And They Are Off....

I like to compete in what I call "couch mushing". I know, sounds like a silly college past-time. Which in fact it might be, but the type of mushing I am lovingly referring to is tracking the 2015 Iditarod. Having lived some of my life in Alaska, I feel this connection to keep up with the past-times of Alaska. The Iditarod is one of those races that you get a mear glimpse into it at the ceremonial start, and then after that it's thirteen days of rough terrain from Willow to Nome. (This year is a little different due to adverse weather conditions, or lack there of.)

The ceremonial start was Sat Mar 7th in downtown Anchorage. Alaska, has had the mildest winter of the year so far. Volunteers piled snow into the streets to accommodate the mushers as they made their way through town. After completing the ceremonial start, mushers and dogs were flown 359 miles to the northern town of Fairbanks. Due to not having enough snow along the original trail, the race was re-routed to start in Fairbanks instead of Willow. Alaska?! Not enough snow!? WHAT?!?!!

Two of my favorite mushers are, again, competing in this year's race. Dallas Seavey and DeeDee Jonrowe. Dallas is one of the youngest mushers and completed last year's race in the fastest time. He's pretty cool in the simple fact that stardom has not hit him and it's always all about the dogs. (As it should be.)

Dallas Seavey 2014 Winner sitting under the arch with his dogs in Nome, Alaska. 

Definitely not lastly, my personal favorite and I'm a supporter of DeeDee Jonrowe. DeeDee is not only a female musher - which is fantastic in it's own right - but is also a cancer survivor. This year, DeeDee is running her 30th Iditarod and in spectacular fashion of course. If you can't see her team then you are really blind. . . .




DeeDee running in the 2014 Iditarod

  
Early this morning, mushers hit their 5th checkpoint, Manley Hot Springs. After food and rest, they'll move onto Tanana. I suspect that they'll make it there later this evening, if not tonight. Best of luck to all mushers!!! I'll catch up in a few days and hope for more snow to make the terrain a smidge easier, because let's face it, it's Alaska, the last rough frontier.

The map show's this year's route (white line)...