FlightView
Sapphire
Resident Alaskan
Posts: 4,447 Likes: 18,202
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Post by FlightView on Mar 1, 2024 0:27:31 GMT -6
*Note* If you're on Facebook, and want detailed updates, a good group to join is Iditarod 2024-Fan Page Race Begins Sunday March 3rd at 2pm AKST, the ceremonial start in Anchorage is Saturday March 2nd. Unfortunately, I'm 3 hours south at a hockey tournament for DS. This is the first year I've missed the musher's banquet and the ceremonial start! The Iditarod stretches nearly 1,000 miles across Alaska from Anchorage to Nome, visiting more than 25 communities along the way. This is an even year, so they're using the North route iditarod.com/race-map/ History of the race here iditarod.com/race-history/Shout out to the veterinarians performing over 10,000 dog checks! Each physical inculdes a blood test, ECG, microchip checks, vaccinations and deworming. The traveling vets also offer clinics to communities on the trail and participate in dog research at various universities across the United States. 38 mushers are on the active list and 6 mushers on the withdrawn list. 2 out of the 6 withdrawn have news stories below. Brent Sass (MN) 2022 Iditarod winner has been disqualified from the race. Details here --> *trigger warning for detailed SA* alaskapublic.org/2024/02/27/two-alaska-reporters-explain-the-sexual-assault-allegations-against-iditarod-musher-brent-sass/Eddie Burke Jr (AK) was disqualified, reinstated then withdrew from the race mustreadalaska.com/idita-drama-continues-as-eddie-burke-jr-drops-out-to-honor-agreements-he-made-to-lease-team/https://mustreadalaska.com/idita-drama-continues-as-eddie-burke-jr-drops-out-to-honor-agreements-he-made-to-lease-team/
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FlightView
Sapphire
Resident Alaskan
Posts: 4,447 Likes: 18,202
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Post by FlightView on Mar 1, 2024 0:31:29 GMT -6
Common Terminology
Big Su: Refers to the Big Susitna River Booties: A type of sock that is made to protect the dog’s feet from small cuts and sores. These are made out of various materials, i.e., denim, polar fleece, trigger cloth, etc. Burled Arch: The finish line in Nome By-Pass Mail: Service provided by US Mail System for remote villages to get mail and goods delivered. By-Pass Mail has been used to ship everything from toilet paper to refrigerators. Service only in Alaska provided by US mail System. Come Gee! Come Haw! Commands for 180 degree turns in either direction. Dog in Basket: Tired or injured dog carried in the sled Double Lead: Two dogs who lead the team side by side. Dropped Dog: A dog that the musher has dropped from his team at a checkpoint. The dog is cared for at the checkpoint until it is flown back to Anchorage to the musher’s handlers. Gee: Command for right turn Haw: Command for left turn Heet: Alcohol based fuel used by mushers in their cook stoves on the trail. Husky: Any northern type dog. Last Frontier: Alaska’s State motto. Alaska was the last frontier in the United States Lead Dog or Leader: Dog who runs in front of others. Generally must be both intelligent and fast. Line Out! Command to lead dog to pull the team out straight from the sled. Used mostly while hooking dogs into team or unhooking them. Mush! Hike! All Right! Let’s Go! Commands to start the team Neck Line: Line that connects dog’s collar to tow line and between the two collars of a double lead. Outside: Any place in the lower 48 states. Overflow: When the ice gets so thick that the water has nowhere to go, it pushes up and over the ice. This overflow often gets a thin layer of ice when the temperature drops making it dangerous to cross. Pedaling: Pushing the sled with one foot while the other remains on the runner Rigging: Collection of lines to which dogs are attached. Includes tow line, tug lines and neck lines Runners: The two bottom pieces of the sled which come in contact with the snow. They extend back of the basket for the driver to stand on. Runner bottoms are usually wood, covered with plastic or Teflon. This plastic or Teflon is usually replaced at least once during the race. Siberian Husky: Medium sized (average 50 pounds) northern breed of dog, recognized by the American Kennel Club. Siberians usually have blue eyes. Slats: Thin strips of wood which make up the bottom of a wooden sled basket. Note: Toboggan sleds have a sheet of plastic as the bottom for their basket Snow Hook or Ice Hook: Heavy piece of metal attached to sled by line. The snow hook is embedded in the snow in order to hold the team and sled for a short period of time. Snub Line: Rope attached to the sled which is used to tie the sled to a tree or other object. Swing Dog or Dogs: Dog that runs directly behind the leader. Further identified as right or left swing depending on which side of the tow line he is positioned on. His job is to help “swing” the team in the turns or curves. Team Dog: Any dog other than those described above. Trail!: Request for right-of-way on the trail. Tug Line: Line that connects dog’s harness to the tow line. Wheel Dogs or Wheelers: Dogs placed directly in front of the sled. Their job is to pull the sled out and around corners or trees. Whoa!: Command used to halt the team, accompanied by heavy pressure on the brake.
