THE NEXT STEP

Apparently, someone did not get the memo.  As I last mentioned, 'the' email finally arrived and we are committed to Nome. 

Approximately one week later another email arrived asking what job we wanted in Anchorage.  GREAT!  Not only do we get to 'do something' for the mushers and the sled dogs in Nome, but another coordinator had Jackie's name and my name on his list as well.  He sent a very long and informative email.  At the end of the email, he offered the caveat for each volunteer to consider the reason for volunteering prior to selecting a job. 

Why did I want to volunteer?  While I usually am not at a loss for words, I was not sure that I could find the right words to justify this desire.  Then the coordinator offered some suggestions, one of which must have been written just for me.  He said that if our goal is to take great pictures and be able to really enjoy the sights and sounds of the race, that we might want to consider being away from the madding crowd and out of town along the trail.  THAT'S what I wanted!!!

Remember, there are two starts to the race.  So, I thought as long as we are going to be in Anchorage, we might just as well take a job.  But what job?  Again, no inside responsibilities, please.  I wanted to be a 'trail guard'.  This position demands that the guard keep the trail clear of hikers and skiers so that the dogs can race through without interference.  So I was provided a private link to the ceremonial race trail map. 

The trail begins on 4th street at 9:00 a.m. on March 5th in downtown Anchorage and winds its way through Anchorage ending at the Campbell Airfield.  This air field is located 10 minutes from Kim's house. 


This is the commemorative statute on 4th Street in Anchorage.




By the way this is not a musher.  This is Kim.  She

will be our official photographer since she is not

volunteering the race.







Running on paved streets is not idyllic, I might add, for sled dogs.  In the event there is not enough natural snowfall on the paved streets, snow is brought in.  I do not believe the committee has any trouble finding snow, however.

This picture was taken along the side of the road on the Kenia Peninsula where you can see the multitude of snowmobile tracks.  Those are full sized utility poles and the trees are from 20'-40' tall.  Plenty of snow to go around for everyone.

The ceremonial trail winds through downtown, south and westerly through the neighborhoods, through parks and green areas, and ends south of town at the airfield.  I spent a couple of hours studying the map and was fairly familiar with the route.  Then, I found a spot very near the Alaskan Native Hospital where Kim works.  When I used the zoom, the google map took me right to the spot that I thought would have great advantage for seeing the dogs coming down the trail, and I believed this would the spot for Jackie and me to serve as trail guards. 

There was one problem, however.  While the spot did not appear to be reserved by another trail guard, I was not able to click onto the box to insert my name and information.  I then sent an email to practically everyone involved with the race - begging for that spot.  Apparently a long-time volunteer who lives on the Kenai has his entire team placed along the golden spots towards the end of the ceremonial race.  It's about 18 miles long, by the way. 

No one responded .  I was nearly sinking into despair thinking that we were so close and yet so far away from getting this chance to be so close to the mushers and to watch them with their dogs fly by us at an arm's length.  I shivered at the thought. 

Finally, I received two emails.  One from another group leader who promised to forward my email to the right person.  Then, Jim S. notified me that he would take a look at the map and try to put me as close as possible to the spot that I wanted.  Then I waited.  Each email that I received was forwarded to Kim and Jackie to keep them informed. 

Kim was great to talk to about the map of the trail because she knows where all the locations are.  When I told her that I wanted R7, and I described the spot, she told me that is where Kelly, Jeena and other other PA co-workers stand to watch the race.  Another plus is that there is plenty of parking nearby and we won't have to trudge through snow for miles to get to our spot, if we get that spot!

I wanted the spot identified as R7.  Period.

In the meantime, things were looking up for the Nome assignment. An email arrived from our Nome coordinator, Debby, with information about our duties to welcome the mushers after finishing the race.  The finish line is designated by the Burled Arch which stands on the main street .  I believe the arch is the second of its kind since the running of the very first Iditarod.  The first one deteriorated over time and had to be rebuilt.  It will be our job to set up the headquarters and prepare for the finishers.  That's all I know at this time.  I guess we should just be ready to get ready!  We will be arriving in Nome on  March 10th.  Debby will be arriving on March 12th.  The majority of sightseers and race enthusiasts arrive between the 13th and 14th in anticipation of the arrival of the winner of the race. 

