Author Topic: Iditarod (Read 771 times)

texasmom · « **on:** February 27, 2008, 08:10:18 AM »

I'm excited about the Iditarod.

Supposed to be able to log on to track the progress of the racers this year.
The summer before Susan Butcher died I was in Fairbanks & got some nice pictures of her at her training site. Was something else.

Jackal1 · « **Reply #1 on:** February 27, 2008, 08:28:49 AM »

I have never really figured out why, but I love this event.
You have a link Mom?

texasmom · « **Reply #2 on:** February 27, 2008, 08:35:21 AM »

not yet. was planning on looking at http://www.iditarod.com later to find it though.

this year I was supposed to contact one of our little local elementary schools to give them the whole "alaska" talk. Each year they run their own mini-iditarod through their school. I forgot to contact them though ~ been busy since Sept/Oct... and let time slip away from me. I realized it this morning.

I'm disappointed about that. I'll have to try to contact her again for next year I guess. Oh well.

Jackal1 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 27, 2008, 08:48:32 AM »

Thanks. Loading the interactive trail map now.
I remember when Curt Gowdy used to do the coverage on this a long time ago. The man could nearly put you there.

texasmom · « **Reply #4 on:** February 27, 2008, 08:50:08 AM »

A super book: Spirit of the Wind.

Jackal1 · « **Reply #5 on:** February 27, 2008, 09:39:41 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by texasmom
A super book: Spirit of the Wind.

Nearly dropped my coffee.
On Amazon starting at $69.95 , to $133.34.
I`m still looking. lol

texasmom · « **Reply #6 on:** February 27, 2008, 09:50:57 AM »

Try ebay. If you can't find a reasonable price send a PM. I'll send you my copy.

Jackal1 · « **Reply #7 on:** February 27, 2008, 10:35:33 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by texasmom
Try ebay. If you can't find a reasonable price send a PM. I'll send you my copy.

eBay was a blank.

Found a couple of different places to get it at the original $14.95. (jonvanzyle and Epicenter press) I`ll get one from one of these.

Wow! What a generous offer though.

Was sort of a pain to find I think due to the Dragonlance series of the same name.

Gunthr · « **Reply #8 on:** February 27, 2008, 11:30:09 AM »

Theres a gay dude from Ft. Lauderdale who tried running 58 miniature poodles in this grueling race. There were many problems.... tangled harness and lines due to so many dogs, and he also had to carry heavy canned dog food because his poodles wouldn't eat frozen fish... and the poodles were too easily distracted by constantly trying to lick each other's balls.... it was a mess. He didn't get too far. I think he took some sort of prize for the best groomed dogs tho.

Elfie · « **Reply #9 on:** February 27, 2008, 03:05:02 PM »

Quote

The summer before Susan Butcher died

I had no idea she died.

I was still stationed in Alaska in '85 when she was setting records to virtually all checkpoints before a moose got into her dog team and killed several and injured several more. She's the second 4 time winner of the Iditarod.

Before I left Alaska she won 2 Iditarods, 86 and 87. Then she won 2 more in 88 and 90.

texasmom · « **Reply #10 on:** February 27, 2008, 03:19:56 PM »

Yep, sorry to say that she sure did.
http://www.susanbutcher.com/

There's this little riverboat tour that Ms. Butcher was "part" of. One of the stops along the route for the riverboat was at her home/training camp. She stood out on the ground w/her mic; broadcast into the speakers of the boat... she talked some about her training facility, showed off some of the dogs, and let them pull her around the lake (she was on a 4-wheeler)... then later along the riverboat tour ~ you get stop & walk around at another site where some of her dogs were out (along with some other touristy attractions).

I was so pleased & excited to have been able to see her... and so very disappointed to hear that she'd died.

p.s. sounds like the guy from FL was a total retard.

texasmom · « **Reply #11 on:** February 27, 2008, 07:43:55 PM »

Jackal, when you look at that interactive map ~ see White Mountain? Go north from there & when you get to the water again, that's where my family lives.

eskimo2 · « **Reply #12 on:** February 27, 2008, 08:25:08 PM »

The Anchorage Daily News has a lot of great stuff on the Iditarod:

http://www.adn.com/iditarod/
They have a great memorial on Butcher

You can also read about the Anchorage Fur Rendezvous, which is one of the biggest wackiest winter festivals anywhere.

I've been reading about the Iron Dog, which is a 2,000 mile snowmachine/snowmobile race (the biggest in the world).

Holden McGroin · « **Reply #13 on:** February 27, 2008, 08:54:36 PM »

I was watching an interview with Butcher when she took her dogs up to Denali... yes, to the peak of...

Somebody asked her if she ever got lonely racing sled dogs, being 200 miles+ from anyone else, and she said, "Lonely? I'm here with a dozen of my closest friends!"

rpm · « **Reply #14 on:** February 27, 2008, 09:00:18 PM »

I became aware of the Iditarod when I was in Jr. High during the 70's. I read a biography about a kid that had a bum leg, but developed a unique kicking style to mush. He set a bunch of records, but for the life of me I can't remember his name. Mom?