Hi! I haven’t been in touch in ages and so much has changed since Iditarod start. What a whirlwind we have all been on, eh? Our world is a bit upside down. I feel like I just need to ‘Check In’ with you all.
Here’s our current SPK status:
All dogs and humans returned from Nome on either Saturday night or Sunday morning. We all watched the ‘Elim Eleven’ Iditarod trackers diligently as those teams crossed the finish line. So much effort by so many people – the 2020 Iditarod was an incredible adventure for all.
Our SPK Crew is hunkered down in Alaska. Aliy, Allen, Karolyn, Doug, Sam and Kaz are in Two Rivers. Moira made it back to New Zealand but has been in strict quarantine. Bridgett, Scotty and the boys were in Nome for a few days and now back in Fairbanks. Bridgett is an ER nurse so she is busier than all of us. Most of the rest of our support crew never traveled to Nome for the finish.
Speaking of Iditarod:
- the ‘Nome Postcards’ will be mailed today from Two Rivers (while the dog team made it to Nome… the postcards didn’t. They were slated to travel as baggage with an SPK crew member who didn’t make the trip. The City of Nome asked that we limited Iditarod spectators as much as possible.) Let’s see how long this postcard takes to get to you in our current situation.
- Aliy Cam videos are in fact on my camera. I looked at a couple videos yesterday and will start posting them soon. They will be fun for me to sort through and perhaps you will enjoy a few moments of Iditarod magic.
- I have much more to sort through as I make my way through my pile of mail, students letters and well-wishes from everyone. I promise to get back to you all.
- Finally, I have a lot of pondering to do about my race: 10 and a half days on Iditarod is a lot to think about. I have already started my Trail Notes because the self reflection helps me. Overall, I am happy with the dogs and their complete dedication to me. And I am happy with my ability to mush the team across 1,000 miles of incredibly challenging conditions with out fail. I am not happy with my final placement in the race and the fact that we never even had a chance to win this year. I may determine “what happened” out there after some reflection or I may never understand. Either way, I take immense pride in my ability to mush my dog team 1,000 miles – reaching the Nome finish line – now 20 years in a row.
The Dogs.
They are still a fun, happy bunch. My Iditarod Team was delighted to leave Nome. As you can imagine we were trying to get them out of the Nome Dog Yard ASAP. Communications were challenging this year and many of the teams that had not reached Nome yet made flight reservations before we did. There was a constant backlog – especially when the blizzard winds from Mother Nature cancelled airline flights. Everyone in Nome did the best they could to get dogs and mushers back to Anchorage and beyond.
In the end, we snuck our dog team onto a full flight that included several of the BlackHawk helicopter rescued teams. For that reason, we reduced the number of dog crates for our teammates’ travel. We had eleven dogs who traveled in 8 crates: Violet & Amber, Cloud & Decaf and Spark & Junior traveled tandem. The three extra crates were crammed onto my sled. It all worked out well in the end and more dogs were able to leave the Nome Dog Yard. This freed up spaces for the ‘Elim Eleven’ teams.
The logistics didn’t stop there.
The flight with the dogs arrived prior to any of us. So Linda, Wayne, Claire and JoAnne greeted them at Anchorage Airport. They had to load and tie down the sled, gear and dog crates for the 350 mile drive north. (Thanks Wayne… the sleds did not blow off the truck in route!) Karolyn and Doug landed soon after. They had a quick layover in Anchorage in order for Karolyn to give the dogs a big meal. Then Karolyn and Doug went back to the Anchorage Airport and flew to Fairbanks. Allen and I flew in from Nome that evening and Linda (apparently she is our Anchorage Uber) picked us up and brought us to Hollywood (which was parked at her house in Anchorage.) We greeted the dogs – including Kodiak and Chevie who had left my team earlier – had a quick “Howdy” with Linda and Midnight and then started the drive to Two Rivers at 10:30PM. Mother Nature tried to sidetrack us again with sleet and icy roads but we drove slowly and made it back to the kennel at 7AM Sunday morning. It was probably the best time to drive as we saw only sleeping Truckers on the road and just a couple moose.
I thought Monday would be a great day to sort gear, take a nap and catch up with my life at the kennel. Nope. Mother Nature had her way again. Monday afternoon thru Wednesday (yesterday) we had a gigantic snow storm. I honestly don’t remember having this much snow at one time in the last 20 years! The priority for the last 48 hours was digging out dog houses, pens, our house and our driveway. We shoveled all the flat roofs off at SPK so the snow load didn’t flatten those buildings. Our snow plow is our ATV 4 Wheeler that clears a 2 to 3 foot swath – so Allen and I took turns plowing as the snow continued to fall. The main road was not plowed until last night so Karolyn couldn’t even make it to SPK either. Doug and Kaz dug out generators and fuel containers so we could keep our power running. Sam built a Rock Star snowman (someone has to maintain a sense of what’s important, right?)
Anyhow – here I sit Thursday morning drinking coffee. Mother Nature has given us a weather reprieve.
So I have one goal today: MAIL THE NOME POSTCARDS! I’ll let you know how that goes.
Wow what a challenging and exciting month. Stay healthy
Is Moira being kept in the same quarantine as the SPKiwi dogs? 🙂
This month has been a crazy one, and it’s not done yet. I had seen some of the dogs doubled up in the photos and wondered if they had flown together like that. It’s a good thing SPK has some petite dogs that also get along with each other.
