SPK Dog Log

Aliy, Quito, Waylon, Nacho, Chica, Willie, Clyde, Pud, Olivia, Boondocks, Mac and Sissy left White Mountain 4.00pm.

Right now is when they need YOU! For the next 10-odd hours scream, holler, pray, send good vibes, cross your fingers – do whatever you can to help get our Red Team friends here swiftly and safely.

The trail is reportedly (unsurprisingly) hard and fast with little snow and lots of glare ice. It will be technically and physically challenging for them all and, as we all know in mushing: anything can happen.

Aliy will know you’re all watching and willing her on and that will give her a boost as she gives it everything she has. Let’s give it everything we have! GO TEAM!

As the teams wait out their eight hour stop we have been busy preparing for their arrival.

We picked up the kennels from Northern Air Cargo (NAC) and started to set up the Nome dog yard. We’ve laid them out and got the kibble and bowls on hand. We’ll add straw to their kennels shortly before they arrive and make sure everything is perfect.

Next was a stop to the grocery store for supplies. Two dozen steaks now sit in the refrigerator waiting to be devoured at the finish line!

Bridgett and Ryne have taken snow machines out to White Mountain and will be able to check-in with Aliy before the team leaves. The rest of the crew arrive in Nome around 8pm so will be here in plenty of time.

At 3.59pm it’s all on! Until then we just wait…

It’s 8.30am Alaska time. Did anyone sleep?

The Red Team pulled in to White Mountain checkpoint 57 minutes behind the speedy Jeff King and here all teams have a mandatory eight hours rest.

I don’t know what to tell you as from here; your guess is as good as mine. Dallas Seavey is right on their tail with Mitch Seavey, Martin Buser, Sonny Lindner and Joar Leifseth Ulsom all also on the run to White Mountain. Once again, this race is tense, nerve-wracking and definitely not over.

During the break Aliy will feed the team a couple of meals and plenty of snacks, massage and stretch them and let them get as much rest as they can. She will TRY to get some rest for the final push to Nome. She will also need plenty of calories herself as she will be ski-poling and kicking as much as conditions will allow on the trail over the hills to Topkok and through the infamously windy “blow hole” area.

L-R: Topkok and Blow Hole from the air (photos: Bridgett)

The last run is around 77 miles and at the pace these two are going we will see them in Nome late this evening or in the early hours of tomorrow morning – a remarkable recording breaking time. John Baker’s current record time of 8 days, 18 hours, 46 minutes and 39 seconds had him finishing just before 10am on Tuesday. At this point they are on track to smash that.

Today we will be setting up the dog yard in Nome and have fleece coats, blankets, straw, Alygval massage linament and all the meaty, soupy kibble and snacks a dog could want ready and waiting for them. They will have a week of pampering ahead of them once they cross under the burled arch in Nome. We can’t wait to see them!

Allen and the Black Team pulled into Unalakleet at 5.17am this morning and are currently resting before the windy 40-ish mile run to Skaktoolik later this morning.

Bridgett (Allen’s daughter) got an opportunity to fly to Koyuk on Sunday and arrived just in time to see Aliy and her team mates leave for the run towards Elim. She was able to fly over the trail and got these fantastic shots!

The team lines up ready to leave

Leaving town

The team from the air

King and Aliy run within sight of each other

Some snippets of video Aliy and the Red Team’s stay in Unalakleet yesterday.

Unfortunately due to the pace of the front running teams (!) we were not able to stay in Unalakleet longer and wait for the Black Team. It’s disappointing not to see them but we had to hot foot to Nome.

It was a day of movement for the dogs and mushers of SP Kennel. Aliy and the Red Team have arrived in Elim.  She averaged 7.9 mph on her run from Koyuk, arriving 20 minutes behind Jeff King. Jeff King moved into the lead leaving Koyuk and is moving just a bit faster at 8 mph. Dallas Seavy has passed Martin Buser and is running in third position about 15 miles from Elim. 

