A bit of background regarding this year’s Iditarod and Karin Hendrickson (in case some of you are just tuning in). 

On November 25, Gwen’s daughter, (CJ’s niece) Karin, was hit by a car while running her dogs. It is a miracle that she wasn’t killed and none of her dogs suffered any serious injuries. 

Karin’s only concern as she faces a long rehab for her back which is broken in three places, is for her dogs.

For more on that, go to:   http://www.adn.com/slideshow/photos-iditarod-veteran-karin-hendrickson-recovers-crash  

From the link: http://www.alaskapublic.org/2014/12/04/bryan-bearss-named-as-substitute-for-injured-musher-karin-hendrickson/

"'Like many mushers, Karin Hendrickson is as concerned, if not more so, for her team than herself in some regards.  She did not like the idea of her dogs missing this year’s race .

“I thought about these dogs.  What they love to do is run. What they love to do is go out, race, and experience new things.  

They really do love it, and I just felt horrible to have them spend an entire year where they weren’t going to be able to do those things.

That’s where Bryan Bearss comes in.  He is a friend of Hendrickson’s and a veteran of the 2006 Iditarod.  

Karin Hendrickson says that he is good with dog teams, and is a good choice to get on the runners behind her dogs.

“Having Bryan come on board and take them down the trail is–I think it’s great for everybody…except me.  I get left out.”’

FYI:

Bryan is wearing Bib #48. Musher #69 was the last one to start.    This means that he is the 47th musher  (musher #1 is an honorary position held by the winner of the Jr. Iditarod race) to leave Fairbanks.  Keep in mind, however, that starting first does not imply a head start over the last team.  The start time differential is made up at the mandatory 24-hour stop that every team must take at some checkpoint along the trail. When mushers take this rest, additional time is added to the 24 hours to equalize the head start of teams who started ahead of last place. Bryan started 22 minutes before the last musher. The last one does not have to add any time to his/her 24 hour mandatory.  Each one after that (21 before that for Bryan)  adds 2 minutes for each position ahead of #69.  Bryan will have to remain at that stop for 24 hours plus 42 minutes.  In this way, the first musher across the finish line in Nome is the winner, no matter what position he or she started in.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

FROM GWEN:  

I was unable to get Karin's commentary since she doesn't have TV or Insider, but lots of comments on FB  They started at 10 from Fairbanks, so a lot more will be known soon.  When I get back to ANC this evening I will have access to Insider.  I guess Karin did a great job announcing and the next couple of days will be interesting.  There are a lot of Rookies, so we'll see how they do.  At least they won't have the usual trail of Happy Steps and Danzel Gorge.  It's a pretty flat route all along rivers.

g 

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I do have INSIDER and think Karin is the best commentator I have ever heard at the restart.  She is a natural!  I know she really prefers to be on the trail, but having her sharing her insights and knowledge 

were worth every penny I paid for this year’s subscription.  Kathy

FYI again!  This year’s checkpoints: