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Iditarod Dog Sled Race 2004

“The Last Great Race On Earth”

 

          A race that covers over 1150 miles of the roughest, most beautiful terrain created by Mother Nature.   Such things as those jagged mountains, frozen rivers and lakes, impenetrable forests, the frozen tundra that closes the roads during the summer, temperatures below zero constantly, the winds that block out the light causing complete loss of visibility.  Add to that the short daylight, snow overflow, the treacherous climbs up and then down the mountain trails and that is the Iditarod.

 

The race relives the past of those brave souls who from its beginning delivering mail and supplies over what has become the Iditarod Trail.  Sternwheelers supplied Alaska in the Gold Rush days up the rivers and by Steamboat to the port cities, but only from May through October when the rivers and bays were not frozen over.  Supplies the rest of the year could only be delivered by dog sled.  By 1909, the major cities were Juneau, Fairbanks and Nome but 629 trail miles west of what is now Anchorage, a new gold rush created what is considered the last old style frontier town – “Iditarod”, for a short time the largest city in Alaska.

 

The needs for year round mail and freight service for the interior resulted in the Federal Government building a winter trail from Seward to Nome for dog sled teams.  The sleds at that time were pulled by teams of twenty or more dogs and had a capacity of carrying a half-ton.  The Malemiut Inupiat people of the Seward Peninsula have developed today’s dogs.  The very hardy breed is today known as the Malamute.  A team of these dogs averaging 75 pounds each can easily match a team of horses.  There is much written about the feats of these dogs.  Hauling supplies is not their only accomplishment, two instances are recorded where 2.600 lbs of gold as hauled to Knik by four teams and a few years later 3.400 lbs were hauled out by 46 dogs.  The only thing that surpassed the dog sleds was the airplane.

 

The sled dog had its last taste of glory when in 1925 there was diphtheria epidemic and isolated Nome was threatened.  The nearest serum was in Anchorage and the initial thought was to have it flown to Nome, but no qualified pilot was available.  A sort of Pony Express type of operation was set up with every village offered its best musher and team to deliver to the next village and so on.  A Gunnar Kaasen drove the final two legs with his team led by a famous lead dog “Balto” through a blizzard with winds to 80 mph.  If you ever get to New York City, head to Central Park where a statue in honor of “Balto” still stands. (I saw it last year).  So there lies a smattering of the many reasons for the Iditarod Dog Sled Race being a Commemoration.

 

The Iditarod Race is a bit different than the Yukon Quest you have just finished.  For one thing it is the only event that I know of that has two starts.  The race starts at 4th and D Street in Anchorage with each Musher having two or three sleds and a brakeman on the rear sled to keep it from crashing into the mushers sled.  The race proceeds through towns and golf courses, and Fort Richardson to Eagle River to Wasilla.  Up to this point one of the sleds carries an Idita-rider.  During the months leading up top the race an auction is held with the winning bidders, known as Idita-riders, receiving an exclusive ride in the basket of an Iditarod Mushers sled for the first eleven miles.

 

The aircraft utilized by the IAF:

Cessna 180

Cessna 172

Piper Archer

Cessna 185

Piper Super Cub

Aeronca Sedan

 

I am using a DHC 2 Beaver on skis.

 

With the exception of the Piper Archer and the Aeronca Sedan, all are equipped with wheel/ski’s.  The Aeronca Sedan is based at Lake Hood and utilized by the Race Officials to travel to the checkpoints.  Flights that are strictly for cargo use originate from Spernaks at Merrill Field.  Flights for checkers, vets and other race officials will originate from Lake Hood.

 

Supplying the checkpoints for the Iditarod is a little different than what you experienced with the Yukon Quest in that the checkpoints close enough to Anchorage are served by the Postal Service.  The remaining supplies, equipment and personnel are shipped to “Hubs” by scheduled Airlines and from the Hubs onward it becomes the responsibility of the Iditarod Air Force.  The “Hubs” are McGrath, Galena, Unalakleet and Nome.

 

 

 

Landing strips/checkpoints along the trail and their condition

Since this is an even numbered year, the Northern route is run.

 

Code                       Name                                                      Condition                             

PAMR              Anchorage/Merrill Field                 Cargo use Merrill Field

Z41                 Anchorage/Lake Hood Strip          Passenger loading

47AK               Eagle River                                        Wait till you see this one.

