SPK Dog Log

Yesterday Aliy went down to the dog lot to say ‘Hi’ to her team mates. I caught some of it on film:

Aliy spends time with Quito in the dog lot

Some of you are wondering about the dog lot? The dog lot is a secure, quiet and sheltered area just 100 yards from the finish chute. Iditarod volunteers man the secure dog lot 24 hours a day to ensure everyone is safe. We visit several times a day and during the night to check on them, feed and snack them, massage them or just to say ‘Hi’, happy in the knowledge they are safe and secure when we’re not there. It is a restful place to be, despite teams coming and going every now and again – there is a calmness about it as teams rest and mushers/handlers quietly get on with their tasks at hand. We’re all a little tempted to take our sleeping bags down there!

Note: update on our dropped dogs – Boondocks, Honda, Puppet, Waylon and Rambler have all arrived back in Anchorage and they’re all fine and happy to be around familiar faces having spent a few extra nights out on the trail. “Team Miller” picked them up from Dog Drop HQ at the Millennium hotel and they’re now with Margie in Wasilla along with Dingle and Kipper so they will all be enjoying her fabulous hospitality and taking time to catch up with their mates. Thanks Team Miller and Margie! We appreciate the great care you are taking of those so precious to us.

It was a typical windy day in Nome when Allen and his super-team trotted up Front Street at dawn. Spicy and Viper guided the team up the street to the waiting crowd of family and friends.

They finished in 33rd position in 10 days, 18 hours, 4 minutes and 21 seconds and their run time from Safety to Nome was right up there with some of the front runners! We are all so proud of Allen and his team of experience mixed with youth for finishing so strongly and looking so happy and healthy at the end. That is a real testament to Allen’s exceptional dog care that he finished with 13 dogs; five of whom were Iditarod rookies (Clyde, I.V., Chemo, Fang and Schmoe) and three running it for only their second time (Scooter, Pud and Lester). Viper, in just his third Iditarod, led for the entire 1000 miles! What a star! Spicy, Bonita, Tatfish and Moxie did a fantastic job showing the youngsters the ropes.

Did you notice that Allen was STILL ski-poling, even on Front Street!!

Black team are home; Allen and his super-leader Viper share a moment (photo credit: Wendy)

The team has been fed and settled into the dog yard and the entire team – Allen included – and are now sleeping.

The poets amongst us might think it is appropriate they arrived at dawn as his team included so many dogs at the dawn of their careers for SP Kennel.

Here they are! Allen Moore and the SPK Black Team passing under the burled arch in Nome to finish the 2013 Iditarod!

With 13 happy, healthy dogs on the line, Allen’s team of youngsters — and a few senior veterans to help teach them — finishes in 33rd position. His goal of giving the Kennel’s next generation of premier racing sled dogs a positive, successful experience of Iditarod is very well accomplished.

Congratulations to Allen and all of the fantastic dogs of the SP Kennel Black Team! We are all very proud of you!

Allen and the team are through Safety and they are flying! We’re heading down to the finish chute soon to welcome them in.

Viper and Spicy in lead, Scooter and Schmoe, Lester and Fang, Chemo running solo, Moxie and Pud, Clyde and I.V. and Tatfish and Bonita in wheel

Photos and video of their finish asap. Go Team!

Right on time, at 11 past midnight, Allen and the Black Team pulled out of White Mountain bound for Nome. We are jumping out of our skin to see them coming down the chute!

Bridgett and Ryne rode snow machines out to White Mountain today and got these great photos and some awesome footage of the team coming in. They said the dogs look great and ate and slept well. Allen is doing a fantastic job to get all those youngsters through, and the more mature ones! And did you notice, even 900 miles in he is STILL ski-poling!

The Black Team into White Mountain: Viper and Spicy in lead, Scooter and Schmoe in lead, Lester and Fang, Chemo running solo, Moxie and Pud, Clyde and I.V. and Tatfish and Bonita in wheel

The trail between White Mountain and Nome

The three youngsters: Clyde, I.V. and Chemo

The darker streak is overflow the team must negotiate between White Mountain and Nome

The view to Cape Nome in the distance (photo credits: Ryne)

The Black Team is into White Mountain at 4.11pm in a very good time of 5 hours, 38 minutes. Some of the support team has snow machined out there so hopefully we will get some video and/or pictures to bring you later. After an eight hour mandatory layover here they will set out for the final push into Nome.

This also means that entries for the Koyuk competition have closed – thanks for all your entries.

Part of the trail just outside Nome; Finish Line

Everyone here in Nome got a good night sleep last night, human and canine. The dogs were VERY cosy in their beds when we arrived to the dog lot this morning and we had to rouse them but once they were up they were keen to have a walk around and a big meal. They all look great! Aliy is up, for now, and has eaten a big plate of oatmeal and A CUP OF COFFEE! She looks to be enjoying it very much.

Allen and his team of stars are currently in Elim, they arrived there at 5.07am this morning after a quick 5 hour 41 minute run in from Koyuk. Allen did spend longer than scheduled in Koyuk but if you look at his leaving time and Aliy’s arrival time to Nome it will give you a clue why. We are excited to see the team so are still glued to the GPS watching their progress. Next stop for them is White Mountain where they will get a good, long eight hour rest.

It was pretty chaotic in the finishing chute tonight but here are the best bits.

We’re all off to bed now for a while; more to come tomorrow! THANK YOU being right there with us, we appreciate your support! Go Black Team!