Hi SP Fans! This is Kennel Mom checking in. As of Saturday at noon I was the last SP Family Member in Anchorage. I am fortunate to be able to make the Clarion Suites my headquarters as I wait for dropped dogs to be transported here from the Iditarod Trail. Then I can arrange for their transfer to a ‘home away from home’ at Margie’s beautiful kennel in Wasilla.

I am pleased to report that Dingle and Tatfish were happily playing in Margie’s yard by about 5 PM yesterday. Both dogs were dropped for sore shoulders and both were fine by the time I collected them from the Iditarod vets. Tatfish and Scooter were so happy to see each other that they never stopped romping together the whole time I was there. Scout looks great and seems about ready to run another race! They thrive at Margie’s.

Then today, Sunday, in the afternoon, Boris was individually chauffeured to Margie’s. He is such a mellow guy and truly enjoyed sightseeing out the back window of a Subaru wagon.

Then, as a special surprise, Biscuit showed up in Anchorage on the evening flight from McGrath. He is currently enjoying a rest in our suite at the Clarion. He is the perfect evening companion – strong, handsome and silent. He will head out to Margie’s tomorrow morning.

So now we only have Scruggs, Chemo and Schmoe to be returned to Anchorage. The Iditarod Dog Drop Office reported that all three are in McGrath and will likely be in Anchorage tomorrow. If they arrive after I depart for Nome (at 5 PM) our good friends the Miller Family (AKA Team Miller) will transport our SP racers out to Wasilla. Thanks, Millers, for many years of support.

Also, sincere thanks from SP to the the veterinarians, dog drop volunteers, pilots and Iditarod staff who diligently care for the health and safety of our canine racers. You are truly stars in this great endeavor, the Iditarod.

Izzy – 12 Weeks

It’s been an a thrilling 7 days watching Aliy and the other
mushers travel over the rough trails in the first part of the race.  It’s also been fun to watch Allen’s puppy team motoring right along. It
wasn’t that long ago that Wes and I were out playing in the field with the
Latino litter, Outlaw and Clyde-teaching them to come when they were called,
doing leash training, and running them the first time in harness. Now, just 2
years later, they are running the CB300, winning YQ300, and now running a
steady Iditarod.  It’s been wonderful to
watch them grow and mature into the new generation of SP Kennel racing dogs.



L to R: Amber, Hotshot, Bullet

When we take a break from watching the Iditarod trackers,
we’re out playing in the field with another batch of puppies—future race
champions for sure. The Fire Litter is happily enjoying their romps in the
sunshine and deep snow. It’s been a mild and pleasant month so far, with
temperatures around 0F at night and up in the 20s during the day.  There was a light snow a few days back, and
the Fire litter are running and jumping like crazy dogs and loving every minute
of it. Champ and Cayenne keep up with their cousins and usually find some sort
of mischief to get into- chasing ravens, finding sticks, or digging up other
frozen “treasures” in the snow. The kennel “aunties” Nutmeg, Spicy, Cha Cha,
Bullet, and Teddy try to keep up with them all, but usually give up and return
to the kennel after a few minutes of play. 
They prefer to sniffle around in the snow for lost bits of kibble and
forgotten fish snacks.
 

L to R: Spicy, Torch, Cayenne, Champ (in the back)

The Golf litter, along with Lydia, Junior, Kodiak and Dutch
get their play time when the harnesses come out. We have been taking them on
runs around the neighborhood trails keeping them in shape and exercising them.
I haven’t run these puppies very much yet, and I’ve been very impressed with
how well they are settling into the routine of running at their age.  They are head down and ears back listening
for every command I may give them.   Junior
and Lydia are showing impressive skills as lead dogs, while the Golfies are
showing strength and control in their running styles. Of course they are being
mentored by the mature dogs- Spoog, Ranger, Honda, Shiner, and others who are
as dependable as ever.  At the end of the
run, they slurp up their dinner and jump on the top of their houses for a good
long nap in the sun.  While the drama of
the Iditarod continues, and we eagerly await the outcome, it’s been a restful,
sunny, and relaxed week at SP Kennel.