SPK Dog Log

Tonight in Nome a couple of thousand people packed in to the Community Centre for the Iditarod Finishers’ Banquet and Prizegiving.

Race sponsor, the Lakefront Hotel in Anchorage, catered the event and there was something for everyone, from juicy steak to carrot cake.

As always, the best part of the evening was hearing from each musher as they came up to receive their Finisher’s patch and trophy. We heard so many great stories of camaraderie and sportsmanship, of trail challenges and wildlife encounters, and, above all, the love of the mushers for their dogs.

Congratulations to all the mushers and the prize winners tonight. See the full list here.

Some of the awards ready to be presented; the evening’s program

We are unashamedly proud of our team! Allen won the Sportsmanship Award for being “ever helpful”. This award is voted on only by mushers at the Official Finishers Club meeting after the race. Mushers make nominations and a vote is taken for the winner. Part of the recognition read “even when things are going great he is good to have around”. In one particular event during the race he stopped to help another team off the trail and stayed with them for several miles into a checkpoint. Several other younger mushers thanked him for being ever willing to answer their questions and offer advice.

Allen receives the Donlin Gold Sportsmanship Award; Aliy’s 8th place trophy awaiting presentation

Aliy told the story about how they managed to get past Pete Kaiser in the last leg of the race. It was all thanks to an arctic fox! This feisty little fox ran alongside the team on a berm next to the trail for a couple of miles and the team took off after it; while the dogs ran around one side of Pete’s team the fox ran around the other. At one stage it started hissing at the team and moving towards them! Aliy had though she was seeing things but she figured because the dogs reacted also it must have been actually happening. We’re trying to figure out if we can train the fox to run alongside the team for 1000 miles!

RETURNED DOG UPDATE

Everyone is off the trail! Tinder arrived into Anchorage on Saturday night and is with Linda and Kodiak.

Here are a few pictures of Nome from the last few days. Yesterday afternoon we had the Meet the Mushers event in the “Mini” Convention Centre. It’s such a popular event with the queue going out the doors as they opened.

Meet the Mushers

Meet the Mushers

Aliy with Michelle Phillips and Jodi Bailey; Meet the Mushers

The dogs were enjoying the warmth of the sun today.

Amber making the most of the sunshine; Chipper enjoys her salmon

Izzy and Schmoe dozing in the sunshine

A few days ago we all sat around the dinner table writing, addressing and stamping the postcards for Dog Fan Club and Team members. Moira posted them on Friday – we hope you all enjoy them!

We’ve had some free time to get out and about around Nome. Here are a few of our favourite pics around the area.

Tonight is the Musher Banquet and Pirzegiving then the crew packs up and ships out Sunday night and Monday. We always enjoy Nome but we’re looking forward to getting home.

Chemo and Chena

Pretty Chipper and Clyde

Five and Nomex

Beautiful Big O and Scooter

Scout in his day bed

Scout in his night bed; Outlaw

Brothers Waylon and Willie

Sleep Scooby; Olivia watches over daughter Lydia

RETURNED DOG UPDATE

We understand Tinder is on is way back to Anchorage and will hopefully be there today. We’ll keep you posted.

The dog lot in Nome is a fantastic place to be. There are dedicated volunteers watching over our friends day and night and the dogs are cozy in their straw beds. We visit several times a day to feed them, walk them, love on them…

Allen greets Rodney

Moira gives Schmoe some love; Izzy sleeps

Amber and Commando

Good boy Driver

Dutch and Iron

Sparkie-doo-dah

Felix stole Rodney’s fish; Junior tells everyone how it is

Moira scoops poop while Amber supervises

Congrats to Debbie Gunter who is a fan of Rodney and Augustana Women’s Basketball who are fans of Quito

Rodney is a rock star. He just finished 8th in the Iditarod as a two year old. His stand out feature is his appetite which is one of the most important traits for a sled dog. Good boy Rodney!

Quito led the Black Team in the Iditarod Ceremonial Start but sat out the big race. She is the best dog in the world and her kids are proving themselves to be worthy successors.

You both win a signed Iditarod poster plus a photo print portrait of your dog along with a few other kennel goodies. We hope you enjoy your packets!

Keep an eye out for the next random draw. Everyone who has joined by the time of the draw and hasn’t already won will be in to win!

Click the button below for more information about how to join:

Click this button to take you directly to the Dog Fan Page.

Woohoo!!

It was so thrilling to see Allen, Scout, Chena, Chipper, Lydia, Willie, Waylon, Scooter, Chemo, Olivia, Nomex, Five, Outlaw, Clyde and Scooby cross under the burled arch at 1.24pm this afternoon.

Tinder was the dog Allen left behind in White Mountain and he will hopefully be with us later today. Don’t worry, we’ve saved some salmon for him. He got a touch of the “runny bum” and wasn’t eating so well so Allen thought it best he stop in White Mountain.

The wind was blowing pretty hard and the sun was shining. Welcome to Nome.

Here are a few pictures from earlier this afternoon.

At the first road crossing

At the first road crossing

Second road crossing into Nome

Second road crossing into Nome

Allen said a quick “Howdy” on the way by

Allen with Mark Nordman, Lead dogs Scout and Chena

Clyde is pretty satisfied with another good job done, Scooter enjoys her salmon

Two year old rookies Five and Scooby settle in for a good, long sleep

Woohoo! The Black Team has passed through Safety checkpoint they and are zipping along at 9.8 miles an hour. Next up is the climb over Cape Nome then the last run along the shoreline to Nome.

We’re so excited to see everyone!

It may be a while before I can get anything up on the blog as we need to see to the dogs before coming back to the house, so keep an eye on our Instagram or Facebook as I might be able to post a few pictures directly there.

RETURNED DOG UPDATE

Butt scratches for Mismo; “Yeah that’s the spot”

Handsome Champ; “Wait… there are other dogs in this neighbourhood! Linda, did you know that?”