PAUO              Willow                                                Good

PAWS              Wasilla                                               Good

Z40                 Knik/Goose Bay                               Skis    

AK72               Yentna/Jewell                                  Skis    

PASW              Skwentna                                          Usually good

                        Finger Lake                                       Skis

6AK                 Rainy Pass /Puntilla Lake              Skis

PAFL               Rohn Roadhouse/Tin Creek           Skis    

5NI                  Nikolai                                                Skis

PAMC              Mc Grath                                            Good               Hub checkpoint

TCT                  Takatna                                              Skis

ZI7                  Ophir                                                  Tricky

Z48                 Cripple           /Bear Creek              Skis    

PARY               Ruby                                                   Skis

PAGA              Galena                                                Good               Hub checkpoint

NUL                 Nulato                                                Skis

KAL                 Kaltag                                                 Skis

PAUN              Unalakleet                                         Good               Hub checkpoint

38A                 Shaktoolik                                         Caution

PAKK               Kayuk                                                 Skis

ELI                  Elim                                                    Skis

GLV                 Golovin                                               Skis

WMO               White Mountain                                Skis

AK26               Safety/Solomon State                    Skis                

94Z                 Nome                                                  Good               Hub checkpoint

 

The Checkpoints serviced by the Iditarod Air Force will be those from Wasilla westward.  Authorized local supporters will service East of Skwetna.

 

Do not use the Iditarod scenery by Alejandro Fernandez de la Reguera; it doesn’t follow the route of the race as depicted by actual accounts of the Iditarod Air Force that we based our rendition.

 

DAY ONE – March 1

 

                While shaving in your home at Eagle River you receive a phone call, looking at your watch, it is 0630, it is alerting you to a meeting of the IAF (Iditarod Air Force) and the dispatcher.  The meeting will be at 0845 in Spernaks, an FBO at Merrill Field.  A quick breakfast and a check of your plane, you hop in your DHC2 Beaver and head for Merrill Filed about a 12-minute flight, if all is normal in the Anchorage area. Sometimes you wonder why you ever moved to Eagle Lake with that airstrip.  Susie the dispatcher gets all the pilots around her and starts to check the experience level of each.  Since you are a first timer with the IAF, for the first couple of flights you will follow Chet who has been around for quite a few years.  Susie explains how the flights will be flown, cargo will be leaving from Spernaks while the passenger flights, with Marge as the dispatcher, will be departing from Lake Hood Strip, much closer to the headquarters hotel.  Initially the cargo flights will be hauling straw, dog food, equipment and supplies to those checkpoints this side of the mountain.  The next phase will have some of you heading to Unalakleet to service the fields on the other side of the mountain so be advised to have a bag packed.  At your first orientation you were advised that you needed skis on your plane and that put a dent in your pocket book, as you had to get them from the lower 48 and then make many changes on your plane to handle them.  Being that you live and have your plane based at Eagle River you spend your nights at home and fly over to either Merrill or Lake Hood daily as required. 

 

After the general meeting with the dispatcher the dispatches for the day are handed out, you find that since this is your first flight with the IAF, you will only have a light load of dog food and that you will follow Chet and two other planes to Rainy Pass (Puntilla Lake.)  Aircraft loaded, you taxi out behind the other two planes on the first of many flights with the IAF.  Taxiing to the Lodge at Rainy Pass you find a group of checkers and trail breakers waiting to off load the planes.  You each then taxi out and head back to Merrill.

 

            Real world would have you using the “Common use frequency to announce your intentions for example: “Puntilla traffic, this is Beaver 6315, I’m on downwind for landing to northwest”.

 

            Back at Merrill the dispatcher gives out the next assignments, but you stop for a cup of coffee before loading straw, dog food and lathing for Rainy Pass again.  You find that the lathing is for the trailbreakers to mark the trail.  Again as you taxi in, volunteers await your arrival. You find that this luxury of them off loading your plane will end as the race progresses and they have other work to do, you become the unloader as well.  You are again on your way back to Merrill.

 

            The dispatcher gives you your next flight, which is to haul 8 bales of straw to Finger Lake, you are now on your own, not being led by the hand any more.  You find standing the bales on end, they are easier to load and you can get more on board, so loaded and fueled you are off for Finger Lake.  You taxi in and find that this time no one meets you and you have to unload the straw, not bad though.  You take a quick tour of the Lodge as you might like to come back sometime for a fishing trip.  Then you are heading back to Merrill and this time you are going to get something to eat as hunger is creeping up on you.

