My instructions for their 2 week visit were to catch EVERY SECOND on film! The plan for Saturday, March 5, was an early arrival downtown. Every year there is a ceremonial start of the race on 4th Avenue in downtown Anchorage. Extra snow is brought in downtown to link 4th Ave. to the trail systems that run through Anchorage. The mushers run their teams approximately 18 miles around Anchorage so residents can get a chance to see them, cheer them on and wish them luck before their long trip to Nome. It is also at the ceremonial start that people can pay to be an "Ididarider." For several thousand dollars you can ride in the sled with the mushers on their short run through town to the Campbell Airstrip. I think the Ididarider in Lance Mackey's sled this year paid somewhere around $7500. Now, these dogs can travel up to 12 mph at peak speeds...so if you do the math, you aren't even strapped into that sled for 2 hours! But...it is through generous donations such as these that this race continues to run. Sure, they have corporate sponsors including Exxon (can we say good PR...), Wells Fargo, Anchorage Chrysler Dodge (who donates a truck to the winner) and Eagle Pack dog food (our of Mishawaka, IN actually), but this race is a HUGE undertaking and a labor of love for not only the mushers and their crews but also for the fans and volunteers.
We arrived downtown around 7am, as the sun was rising.
It was below zero and I had the Hoosier (Mom) and the Floridian (Jackie) outfitter with toe warmers, hand warmers, long underwear and down mittens. I dropped them off, grabbed a Starbucks and started getting my camera gear ready. Out came the fanny pack...
The mushers travel with their dogs, which are generally between 35-70lbs, in large trucks with individual compartments for each dog laden with straw. Once into Anchorage the mushers lined the sidestreets adjacent to 4th Ave. The dogs were taken out of their travel boxes and chained to the trucks. At this point, early in the morning the mushers, their dogs and their handlers were fair game for media, volunteers and fans. Having smuggled my Aunt's "volunteer" badge, I quietly and stealthily made my way behind the ropes and barricades into the areas with all the dog teams and their mushers. I think that I managed to get some decent shots...though I'll let you all be the ultimate judges:
Mom making friends with a couple of the "athletes."
The 2 happiest clams in Anchorage that morning! Mom and Aunt Jackie.
The media starts it's descent upon 4 time defending champion Lance Mackey as he unloads his puppies.
2 of the "athletes" on Dallas Seavey's team (winner of the Yukon Quest race that was run 1 week prior to this year's Iditarod).
Lance Mackey up close and personal.
Grabbin' a quick snack before he has to get suited up.
The dogs wear booties on the trail. They are generally made of fleece or another synthetic fabric. They wear them to prevent ice shards from cutting their pads and to prevent ice balls from forming in the hair between their pads. Per race rules, the mushers have to carry 8 pairs per dog (that's 512 booties) in their sled at the start of thet race.
Lance Mackey at the start line with Senator Lisa Murkowski. Senator Murkowski is the first senate candidate in more than 50 years to win as a write-in candidate. She won over Tea Party candidate Joe Miller with just over 101,000 votes. The election was not only a big deal here in Alaska, but made national news in November. I'm sure a few of you may have heard about it...
Past champion Martin Buser
Fan favorite DeeDee JonRowe in her signature pink parka. Her pups also have pink harnesses, booties and coats!
Past champion Mitch Seavey
Mitch Seavey's son Dallas Seavey, winner of this year's Yukon Quest
Taking a last minute snooze before the start.
Knowing that we would watch the re-start the following morning up in Willow, AK, I headed in for a quick bite of sushi and a warm-up about halfway through. Mom and Jackie quickly followed. The day of the ceremonial start turns downtown into something of a carnival. The week leading up to Iditarod is The ury Rondy Festival. There are carnival rides, a 5K, the Running of the Reindeer, snow and ice sculpture competitions, the outhouse races and Yukigassen (team snowball fights). This day is the wrap up of the weeks events. After we grabbed some food we did a little shopping and Jackie even met a celebrity!
Jackie was really disappointed that we never did see Russia...
The gentleman selling these gorgeous hats is a retured Fish & Game Warden. Now he runs traplines and purchases from other trappers and makes gorgeous, hand sewn hats, gloves and ruffs (the fur linings that go on hoods). Mom helped out the local economy and purchased one of his gorgeous sheered beaver hats trimmed in fox.
She also completed a purchase she's been mulling over for more than a year. A traditional fur parka made here in Alaska. It was made of beaver, wolf, wolverine, mink and rabbit. Jackie asked me why I encouraged mom to buy these gorgeous fur pieces. My reasoning is simple: Missy, my sister, refuses to wear fur. Take a minute and mull on that...and I'm sure you'll get it. :)
They even had an antique snowmachine parade. Had we known these old machines were so popular up here I would have shipped my parents 2 1978 Ski-Doos up here with me!
Jackie is considering trading in her Mini-Cooper for a more "green" mode of transportation.
Stay tuned. Up next is my coverage of the Official Race Start in Willow, AK, followoed by details and pictures from our trip to Nome, AK!
I nearly pee'd my pants when I saw the photo of your mom in the fur parka. She is adorable. I miss you guys!
ReplyDeleteShe's actually wearing the hat that she bought from the guy who hand made them on the street! That coat is SO W-A-R-M!! I miss you guys too!!
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