Serious matters Part 2

The ITC Board did meet today and it appears most of the major business was dealt with in a closed executive session, no surprise. At least one good thing--or I would say apparently a good thing--came out of it. They did address in general the issue of domestic violence and have banned the young man from the 2017 race and indefinitely with reinstatement depending on his completion of court ordered rehabilitation and of course no further bad behavior of this kind. That seems fair. Whether any consequences will impact the woman involved, I have no idea. I really would hope he goes to some kind of rehab and she takes herself out of the situation, hopefully with the dogs she has worked with the most and her personal basic gear. Time will tell.

I will be a little catty and call the ITC's formal statement a bit after the fact and giving some appearance of a CYA action but they did do it and it appears to have some teeth. A special committee will be working to review the code of conduct, or so it appears, and perhaps bring it a bit further into the twenty-first century. While Alaska may fairly bill itself the last frontier, there are now too many people in the state and too many modern influences to proceed like it was '99--not 1999 but 1899!!

I have to admit I hope they do not go too far and tangle everyone up with rules and codes and regulations and standards out the gazoo!. It really isn't possible to mandate or legislate ethics, morality and human nature beyond a very basic degree. I am an individualist and libertarian but I have to accept that my right to swing my fist or my foot ends somewhat short of your nose or shins. Really the Golden Rule covers most of these kinds of issues very well. Don't do anything to anyone else that you would not want happening to you. Now just to put that into practice.

You can get to and read the ITC Statement from my Facebook page should you wish to do so. I am not going to attempt to post it here but it is a public document now and as such in the public domain. .

Serious Matters

          I need to add a caveat to the following, post,  a bit after the fact. My comments are based strictly on what has been aired on various media and I think most of us realize that they are more interested in selling papers, getting viewers and providing  a certain level of sensationalism. As with almost everything, there are two sides to every story and usually the truth falls into a gap somewhere  between. Perhaps the young man's story deserves a hearing as well. While physical abuse is almost never justified unless truly from fear of death--like the use of deadly force guidelines-- abuse in relationships can and does go both ways at times Most of us have been guilty at times of behaving in a manner provocative and abrasive to  those around us. Did we "deserve" then to be beaten or have our things trashed? Probably not, but perhaps none of us can fairly cast the first stone, especially if the whole story is not heard.  And I did not intend to do so. See new post for further outcome on this situation.

             There is a lot of discussion in some circles and it will soon become even more public, I imagine. I have hesitated to mention it here but it is relevant to my topic of the Iditarod and women participating in it, so I will go into it but try to tread lightly.

Two mushers who are partners and supposedly engaged but not married have had problems for some time and it is now coming to light. In 2015, he broke her arm in an altercation and was placed on probation for it. This year additional domestic violence occurred in which she was thrown out of the cabin after being beaten up and left in 10 degree temperatures and some of her possessions were damaged or destroyed. (I may have some of the issues mixed as reports are not always clear but all this occurred) This event has resulted in charges but it has not yet come to trial.  However, despite the prior apparent conviction, although it was treated as a misdemeanor, both competed in the 2016 race and the ITC Board and officials denied any knowledge of the matter. But we all know that all court proceedings except those involving juveniles are public records and can be reviewed freely.

Like substance abuse, domestic violence, especially against women and children, is a serious, no, a huge issue in Alaska just as it is in the lower forty-eight. The general opinion in this case seems to be that it must not be swept under the rug and treated lightly.

Apparently the female musher, like many women, had been reluctant to press charges and probably lose her investment in gear, dog team and other valuable property the pair has jointly accumulated and developed. Perhaps she now actually fears for her life and must move forward in this. It seems that so often it is the woman who must escape, if she can, with little more than the clothes on her back. In Alaska that can be a pretty grim fate, especially in the winter. This woman also has a lifelong dream of becoming a successful long distance racer; she seemed to  believe she had found the way to do it, but at how great a price?