Note: It should be thoroughly understood that as dogs are not driven with reins, but by spoken commands, the leader of the team must understand all that is said to him and guide the others accordingly. An intelligent leader is therefore an absolute necessity. At times it appears that there is ESP between musher and lead dog. Don’t be surprised if you hear a musher have an in-depth conversation with his lead dog.
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FlightView
Sapphire
Resident Alaskan
Posts: 4,447 Likes: 18,202
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Post by FlightView on Mar 1, 2024 0:35:06 GMT -6
First spotlight I chose is a dog named Aero because I love the name. In fact, I loved it so much that's what we named our dog who's now almost 6 years old! faces.iditarod.com/aero/
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Post by Pumpkinwest on Mar 1, 2024 5:40:41 GMT -6
YAY! FlightView I literally look forward to this thread every single year!! ♥️♥️♥️ And when people tell me my dog doesn’t look like a Husky, I always pull up Google photos from Iditarod because she absolutely looks like all those doggos. Sorry you are missing out on some of the festivities!
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Post by potatocakes on Mar 1, 2024 8:07:32 GMT -6
If having an in-depth conversation with my dog is wrong, I don't want to be right! This thread is always great, looking forward to the pups!
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Post by notblanche on Mar 1, 2024 8:11:02 GMT -6
It’s my favorite thread of the year! So exciting
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Post by Wtfshouldmynamebe on Mar 1, 2024 10:45:46 GMT -6
I'm excited for this. Also for the Nenana Ice Classic because I have bets on that one.
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Post by sweptaway on Mar 1, 2024 10:57:32 GMT -6
Yes I love this! Thanks for sharing this with us again FlightView!
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bobyn
Diamond
local baby-making menace
Posts: 26,492 Likes: 164,250
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Post by bobyn on Mar 1, 2024 11:00:44 GMT -6
I can't believe it's already time for this year's race! I love this thread, FlightView!
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byjove
Ruby
Posts: 15,198 Likes: 74,113
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Post by byjove on Mar 1, 2024 11:01:50 GMT -6
Here for this. Thank you!!
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DGM
Sapphire
Posts: 2,660 Likes: 5,627
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Post by DGM on Mar 2, 2024 0:06:54 GMT -6
Thank you for all of this! Last year was my first year following along, and I was so excited when I saw the post title!
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snowyowl
Amethyst
Posts: 6,802 Likes: 31,082
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Post by snowyowl on Mar 2, 2024 10:04:55 GMT -6
Yay! Love this thread. Excited to follow along 🐕
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cnf
Ruby
Posts: 20,891 Likes: 100,823
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Post by cnf on Mar 2, 2024 13:16:51 GMT -6
Yay! This thread brings me so much joy every year!
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addymac
Emerald
Posts: 12,693 Likes: 54,081
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Post by addymac on Mar 2, 2024 13:28:28 GMT -6
Oh man. I will echo the others that this is my favorite thread every year. Thank you for sharing all this with us.
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FlightView
Sapphire
Resident Alaskan
Posts: 4,447 Likes: 18,202
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Post by FlightView on Mar 3, 2024 11:41:41 GMT -6
Todays the official start date! I’m still in Kenai, we’re driving back in about two hours and it’s a 3 hour drive but I’ll post more tonight! Mushers list - Anna Berington is bib #2, her identical twin sister is not racing this year, in an interview with Anna she joked they’re switching places in McGrath! 😂 iditarod.com/race/2024/mushers/list/
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FlightView
Sapphire
Resident Alaskan
Posts: 4,447 Likes: 18,202
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Post by FlightView on Mar 3, 2024 11:44:13 GMT -6
Also be aware of livestream links on Facebook, there are scam pages popping up.
