SPK Dog Log

It’s 6pm Alaska time.

Here’s a quick pic from the tracker for those who don’t have access. At this moment (disclaimer: according to the tracker!!) Aliy and team are 9 miles behind King.

Looking at pics from Sebastian’s blog (below) Quito will single lead the team to Nome. He described Aliy as “determined” and the team “nice and solid”.

Waking up from a nap

Quito; the team ready to leave White Mountain

Casey Grove from the Anchorage Daily News reported Aliy as saying “I’m going to try to catch him, the team looks good.”

Click the pic below for the Alaska Dispatch article that describes a few mishaps on the team’s run from Elim to White Mountain! Yikes.

In other news: Allen and the Black Team are in to Shaktoolik at 5.37pm! They are making great pace and doing so well; they’re averaging 7.7 miles an hour! We’re so so proud of them too.

And for a little light relief, here is Biscuit with Dr Mike Davis at the Clarion Suites yesterday evening. I told Mickey that I hoped he didn’t pee inside. Biscuit too!

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.