 

            Spernaks has some real fine hot dogs so you inhale a couple along with a couple of cups of Joe and head to the dispatcher for another flight.  She tells you that you have a load of dog food for Skwentna and then you will be through for the day.   So dog food loaded fuel checked and off you go again this time to Skwentna.  You have never been here before so you take the time to make a more detailed check of the approaches.  After off loading you head home to Eagle River for some rest.  You have logged eight hours flying time for yourself and are sure pleased with the skis as they were needed and functioned perfectly.

 

DAY TWO – March 4

 

          With a goods night rest you are eager to get back at it, so after a cup of coffee and a bite to eat you head for Merrill Field and report to the dispatcher.   Susie tells you that the load is boxes of human food, not dog this time, and bales of straw for the Finger Lake checkpoint.  After loading and a check of your plane you are on your way.  Taxiing in finds several trail breakers with a sled to off load your cargo and get it delivered and you are on your way back to Merrill.

 

            As you walk in to the dispatcher’s desk, Susie is waving at you to head back to your plane as you have a load for Skwentna of boxes of food for the volunteers and supplies and they need the supplies like yesterday.  Off you go, well maybe you can get a bite of food when you get back.  They are waiting for you at Skwentna and you hitch a ride to the Lodge for lunch, sure beats hot dogs and coffee at Spernaks.   After thanking everyone you head back to Merrill.

 

            The checkpoints south of the range have to be supplied first in the event the weather turns sour and we can’t fly.  Rainy pass, Finger Lake and Skwentna are completed just Yentna Station remains. So loaded with supplies, head for Yentna Station.  Several planes are coming in with supplies and food now and after you are off loaded you better get back to Merrill as you have one more load to bring back.

 

            Back at Merrill you drop in for a cup of coffee, load your plane check your fuel and back to Yentna one more time, Susie said after you off load at Yentna you can head home rather that coming back to Merrill.  After landing at Yentna and off loading your supplies they invite you to the lodge for dinner before you head home.  Checking the time and weather you agree to the invite.  After a nice meal you head out for home. Landing at Eagle River you put your plane in your hanger, cover the engine connect the oil heaters and battery charger and head inside for a rest a probably an early bedtime.

 

Day Three – March 5

 

            The schedule has you flying checkers and other race officials so better get going to Lake Hood and check in at the Regal Alaska Hotel our Headquarters.  This flight should be interesting as you have never landed at Lake Hood before and the airspace around Anchorage is no place for the timid.  The flight proved fairly easy after you spent the night going over the sectional and supplements.  Taxiing and securing over with, now head for the Regal Alaskan for your assignment and passengers.  Marge has two checkers listed; one is going to Skwentna and the other to Finger Lake.  She also said that both are on the ramp with their gear.  So off to the ramp to find the passengers, get them loaded and on they way.  After an interesting chat you land at Skwentna and the first gal gets her gear and the other gal up moves up front and you head for Finger Lake.  Finger Lake is a short hop and the passengers has her gear and on her way as you head back to Lake Hood and another assignment.

 

            Marge has only one more flight for you today and that is to fly to Wasilla and pick up a couple of checkers and take them to Yentna Station.  The flight to Wasilla is a very short uneventful one as you taxi in you see the two checkers with their baggage waiting for you.  Loaded and secure you head for Yentna once again.  Several other planes are there as you taxi in and it is a little tricky to find space as you try to clear the runway.  The passengers are picked up on snow mobile and away they go, with nothing else for you today you stop in for a cup of coffee and a snack that always seems to be available at the Lodge.  Then on your way home to Eagle River and service the aircraft for tomorrow’s flights. You have a small task to accomplish before you hit the sack.  Chet has advised you that it would be smart to install a few cables in your plane.  You will need a cable on the floor in the cabin and one on the floats; these are needed for those upcoming flights where you will have to fly the sick and injured dogs.  Chet shows you how to do it right, the one on the cabin floor is to secure the dogs in flight and the one on the float is to secure the dogs before getting to loading them or while waiting for the handlers to pick them up after landing.  With the start only hours away now the excitement is building quickly now.

 

 

 

Press Release

 

           

Wasilla Alaska – Because of unfavorable trail conditions and a lack of snow in the Wasilla area, The Iditarod Trail Committee (ITC) announced today that the re-start for the Iditarod XXXIII will be moved from Wasilla to Willow.

