Iditarod From Unalakleet 2018

The Iditarod rolled or should I say mushed into the village yesterday with all its traditional fan fair: extra sleds, food bags, vets, Insider crew, journalist, photographers, drones, Iditarod Air Force, small planes, fun, and then THE DOGS and Mushers.  This time of the year is just fun!  Longer hours of daylight, improved weather usually, more people out and about and then the Iditarod!  Below are photos from March 11th enjoy!

Three of our skiers on the "Welcoming Committee"

Nic heading downthe slough to the check point.  A friend posted a clip of him and he sings to his dogs as he is heading down the trail!

Nic giving directions to his team

Under all that clothing is a rather slender athlete

Vet check and I meet this vet latter as I walked my dogs.  She said these dogs are doing great!

Vet Check

One of Nic's team watching his every move.

Two of the 4 Skiku coaches here this week.  They work with our skiers, plus get to enjoy the village, and the Iditarod.

Nic wasted no time tending to his team.

Nic

Dinner!

Skiku in action 

Fun ski drills

Stellar ski weather: sunshine and NO wind!

Nic and team leaving Unalakleet

Nic heading north early evening 3/11

Joar's team

As we call this the last Viking or lost Viking . . . a long time community member who's family has roots from Norway.

Great friend Peggy who helps us with skiing as we check the sleds waiting for their team.

Nic's team and bedding them down for a nice rest.

Several people commented about Nic's dogs having long legs!

Mixing up feed for the team.

Dee Dee bing honored by the community last night.  There was a great turn out!  She was very moved and so humbe----a stellar lady!

Wood carved Ulu with a plaque stating Unalakleet loves Dee Dee.

Storm, We finally have a winter March 7th!

As the saying goes, "Better late than never!"

I went over this morning to check the slough, which is a branch off of the Unalakleet River, to see if we could have ski practice.  You may be asking what does a river have to do with ski practice??  Good question!  We have to cross the slough which is brackish water salt/fresh to get to where we hold ski practices.  Depending on the winds the slough will have overflow.  This means that the winds from the south and west causes water to overflow on top of the frozen river ice.  The ocean water comes up the river and surges out of cracks and along the edges.

This would be overflow and that snow fence is where we ski most of the time.  These photos are from 2/22/15.

That tree stuck in the ice is the check point area for the Iditarod Dog Sled Race.  Everything there was all frozen again until today!

Today, I headed out for cross-country ski practice and the winds were blowing about 20 mph which is normal for us here.  It was warm so I figured we can ski no biggie.  WELL . . . in about 20 minutes we went from 20 mph winds to howling gusts of over 50 mph.  I had 16 kids with me from grades 1--5.  We had a blast! The wind was pushing us and making us fly across Johnson's Lake.  When those gusts of 50+mph hit we huddle down.  I had a nice talk with my skiers  about what to do when winds hit and we are not close to the village.

Yeap ski practice out here!  When I say a stormed kicked up I mean it!

The fact is I love weather and winter especially! I have been waiting a long time for winter to arrive this year!

One very happy ski coach!