The first musher usually arrives in the 9-day time frame, plus or minus a few hours.  The winner will win the prize of $50,000.00 plus a 2011 Dodge Ram truck. I have read that it costs approximately $35,000.00 per year to house, feed, vet and care for a team of dogs.  These mushers certainly do not run this race for the money although winning will help defray costs.  Many of the mushers have sponsors.  The seasoned racers who have placed as a top finisher over the years have garnered very lucrative sponsors which enables the mushers and their dogs to be financially comfortable throughout the year.

And if you are wondering, there is also a prize for the last musher to arrive in Nome.  The last musher usually arrives  approximately two weeks after beginning the race.  He or she receives The Red Lantern.  As a tradition, a lantern that hangs from the top of the burled arch is lit when the first musher arrives in Nome and is extinguished when the last musher arrives.  Hence, the lantern....you know, turn out the lights when you're finished, I guess!

This year, it does not look as if we will be able to be in Nome to welcome all of the mushers if they take longer than nine days to arrive.   Maybe next year...

Before we can worry about Nome, however, we still need to secure our spot in Anchorage.  Finally!!! On February 21st, I received an email from Jim S.  Simply stated, he said he will put me 'wherever my little heart desires'.  I love this man!  Sure enough, after responding to him with the exact spot, I checked the map and there it was.  It was almost as though my name was in lights!  Jackie and I have what is equal to the Golden Ticket:  R7.

During this process we needed to secure accommodations in Nome.  Now that is a story for another day!

YOU'VE GOT MAIL!

When I first told my husband, Ken, that I wanted to volunteer for the Iditarod, his calm response was:  "Let me know how breaking that trail works out, okay?"   I think he was serious.  Did he know something that I didn't?

After applying online in October to be a volunteer for the race, I started getting antsy.  What if I'm not chosen?  What if my application was lost and sent to Russia or Siberia for the caribou roundup instead?  Worse, yet, what if it was never received? 

So after settling down somewhat, it was time to at least buy an airline ticket to see Kim and watch the start of the race.  I logged onto my Alaska Airlines account and began the search.  It really was a no-brainer - pick the non-stop flight that leaves O'Hare at 9:35 a.m. and arrives in Anchorage at 1:00 p.m.  Before making all the final selections, however, I called my sister, Jackie, and asked:  "Are you serious about going to Anchorage with me for the race?"  Her bubbly yet matter-of-fact response was:  "Ye-ah!"  (She has a well-honed southern accent.)   I told her she would have to arrive the day before we leave and she reminded me that she is very flexible.  Retired, you see.   So I hit 'book it' and we were committed to the trip.

After wishing everyone I know  Happy New Year, I realized it was January. Yes, January.  This is the month when my application to be a volunteer for the Iditarod Trail Dog Sled Race should be reviewed and a response would be sent by the coordinator or that great dog sled volunteer guru from - up there!  Periodically an email arrived from the Iditarod Insider but I wasn't really interested in buying a raffle ticket to win the 2011 Dodge Ram truck, nor was I really interested in anything other than an acceptance. 

Finally, the email arrived.  It was from one of the committee directors.  The author did not waste any time about welcome aboard, or congratuations, but was a few steps beyond that.  Rather, the question was:  where did I want to volunteer?  (Where?  What do you mean, where?)  I initially thought the answer would be parking cars, sending mailings, doggie detail or the like.  But, no.  First we had to decide the physical location for our unknown duties.  My choices were either Anchorage for the ceremonial start, Willow for the actual start, or Nome, for the finish.  Well, that took about two minutes to decide.  I called Jackie, filled her in, and she left the decision up to me.  As long as we are given a choice, why not really go for it?  So I responded to the email:  NOME!!

No trees, frozen tundra, small population, limited quarters, icy seascapes and snow, snow and more snow.  Oh, and about 40 degrees below zero at times.  But, Nome it is! 

So I had to make another visit to the Alaskan Airlines site.  Thank goodness for frequent flyer miles.

Now we had to give some serious consideration to having the proper clothing.  My family has been cross country skiers and snowmobilers since .... well, a few years ago.  Having spent several winter vacations in Brainard, Minnesota with friends, we would snowmobile for hours at a time.  After a fun day on the highline or being on the frozen lakes, we would end the day with red cheeks and sometimes, numb fingers and toes.  But all in the name of fun.  So we know how to dress.  But this trip would be different.  After reading Lisa Frederic's account of her first Iditarod race, Running with Champions, no one should underestimate the power of mother nature in Alaska.  That includes me.  So after inventorying my gear, I was thrilled to discover I could still wear some of the cold-weather items from .... a few years ago.  That would be the hat and scarves.   The gloves fit but are not suited for this endeavor.  So a shopping trip was in store.  It was at this point that I had to give serious consideration to giving up Kohl's for Cabela's. 