 

            “Trail conditions improve in Willow.  The re-start will begin at 10:00am, on Sunday, March 7.  The race will begin on Saturday, March 6 at 10:00am at 4th Ave and D Street in downtown Anchorage”

 

Day Four – Saturday March 6 – 10:00am

“The Race Begins”

 

                At Fourth and D Street downtown Anchorage, the dignitaries, starters, mushers and their dogs and sleds and the Idita-riders await the start.  But this start is mainly a ceremonial event, the real start will be from Wasilla after the teams have all arrived there and the Idita-rider “de-sledded”.  Promptly at 10:00 AM, Vern Halter lifted his off the sled brake, as he and his team of Alaskan Huskies became the first musher out of the chute.  This will be a record year as 87 teams are competing this year.

            You leave Eagle River early, as you have to stop at Spernaks for fuel on the way to Lake Hood Strip.  Arriving at Merrill field you find that Spernaks doesn’t open until 0800 and it is only 0730.  After waiting and refueling you head for Lake Hood.  This has got to be your day as checking in at the hotel; you are the only one there as no one is reporting in until 0900.  With two cup’s of coffee under your belt you finally get your first assignment, two planes will be flying three passengers and lots of equipment to Finger Lake.  Since you have the larger cabin you take one passenger and all the gear.

 

            The next trip you have a checker and supplies for Skwentna.  Arriving at Skwentna you are met by a snowmobile and sled to pickup the supplies and the checker.  Loading everything on the sled you hop on and bum a trip to the checkpoint.  At Skwentna there are several houses high on the riverbank, one is the Post Office and two that belong to a Joe Delia, one of which is the Checkpoint and the other his home.  There are several Veterinarians and checkers there and you get introduced around.  After some cookies and more coffee you head home to Eagle River, your day of flying is over.

 

Day Five – Sunday March 7 – 10:00 am

“ The Official Start of the Iditarod”

           

Your day starts off as most of the others heading to Lake Hood Strip.  Your first flight is taking a couple of checkers to Rainy Pass.  Weather indicates a smooth flight and after a smooth landing and off loading your passengers and baggage head back to Lake Hood.

 

Your next flight is to take a Race Judge to Rainy Pass.  This flight will be from Willow, but not until the last Musher has departed.  So plenty of time to get up there, you choose to fly up early see some of the starts if you can get close enough, get something to eat and by that time your passenger should be ready to leave.  The last musher is on his way and there is your passenger, but he wants to get a bite to eat first so you agree to meet at the plane at 2:00PM.  Right on time so off you go.  You take a route that will let you see some of the action on the way.  After landing and your passenger taken care of you head home as your day is over.  Another great day on the Iditarod.

 

 

 

 

The leaders in the race!!!!!

 

            First to arrive in Rainy Pass is Bill Cotter followed by Rick Swenson.  Dee Dee Jenrowe is the leading female and is moving up fast, presently in fifth place also in Rainy Pass.

 

Day Six – Monday March 8

 

                Susie calls you as you are shaving to tell you to go direct to Rainy Pass and pickup nine dogs. The dog handlers are waiting on you when you arrive.  You check and all the dogs are properly tagged, now to check your cable.  With everything in order off for Lake Hood Strip.

 

            Arriving at Lake Hood, the dog handlers greet you and check the dogs, they are loaded in a station wagon to be transported to Hiland Mountain Correctional Center where the prisoners will give the dogs some tender love and care until the owners or handlers pick them up.  The prisoners love taking care of the dogs and do an outstanding job.  Sometimes the dogs remain there until the owner or musher returns to Anchorage to pick them up.  The cable worked perfectly, one time a couple of dogs started to act up and a simple whoop-de-do calmed them down.  (Pull back on the yoke then push it forward to give them a short sense of weightlessness will calm them in a second).

 

            Next you have to head back to Rainy Pass to pick up a Vet and his gear and return him to Lake Hood.  He will catch a commercial flight to Unalakleet to get him there quicker. The fuel truck is waiting for you when you taxi in.  Susie has another flight for you, says Lennie with a grin. You understand the reason for the grin; it is the trash run at Finger Lake.  You ask Susie where you will find the trash and her response with a huge grin is “Follow your Nose”.  So you remove the co-pilot seat and head out.  They were right, as the stench is quite significant.   After returning to Lake Hood, you pick up your seat and head home to Eagle Lake to de-odorize your aircraft.

