Iditarod!

[Blue_In_AK]

Last edited Wed Apr 23, 2014, 06:50 PM - Edit history (1)

Well, it only took me a month, but I finally plowed through my thousands of Iditarod photos, selected, edited and captioned them, and posted them to my SmugMug site.

If you want to check them out, the ceremonial start and restart are here: http://northernvisions.smugmug.com/Sports/Iditarod-XLII-The-Beginning/

The end of the race in Nome is here: http://northernvisions.smugmug.com/Sports/Iditarod-XLII-The-End/

I tried to do a little commentary and provided links to good reporting, so if you're a race fan, you might enjoy reading some of that.

The race was really exciting this year, much harder on the humans than the dogs due to some really horrendous trail conditions, lack of snow at the beginning and glare ice and strong winds at the end. All the dogs were fine, but humans had broken bones, sprains, frostbite, and bruises. First and second place were within two minutes of each other, and Jeff King, who was poised to win his fifth Iditarod, had to scratch at the last checkpoint after being blown off the trail onto the ice and into a pile of driftwood.

And with my usual disclaimer -- for people from outside the photo group who have issues with sled dog racing, I'm not here to start a discussion, argument, whatever; I just want to share my experience and my photos.

Anchorage


Willow


Nome

[NYC_SKP]

1. Happy dogs!

Do they come anywhere near your place?

[Blue_In_AK]

2. The ceremonial start of the race is in Anchorage.

They do an 11-mile run from downtown out to Bicentennial Park for the benefit of the "townies" who won't be going out for the actual start of the race in Willow, 90 miles from here, the next day. The place we watched the ceremonial start from this year is about 3-4 miles from our house along the Chester Creek trail. Most years my husband has been a volunteer parking the teams downtown really early in the morning before the race, but this year we decided to just enjoy it and get out of the crush of the crowd downtown. We were back in the woods with just another photographer and his wife, so it was almost like being out in the wilderness.

[ManiacJoe]

3. Love that Willow shot!

[Blue_In_AK]

5. That team is so cute.

It's Karen Ramstead's team of AKC Siberian huskies. She had to drop out early in the race, having injured herself on the rough trail. She wanted to go on, but the officials wouldn't let her.

[Agschmid]

4. Cool thanks for posting!

[Solly Mack]

6. Thanks, Blue!

[Blue_In_AK]

8. Marjerie Glickman must have been here.

She trolls the internet looking for the word "Iditarod" so she can go into her rant. Thanks to whoever alerted.

[NV Whino]

10. You're welcome.

[Blue_In_AK]

12. Thank you so much.

It kind of pisses me off that I can't ever post these links without catching flak from someone somewhere. I don't even bother posting them into the Lounge anymore because it gets so unpleasant. I guess I let the zealots win by backing down, but I just don't have the heart for arguing. Not my style.

I don't know that it was Margery who was escorted out of here, but it's certainly her MO. She was all over the comments section of the Daily News during their reporting of the race -- as she is every year. She wins no friends for her cause and begs ridicule for her histrionics.

This is what these dogs are bred and trained to do, and while there are no doubt irresponsible mushers in the world (as there are irresponsible pet owners), Iditarod mushers can't be counted in that group. I think it's pretty obvious from the photos at the finish line that the dogs are loved, respected and well cared for.

[NV Whino]

13. I took a look at the link that was posted

Pure unadulterated bull pucky.

She, or whoever, took benign, human interest news articles and turned them into fodder for ridiculous rants.

[Enthusiast]

9. Pink booties!

Thanks, Blue! Awesome stuff there.

[NV Whino]

11. Thanks, Blue. Been looking forward to these.