I know she withdrew last year not too long before the race. Likely it was because of the aforementioned broken arm. At the time I had no clue of this, of course. Clearly very few did. Well, you can hardly manage a sled and a team in a cast. This year she did complete the race as a rookie and I was happy for her until I learned of all these problems. I would counsel her to find and team up with another female racer—say Ryne Olson or one of the others or a reliable and respected couple --and work with them. Hopefully if she leaves her abuser, she will be able to keep or take away some of the dogs and gear but if not, they can be replaced. One’s life and physical health cannot be.

            While I am all in favor of sacrifice, determination and sticking through tough situations, there is a limit. I was never physically abused although I did suffer verbal abuse and a very restricted life as a teenager but once I was an adult and on my own, I vowed no person would ever abuse or intimidate me. I would never stay with a partner who hit me—not even once. And I have not. I think if this woman can get out of this bad situation, other women will step up to help her and she can come through it and triumph in the end. I would certainly hope and pray for such an outcome. All the women racers and kennel mangers I have met or contacted seem to be honorable and caring people.

Meanwhile at their meeting on Saturday, April 29, the ITC board will be discussing the issues of what bad behavior or criminal convictions should be grounds for barring a racer from competition and whether for one race, several or for life. They will also revisit a “code of conduct” which was established last year but seems to center more around never permitting a competitor to ‘bad mouth’ or criticize the race or talk out of school about internal problems. It has been called a “gag order” by a number of apparently disgusted people, to include some mushers, I believe. There is also the fact that all qualification and conduct issues have been left to the judgment of a single individual. Many feel, and I agree, that it too much to leave in one person’s hands and there should at least be an internal committee or board of ‘judges’ for want of a better term to deal with these problems collectively. I would love to be at that meeting but hope to get some information on the proceedings from a friend who will be there.

A final thought, elections of two new ITC board members will be coming up soon with the results of the vote to be announced at the June meeting which I plan to attend.  I for one, and I think many others agree, would like to see more women on the ITC Board of Directors. I am in no position nor qualified to run but I know of a few who perhaps could and should. Put a bug in their ears? I am not sure I can but I will try. And if any females wind up on the ballot, they are almost sure to get my vote unless they are grossly unqualified or damned by their own statements.  I did recently vote for the US portion of the YQ Board, and my vote did go to the woman, a veterinarian, who seemed like an excellent choice. With close to a third of this year’s racers being female, it certainly seems reasonable and fair to have the feminine side represented and advocated for so the ITC does not become—or some say continue to be—just a good ole boys club!

Quick Update

I keep coming across new issues, ideas, problems and news relative to my favorite sport. Right now I am mulling over which of these I need or want to share and what to say about them. For that reason, I am not writing yet, here or anywhere else.

I suppose I am a bit disillusioned to find that many of today's prevalent ills and issues have made their way to the wilds of Alaska and the world of sled dog racing. This last bastion of wilderness and frontier spirit should not be so sullied but it does not exist in a vacuum and with our modern world where anything can be known anywhere in seconds, it was inevitable. All change is not progress, but once the worms are uncanned and things move past a point, there is no going back. It is what it is. More later.

Right now I thank God for Aliy and her ilk. A bright star in a sometimes dark sky. May guardian angels stay close to her.

Still on that Trail...

I know it has been quiet here since the end of the Iditarod and the racing season. However, I've been busy behind the scenes and planning ahead on this seemingly endless project of mine. I joined a Facebook Group called Idita-support and got myself in some hot water because the mushers there were not at all enchanted with my complaint about carrying healthy dogs and wish to see it banned. Oh no, mushers are a very independent lot and do not want any possible option taken away from their repertoire. While I do understand and appreciate their stance,I still feel it was misused in the 2016 race.I have backed off from further push on that for now but will keep it on the back burner..

