Wednesday, July 17, 2024

Mushing Media Round Up - July 17

It's that time again. Let's do a little bit of a mushing social media round up. Alaska is in full swing of fishing season, so many of the mushers have gone dark as they prepare to stock up for the winter months so the humans can eat, too. However, some made sure to share with fans this week.


If you aren't following Kailyn and Justin Olnes on social media you really should. The owners of ReRun Kennel have a hybrid kennel of sled dogs that they rescue from shelters/rescues plus a few they get from top kennels. They keep fans updated with all the dogs in their kennel on facebook and have started to do dna testing on their rescues to find out just who these pups are.


Bridgett Watkins has written a book. Her father is a Yukon Quest champion. Her step mother is not only a Quest champ (the only woman to do so) but also one of the most beloved mushers of all time by fans (and she's been retired a few years). Watkins is a mom, a nurse, and a second generation dog musher. As she gets to share her story and memories in book form, she took to her kennel page (Kennel on a Hill) to share a few photos of growing up sled dog.


Iditarod Champion/Mushing Legend Jeff King's Husky Homestead gave us the timeline cleanse we all needed this week with a cute puppy nap picture.

Keeping with the theme of puppies, the August Fund has had a very puppy summer as five litters hit the rescue at once. Several kennels took in the puppies and their mamas for their tours. Squid Acres has shared the progress of the pups along the way. Now, it's time to name them.


Sticking with good news, 2024 Iditarod Rookie of the Year Josi Thyr said YES! and announced her engagement!

On a more serious note, there are some updates to the CDC rules going into effect on August 1 regarding taking dogs across the US-Canada border. 


Brenda Mackey and Will Rhodes have had an excellent time with puppies and dogs and creeks and woods this summer. Beating the heat, and Will recovering from hip surgery, there's been a lot of time for exploration in the Interior.

Jesika Reimer of The Reimer Pack is sharing her adventures of a paddle trip with some of the sled dogs in tow.

And a quick jump over the twitter has Blair Braverman freaking out about wasps as her sled dogs look on and howl in laughter (so she says). Here's hoping no one gets stung.

And finally, take a look at Megan Moberly's crew enjoying their new umbrellas giving shade to keep cool under that hot summer sun.



And with that, this concludes a weekly round up. This is by no means the full list of mushers posting to their socials this week, just a smattering.

Tuesday, July 9, 2024

Mushing Social Media Round Up returns!

 It's been a while since this blog has done a "round of" of mushing news/social media posts, but it's back by popular demand (well, semi-popular, some of y'all have asked!) This will by no means be an exhaustive search of each and every kennel out there, but just a taste of what's being shared on a week to week basis (or about that). If you find something interesting, or if you're a musher/race director who wants to spread some news - contact me! We'll all work together to keep up with each other during the busy summer.

So let's take a look at what the world of Mushing Socials has been up to lately.


First, and possibly most importantly, you have have heard the new rules for traveling with animals across borders thanks to the CDC. This has been a very hot button topic within the mushing community as it would make things more difficult for teams traveling through Canada to get to the Lower 48 or Alaska. Races are now in jeopardy for some teams, and the young dogs and new puppies doing tours on the Alaskan Panhandle are looking at being stranded because they won't be able to travel easily. Many mushers in Canada AND the US have spoken out. 

 

Jr. Iditarod sign ups are in full swing and they had two more mushers sign up over the American holiday weekend.


Speaking of Iditarod... THE Iditarod made a few announcements this week. The big one being today (Tuesday, July 9). As you might know, the fame Burled Arch that stands over the finish line in Nome broke apart this spring (thankfully AFTER the race had come and gone). Soon after it was made known that Iditarod finisher and skilled craftsman Ramey Smyth would have the honor of creating a new arch (every 25 years or so a new one seems to need to be made). Now the Iditarod has announced how fans and supporters can join in and raise funds for the arch.


Girdwood's Forest Fair took place this past weekend and "history was made" as the parade to kick off the event was led by a team of sled dogs driven by fan favorite Hunter Keefe. Hunter is part of the team of mushers who run the Girdwood Sled Dog Tours and is having a fantastic summer. (Also amusing is dogs are not permitted to enter the "fair" so to have them lead the parade gave many a good laugh.)