Ken took me on my first outing.  Camouflaged boots suited for 40 below became the newest member of our family.  But we just couldn't seem to bond.  I sent out a panic message to Kim:  "SOS.   Need to go to R.E.I. Stop.  Need to find cuter boots.  Stop.  Be sure to buy them one size larger.  Stop."  She's a very good daughter!

These are the boots Kim bought for me at R.E.I. in Anchorage.  They are Sorrells' and much much cuter than those camo things!  They better be warm!

Sadly, or not, the camo boots are no longer a member of this family. 

When Kim was home for the holidays, we found a pair of white snow pants.  I bought them and modeled them for my husband, Ken.  He took one look at them and said:  "They'll never find you, you know."  Then he went back to reading his paper.  But these pants and I have bonded.   A jacket has miraculously appeared so I think I'm set with my winter gear for this new adventure.

Then another email arrived from the coordinator that sent me into overdrive.........

Getting Started

The decision has been made to somehow be a part of the 2011 Iditarod Trail Dog Sled Race but if that is not possible, to at least be present for the start of the race.  I accompanied Kim to Anchorage again in April to help her find a place to live.  We then did a little sightseeing

 and took pictures of beautiful vistas. 



 In May, Kim formally moved to Anchorage to start her "next chapter".  I flew to Anchorage and unpacked her belongings and helped her make her new home, 'homey'.  We then took a little time to see the other side of Anchorage.  We drove east to Eagle River in the Chugach Mountains

 and followed the moose tracks at one point.

We then walked some trails and admired the still ice-ladened creeks, which surely attract resident bears. 

But, I kept gently nagging Kim. I wanted to visit the Iditarod Headquarters in Wasilla.  So my dear daughter drove nearly an hour to our destination.



This is the entry from the highway to the Iditarod Headquarters. Behind the headquarters is part of the Iditarod Trail.



After leisurely enjoying the memorabilia, watching the video and talking to the representative, I expressed to her that I would love to return to watch the race.  Among other things she informed me that many people simply - let me repeat that, simply - volunteer.  She said the Iditarod Trail Committee members are always in need of people to run the gift shop and send out mailers.  Then she handed me a business card with some names and telephone numbers.  We thanked her and left.  No thanks.  No desk job for me.  I want to touch and be around the four-legged racers.  So we walked around the grounds, took more pictures, then off to lunch. 

On the left is the commercial sign which is also available for purchase at the gift shop.                 Before leaving Alaska, I bought Jeff King's Cold Hands Warm Heart.  The book is a series of first-hand accounts of Jeff's experiences of his life after moving to Denali from California.  Much of the book focused on his mushing experiences.  I cried at some of his accounts.  I laughed out loud at others.  I could not help but read some of his passages out loud to my husband, Ken.  The paintings in the book, which were created  by his wife, are gorgeous!  I loved, loved, loved the concept of life as Jeff King related it.

I did not give the race much more thought until October 2010.  

That is when I discovered a few more details about the race itself.  First, the race is always scheduled for the first Saturday morning in March.  Second, there are two starts to the race.  The ceremonial start is from 4th street in downtown Anchorage and is the morning before the actual start.  Finally, the actual start, or the re-start is from Willow, Alaska, which is northeast of Anchorage, and begins at approximately 1:45 p.m.  When I saw pictures of the mushers, the teams, the photographers, the people behind the barricades, and all the other miscellaneous people milling around, I wondered:  Who are they?  Where do they come from?

That is when I went back to a 'favorite' on my computer's home page and logged onto The Iditarod Insider.  I began reading all the links associated with the site.  I found a link entitled "Volunteers".  Ah, Ha!  I deduced - from plain language - that one can simply sign up to be a volunteer for the race.  After logging in and completing a profile, I then searched all the slots that needed to be filled by volunteers.  These slots included working in the gift shop (of course), licking stamps and sending mailers (ho-hum), and serving as security.  I wanted to be near the dogs and feel the excitement that purportedly reverberated through the air on race day.  I kept reading.

Then I read that there are slots for dog handlers, trail guards, attendants for checking the teams for starting and finishing, security, setting up for the race and several others.  I made my selections, crossed my fingers and hit 'send'. A few days later I received a confirmation email that my profile and application had been received and that responses would be sent in January.  I knew without hope that I would not be selected as a volunteer, much less, get the golden ticket for the job that I wanted...........

