Newsletter
We were 22 miles from the finish line and a goal we set over five years earlier. As we made our way through the ground blizzard the conditions were obviously getting worse. These were the strongest winds yet. I could not find any trail markers and felt as though I was off course. I stopped the team and tried to look around. At this point the wind was so strong I was having difficulty staying up right. We were heading for what looked like the end of the road and a large rock formation adjacent to the frozen sea. I decided that moving forward was not the way to go and turned the team around until I saw a trail marker. About 1 mile back I saw a broken marker and what appeared to be a trail heading off to the left. We turned and ended up in this cove that more resembled a meadow. No markers no trail. I was forced to lead my dogs up a side hill that I could occasionally see snow machine marks. I was hoping this was the trail. At times I had to get on all fours just to keep from blowing over. Because I was in front of the team holding onto the gangline my sled was doing barrel rolls behind us. As we crested the ridge I saw a giant tripod marker made of logs. Once we were on top I could see tripod markers well off into the distance. We made our way down the other side and the wind was hardly blowing at all on this side of the hill. We ran up a lagoon and made our way back to the sea ice that brought us up front street and to the finish line. We had lost over an hour getting lost and trying to stay on the trail, but the dogs and I refused to let our last and maybe greatest obstacle get us down. We preserved right until the end and that made our accomplishment that much greater. The family was there to greet us with a warm welcome and I was the 638th musher to finish the Iditarod. Mission Accomplished!
Featured Athletes
This year we really got to see what a true endurance athlete looks like. We finished with 12 happy and healthy dogs. I want to share the best of them with you, our main leaders for 08/09.
- Darla - A tremendous hard driving leader who was the only Iditarod veteran at the start. She helped keep thing’s together when we needed it the most. She not only performed the commands as a leader she absolutely exemplified the true definition and instilled confidence in all of the young athletes’ minds. I do not know if I could have made it without her and when the time comes she will retire on our couch.
- Oscar - He is also an outstanding leader who was a featured athlete last year. He is still young and as a veteran this year I expect great things.
- Duramax - This guy as a yearling stood up to the plate and drove it home. I had no idea that such a young dog could be as determined, driven and solid as he was. He, without a doubt, will become as good of a team leader as Darla.
- Hank - Another super athlete. I do not think this guy ever got tired. He performed beyond any expectations that I had. He was a strong leader for the first half of the race and a tremendous swing dog for the second half. Way to go Hank.
- Hook - Hook is an anomaly. Due to bite wound from another dog in December he missed almost 2 months of training. When I re-introduced him into the training he acted as though he never missed a day. I could not believe his natural athleticism. I had no choice but to give him a shot at finishing and this guy not only finished but he did a big share of the leading. I am amazed by all of these athletes but he simply takes the cake.
Thanks again to all who have supported our dream
General Physics Corporation, Grizzle T Dog and Sledworks, Woodsource, Flattop Gypsum Floors, Spiro’s of Oak Creek, Gary Ertl, Rocky Mountain Plumbing and Heating, PEB LLC, North Western Supplies, Kitchen Perfection, Dr Lee Meyring and Steamboat Vet Hospital, Snow Country Construction, Yampa Valley Bank, Jon Flanagan, Harbert Lumber, Alpine Insurance Agency, Leepers Ponderosa Motel, Matt Townsend, Gail Schisler, B & J Pump, Jim Boyd, Charlene Mighton, Sampson Family, Hunt Family, Knott Family, Goggin Family, Mr. Weber, The Kavanaugh Family and Max & Hannah Tanau
Tom, Tami, Greta, Leona and all of the amazing K-9 athletes