Jr. Musher Thale Randall did something he hadn't done before, he raced the Jr. Mount Marathon race in Seward on the 4th of July. He placed extremely well as a rookie. Thale's dad is running the Iditarod as a rookie in 2025 and his sister has made a name for herself on the junior circuit. The family resides with their sled dogs in the Interior and own Rock on Racing Sled Dogs kennel.


Matt Failor announced that his tour company isn't just dogs anymore, they are now offering ATV tours as well! You can even combine and create a package of both dog and machine. Failor and crew run an excellent establishment that gets high praise from tourists and locals alike.



Dallas Seavey gave an update on the seriously injured dogs from his team (snowmachine incident in November, and homicidal moose on the Iditarod). You may want some kleenex.



As stated, this is by no means all that was posted this week on social media, it's just a sampling. Check back next week for the next round up!




If you like what you see and want to support my addiction (I mean HOBBY) of following these races and stalking (I mean cheering on) the mushers, you can buy me a slice of pizza (that really goes to paying for my internet/web expenses).

Saturday, June 29, 2024

24 mushers sign up opening day for Iditarod 53

It may be the last weekend in June, but thoughts have turned to snow and sled dogs in Wasilla Alaska as the Iditarod hosted their annual picnic and sign up event. Overall nineteen mushers signed up in person with another five submitting their applications online.

As with the last few years of the event, the sun was out and it was a hot one. Fans, volunteers, and mushers alike spent much of the day chasing shade - many wishing for the cooler temps of race season. The grill masters filled plates with hot dogs, burgers, and fresh caught Bristol Bay salmon. Many familiar faces mingled with volunteers and fans, retired mushers like Dick Mackey and Vern Halter were on hand to share in the festivities.

An air of tension surrounded the event as sign ups were slow to happen, for several hours only a single name - Riley Dyche - sat on the list. All worry was for naught as the mushers were all just fashionably late and a whirlwind of activity at the sign up table hit about a half an hour before the close of sign ups for the door prizes. Each year two mushers win their entry fee back in the drawings. 

Nicolas Petit was drawn for both the box of dog booties as well as his entry fee, as well as Travis Beals. 

Overall 11 rookies and 13 veterans are signed up. A single returning champion is on the list - Ryan Redington.

Six time Iditarod Champion Dallas Seavey was in attendance, and he did pay at least one entry fee at the sign up table, but he did not sign up at the picnic. Seavey said he wasn't not signing up, just not signing up today - however he was coy as if he truly meant he'd be signing up in the coming months. He is the master of keeping everyone guessing.

2024 Rookie of the Year Josi Thyr will also return for another go at the race, with a top 10 finish for her first outing she will definitely be one to watch for her sophomore run.

Isaac Teaford, the rookie out of Dallas Seavey's kennel who had to scratch in 2024, is returning. The musher had a difficult Iditarod this year with a dog expiring in harness and Teaford told Insider shortly after he needed to reevaluate. Teaford went on the race in the Kobuk 440 and assured fans he was not letting the hardships of the 2023-24 race season take him out. Joining Teaford from Dallas's kennel will be Samanta LaLonde.

Mushers can continue to sign up through December 2 - at which time the entry fee doubles for late entries and no rookies may add their name after December 2 (unless ruled otherwise by the race officials). To view a current list of teams, click here.

Junior Iditarod also opened registration today and four returning teams committed to racing Saturday. Not currently on the list is reigning champion Emily Robinson, but there's no reason to worry just yet about that. 

Wednesday, June 12, 2024

2024-25 Race Season

Lauro Eklund's lead dogs at the ReStart of Iditarod 52.


Race List

Alpine Creek Excursion Sled Dog Race
DISCONTINUED


Knik 200*
January 4, 2025
Website / Twitter / Facebook 

MUSH Synnfjell
January 10, 2025
Website / Twitter / Facebook

Tahquamenon Country Sled Dog Race
January 11, 2025
Website / Facebook

Gunflint Mail Run
January 11, 2025
Website / Twitter / Facebook

Bogus Creek 150
January 11? 2025
Website / Facebook 

Copper Basin 300*
January 11? 2025
Website / Twitter / Facebook 

Frost Mountain Sled Dog Race
January 18, 2025
Website / Facebook

Eagle Cap Extreme Sled Dog Race*
January 22, 2025
Website / Facebook 

Willow 300*
DISCONTINUED
Facebook 

Kuskokwim 300*
January 24, 2025
Website / Twitter / Facebook 

Su Dog 300*
January 25, 2025
Website / Facebook

Tug Hill Challenge
January 25, 2025
Website / Facebook

John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon*
January 26, 2025
Website / Twitter / Facebook