 

Leaders up date!!!!

 

            There are a lot of changes at the front, Bill Cotter is first into Rohn, with Mitch Seavey moving up to second, Ed Iten is now third and Jeff King has moved up to fourth.  Dee Dee Jenrowe is still holding on to fifth.

 

Day Seven – March 9

 

           

Race Update!!!!!!

Big changes as they arrive in Nikolai!!

 

            Kjetil Backen is now in First place, 2nd is Charlie Boulding, 3rd is John Baker, 4th is Bill Cotter and 5th is Mitch Seavey.  My gal Dee Dee has dropped to 8th

 

            With todays flying over for you, head home to Eagle Lake and get ready to leave for Unalakleet The first flight after checking in is to Rohn where seven dogs await your arrival for transport back to Lake Hood.  While waiting for them to bring the dogs to the plane, three planes from McGrath arrive to break down the station.  Everything east of the ridge is now closed and only Rohn to be cleaned up.  They arrive with the dogs and clip them to the ski; Jim lays his clipboard on the ski while this is going on.  Wouldn’t you believe it; one of the dogs has peed all over the clipboard and the reports.  Lesson learned!

 

            Dogs loaded, heading east to Lake Hood. After a short period several of the dogs started to act up and growl, a couple of whoop-de-do’s and they are calmed down.  After landing at Lake Hood they started up again but they calmed down after being off loaded.

 

in the morning.

 

Day Eight – March 10

 

                After breakfast and having packed what you need in Unalakleet, you call Susie to see if she has anything for you to haul.  She says call back in an hour.  So you head to 7-11 for a coffee and donut the call back.  You will be flying alone and since you had mentioned you where stopping in McGrath on the way check with the dispatcher there.

 

New Leaders!!!!!

McGrath!!

Two Mushers have arrived in McGrath!!   First is Jeff King and second is Martin Buser!!

 

 

Arriving at McGrath you service the plane first then check in with the Linda the dispatcher at McGrath.  Linda has several pieces of equipment and Vet supplies that didn’t fit on an earlier flight that have to get to Ruby.  Plane loaded off you go to Ruby.  A trail Breaker meets you in Ruby, off loads your plane and offers to run you to the community center where a group of volunteers are having a sandwich.  After some pleasant chatter and a sandwich you bum a ride back to the plane where a Trail Breaker is waiting with several bundles of Lath for Galena.  Its on the way so why not and off to Galena you head.

 

Race update!!!!

Takotna!!

Martin Buser and Jeff King are out in front; they were the first ones in and out of Takotna.  Kjetil Backen, John Baker have arrived followed by a newcomer in the front five, Aaron Burmeister.

 

 

            They meet you in Galena and off load you in hurry and you are on the way Unalakleet.  Landing in Unalakleet you find a clear space to park and several IAF pilots who assist in bedding the plane down and you head to the diner to eat meet you.  After eating you all head back to the Bunkhouse, you have not arrived any too soon as you get the last bunk, anyone else will be sleeping on the floor until the race is over. 

 

Race update!!!!

Ophir!!

Martin Buser, close to midnight, has arrived at Ophir with Jeff King close behind.  Back at Takotna, arriving and departing is Mitch Seavey followed by Bill Cotter and then Kjetil Backen.

 

 

Day Nine – March 11

 

                First flight out of Unalakleet has you taking 30 cases of HEET and a couple of bags of dog food for Elim.  Preparing your flight plan you select the route from Unalakleet to Shaktoolik the follow the coastline to Koyuk then over the Moses Point VOR then on into Elim.  You do not like flying over open water.

            Landing at Elim a VOR technician on his Arctic Cat calls the Checkpoint for you and they say just drop the load off and they will pick it up after they finish eating.  After off loading you head back to Unalakleet over the same route.

 

Race update!!!!

Cripple!!!

Martin Buser is first to check in at Cripple followed closely by Mitch Seavey, Jeff Baker and Jeff King.  Ramey Smyth and Dee Dee Jonrowe lead the pack arriving at Ophir.  Up to this point only 4 teams have been scratched.

 

            Arriving back at Unalakleet you have no further assignments for the day, so you spend some time walking around the village then head back to Shafter House where you find that a lot more volunteers have checked in.  They are all dog handlers and are very busy making preparations.  You help out as best you can then finally turn in for the night, planning an early rise in the morning.

