3/16 Iditarod 2008

Here's a great shot of one of the Team Norway mushers stopping just before the finish to let his mom, sled to the finish with him.

One of the few all Siberian Husky sled teams. Very beautiful dogs.

Sealed with a kiss.

And my favorite musher of 2008. Gene L. Smith.

Smith is a rookie this year at the age of 64. He may be the oldest rookie this season (you’d have to verify that), but he is definitely tenacious. When I caught up with Gene, he was leading his dogs down the Bering Sea towards Front Street. As Gene told me, “[he’d] been the lead dog since the top of Cape Nome.” That’s approximately 12 miles of hoofing it.

Gene set off from Safety at 9:19AM on Sunday and arrived under the burled arch at 6:47PM that evening. He was passed up by several mushers along the trail. I can’t say whether they offered encouragement to Gene, but I know when I saw him coming into town on the sea ice leading his dogs, that I needed to shake his hand and congratulate him on his perseverance and dedication for not giving up. He said, “I’ve gone this far, there’s no point in turning back.”

Cim Smyth told Gene that there were 40 dog teams better than Gene’s. He agreed. Gene told me that he started out shooting for the top 20…top 30… top 60… top 90. Well Gene you met your last goal and cinched 75th place.

Congratulations to Gene on finishing the Last Great Race.

3/15 Iditarod 2008, part 2

Like Mother like daughter. Both Traci and Kylie with Bloody noses.

Kylie trying to play Chris' electronic auto-harp. She could be mesmerized by this thing for hours. It's kind of fun to play.

Here comes Rich Cochran from Valdez, AK. He claims to be the first finisher from Valdez, AK. Of all the mushers that we greeted, he was the most energetic, and excited. We all told him, Great job Rich... to which he replied, it's all because of them (them being his dogs). Based on our interaction from the balcony we decided that we needed to meet him at the finish too!

So here he is at the finish after realizing that I was the guy on the deck with the bull-horn cheering him on.

There are a handful of big events in Nome. Iditarod, Summer Solstice being the two big events. For the kids of Nome, it's awe-inspiring for them come out and meet these mushers... who to some are the equivalent of the great Nascar drivers, or some other sports hero.
And some other kids are just out for a free ride. Here's one who just jumped on the back of the sled to catch a ride down to the dog lot.

3/14 Iditarod 2008, part 3

A warm embrace from mom.

Here's one of the more beautiful sunsets we had while in Nome.

And just one day later you can see the sun is setting partway into sledge island.

What a sight to be mushing into Nome.

3/13 Nome, AK Sledding fun part 2 (with video)

Here are some more photos of Kylie having fun sledding. She had quite a few turns at sledding solo, and wore me out running up and down the hill.

Here's Kylie on a solo sled run.

Here comes Rick Casillo... Kylie likes to cheer on the dogs with "go puppies!" which she learned from Grandma Chris.

Rick Casillo was one of the few mushers who'd stop before hitting Front Street to thank his dogs for getting him through 1049mile trail. Here he stops to give thanks and appreciation to each one of his dogs. It's a very heartwarming sight. You have realize that for the last 10-18 days these dogs are their only companion on the trail. Finishing the Iditarod is an accomplishment in of itself.

A glowing Nome Sunset setting to the left of Sledge Island. By the end of the week, the sun should be setting to the right of sledge island.

3/12 Nome, AK - Lance Mackey Wins Again (video)

A video clip of Lance's first place finish in the 2008 Iditarod.

This video clip shows some of the excitement that goes on. Bear in mind that this late at night! It doesn't matter, the whole town wakes up for the first place finisher.

Jeff King was the second place finisher this year. He arrived sometime between 4 and 5AM. There was still a healthy crowd for him.

Kylie trying on a Kuspuk parka that Chris was making for her granddaughter Siena. The fur is a Lynx that one of the other grandkids caught.

Greeting Dee Dee Jonroe from the deck.

Miss Dee Dee Jonroe. One of the most famous female mushers.

Traci and Kylie at the finish line.

I think this is a nice picture of Traci.