Warm Lake Stage Race
January 29, 2025
Website / Facebook

Bergebyløpet N70
January 30, 2025
Website / Twitter / Facebook

Pedigree Stage Stop Race
January 31, 2025
Website / Facebook

Caledonia Classic
January 31, 2025
Website / Facebook

Klondike Dog Derby
January 31, 2025
Website / Facebook

Idaho Sled Dog Challenge*
February 2, 2025
Website / Facebook 

Yukon Quest Alaska*
February 1, 2025 
Website / Facebook 

Yukon Quest Canada*
February 1, 2025
Website / Twitter / Facebook 

PG Expedition Abitibi
February 1, 2025
Website / Facebook 

Willow Jr. 100
February 8? 2025
Website / Facebook

Race to the Sky*
February 7, 2025
Website / Facebook 

Wilderness Sled Dog Race
February 8, 2025
Website / Facebook

Northern Pines Sled Dog Race
February 8, 2025
Website / Facebook

Goose Bay 150*
February 2025
Facebook

Femundløpet*
February 11, 2025
Website / Facebook

UP200*
February 13, 2025
Website / Facebook 

Two Rivers 200/100*
February 14, 2025
Website / Facebook 

Canadian Challenge*
February 17, 2025
Website / Twitter / Facebook 

Amundsen Race*
February 20, 2025
Website / Facebook 

WolfTrack Classic Sled Dog Race
February 23, 2025
Website / Facebook


Junior Iditarod
February 22, 2025
Website / Facebook

Yukon Odyssey Race
March 1, 2025
Facebook

CopperDog 150
March 1, 2025
Website / Twitter / Facebook

Iditarod 52*
March 1, 2025
Website / Twitter / Facebook 

Can-Am Crown International*
March 1, 2025
Website / Facebook 

Torch River Sled Dog Race
March 1, 2025
Facebook 

Finnmarksløpet*
March 7, 2025
Website / Facebook 

Percy DeWolfe Memorial Mail Run*
March 2025
Website / Twitter / Facebook 

Taaqpak 120
March 2025
Website / Facebook

La Chic-chocs
March 14, 2025
WebsiteFacebook

T-Dog 200*
March 22, 2025
Website / Facebook

Under Dog 100
March 28, 2025
Facebook

Tok Race of Champions
TBA
Website / Facebook 

Hudson Bay Quest
April 5, 2025
Website / Facebook

Nome to Council 200*
Not this year
Facebook 

Kobuk 440*
April 2025
Website / Facebook

Junior Kobuk 440
April 2025
Website / Facebook


*Iditarod/Yukon Quest Qualifying Race

Do you like having an easy to find list like this and want to see them continue? This blog has always been a hobby and will continue to be - and this list is more for myself than anything - if you can spare a few dollars to help keep this blog running I wouldn't say no. Please do not feel obligated, but know that all support (in every form, not just financial) is greatly appreciated! Click here to "buy me a coffee".

Saturday, March 30, 2024

2024 Kobuk 440 musher roster

As South Central and Interior Alaska becomes a mushy, muddy mess, the Arctic is hanging onto winter and teams are eager to have one final hurrah before Spring truly sets in. The finale of the mid-distance season is upon us and there's a healthy roster on its way to the starting line. The roster is heavy on the mushers from outside the Kotzebue area, with many of the teams being the "new veterans" of dog mushing. 

Also on the roster are two of the three mushers who ended their Iditarod prematurely due to dog deaths - choosing to use the Kobuk as a sort of healing with their team of dogs who deserve to continue running. There are rookies working on finishing their Iditarod qualifiers, and others just wanting to wet their feet (hopefully not literally) in racing.

 Like all of these rosters on the blog, the kennels are represented along with the links of the musher's website and socials. The roster is currently organized alphabetically and will be edited with Bib numbers once they are announced.

MusherKennelLinkLinkLink
Bailey VitelloTeam BaileyWebsiteFacebookInstagram
Eddie Burke, Jr.Off the Rails RacingWebsiteFacebookInstagram
Emily FordShameless HuskiesWebsiteFacebookInstagram
Hunter KeefeRedington's Mush AlaskaWebsiteFacebookInstagram
Isaac TeafordDallas Seavey RacingWebsiteFacebookInstagram
Jessi DowneyAimaagvik KennelFacebookInstagram
Jessie HolmesCan't Stop Racing KennelWebsiteFacebookInstagram
Jim BourquinOrion KennelFacebookInstagram
Kevin HansenHansen KennelFacebookInstagram
Tony BrowningWildstyle RacingFacebookInstagram

Who do you hope to see take home the top prize? Who are you cheering for? Comment below with your thoughts!


