Iditarod...Saturday Update

I have not heard from Gwen, but I do keep up with FB and INSIDER as time permits!  (Having a hubby who is 3 weeks out from having a total shoulder replacement  adds extra duties to my day which would be filled with Iditarod, otherwise!)  

Note to Bobbie:  I forwarded your sled question to Gwen…if you have not heard back, let me know and I’ll try again!  

Karin posted these on FB Friday ..

Karin's Run - North to Nome 2015

Race to Nome, Friday the 13th update. Thanks to the 4 people who donated $100 collectively since the last update. That brings us past another checkpoint. See photo for details. We're still ahead of Bryan, but soon he'll have completed both his 8 & 24 rest periods and then there's no stopping him!!! Donate what you can. Share this with everybody! Ask your friends if they've participated. A little positive peer pressure never hurt anybody smile emoticonHelp us keep our lead and reach Nome first.  www.tinyurl.com/KarinsRun. 

Wonder where the money goes? Here's a sample: Race entry fee, shipping dog crates to Nome, flights home for dogs/Bryan, runner plastics for sled, dog food before/during race, safety equipment including high output LED headlamp (for safe night sledding), batteries, and dog booties. LOTS and LOTS of dog booties, which cost over $1 each and were ordered in 3 different sizes for different sized paws. Several thousand dog booties were ordered to make sure those precious paws are always protected.

Karin's Run - North to Nome 2015

Hey - guess who just checked in? This guy! Bryan is well, and says he's extremely pleased with the team's performance. He also reports temperatures are "bloody cold," especially with the upcoming long haul to Huslia, but in typical Bryan fashion, he's approaching it with humor and determination. ‪#‎TeamBryanBearss‬ ‪#‎NorthtoNome‬

Karin's Run - North to Nome 2015

We've received several messages wondering if Galena was indeed the spot chosen for Bryan's 24-hour rest. Bryan and his team are taking the mandatory layover in Galena, along with many other "middle-of-the-pack" teams. Here, he'll give the dogs a well-deserved chance to rest up, eat well, and prepare for a run to Huslia, the farthest north any Iditarod race has ever run.
No doubt Bryan is also happy to have a warm meal and bed, too!
Iditarod blogger Sebastian Schnuelle captured this photo of the team near Bible Camp a few days ago, working hard and having fun. ‪#‎TeamBryanBearss‬ 

‪#‎NorthtoNome‬

Karin's Run - North to Nome 2015 added 2 new photos.

We have an update on two dropped dogs. Oreo and Pinetop suffered from a sore wrist and sore hips, respectively, so they flew to Anchorage, where they have been indulging in sun baths, salmon treats, kibble, and massages. ‪#‎sleddogs‬

AND…this morning, she wrote:

From Karin’s Run - North to Nome 2015: Go team! Bryan checked out of Galena a few hours ago with 11 dogs, and is on his way to Huslia. Think it's cold at your house? The weather report calls for a low of -29F tonight for this long, cold ride  

From her page:  Pine Top and Oreo enjoying some house time. Shanahan had her turn yesterday. Shan and Oreo were dropped for sore wrists. 

Pine Top had a sore hip. They are all fine now and bouncing around. Chase is still on his way home with a sore hind leg

.

This is all from Karin’s Facebook this morning: (Most recent post is first….)

About 7 am 3/10   Good morning, race fans! Bryan and the team are resting between Nenana and Manley Hot Springs at this hour. For those wishing to follow the race on their own, Iditarod.com does have a function whereby one musher can be tracked at no cost. Follow the link, here, and enjoy tracking our favorite team! ‪#‎NorthToNome‬ ‪#‎TeamBryanBearss‬ http://iditarod.com/insider-packages/

About 10 pm 3/9   Bryan has checked out of Nenana, on his way to Manley! Look for updates in the early a.m. from ‪#‎TeamBryanBearss‬. ‪#‎NorthToNome‬

About 6 pm 3/9:  Taking a breather at the Nenana checkpoint. Everyone gets a snack from Musher Bryan! 

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.

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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 

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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:

First note from Gwen:

  Bryan said that it was real soup and slop out on the trail.  Heaven only knows where they got the snow, but the warm temperatures made lots of lakes.

I am here at Karin's house making sure the fire stays lit and the dogs get fed.  She had to drive to ANC to catch the plane to Fairbanks.  She was tired and really wanted to stay home, but she had agreed to do this announcing on Monday.  She was given the ok last Monday to take her turtle shell off to sleep.  Actually, she leaves it off around the house,too.  She gets a massage on Tues.  That should feel good.  In two weeks she'll start physical therapy.  She wishes she could make it all go faster.  Like many have said, this is the hardest part.  More after the start.

g

Hi!  

I know many of you on the list that CJ sent to me, and to those who do not know me, I am Kathy Mitchell (Kat) and I am an Iditaholic. 

I realize that I need a 12-step program, but I don’t have time for it…Iditarod is starting!!  I have to get my Blue on Black shirt out of storage!

 

I would like to share a bit of info that you may or may not be interested in~~~iditarod.com  will be broadcasting the 2015 Ceremonial Start for FREE!  

It will begin today  at 9:30 AM ASKT.  I am a subscribe to the Iditarod INSIDER  - it used to be the only way to view all of the live coverage…now,

everyone can watch - and it’s free (the Ceremonial Start, that is)!  For smart-phone users, there’s even an app available and it’s free, as well!  

I have not gotten anything from Gwen yet, but will certainly forward whatever she sends!  

See you soon….

Here is a picture from the banquet, from my cousin…probably taken by Gwen, but I’m not sure:

Billie, Karin and our cousin Karen. (Happy Campers have

been “there” for both Karin and Karen). Karen is an amazing

photographer, lives in Anchorage and is going to

Fairbanks to capture the restart — and she always shares!!  

From CJ: As many of you know, Karin is not racing this year because of her accident in November. However, her team are racing with Bryan Bearss, a musher Karin knew when she was a dog handler -- that is how she got into this crazy world of dog mushing.  Anyway, Bryan drew bib number 48.

As I am not in Alaska this year my sister is sending reports to Kathy Mitchell who shall relay them on to the rest of you.  If you want other news about the race a good source of info is www.adn.com.

Enjoy,

CJ