However one totally cool thing happened because of my joining this group. It is managed and moderated by a lovely lady named Helen Hegener. She is an active writer of Alaskan non-fiction works, a stickler for historical accuracy and just a neat person. To add to the serendipity she lived in Arizona as a teenage military dependent and went to Tombstone High in the mid 1960s!. She also loves horses as well as dogs and we've had some wonderful email chats. I hope to meet her in the near future. She loves my idea and is enthusiastic about it., which I deeply appreciate. I just preordered her new book about the history of the sled dogs whcih will be released soon.

My plan to go to Alaska at the end of June, well about the 24th to be exact, is still on. I will attend the Iditarod Trail Committee annual meeting again though not to pitch anything to them.My main purpose will be to meet people and probably arrange with one or more kennels, likely in the Willow area, to spend some time in the fall. I am more than willing to scoop poop, fill dishes or any other chore for the privilege of hanging out and listening and asking a few hopefully not totally dumb questions. I've known all along that I must get some boots on the snow or dirt and live at least along the periphery of this  sport to learn and do justice to my subject. I think Helen can help me there. I do plan again to take advantage of the hospitality and aid of wonderful Alaska friends Bill Hutchison and Svetla Lerner who I met last year and am determined to get face-to-face with Deedee Jonrowe this trip. BTW, she just ran the Boston Marathon after finishing the Iditarod just over a month ago! Is that lady a total dynamo or what?! She just blows me away!

So do stay tuned. Part of the silence is because I've been busy elsewhere with some fiction writer business. My principal publisher closed the end of March and I was torn between leaving fiction writing completely and trying to find new homes for some of my work. I finally got bold enough to submit a few places and it looks like that is going to move forward. Guess I am just intended to have a number of irons in the fire--which may be necessary to either smooth out all the wrinkles or get my mark on all that livestock!! Any time I start to feel overwhelmed I look at this shot of four amazing mushers who I admire all to heck and gone. I know "quit" is not in their vocabulary and should  not be in mine, either. Thank you Allen, Deedee, Martin and Aliy for your inspiration!!

Letter Update

I have finished the letter to the ITC Board and all copies were mailed today. I also made four more copies and sent them with a note to newspapers in Anchorage, Fairbanks and Wasilla  I have no idea of they will have any result but I have tried.  Here is the final version of the letter, very slightly changed from the one I posted earlier but format is cleaned up etc. I am hoping very hard some people listen!!!

On a lighter note, SPK posted a great video on their doglog blog showing the September litter puppies, the "Coffee Litter" enjoying their first run in harness with some of the old timers. They looked fine and totally natural. These dogs are truly born to run. "My" little Creamer (I chose her to be a 'fan' for) was naughty and trying to nibble on the lines but otherwise they all ran well and seemed to have a great time. Link: http://spkenneldoglog.blogspot.com/ Aliy and Allen are so fantastic with the dogs and seem to have  real instinct --as well as so much love--for them. I am not sure if the Golden Harness (Quito's) pups will get a chance before the snow is gone or not; they are about five weeks younger and at this stage a lot changes in that time.  But I am hoping at least enough for one short video! Of course the Surfivers will be training in earnest come fall and some of them may even make some races, real, serious ones. They did get in on the Two Rivers 100 in January but that was enough for less than two years old. However a few short three year olds did run the YQ and the Iditarod this year and did well. They will be moving up to star status next year.

Anyway here is the letter:

Gaye Morgan-Walton   Novelist, Poet and Adventure Writer                                                                   520-678-0259

2200 23^rd St, Alamogordo, NM 88310                                                                                                 azwriter427@yahoo.com

March 28, 2016

Editor, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

200 N Cushman St

Fairbanks, AK 99701-2832

Below is the text of a letter I have just written to all the members of the Iditarod Trail Committee Board. I wonder if it could be printed in your newspaper to reach more people concerned about the future of the Iditarod Sled dog Race. I am hopeful more will want to be heard on this matter and may be moved by my comments to make their own. Thank you very much!

