The Re-Start Of The Iditarod Dogsled Race In Willow, Alaska-Part 3
Official Sunrise @: 7:30 Photograph Taken @: 7:29
Temperature: 7° Wind: None
Camera Used: Canon G9 Photographer: Ron Day
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Basically, it’s just another snowy day here in Wasilla, Alaska. We have almost a foot of new snow on the ground now, most of it appearing within the last two days. I’d more or less put the snow blower away for the year, thinking spring was surely around the corner. But yesterday I dug it out again and gassed it up, spending a couple of hours clearing the driveway then forging a path around the house, making it easier for me to take sunrise pictures.
There wasn’t a real sunrise this morning, though, just more snow falling from gray clouds, so I just took a picture of our deck, which was the most interesting subject I could see.
Pretty sad, huh?
The forecast calls for more snow throughout today but with clearing skies for the rest of the week. That’s a good thing.
I think I need spring.
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REALLY? It’s March and it’s 1 degree out!!!! I swear last week it was 40 BUT now it’s1. Oh, Alaska is full of wonders and surprises!!!!!
~Facebook comment -March 10, 2010~
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Continued photo coverage of the 2010 Iditarod re-start
I am continuing my photo coverage of the 2010 Iditarod re-start, held last Sunday, March 7, in Willow, Alaska. This series of photos will continue through Thursday, March 11, with approximately 25 new pictures each day.
Rather than focus my attention on the race itself I thought it would be interesting to document the pre-race activities, preparations at a mushers home and kennels, and in the staging area during the hours before the actual start. I felt like this was something many fans of the Iditarod have never seen up close and I felt like I should share these images with my readers. I am very grateful to Dee Dee Jonrowe for giving me the opportunity to do this.
Again, if you find any photos where I have not identified someone, or have identified the incorrectly, please e-mail me @ rondayvous2000@yahoo.com with the correct information and I will update it immediately.
The official web site of the Iditarod has an informative web page which lists all of the mushers in the 2010 race, along with their biography’s and photograph’s. It is interesting reading and will enlighten you, not only about the people themselves, but also about the history of the Iditarod.
You can find the web page here:
As I published this morning’s post, Hans Gatt and Cim Smyth were the only two mushers to have reached the Ophir checkpoint. They are currently leading the race.
You can track your favorite racer and check current race standings here.
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Dee Dee prepares her team for Iditirod 38
As Dee Dee’s starting time drew nearer and nearer you could feel the excitement growing, in the people as well as the dogs. Handlers were busily preparing each dog for the race, fitting booties and harnesses to them and trying to keep them somewhat calm. The noise was nearly overwhelming as dogs barked, yipped and howled. Not just Dee Dee’s dogs either, there were dozens of dogs from nearby teams acting the same way, all of them wanting to begin the race, unable to contain their excited enthusiasm.
Mushers were shouting out instructions to handlers, who in turn were shouting to other members of the team. Nearby, over a PA system, announcers were introducing racers, those who had drawn earlier starting numbers, and counting down the time before each of them left the starting gate to the cheers of the crowd.
The team next to Dee Dee’s pulled suddenly away, the sled dogs barking as their feet scratched in the snow. A small crowd had gathered, cheering loudly for them. It should have been quieter then, after the neighoring team had left, but it wasn’t. Seeing their neighbors leaving before them made Dee Dee’s dog team bark even louder. They felt they were being left behind…and they didn’t like that.
Dee Dee made one last trip up and down the long line of dogs hitched to her sled, stopping to visit with each handler and volunteer, thanking them, giving them a hug, or a kiss on the cheek. It was an emotional time, in spite of the noise.
A race official came over, telling Dee Dee to enter the staging area. She and husband Mike mounted the sled, released the brakes and signaled for the handlers to move the dogs forward.
Dee Dee’s twenty-eighth race to Nome was set to begin.
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Paul Gebhart and his team enter the staging area. A few minutes more and he will be on his way to Nome. This is Paul’s 13th. Iditirod. His best finish was 2nd. in 2007. He currently holds 14th. position in the 2010 race.
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Tamara Rose discusses her Iditarod strategy as she awaits her starting time. This will be her first Iditarod race. Currently she holds the 64th. position.
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Dee Dee Jonrowe contemplates things still yet to be done before she enters the starting gate at Iditarod 38.
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As she makes her way down the line of dogs, handing out energy treats, Dee Dee takes a moment to talk to one of her handlers.
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Every dog on her team is her friend, she makes it a point to give encouragement to each of them. Look closely and you will see love and adoration in the eyes of a dog.
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Her starting time drawing nearer Dee Dee walks down the row of dogs with a bag of bright pink booties in her arms, handing out a set to each member of her dog team.
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One of her dogs shares a smile with Dee Dee as it gets it’s booties.
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In wonderfully bright sunshine, Justin begins fitting booties to dog paws.
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Confident, ready to race the Iditarod, this pretty girl seems to know what lays in store.
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Mike and Dee Dee help the handlers put booties the dog team.
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A handler and one of her dogs share an affectionate kiss before the journey begins.
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Then Dee Dee stops by to give a kiss of her own.
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Pink harnesses are next, after the booties. The dogs know the routine but are becoming impatient. They want to race.
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Pretty dogs, harnesses and booties in place, anxiously await their turn to be hooked to the sled.
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Cindi Martin smiles as she reassures one of Dee Dee’s sled dogs.
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With all of the needed gear in place, this dog, ready to race, licks it’s lips as it finishes one energy bar and prepares to eat another which lies near it’s front feet.
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Besides Dee Dee’s team, there are dozens of other dogs nearby, all of them excited by the sudden activity. They know they are going to race and can’t contain themselves any longer. Their barking and howling is so loud that handlers can no longer talk to each other. They use hand signals instead. Here Dr. James Martin, left, and Dee Dee’s mother Peg Stout, right, smile for the camera as they keep their distance from the noisy dog team.
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On the other side of the truck, in the shadows, handlers are still attaching harnesses.
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Sometimes the comfort of a few strokes is enough to settle an excited dog, at least temporarily.
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As the dog are prepared for the race, Dee Dee begins re-checking her own gear once again.
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Nearby dog teams prepare to enter the staging area. Excitement is growing as the dogs and handlers hear an announcer on the nearby PA system counting down the time as other mushers and teams begin their race to Nome.
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Almost ready, Dee Dee’s dog team, harnessed to her sled, are moved to the right to avoid other teams who are entering the staging area before them. From here, at the back of the sled, it’s an amazingly far distance to the lead dog.
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While Dee Dee stands by, one of her handlers gives his dog a kiss.
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And gets a kiss in return as well.
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By now Dee Dee is as anxious as her dogs are. She want to begin the race, knowing that once she is on the trail everything will become suddenly quiet again, and peaceful, with only the breathing of her dogs and the sound of sled runners against the snow to break the silence. I think she was looking forward to that.










































































































