, I wish dogs could talk.
11:36 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Rory!… I love that name. I hope she is just excited and settles down and sleeps all night…snort!…I pray she wakes up hungry as all get-out!…gruff!…I pray she is healthy and ready to go tomorrow…wheeze!
Rebecca!…You get some sleep, if you can. Don’t let yourself become sick again…grunt!…We are going up to bed because we are wimpy, tired and pitiful compared to our Iditarod Heros!…wheeze!cough!….Goodnight all!…Rory, you settle down and get well over-night…wuffle!sniff!
11:40 pm on March 3rd, 2012
We are praying for you, Rory. Your story is one of our favorites. Sleep well girl.
Good night all. This day has been so exciting it wore us out. Put us down for those breathing excercises.
11:50 pm on March 3rd, 2012
Guiness may be small, but she’s very focused. She is determined to be the best lead dog Dallas Seavy has ever had. (This is an earlier post from Bear who has retired to his den) Rio is right…the excitement of today’s Ceremonial Start was too much for him. I’ll leave the great news about C.Harris for tomorrow.
We are so happy to be represented by fellow Plunderer who will be taking hundreds of pictures! This is very exciting news!!!
Bella: We are saying strong prayers for your Rory. I hope it was only all the excitement and that she will be feeling tip top by morning.
Sleep well everyone. Tomorrow is the Restart of the Race and C.Harris will be there!!!
12:05 am on March 4th, 2012
We’re back. Insider posted a video of AJ!
12:18 am on March 4th, 2012
I saw it! Kool.
12:35 am on March 4th, 2012
REbecca. Very special prayers this evening for dear Rory from here in Chevy Chase. Wookie
1:25 am on March 4th, 2012
Power of Positive Paws to Rory, and to all, a good night.
Macy out.
1:28 am on March 4th, 2012
Oh my, Rebecca, poor Rory. I will put her and youse guys at the top of my prayer list.
9:37 am on March 4th, 2012
Spence or Admin must be sleeping in…..
10:40 am on March 4th, 2012
What? Spence and Admin not up yet?
Chet, get those guys up and at
Today is the Big Race!!!
no sleeping in.
10:47 am on March 4th, 2012
Maybe he can’t get his eye pod to work. I don’t have one either Rio, so we are in the same big boat.
I saw the video of AJ. I guess I can see what Rebecca saw in him. He has sparkly eyes.
Long time to wait until the start though. sniff. I believe it will be at 6 pm Central. Oh well, that will put it after all the busy stuff Mr.Staff has planned for this weekend.
So glad CHarris is on the spot in Willow to be our official representative. YAHOOO For her. Hope she has fun fun fun at Target.
BBL
10:49 am on March 4th, 2012
Dawson,
Staff keeps for getting to tell you, but a box from Stormy Kromer came in the mail yesterday. Do I need to have her open and inspect it, just in case the wrong color came or something?
10:52 am on March 4th, 2012
Sigh. Any time guys…..
10:55 am on March 4th, 2012
Hey guys, I found a wonderful website, iditablog.com. They have an app, also.
It includes webcams, podcasts, and lots of other goodies. And it is free!!!
10:56 am on March 4th, 2012
I am anxious to hear the later news on Rory.
11:02 am on March 4th, 2012
Ipaw 3 is coming soon. That means the prices for 1 and 2 will drop way down, Rio and Staff. Mom is counting her pennies but we don’t see an ipad 3 in our future anytime soon. (Our propane tank wad filled yesterday. $601. Sigh.)
11:02 am on March 4th, 2012
Ipaw 3 is coming soon. That means the prices for 1 and 2 will drop way down, Rio and Staff. Mom is counting her pennies but we don’t see an ipad 3 in our future anytime soon. (Our propane tank was filled yesterday. $601. Sigh.)
11:07 am on March 4th, 2012
Wooo! Good job Wolfie. It is hard to do a double Dawson these days.