Gentlemen,

I must begin by admitting I am not an Alaskan, not a musher and no sort of expert. I am merely a dedicated and fairly well-educated fan who has followed the Iditarod casually since the late 1980s and intensively since about 2008. During the last several years I have observed trends that peaked this year, trends which disturb and distress me. I see them moving this event in a very negative and unproductive direction. 

As the staff of KTVA wrote: “Let’s be honest, the dogs are the real stars of the annual Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Seventy-nine of the 86 teams that started this year’s race in Willow began with 16 dogs. A total of 1,460 dogs ran through the starting line of Iditarod 44.” Yes, this race is and always should be about the dogs. They are what the bulk of the fans around the world are excited about and what makes this event so unique.

Joe Redington’s vision, when he started groundwork for this race, was to save the Alaskan Sled Dog and to preserve and honor traditions dating back to prehistory—when the first family arrived with their dogs (i.e. Fairbanks’ beautiful statue). In short, it has always been about the dogs. Canines have drawn a geometrically increasing fandom and millions in support from around the world. While specific mushers may gain a kind of cult following for a season, this ebbs and flows. It is still really about the dogs, exactly as it should be.

Outside of Alaska, few to none pay much attention to the “Iron Dog” events, at least until Sarah Palin’s other half dumps one and almost kills himself. In the lower forty-eight, if we want to watch machines compete we can patronize NASCAR, the Indianapolis 500 or local drag races or motocross.  We do not need or want to watch snow machines.

Yet the trends I am seeing can soon relegate the dogs to a kind of bionic snow machine chasing the goal of ever faster speeds and fewer animals necessary. I visualize in a few years ‘mushers’ could be racing with some kind of techno-mechanical device and maybe carrying one dog along for a mascot in memory of what used to be. It is becoming merely a way to make at least some mushers a kind of “rock star” for whom the sled and a minimal team is a mere vehicle to fame and fortune, almost inconvenient. If this continues as new mushers emulate what seems to succeed, I would be willing to bet fans will begin to drop away in droves and with them the major source of donations, sponsorship and support that has built this event into the colossus it has become.

While races by definition are about winning, there are many key aspects to this one besides efforts to trim a few seconds off the duration and shrink the team. If only five dogs are necessary why start with sixteen? Let’s just cut that back to twelve, ten, even eight; keeping only a small cushion for injuries and sickness. We apparently don’t need them so half are extraneous, right? It’s all about speed, cutting every possible corner, and making a SuperMusher. Or is it?

From exchanges with many fans as I work on a book in progress about women mushers, I am sure that is not what the bulk of them want to see!  It is still about the dogs. With that in mind, here are some suggestions for the Board to consider which could steer this race back toward the direction the founders intended and the public has supported for forty four years. I agree, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, but it is damn near busted right now.

• Raise the minimum team size to complete the race to eight.  (50% drop allowed).This would only have eliminated five finishers from the 2016 race. Of the top ten, the smallest team, aside from the winner’s, was nine. The average number of dogs per team completing the 2016 race was 10.436. Since we cannot have a partial dog, I’ll round down to an even 10—noting that is twice the current minimum.
• Totally ban the new practice of carrying perfectly healthy and sound dogs to rotate them on and off the team. This is completely counter to the intent and traditional practice of the event! Other than transport of sick or injured animals to the nearest check point for drop, every team member must have paws on the ground for the entire duration of the race. If this is not made a disqualifying offense, I suggest a penalty of one hour per each dog that continues to race after being carried for any part of the trail. This sum would be added to either the mandatory twenty-four hour or the White Mountain eight hour rest.
• Give much greater recognition to the musher(s) who arrive at Nome with the most dogs still in harness and judged to be fit by the veterinary staff.  Also add a meaningful monetary prize to the Leonhard Seppala award or create additional awards recognizing superb dog care. Remember, it is really about the dogs.
• Continue and expand reward/recognition for good sportsmanship, camaraderie and assistance given to other mushers or even spectators on the trail. Again, this is maintaining a tradition nearly sacred to the event. Most mushers, though competitive, still aid and support each other. This sends a strong positive message, especially to student followers, as well as everyone else.