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FlightView
Sapphire
Resident Alaskan
Posts: 4,447 Likes: 18,202
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Post by FlightView on Mar 3, 2024 11:45:47 GMT -6
Todays the official start date! I’m still in Kenai, we’re driving back in about two hours and it’s a 3 hour drive but I’ll post more tonight! Mushers list - Anna Berington is bib #2, her identical twin sister is not racing this year, in an interview with Anna she joked they’re switching places in McGrath! 😂 iditarod.com/race/2024/mushers/list/Bib #1 is saved for Joe Redington Sr, “Father of the Iditarod” who organized the first race in 1970.
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Post by marygracerich on Mar 3, 2024 14:51:56 GMT -6
Thank you for the thread. This is one of my favorite threads of the year. I actually started following the twin team on IG because I love seeing their training and such.
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teraiin
Amethyst
Posts: 7,133 Likes: 19,548
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Post by teraiin on Mar 3, 2024 21:35:41 GMT -6
Yay!! I love this thread. I always look forward to it
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Post by mrsnorris on Mar 3, 2024 22:29:48 GMT -6
Yay it’s Iditarod time again! I love this thread.
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FlightView
Sapphire
Resident Alaskan
Posts: 4,447 Likes: 18,202
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Post by FlightView on Mar 4, 2024 0:53:00 GMT -6
Checkpoints
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FlightView
Sapphire
Resident Alaskan
Posts: 4,447 Likes: 18,202
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Post by FlightView on Mar 4, 2024 0:58:19 GMT -6
Current GPS standings (available with the Insider subscription) green is racing, orange is resting. A lot of leap frogging in the beginning. Mille Porsild; Norway (Danish) living in Alaska is in the lead. She had Fenix & Elora starting as lead dogs
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FlightView
Sapphire
Resident Alaskan
Posts: 4,447 Likes: 18,202
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Post by FlightView on Mar 4, 2024 1:04:24 GMT -6
From Mille's FB page her description of Fenix
MEET FENIX ❤️ and the rest of the team; One a day, till February 28th! 🐶 🌟 I have been fortunate the years that I have raced Iditarod, that I don’t really know who is all on the team, till race day! … One year (2021) I flipped a coin to make the decision between two dogs at the start 😆😁 The reason I say fortunate, is that this reflects the fact that even though I train only a small group of dogs, the number of dogs-strong-to-go-ready-to-roll has been more than I could start with within the rules! 🐕 💨 This season I have 23 dogs in training. Wednesday February 28th is the day of the official 🩺 Veterinary Check at the Iditarod Headquarter ☑️ On this day we mushers need to identify our group of 20 dogs — that’s our rooster from which we then 4 days later on Sunday March 3 choose up to 16 dogs to race to Nome! So! Today we are 23 days away from the day I need to hand in my list of 20… Each day between now and then I will shine the light on 1 of the Superstar-super-athletes that I have had the distinct joy of training with this season 🥰 Tears are in my eyes as I write this. They are all precious, incredibly talented and we have spent so many thousands of hours together — over the years and in these past 8 months. Trust me; Any of these dogs, even if they are not on that final list of 20… at the start line as we leave Willow… or when we cross the finishline in Nome… the contribution of each one of them is an integrate part of our the team and ultimately the team’s performance in the 2024 Iditarod ✨ 🌟 FENIX first! 🌟🌟🌟🌟 🐾 Libby Harrop is the generous sponsor of Fenix—since 2017!!! 🐶 Fenix is a female, she was born in 2015 in Willow, Alaska. I bred her parents 🤗 and I sat there when she came into this world 🥰 MOM: Emmelou - bred by P. Arnesen (Norway), owned by Ulsom. DAD: Hunter - bred by Reitan, owned by Ulsom. And yes, Fenix is first for a reason. First of all, for those of you who have followed me and the team over the years.. Fenix needs little introduction: she has been on my Iditarod team every year as the absolute superstar leader, always taking us across the finishline in Nome 🤩 Gentle Fenix has been and still is simply the Queen Bee in my team… I am not kidding when I say that instead of the name “Mille & Co” for our team, its possibly more accurate to say “Fenix & Co.” 