Trail update, Wednesday

Here I have been waiting for a space of time where I can post my pictures from the Iditarod start in Anchorage this weekend, but now Hello/Blogger picture posting is down! Argh! I'll try to post some pictures later when I can.

Saturday, Ceremonial Start in Anchorage
On Saturday, we went to see the Iditarod ceremonial start in Anchorage. Although the 11 mile trip does not count, it's a celebration of those who are brave enough to race, and everyone has a great time.

It's the only time in Anchorage where you hear men, women and children all shout "Bootie! Bootie!" on the street. No, not that type of bootie, but the booties that the dogs wear along the trail. Apparently, dog booties wear out incredibly easily and a musher will go through thousands of them on the trail. However, in this case, the Iditariders (people who pay lots of money to sit in the sled for the start) will throw out sometimes-autographed booties to spectators.

Frank and I saw almost all 80 mushers (we missed a few as we skipped a few blocks). After reading "Back of the Pack", I feel obligated to watch all of the teams to lend them all good vibes in order to help them finish the race. Frank, I think, was bored after about 2 hours, and kept slowly herding me towards the car, but not fast enough because we got to see number 80!

Current Update

The Iditarod is ON! The leaders are all on the trek from Ophir to Iditarod, which is a ghost mining town. In order:
1) Robert Sorlie
2) Ramy Brooks
3) Jeff King
4) DeeDee Jonrowe
5) Mitch Seavey

Bringing up the rear (Red Lantern leader) is Gary McKellar, a Michigan transplant now from Wasilla.

Also in the rear is Dallas Seavey, who broke his sled. He's the youngest driver in history since he turned 18 just before the race. Luckily Jacque Philip was scratching at the same time and gave Dallas his sled, which was very nice. In between Dallas and Gary is Sandy McKee, a medical technologist who was born a Buckeye.


The following people have scratched:
--Jacques Philip, who slammed into a tree on the way to Puntilla lake. He broke or dislocated his hand.
--Sonny Lindner
--G.B. Jones who had an awful time just out of Willow with dogs that would not lead. Pretty frustrating.
--Judy Merritt, who was not so happy on the happy steps. She knocked herself out for a time on the trail, thank goodness she made it to the next checkpoint!