I believe these changes can start a return to the traditional and founding intent and vision of the race. They will keep the focus properly on the dogs which is what really holds public attention and devotion to the event. This must always be a team effort of human and canines working in partnership. It is not a man or woman running solo across 1000 miles of wilderness! As some mushers have said, the human ‘dog’ is actually the weakest member of the team in many ways. Eventually racers who do not respect and treat their dogs as equal and essential parts of the endeavor will have this attitude turn and bite them in the butt. The weather was very gentle this year but that is not always the case. Many mushers have had their team pull them through blizzards and near-disaster.  You might ask the long-term competitors if they would want just five dogs on their team in a blizzard like 2014 or the one Libby Riddles braved to win in 1985. Teamwork is really what this event is about. Don’t let it fade away.

Sincerely,

Gaye Morgan-Walton

ITC Member #15349

Post Race Comments--Letter to ITC Board in draft form

As I may have at least hinted.that some things occurred in this year's Iditarod--and I am not talking about the snow machine attack here--which disturbed me. I did some research and have drafted a letter to the Board of the ITC. As a member of the 'committee' which is almost a misnomer because it is just a card carrying kind of membership, I still feel a right to make my voice and opinions heard. This may not be quite the final form that will be sent out to a number of people, but FWIW, here is my opinion, as well-stated as I am able to do.

Gentlefolk,

I must begin by admitting I am not an Alaskan, not a musher and no sort of expert. I am merely a dedicated and fairly well-educated fan who has followed the Iditarod casually since the late 1980s and intensively since about 2008. During the last several years I have observed trends that peaked this year, trends which disturb and distress me. I see them moving this event in a very negative and unproductive direction. 

As the staff of KTVA wrote: “Let’s be honest, the dogs are the real stars of the annual Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Seventy-nine of the 86 teams that started this year’s race in Willow began with 16 dogs. A total of 1,460 dogs ran through the starting line of Iditarod 44.” Yes, this race is and always should be about the dogs. They are what the bulk of the fans around the world are excited about and what makes this event so unique.

Joe Redington’s vision, when he started groundwork for this race, was to save the Alaskan Sled Dog and to preserve and honor traditions dating back to prehistory—when the first family arrived with their dogs (i.e. Fairbanks’ beautiful statue). In short, it has always been about the dogs. Canines have drawn a geometrically increasing fandom and millions in support from around the world. While specific mushers may gain a kind of cult following for a season, this ebbs and flows. It is still really about the dogs, exactly as it should be.

Outside of Alaska, few to none pay much attention to the “Iron Dog” events, at least until Sarah Palin’s other half dumps one and almost kills himself. In the lower forty-eight, if we want to watch machines compete we can patronize NASCAR, the Indianapolis 500 or local drag races or motocross.  We do not need or want to watch snow machines.

Yet the trends I am seeing can soon relegate the dogs to a kind of bionic snow machine chasing the goal of ever faster speeds and fewer animals necessary. I visualize in a few years ‘mushers’ could be racing with some kind of techno-mechanical device and maybe carrying one dog along for a mascot in memory of what used to be. It is becoming merely a way to make at least some mushers a kind of “rock star” for whom the sled and a minimal team is a mere vehicle to fame and fortune, almost inconvenient. If this continues as new mushers emulate what seems to succeed, I would be willing to bet fans will begin to drop away in droves and with them the major source of donations, sponsorship and support that has built this event into the colossus it has become.

While races by definition are about winning, there are many key aspects to this one besides efforts to trim a few seconds off the duration and shrink the team. If only five dogs are necessary why start with sixteen? Let’s just cut that back to twelve, ten, even eight; keeping only a small cushion for injuries and sickness. We apparently don’t need them so half are extraneous, right? It’s all about speed, cutting every possible corner, and making a SuperMusher. Or is it?