Wedgy and I are still very proud of your finish this year. It was a tough race and in every photo and video the SPK dogs looked happy and excited to be there. And that’s the most important thing. And if the keys haven’t yet been passed out, I believe there’s still a chance to win a 4-wheeler at the banquet!
Wow, those logistics sound like the Iditarod just kept going. Where, when, and how to sleep, eat, move the dogs or rest the dogs? Move the people or rest the people? Checkpoints all along the way. And then just when it was time to take a deep breath, dig out. Oh, how I don’t miss the deep snows we had last winter. We had 9″ of snow last Thursday and it seemed tiny compared to last year when we had to dig out a path for the dog. Be well SPK and so glad Moira made it home. Best place to be. We’ve been hunkered down for just 2 weeks on our own and Colorado just placed us on a stay home order. Starting the clock for the postcards!
We are proud of you too, Aliy, and team. Happy to know everyone made it home safely, and hope Moira’s quarantine passes quickly for her. We are looking forward to seeing the trail notes and videos, whenever you get the time.
That snow! Oh my word!
As for the reflection on your “dogs’ dedication to you”, I’m sure that’s not hard for them as they know that you are totally dedicated to them as well. Proud of you and your 4-footed athletes this year and every year!!
ALIY, Thank you for a wonderful race. This is the first time I have followed the Iditarod on a daily basis as we were to travel to Alaska the end of May. I spotted you on the list and have really enjoyed your trip and all the post concerning the adventure. Hope to make it to Alaska eventually and might even look you up. Thanks for a first ride.
Thanks, Aliy, for checking in with us through your post. I hope the snowstorm will “encourage” you to get some rest. Your are an amazing athlete.
Karen from CT
This has been a year to remember. Enjoy that cup of coffee for all of you have earned a break.
Hi,Aliy & Red team, you made it Home.
You did the best,# 18 , You finish before the Elim Eleven.
Look forward for Next Year .
Have a great rest with all the snow.
Hi, from Florida with “90”
Look forward for the postcard.
Brita
Oh Aliy! I am so inspired by you. I think you and the team did FANTASTIC this year! As usual!
Of course missing your 3 bruisers, Bruno, Commando and Mismo didn’t help. I’m looking forward to your Aliy Cams.
Great reading Aliy! Thank you.
Aliy–
Thank you for everything you do. And letting all of us enjoy the thrill, challenge, adventure of SP Kennel racing.
I have faith in you.
Rest, feel 100% soon, and thank you for letting all of us in COVID-19 land in the lower 48 escape to the Alaska mushing adventures you share – looking forward to reliving the Red Team’s ID48!!!
WOOF WOOF WOOF.
Wow…what a whirl wind! And that massive storm at the end certainly made things challenging! Enjoy that coffee and relax for a bit…you all deserve it! Stay safe!
I have been following the races, You, Allen and SPKennel since 2010. You are so ethical, courageous, inspiring, and resilient. I have been humbled watching you meet this year’s challenges with your usual grace and humor.
These are difficult times but it’s good to know you and your family are safe at home now with the the dogs–that’s a very good place to be.
Looking forward to your notes and videos. Thank you for taking us along on your journeys.
So glad to know Moira made it back home. And Wow, lots of snow! This virus made logistics much more difficult than it already normally is. You have every reason to be happy and proud of mushing your team 1,000 miles….for 20 years. That’s quite an accomplishment!
Stay safe Bridgett! Medical professionals are heroes! I was at a medical facility today and anyone entering the building had to be pre-screened in our cars before we could park and enter the building. Crazy Times!
Hi Aliy and SPK. I’m with Margaret – thank you for everything you do! I know you’re not happy with your finish but you and your teammates were happy and healthy in Nome after 1000 freaking miles. That’s a very big accomplishment. One that you keep on doing year after year. And then to finally get home after what was probably a harrowing drive and you get dumped on with a ton of snow. Work, work, and more work. Keep smiling. We are all amazed by you and Allen and the love and dedication you have to this sport and to your dogs. Stay happy. Stay positive. You are a bright light for all of us. I am under a ‘stay at home’ order in MN and unemployed for the first time in my life and the huskies think this is GREAT. Mom is home ALL OF THE TIME and we can go in and out whenever we want and go on walks and get treats and she pets us A LOT. Ha. They have trained me well. Stay safe and have fun.
What an adventure even after the Iditarod! Glad you and Allen got home to the kennel with the
precious cargo and bad roads. Aliy you did great with all the mushers that scratched tells the story.
Stay Safe At Home and we all will get thru this! Thanks for all the info along the way and those that
helped the dogs in Anchorage when they arrived! Special Thanks!!
I look forward to the videos and your trail notes. I also watched the achingly slow progress of the Elim 11 and vicariously felt their triumph at persevering.
sometimes perseverance is enough.
Rest well and enjoy the sun we now have while we wait for it all to melt!
Glad everyone made it home safe and sound. No shortage of chores for everyone. Stay safe.
I got my postcard in Montana yesterday!!! Thanks Aliy! I pray life is returning to normal for you now, whatever that is! LOL Stay safe, stay healthy, and give all of those pups some good love from me!!