If you like what you see and want to support my addiction (I mean HOBBY) of following these races and stalking (I mean cheering on) the mushers, you can buy me a slice of pizza (that really goes to paying for my internet/web expenses).

Saturday, March 16, 2024

Last team reaches Nome

Josi Thyr's team at the restart
of Iditarod 52. March 3, 2024.
Willow, Alaska
Jeff Reid came under the burled arch to end the Iditarod 52nd running Saturday at 2:22am. The twenty-ninth and final musher of the race was awarded a red lantern and asked to extinguished the Widow's Lamp before heading off to the dog lot and a well deserved rest.

Reid had fans worried much of Friday when his team continually tried to head out from the checkpoint of Safety only to return. Reid left ahead of Severin Cathry and Joshua Robbins out of White Mountain only to watch first Robbins and then Cathry pass him out of Safety. Both Cathry and Reid had trouble getting their team to head out of that final checkpoint, but as Robbins' team left for Nome Cathry was able to follow. 

Reid's team wouldn't. The musher tried several times to get his team to get up and go. Fans went to bed that night wondering if we'd seen the red lantern come in and not get awarded when Severin Cathry finished. Would Jeff Reid get moving again? Race Judge Sebastian Schnuelle responded to fans on social media telling them he was having leader trouble, he would rest and try again "in the morning". Fans went to bed hoping that they wouldn't see another scratch.

They woke up seeing Reid was already in Nome. After "two meals and great naps in the beautiful sun" the team was ready to go again. Apparently part of the problem was a dog in heat that got the rest of the dogs a little nutty. "What a trip, man," Reid said as he crossed under the arch and was greeted by an enthusiastic crowd. He was checked in, declared rookie no more, and like that Iditarod 52 was over.

38 teams started the race, 29 finished. Most of the scratches came from the large number of rookies (as is normal), but a first time scratch for a hardened veteran surprised everyone. Each team  has their own stories of the trail. We'll get to read them and hear them in the coming days. 

Tomorrow the 29 who finished will be celebrated at the banquet, awards will be given, and then by Monday Nome will get her town back, the Burled Arch will go back to it's spot off to the side to wait for next year. Everyone will fly home and the IditaSlump will commence. 

Now, for fans at home, it's an empty map. No more green and orange flags moving up the blue line. No more glitches. No more refresh, Refresh, REFRESH! No more waking up at all hours to check where their favorite musher is. No more - we hope - harrowing tales of angry moose, bison, or musk ox on the trail. Fans will have to go back to "regular life" similar to how the mushers will. What to do?

We still have the T-Dog and Kobuk440 races to look forward to for our tracker addiction, and then it will turn towards summer. Two weeks goes by way too fast in comparison to the whole 50 weeks of waiting for it. There will be puppies, and glaciers, and fishing, and lots of weeks with no updates from teams. And then the last Saturday in June will come around and the next season will begin with the Iditarod sign ups.

And the obsession will start up again.

Friday, March 15, 2024

Four rookies on their way to Nome, one stuck in Golovin

Friday looks to be the last day on the trail for Iditarod 2024 - unless one team can somehow reboot and charge up to White Mountain soon. Three rookies are making their way into the final checkpoint of Safety, one just left white mountain, and the final team has been in the former checkpoint of Golovin for over 24 hours.

Lauro Edlund leads the final flight into Safety with Sevy Cathry and Jeff Reid close behind. The three have traveled most of the trail together and no doubt will continue to do so all the way to the arch. As they leave the checkpoint it will be just a little more coastal run before climbing their final mountain of Cape Nome. Then a run along a road, one final river crossing, a run along the beach and then up onto Front Street where the burled arch and a belt buckle awaits.

Joshua Robbins left White Mountain around 8:45am. As officials counted down he went through a similar ritual to what he did back on Willow Lake a week an a half ago. As he stood on the back of his sled the team broke out into a loud and happy "dogsong". The team's battle cry only stiffled when the official said go and the musher didn't let them leave - he was still trying to put on his parka. The judgemental looks of the team were comical, but they were soon on their way "nice and steady".