     From exchanges with many fans as I work on a book in progress about women mushers, I am sure that is not what the bulk of them want to see!  It is still about the dogs. With that in mind, here are some suggestions for the Board to consider which could steer this race back toward the direction the founders intended and the public has supported for forty four years. I agree, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, but it is damn near busted right now.

1. Raise the minimum team size to complete the race to eight.  (50% drop allowed).This would only have eliminated five finishers from the 2016 race. Of the top ten, the smallest team, aside from the winner’s, was nine. The average number of dogs per team completing the 2016 race was 10.436. Since we cannot have a partial dog, I’ll round down to an even 10—noting that is twice the current minimum.
2. Totally ban the new practice of carrying perfectly healthy and sound dogs to

      rotate them on and off the team. This is completely counter to the intent and traditional

practice of the event! Other than transport of sick or injured animals to the nearest

check point for drop, every team member must have paws on the ground for the

entire duration of the race. If this is not made a disqualifying offense, I suggest a penalty of one hour per each dog that continues to race after being carried for any part of the trail. This sum would be added to either the mandatory twenty-four hour or the White Mountain eight hour rest.

3. Give much greater recognition to the musher(s) who arrive at Nome with the most dogs still in harness and judged to be fit by the veterinary staff.  Also add a meaningful monetary prize to the Leonhard Seppala award or create additional awards recognizing superb dog care. Remember, it is really about the dogs.
4. Continue and expand reward/recognition for good sportsmanship, camaraderie and assistance given to other mushers or even spectators on the trail. Again, this is maintaining a tradition nearly sacred to the event. Most mushers, though competitive, still aid and support each other. This sends a strong positive message, especially to student followers, as well as everyone else.

I believe these changes can start a return to the traditional and founding intent and vision of the race. They will keep the focus properly on the dogs which is what really holds public attention and devotion to the event. This must always be a team effort of human and canines working in partnership. It is not a man or woman running solo across 1000 miles of wilderness! As some mushers have said, the human ‘dog’ is actually the weakest member of the team in many ways. Eventually mushers who do not respect and treat their dogs as equal and essential parts of the endeavor will have this attitude turn and bite them in the butt. The weather was very gentle this year but that is not always the case. Many mushers have had their team pull them through blizzards and near-disaster.  You might ask the long-term mushers if they would want just five dogs on their team in a blizzard like 2014 or the one Libby Riddles braved to win in 1985. Teamwork is really what this event is about. Don’t let it fade away.

Sincerely,

Gaye Morgan-Walton

Member #15349

Post Race Comments--Ladies' Honor Roll

2016 Honor Roll of Iditarod Female Mushers

Listed in Alphabetical Order

Name                                       Bib #   Placed             Dogs in finish

Kristin Bacon (R)                    42        69^th                  12

Jodi Bailey                              14        49^th                  9

Anna Berington                      23        39^th                  9

Kristy Berington                     83        40^th                  9

Paige Drobney                         75       43^rd                  7

Sigrid Ekran                            27        23^rd                  10

Kim Franklin (R)                     34        68^th                  9

Cindy Gallea                           73        70^th                  10

Mary Helwig (R)                     49        71^st                  11

Karen Hendricks                     76        38^th                  10

Deedee Jonrowe                     45        44^th                  11

Katherine Keith                      85        31^st                  8

Becca Moore                           22        53^rd                  9

Lisbet Norris                           7          63^rd                  8

Ryne Olsen                             44        59^th                  10

Mariam Osredker (R)              5          56^th                  14

Kristin Knight Pace (R)          47        56^th                  13

Michelle Phillips                      31        25^th                  11

Jessie Royer                            3          15^th                  11

Melissa Stewart (R)                82        49^th                  9

Sarah Stokey (R)                     71        66^th                  13

Monica Zappa                         8          47^th                  13

Aliy Zirkle                               3          3^rd                    13

Ryne and Sarah are 27; Deedee is 62 and Cindy Gallea is 64!!