 

Day 10 – March 12

 

Race Update!!!!

Ruby!!

Jeff King is the first musher to reach Ruby so far, just pausing for a few minutes in Cripple.  The standing in Ruby is as follows:

1.     Kjetil Backen  - Backen has taken an 8 hr rest in Ruby after a previous 24-hour rest.  He departed Ruby at 03/12 12:30.

2.     Jeff King

3.     Charlie Boulding

4.     John Baker

5.     Martin Buser

All but Jeff King are taking a 24-hour rest in Ruby.  I know this gets confusing, but remember they did not all start at the same time, there are no handicaps and they started at regular intervals.

The last musher left Mc Grath at 03/11 23:50.  A total of six mushers have been scratched.

            One of the gals cooked up a real breakfast, blueberry pancakes and sausage, boy you had your fill.  Out at the strip a commercial flight brought in a lot of people to take to the various checkpoints.  You are to take two people with all their gear to Shaktoolik and two more to Koyuk.  This sure filled your Beaver to the brim.  A little heavy on take off but she handled wonderfully.  It takes a little getting used to out here with the constant strong winds, snow, and ice and rough surfaces not to mention the visibility.  Your pax for Shaktoolik deplanes and is taken to the checkpoint by a guy on a snow machine.  Next move your remaining passenger up from and rearrange the baggage and off we go to Koyuk gonna land on the sea ice here and be closer to the checkpoint.  Your passenger off loaded you are told to head to Galena direct as there are a couple of dogs in bad shape and they and the Vet must get to Unalakleet.  You get a move on, as there is not time to spare.  Galena is waiting for you and the dogs and the Chief Vet are on board in seconds as you refuel and off and running to Unk.  Supper tonight is another great one, cooked by one of the handlers.  Fried Chicken and mashed potatoes topped off with a beer.  If you are interested the two dogs are in good shape and will fully recover.  These Vets by the way are all volunteers and for the most part are all from the lower 48.

 

Race update – Galena!!!!

Things are happening!!

            Charlie Boulding arrived first, followed by John Baker, Martin Buser, Mitch Seavey and Jeff King.  Things are very close with only 2 Hours and 24 minutes between Boulding and King.  Jeff King was actually the fastest by 33 minutes.  One more musher has been scratched, total now seven.

 

Day 11 – March 13

 

 

                The first flight has you flying 40 gallons of Snow Machine fuel to Kayuk, when you arrive you are greeted by the trail breakers who desperately need this fuel and off load it in a hurry and are gone, before you have a chance to get acquainted.  Well just head back to Unalakleet for another flight.

 

            Waiting for you is a dog handler who tells you that you have to get to Nulato in a hurry as they have five dogs and a Race Judge to pick up.  The Race Judge has to get to Kaltag without delay and then bring the dogs to Unalakleet.  Landing in Kaltag you drop the Race Judge off and have two more dogs to pickup.  That cable you installed is working perfectly, really proud of yourself.  On to Unalakleet where you drop off the dogs at the “Dodge Lodge”.  The Dodge Lodge is a steel frame in the shape of a Quonset hut covered with Vinyl.  Anchorage Dodge donates it.  It is the Dodge where the sickest animals are treated round the clock by the Vets and dog handlers.  They work in shifts proving the best care these animals can get

 

Kaltag - race update!!!!!!

            Kjetil Backen has arrived at Kaltag at 14:22 along with John Baker and Charlie Boulding.  At Nulato Mitch Seavey departed at 11:48 and Ramey Smyth departed at 13:30, still at Nulato amongst others are Rick Swenson, Jeff King and Martin Buser.  The last musher is at Ophir.

 

Day 12 – March 14

 

                This looks like a very unfavorable day looking at the weather.  There are flights to Ruby, Galena, Nulato and Kaltag to pick up dropped dogs.  You all take off together, some flying high and some low trying to find the best way to Kaltag.  Try as you might there is just no way, so all head back to Unalakleet to wait it out.  About 3:30 PM there is noticeable improvement so you head out again, you are heading to Ruby for 5 dogs.  It is late when you get back to Unalakleet and there are now a total of 70 ill or injured dogs at Unk, they tell you that 50 or 60 will be shipped out in the morning on a Northwest Cargo flight to Anchorage.  By now it is 11:00 PM and you call it a day and head for bed.