🤷♀️😁 Fenix is indeed already an Iditarod Champion 🏆 As a 2-year-old, she was part of the winning team in 2018 🥇 💪 This understated personality is an unbelievable athlete with a tremendous mental strength and heart. She is tough as nails, she is driven, she is utterly honest and completely dedicated to me — and the team. She WILL get us “there.” Fenix knows when we are racing; and she races hard .. I hope we can do her proud this year 🐶 💕 Fenix is named after the Phoenix bird. The ever-powerful immortal bird that always rises out of the ashes… that’s exactly Fenix 🔥 (Fenix is how we spell “Phoenix” in Danish 🇩🇰 the language we speak in Denmark where I am from). Weakness.. I have this idea that I should also share with you what challenges these super athletes have! So starting with Fenix. Well, I have thought long and hard.. I can’t think of any!!!! … Maybe I am just blind with love ❤️😊
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FlightView
Sapphire
Resident Alaskan
Posts: 4,447 Likes: 18,202
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Post by FlightView on Mar 4, 2024 1:05:17 GMT -6
From Mille's FB page her description of Elora
🌟 ELORA 🌟🌟🌟🌟 🐾 Inky Cynthia Ford is the generous sponsor of Elora—since 2020!! 🐶 Elora is a princess born here in Willow, Alaska. Iditarod Legend DeeDee Jonrowe gave me the chance to train and race Elora the first time in 2019 and I have had the honor of doing so every year since 🩷 MOM: Willow - bred and owned by DeeDee Jonrowe DAD: Jarvie - bred and owned by DeeDee Jonrowe 💣 A little canon-ball of a busy-butt that very often cracks me up 😀 Elora is a tremendous and ever-reliable Super lead dog. She simply has an incredible head on her 🧠 ✨ Elora is petite. But, what she doesn’t bring to the team in physical power because of her small size, Elora makes up for with mental power. She is one determined lady. Unwavering in getting it her way… be it leading the team ‘of giants’ behind her exactly where she is supposed to take them — or, getting her way in the dog yard and around the house. Elora can actually be a little bit sneaky as she works out getting it her way (with me) 😜 My nickname for her is “the canon-ball” 💣 Elora goes hard, to get the job done right, and go as fast as possible; That paired with her short legs means she is most often running in a short lope… making it look like she is rolling through the air with great force 💨 I think of her as my little secret weapon. She is so small and such a pro at riding in the sled. I can let her ride the sled for a bit, then put her back in the team and she fires off like a canon-ball for some souped up dog-team-speed 💥 Not that we have used it much in racing.. so far 🙌 Lil’ Elora has already been a key player on my Iditarod team the last three years—I have such deep confidence in her
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FlightView
Sapphire
Resident Alaskan
Posts: 4,447 Likes: 18,202
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Post by FlightView on Mar 4, 2024 1:12:14 GMT -6
in an effort to get info about mushers that you're interested in, please let me know who you're rooting for and I'll be sure to spot light them in my GPS access!
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Post by wildflower on Mar 4, 2024 8:18:31 GMT -6
in an effort to get info about mushers that you're interested in, please let me know who you're rooting for and I'll be sure to spot light them in my GPS access! I haven't been around in a while, but I came looking for this thread. Bib #15, Teaford, is a friend of mine from high school! Absolutely invested in his journey.
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bobyn
Diamond
local baby-making menace
Posts: 26,492 Likes: 164,250
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Post by bobyn on Mar 4, 2024 10:17:13 GMT -6
Here for all the dog pics!! The booties always send me!
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wedding
Emerald
Posts: 14,195 Likes: 77,050
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Post by wedding on Mar 4, 2024 12:07:21 GMT -6
I'm so excited for this!! We are going to Alaska this summer and I am so excited to meet sled dogs.
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byjove
Ruby
Posts: 15,198 Likes: 74,113
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Post by byjove on Mar 4, 2024 16:41:38 GMT -6
Sounds like there was some drama with a moose today?
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FlightView
Sapphire
Resident Alaskan
Posts: 4,447 Likes: 18,202
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Post by FlightView on Mar 4, 2024 20:05:13 GMT -6
He punched a moose in the nose? I'm dying laughing. Ok, I need to go read the story.
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