Many are married and moms, to human as well as canine kids. 

Mary Helwig won the Red Lantern as last musher in but she

     now has her Iditarod Buckle and won’t be a rookie next time

     nor will Kristin B, Kristin P, Kim, Mariam, and Sarah!

WAY TO GO, LADIES!!

PS: excuse the wavy columns; Word.doc does not always come across perfectly.

Post Race comments Installment 1

They did not broadcast the awards banquet from Nome this year and I was really bummed about that but also my eyes--I have a bad combo of dry eyes and allergic eyes that really get bleary and blurred at times--were not up to computer work.

However I did watch a few of the video clips this morning and was thrilled to see Aliy got the Leonard Seppala Humanitarian Award for the best health of a finishing team demonstrating exemplary care. She shared the credit with Allen saying his care of many of the same dogs on the Yukon Quest made it possible for her to keep them in good shape despite the trauma. She and Jeff King were both honored by the village of Nulato and Jeff spoke a bit about the impaired driving plague while Aliy just said she would be visiting and running dogs in the Yukon villages for many years to come. She seemed very surprised with both bits of recognition; not only is she a wonderful person, she is modest and has no trace of a swelled head, contrary to others I will not name!

I will do an honor roll of the female mushers soon. They all deserve recognition and each one did an exemplary race from Aliy down to the rookie who got the Red Lantern award as the last one in. She still got her finisher's buckle and will not be a rookie next year! She completed what she set out to do and in my book, that is a winner!

Here is a picture of Aliy and Allen with the beautiful trophy sponsored by Alaska Airlines. I will be even prouder than ever to wear my red beanie now that I got for becoming a small sponsor of Aliy and her Red Team this season.  As I posted on their blog, both teams will be back next year, better than ever and they are true winners always because they are 'the best'. And IMHO, the comment on the second picture says it all! Not mine but I heartily endorse the sentiment!! Thank The Powers That Be for people like Aliy and Allen!!

Wrapping up the 2016 Iditarod

I have to admit that the more I read and heard about the  snow machine attack, the more traumatized I became myself.  At this point I am deep into reading everything I can find about it and trying to resolve in my own mind the whys and wherefores. Quite separately several of my friends and relatives who are not fans or followers but just heard about this incident asked me if it was possible a  musher could have engineered the attack to cut down the competition. I had shoved that notion aside as ridiculous but they got me thinking. What if? Were I to title the annual video for this one it would be "Mishaps and Mayhem"--a very unusual race. What if?

"Will someone not rid me of this troublesome priest?" So said Henry II and then Thomas Becket was killed. What if? A musher could have casually or even sarcastically said something to the effect that the pack of leaders was a bit crowded and it would be nice if a few of them could be encouraged to scratch out. Yes, what if?  And then the modern equivalent of the moccasin telegraph spread this down the river and one man with a bit too much booze behind his belt decided he could handle that. I do hope the authorities investigate in depth and do not take the easy route out and blame alcohol and slap the guy on the wrist and send him to detox. From all I have read so far,the snow machine jockey's story has more holes than Swiss cheese.  Is he really that drink-fuddled or is he hiding something?

I have huge respect now for both Aliy and Jeff King. She was about to scratch but many persuaded her to go on and she ended up finishing third because Brent Sass was induced to push his dogs too hard when the Seaveys passed him and the team went on strike and would not get up to leave White Mountain. He waited about twenty hours, acknowledging that he had made a serious error and would not subject them to any more distress. He squeaked in to Nome in the 20th place.

I am very proud of Aliy but you can still see the strain on her face. The smile is back but just a bit shadowed now. I pray she will heal and recover with time. She issued a statement and in effect begs the public and media to leave her alone to work her way past this. That it had to be rough and intensely traumatic is obvious. This is no weak little clinging vine kind of woman but a tough, brave and  courageous one. If she was badly shaken, the event had to be very ugly and she is not disclosing the details except to the authorities.