In The Beginning.......

In January 2010, my daughter, Kim, accepted an invitation to fly to Anchorage, Alaska for a job interview.  She asked if I would like to accompany her since she would be there for four days, and, quite honestly, we would probably never get back to our forty-ninth state.  My response:  When do we leave?  I love to travel, however, only to the places where I can eat great food, take great pictures, enjoy great company, and usually get a tan. 

This trip, however, was very different. I loved the heartiness of the residents of
all of Alaska and I was enraptured with the history of how great people
adapted to and survived in such a rugged environment.  After this trip was
over, I knew it was important for me to return.  Being the dog lover that I am,
I was even more consumed with learning as much as possible about the
fascinating 'sport' of dog mushing. 





When I first saw the bronze statute on 4th Street in downtown Anchorage of Balto, one of the brave dogs who led one of the relay teams along the impossible trails to deliver the diptheria antitoxin serum to Nome, Alaska in 1928, I was smitten. 

Kim accepted the job offer and in April 2010 I accompanied her to Anchorage to find a place to live.
We spent four days there again and she settled on a place that had a yard for Shyanne, her senior lab/mix,

and Banks, the man in her life.

Kim moved to Alaska in May 2010.  I returned to Anchorage to help her settle into her new home. 

A partial view of her new living room and
 dining room looking out into the fenced back yard - with an organic garden.

A partial view of Kim's kitchen and dining area.  So compact, yet extremely efficient and homey!

I was able to do some exploring of the area and learned of the protection that was given to animals.  This attention included the protection of wild animals including black bears, grizzly bears and the ever-present moose.
 

This sign is erected at the entrance to Kim's subdivision.  The mountains in the distance are approximately one mile from this intersection, so wildlife is everywhere!

This moose was walking along the highway just south of Kim's subdivision - this was at 10:00 p.m.!



Kim's size 10 versus Ms. Moose's size???

Many of the points of interest include visits to mushers' kennels and tourist attractions to experience the history of mushing and in particular, the breeding, care and training of sled dogs.  These kennels include Jeff King's Husky Homestead, Mitch Seavey's IdidaRide Sled Dog Tours in Seward, and Martin Buser's Happy Trails Kennels.  Jeff King has won the Iditarod race four times, Mitch Seavey won in 2004, and Martin Buser set the record by completing the race in the fastest time in 2002.

Since then, I have read several books on people who run "The Last Great Race on Earth", which is officially named the Iditarod Trail Dog Sled Race, as well as reading about the race itself.  The first race was founded by Joe Reddington, Sr.  He is honored with a bronze memorial prominently placed on 4th Street in downtown Anchorage.

The first race was organized by veteran mushers and staged in 1973.  Today, many of the mushers are decendants and relatives of the pioneer mushers who competed in the first Iditarod Trail Dog Sled Race.  For the March 2010 race, I joined the Iditarod Insider and became a member of the Iditarod Trail Committee.  I then paid the fee to track by live GPS the mushers along the race trail.  You have no idea how frustrating it was to go to work and attend to all my other mandatory obligations of life rather than just sit at the laptop and see who would be the first musher to cross the finish line.  The 2010 race was especially exciting because a very dedicated and competitive musher, Lance Mackey, was attempting to win his fourth consecutive race, which would be a record for any musher.  To keep you from suspense - he won! 

I am not a devout fan of any particular musher.  Rather, I am a fan of all the mushers and their dogs.  Each adventurous soul has his or her own reasons to run this race.  It has been gratifying to me to read some of their accounts and to attempt to conceptualize the dedication and fortitude to attempt, participate and - hopefully - to eventually finish the race. 

So, since curiosity finally got the best of me, I decided to be in Anchorage on March 5, 2011, for the ceremonial start of the race and then to drive up to Willow, Alaska on March 6th for the actual start of the 1,049-mile race to Nome; and, then on March 10th to fly to Nome and be present when the first musher crosses under the Burled Arch to become the winner of the 2011 Iditarod Trail Dog Sled Race.

But this isn't about just my adventure, I coerced my sister, Jackie, who retired on December 31, 2010, to leave her running friends, her life as she knows it, and her great Florida weather to accompany me and try to stay warm as we venture far, far north and west.

This is my blog of the steps I have taken to actually be a part of the race.  So stay tuned and I hope to entertain you with my new adventure.