Robbins will have to wait a while to find out if he's the Red Lantern this year or not (assuming he makes it to Nome, and why wouldn't he?) as Sean Williams has not scratched yet even after being hung up in Golovin. The three time Iditarod rookie is once again seeing his hope of finishing dashed as his team reportedly will not go out onto the Sea Ice of Golovin Bay. The dogs are still energetic and have been rides to children of Golovin to make the most of their time in the former checkpoint.

Golovin was a checkpoint of the Iditarod for many years, but as teams were able to run further between checkpoints and with the mandatory 8 of White Mountain being the next stop, Golovin became a memory. Until this year. It's an unplanned stop for one team, and it will no doubt be a memory for all. Williams' team reported that he would try one more time this morning, but with little movement on the tracker it's unsure if they will ever get moving.

The Iditarod is coming to a close quickly. It was one of extreme lows and highs. 38 teams left the starting line March 3, and it may have 30 finishes. It's not over quite yet and cheering in the final teams is something every fan should be excited to do.

Thursday, March 14, 2024

Ten teams still on the trail

All eyes have turned to "the back of the pack" today as the final ten teams continue to make their way to the finish line. Like most years the back is filled with Iditarod rookies, though the team closest to Nome at the moment is Iditarod Veteran Anna Berington. The teams stretch from just before Safety to just outside of Elim. If all goes well all teams will be in by Friday evening.

Fans have been puzzled at the slow movement of Bryce Mumford who finally made it to Unalakleet Wednesday night. The tracker shows him resting at the airport in the Coastal town. Current standings have not updated to showing him as checked in. So just what is going on? ITC has been silent.

Experience suggests Mumford's race has come to an end, either by scratch or withdrawal for lack of competitiveness. It seems harsh, but logistically he is at least two days behind the rest of the teams at the rate he's gone the last several days. They cannot keep volunteers who have jobs and lives to get back to in checkpoints indefinitely. It also becomes a danger to the team to be alone out on the trail. Yes, trail sweeps will follow along, but again it's a volunteer crew.

The ITC typically updates faster than it has here, and so one can only wonder if the PR team finally got some sleep after a long race and the announcement is just delayed. Here's hoping someone speaks soon.

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Top Ten and then some are in!

Only three teams came in on Tuesday, but Nome has been a steady stream of top teams coming under the burled arch Wednesday. By Noon the top ten had been completed, and at the time this blog posts fifteen total are into Nome.

While no record times were made last night with Dallas Seavey's win (he DID break the record of most wins, so it's still a big deal), it seems the champion lucked out and outran the storm that hit the infamous blow hole later that night and into the morning. The storm steadily grew Wednesday with many of the mushers reporting winds nearing hurricane force.

For the first time in Iditarod history four women found themselves in the top ten. This year's Rookie of the Year broke the top fifteen. It's quite possible that the most improved musher as well as fastest run from Safety to Nome are also going to be awarded to mushers who are already finished.

All three of the returning Iditarod Champions made it to Nome by Wednesday night. Each champion having their stories to tell of trials and triumphs. 

Coming in second was Matt Hall at 9:57pm Tuesday. Hall was third coming into Elim, but managed to catch and pass Jessie Holmes in the checkpoint. Holmes chose to stay and Hall chose to keep going. Hall said he and the dogs trained for this exact push just days before the start of the race. Long days of being awake. The Silver Aces kennel had their best placement yet in Iditarod. Hall said his goal for this race was to beat last year's time, ironically he came in four hours slower than last year but came away with second place. (And Dallas Seavey won with close to the same time as Matt's finishing time last year!)

Jessie Holmes was next in third place at 11:18pm Tuesday. Holmes led or stayed in the top five for much of the race and especially made his move on the Yukon River. The musher had some of the top speeds in the first two legs of the race, but with his young team he decided to not push too hard on the coast. He was first into Unalakleet before never seeing the lead again. He stayed with Dallas and Matt for as long as he could, and was in second all the way until Elim. Seavey would say of Holmes that his team would flat out beat him in a speed race.

Fourth place was a challenge with three teams jockeying for that placement, but Jeff Deeter managed to take the prize in the end coming in at 2:52am Wednesday. Deeter had a difficult first half of the race with dogs who weren't eating or feeling well. He babied them along and by the time they hit the river Deeter saw they were ready to make up for lost time. And make up time he did. Deeter left after Travis Beals and managed to get a commanding lead on Beals well before they made it to the final checkpoint of Safety.