On a happier note, Allen got in with the Black Team, still fourteen dogs strong, yesterday afternoon. Quito led them the whole way, often paired with a younger dog who was learning by example how to do it.  After he was clocked in, Aliy came out and they shared a long hug, she with her face buried in the fur ruff of his parka hood. The deep love between them was radiantly obvious. He will help her move on and regain her balance, I am sure. She is lucky to have a man like that at her side as he is lucky to have her. Yes, I am a little envious but they do deserve each other!

Deedee arrived in good shape, with only eleven dogs this time but feisty and showing a bit of temper at an officious announcer and some people who would not clear a way so she could move her team on to the dog yard. I had to laugh at my very spunky heroine!! Kick butt, Deedee!!

Now all but about six mushers are in, and they are mostly rookies. Jodi Bailey, Paige Drobney, Monica Zappa, Lisbet Norris and several others made it in good time and style and received cheers from the crowd.  There were many highlights that I am not going to cover here. Anyone can read them on the Iditarod.com site if they are interested.

As for me, I have observed some troubling trends and am working on a letter to the ITC Board suggesting some rule and policy changes. I will post more on that later as it is still in a very developmental stage. Suffice to say I feel they need to bring emphasis back to the dogs and away from a musher or two who seek to be a rock star and simply use the dogs--as few as possible--as a biological snow machine to put him/her into the limelight. This is NOT what the Iditarod is supposed to be about!!

The awards will be given out, I think on Monday night and I will give a few highlights from that. Meanwhile here is a shot of the SPK Black and the SPK Red teams coming in. I will try to get one of Deedee in a bit. Oh yes, Martin Buser also got in and will head back to Seattle to be with Nik as he continues rehab and therapy right after the ceremonial end.

The end is almost in sight

The top four are in and one already out of White Mountain. Aliy has held on to her 4th place--that four hours she lost in the Nulato incident could have had her in the first two or three but it is what it is. She will likely end up with top five finishes in the last five years' races. That is nothing to hide you face about!! Considering the handicap of a team-in-build and the attack, her accomplishment is fantastic.

I think Brent may have made the same mistake that cost Aaron Burmeister his lead lsst year. Both took the 96 miles fro Unalakleet to Koyuk in one straight shot. Brent's team is noticeably slower today, still going good but just not flying.  He did not have to break a snowy trail like Aaron did the last thirty miles--with Dallas Seavey lurking behind and taking advantage of that!--but both Dallas and Mitch got ahead of him while he tried to catch a quick rest at Koyuk and he could not regain the lead. That's not to say that his dogs can't come out of White Mountain on fire, about an hour and a quarter behind Dallas who just left and forty minutes behind Mitch who will be leaving any moment. Dallas is now driving only seven--which is a pretty marginal team, just one above the mandatory minimum of six. * my bad--minimum is five*.

Someone is likely to cross the finish line in the wee hours tomorrow morning --I will see how it is going about midnight and decide what time to set my alarm for. I have allergy shots at 8:30 tomorrow but just may miss that this once...we'll see.

Aliy came into White Mountain about 3 1/2 hours behind Sass. her team looked great and the vets agreed. Joe Runyon, who was narrating the live video report from Anchorage had nothing but good to say about her and her team. When I talked to him two years ago at his western New Mexico ranch home, he was also very complimentary. He knows and also respects her. As a YQ and Iditarod winner himself back in the 90s he recognizes quality when he sees it! Almost everyone does. She is a fan favorite and widely loved all over the world.

More armchair quarterbacking later or tomorrow. LOL.

Late News Update--Mitch left with ten dogs and a relatively untried leader so who knows what can happen!! He is not talking upbeat or trash--said he had a fifty-fifty chance to win, "I will or I won't." Sass will be out before too long and Wade Marrs, in fifth place, just got in, about three hours behind Aliy so barring major problems, her 4th place--at least--is assured.,