Aliy Cam Iditarod 2020: Episodes 8 and 9

These Aliy Cams are a fun and interactive way I try to share my team’s experiences on the Iditarod Trail. In the 10 days, 7 hours, 28 minutes and 30 seconds that we traveled the trail I tried to capture the real images from the wilderness, the weather and the trail.

My dogs are the center of the videos. The race revolves around them. Their individual positioning in the team varies throughout the race. I moved them around depending upon their moods and energy. Their positioning also depended upon the trail and weather conditions or other random influences. The dogs on the team are: Amber, Bruno, Chevie, Cloud, Dutch, Decaf, Five, Jefe, Junior, Kodiak, QT, Rodney, Spark, and Violet. If you watch closely, you’ll get to know their gaits or their ear “bobs” or their little quirks.

These two Episodes are from both taken while we were traveling along the frozen Yukon River. It always amazes me that such an enormous, flowing body of water freezes solid enough for us to walk, trot, run, jump and even camp on. The river is 1,980 miles long or 3,190 kilometers. It has a huge basin watershed and an average discharge of 6,430 m³/s (227,000 cu ft/s). The ice thickness varies throughout the winter, as well as from winter to winter, but is often about 3 feet thick. Here is a link to the interactive National Weather Service Ice Thickness Map. Nifty, huh?

Even though I know that I am traveling on an enormous slab of thick ice, which is usually frozen securely to both river banks… when my mind wanders, it definitely thinks about the fact that there is plenty of liquid water just a few underneath my dogs’ paws. Yes, the mighty Yukon continues to flow despite the chilly temperatures and the ‘icing on it’s roof’. It is not uncommon for us to pass beside large holes in the river ice and hear the gurgling of the water as it rushes underneath.

This first video is just a funny clip. It is one of the few that I actually recorded during the dark hours. Obviously we don’t have stage lighting out on the trail, so capturing a quality video while it’s dark is a challenge. I was a bit weary, perhaps even a little slap happy, when I noticed that Cloud seemed to GLOW GREEN. I don’t know why I thought that she looked like a leprechaun but after a bit of sleep deprivation, many miles in the wilderness and chilly weather who knows what I was thinking?

2020 Aliy Cam Episode 8 – “Night Movie”

This second video is taken approximately halfway between Ruby and Kaltag on the Yukon River.

2020 Aliy Cam Episode 9 – “Bishop Rock”

I ramble on a bit of a STORY about a massive flood that happened several years ago in the village of Galena because of an ice jam at Bishop Rock. HERE is a short clip of how SP Kennel became involved with saving some of those village dogs. It seems that there is a personal meaning and some “Aliy history” along many miles of the iditarod Trail.

You can see Mille Porsild’s dog team ahead of me in this video and many of the future videos as well. They had a phenomenal race and she even earned ‘Rookie of the Year’ honors.

Okay… if you’ve made it towards the bottom of this post then… you win!

I have been asked MANY times how a musher ‘uses the bathroom’ while on the trail. Of course, this is from a woman’s perspective – Allen has his own stories and honestly he has had more than a little trouble a few times and has come into checkpoints with yellow icicles clinging to his gear.

As for me, peeing is easy-peasy. I have a quick drop drawers type move. First, I take off my mittens and/or gloves. My parka stays on me – exactly like it is all of the time. Only my bottom half needs to be exposed (and my parka actually hangs down below my bum so I have something of a curtain around me.) Second, I loosen my belt on my parka pants – really loose – they might fall down if I’m not careful! Next, I reach back and fully untuck all shirt(s) from my underwear/long johns. I do a quick visual check to make sure nothing is dangling under me: mittens, harnesses, boot laces. Then, in one quick ‘sit down’ move, my bum is exposed to the elements and I pee quickly. Any T.P. goes in a ziplock and into my next campfire. As soon as possible, I retuck my underwear/long johns layer into my shirt(s). I then tighten up my belt, replace my gloves and go about my day. Yes. I can do all of this from my sled runners. A few things that I have learned over the years:

1. Let your dogs know that you are back there. Even if they can’t see you for a few moments.
2. It is more important to retuck your underwear/long johns into your shirt(s) thoroughly than doing it rapidly. Your upper bum is an awful place to get frostbite!
3. Always tinkle when you “have to go” – Don’t wait! If you wait, something will inevitably happen and you’ll sled will flip over and you’ll drag down the trail. I’m not sure about you, but my bladder is only so strong.
4. Be mindful of trail conditions. Moguls, big bumps and quick turns can be hazardous.
5. Be mindful of which way the wind is blowing.
6. Be mindful of vegetation – like whipping willows or rose bushes with thorns.
7. Be mindful of tinkling on glare ice or other hard surfaces that don’t absorb.
8. Be mindful of where your fellow mushers are located. Right behind you?
9. No. I don’t use snow.
10. No. I’ve never used a funnel.

The race took my dogs and I over 10 days to complete. In total, I recorded only one hour of video. So these Aliy Cams are only a tiny segment of that experience. I also did not video during the most challenging trail or the worst blizzard conditions. I was too busy clinging my handlebars or navigating hazards. I also never recorded a video when I felt like it would intrude in our personal space.

Here is a map so that you can follow along.