Race update  -- Unalakleet!!!!

Two mushers arrived today!!!!

 

            Arriving in Unalakleet today are Kjetil Backen at 11:25, followed by Mitch Seavey.  The other leaders have left Kaltag and are getting close running 5th is Charlie Boulding followed by John Baker and Jeff King.

            G. B Jones is the last musher and is in Cripple, all checkpoints up to Ophir have been cleared.  There are still only seven scratched mushers.

 

Day 13 – March 15

 

                Weather is just plain rotten with low viz, low ceiling, snow and heavy winds.  It should improve enough that you can takeoff in the afternoon for Nulato to pickup a checker and vet with their gear.

Race update - Shaktoolik!!!!

Late last night four mushers arrived!!!!

            First to arrive was Mitch Seavey at 03/14 --22:31 followed closely by Kjetil Backen, Jeff King and Charlie Boulding.

            G.B. Jones is out of Cripple at 03/14 – 18:31.  Cripple is now cleared.

 

The latest up date!!!

Koyuk!!!!

            Mitch Seavey checked in at Koyuk at 09:17 followed by Jeff King at 11:07, Kjetil Backen at 11:39 and Charlie Boulding at 11:59.

 

            On your return the weather precludes another run to Nulato so that’s it for the day.

 

Day 14 – March 16

 

Race Update – Elim!!!!!!

The race is tightening up quite a bit now.           A number of mushers arrived just before midnight, with several leaving almost immediately.   Mitch Seavey was first arriving at 20:29; behind him was Jeff King then Charlie Boulding and Kjetil Backen.  Ed Iten arrive at 3/16 01:59 hardly stopping and gaining many positions on a few that where ahead of him but stopped, he went out in fifth spot.  My guess is that there where so many ahead of him stopping for a rest, that he opted to keep on and stop further down the trail, we shall see at the next up date.

 

New Update!!!!!

White Mountain!!!!

Mitch Seavey arrived at 04:45 with Jeff King at 06:20 and Kjetil Backen at 06:31.  

Ruby has now been cleared.  G.B. Jones is no longer in last place as he departed Galena before Perry Solmonson, who at last check was still in Galena.  With Sonny Lindner being scratched in Unalakleet there are now a total of 9 scratched.

 

            Weather is minimal but you should be able to make a run to Kaltag for some passengers but you don’t have time to dawdle.  Arriving in Kaltag it is snowing and Vis is right at minimums.  A driver on a snow machine with an empty trailer approaches, you ask him to get the passengers and gear quickly so that you can get out and he hurries off.  Passengers aboard and off you go, the pass is fairly clear ahead and you get thorough with no trouble and head for Unalakleet.  Landing in Unalakleet they tell you to get your gear together as you are moving to Nome in the morning.

 

Day 15 – March 17

 

The Race is Over!!!!!!

 

            Mitch Seavey crossed the finish line in Nome at 3/16 22:20!!!  Jeff King was second at 3/17 00:40 and Kjetil Backen third at 3/17 01:11.  Mitch’s total time was – 9 days, 12 hours, 20 minutes and 22 seconds.  He finished with 8 dogs.

 

 

 

 

After a hearty breakfast you check in and they tell you of a slight change, head to Shaktoolik and pick up a passenger and four dogs.

 

 

 

            Returning to Unalakleet you load your gear and head out to Nome a check of the weather is not the greatest.  You arrive in Nome just as the siren goes off to announce that the first musher is getting close.  You park your aircraft and head to the finish line to see the arrival.  The Mayor and all the celebrities are there.  After the greeting and ceremonies you head back to the aircraft and then check in get your quarters and head out to find something to eat.

Day16 – March 18

 

                You have a trip to Koyuk to pick up a couple of passengers and their gear.  The race is over but still a lot of cleaning up to do before you can head back to Merrill Field.  There are several people and dogs at White Mountain.

 

Day 17 – March 19

 

                Everything is reported as cleaned up so all of the pilots are released to head back to Anchorage.  Your flight plane is to head to Unalakleet for the rest of your gear then on to McGrath.

The weather to Anchorage is going down so you opt for Galena then Fairbanks and then down to Anchorage, which will take you around the weather.  After a long day you arrive at Merrill Field, check in, say good-bye to everyone then head home for Eagle River.  Iditarod 2004, your first is over.