Checkpoint is shut down!

It is always a strange feeling when the Unalakleet checkpoint shuts down for the year.  There is so much hustle and bustle, excitement, people out and about, skiing, sunshine, snow, weather, life---the place is hopping! Then just like that, the last mushers leave from the checkpoint.  The place is packed up and tucked away until next years running of the Iditarod.  Spring Break happens so fast for us with the Iditarod, the Skiku coaches, practices, races, bonfire, laser rifles, and at a snap of a finger everything on the "To Do List" is completed and "DONE!"

I was invited to join this stellar group of longtime mushers as we waited for Ketil's son Martin to arrive in the checkpoint.  The previous post shows Martin arriving.  I sat on caribou hides in the sunshine listening to tales from the Iditarod trail from these legends.

These two photos are from the dropped dog lot out by the airport.  They are waiting for dog boxes so they can be flown back to Anchorage and picked up by their handlers.  Note there is no sea ice!

In the middle of the previous day, these two teams arrived.  If you look at the sleds you will notice they are not racing sleds but expedition type sleds.  They were headed to the post office to pick up a food drop.  These two Norwegians were running these teams of big malamutes up to Nome for a person.  This person will then mush the teams up to Barrow.  The dogs were big strong animals.  The sleds are huge and the guys said they are running about 30 miles a day.

A rather empty checkpoint in the background and skiers play Drawfs, Giants, & Wizards.

One of the Norwegian sleds passing through the checkpoint.  They are not running the Iditarod.

Ski practice . . .

Indoor laser biathlon practice.

Miss Tally at the bonfire hoping for some of those graham crackers!  One of the things everyone does a great job out here with is the instant fire with s'mores.  Skiers and families together to say thanks to our Skiku coaches.

Enjoying our long days of light as we skied up from the fire to the top of Picnic Hill.

The end of the fun-filled evening!