Fifth was Paige Drobny came in at 4:12am. Drobny picked off many top teams all along the way but made herself known to the competition on the Yukon. Paige and Deeter battled hard out of White Mountain before settling into their eventual placements. Drobny and The Squids looked happy and ready for more at the finish line.

Travis Beals finished in sixth Wednesday at 5:39am. Beals ended up fighting off the flu in the first leg of the race before pushing through and leading the race for over 300 miles. It wasn't until Beals and the Turning Heads kennel dogs were on the run to Unalakleet that Travis' race began to slow. Beals was hit by very cold weather and an eye injury he sustained in the fall during training reared its ugly head. For the rest of the race Travis spent much of it using only one eye having to keep his right eye shut. Travis was also in a very new position of leading the Iditarod and came away with much experience from this race.

Seventh place went to Mille Porsild at 8:23am. Mille's race almost didn't happen. She lost her mother earlier in the season and spent time away from training her team. She starts the race and is hit with a bout of pancreatitis. Porsild spent much of her mandatory 24 hour layover in the community health center and it looked like her race would be over. Thankfully she got the go ahead from the medical staff at the center and the race officials to continue. She told her team back home she would take the race one checkpoint at a time. Fans could tell Mille was feeling a tad better when she started making her way back toward the front. Mushers. They're made of some really tough stuff.

An hour later Amanda Otto placed eighth at 9:24am. Otto continues to prove herself a worthy competitor as a musher. Otto found quite the challenge on the final part of her race. Otto left White Mountain with Jessie Royer and Pete Kaiser. As she hit the area known as "The Blowhole" she was met with hurricane like winds. The Husky Homestead musher experienced similar conditions to that of what her mentor Jeff King experienced 10 years ago. Like King she balled her team up and tried to wait out the storm. Thankfully Kaiser came upon her and helped her get her team moving again.

Peter Kaiser came in behind in 9th place at 9:30am, sharing the chute with Otto. Kaiser told of the harrowing morning he had coming across Otto and then finding Jessie Royer off the trail and having to wave his headlight her way so she could find her way back. The 2019 Iditarod Champion said it was the scariest moment on the Iditarod he's ever had. He approximated the wind to be going at least 60mph. Pete was greeted by his family and was all smiles seeing the familiar faces.

Rounding out the top ten was Jessie Royer at 9:49am. The trio staying close together all the way to the end of the race. Royer seemed thrilled if not a little relieved as she came into the finish. The Cowgirl Musher was greeted in the chute by friends and family and immediately handed a bottle of Mountain Dew which she eagerly grabbed before wrapping the giver in a giant hug. This was her 21st Iditarod. 

Then there was a huge gap before the next wave came into Nome Wednesday afternoon.

Wally Robinson was 11th at 2:22pm. Wally wasn't planning on running Iditarod, but when Josh McNeal broke his collarbone McNeal didn't want his team to not go on Iditarod. McNeal asked Robinson would take his team to Nome. Robinson had last been on the Iditarod in 2001 and was really more involved now as "Emily's Dad". Yeah, that Emily. The only who is tied for most Jr. Iditarod wins. Robinson is most definitely in the running for most improved musher as his placement in 2001 was 40th.

Nicolas Petit battled for 12th place and came in at 4:32pm. It's been a rough season for Petit with many factors holding his team back from its usual wins in middistance races. It seems those struggles continued for Petit for much of the race, but like always he managed to pick up the pace from Safety to Nome and currently holds the fastest time from Safety to Nome (which is awarded to the speediest team on that final section in the top 20). Petit seems to be the new king of that award.

Thirteenth place went to the musher with the same bib number, Matthew Failor at 5:35pm. Failor was greeted by many family and friends in the chute. When asked what it was like not to have his wife Liz on the trail this year (she has worked with Insider the last few races) he said he got things done a lot faster in checkpoints because she wasn't constantly asking him to talk to the camera. Failor was carrying the ashes of a dog named Angel who ran Iditarod in both Martin Buser's team as well as Matt's first couple of Iditarods. When Angel retired Matthew's parents adopted the dog, they asked him to take Angel out on the trail one last time. Failor said they stopped and spread Angel in "all the cool spots."

The 2023 Iditarod Champion Ryan Redington came in 14th at 8:48pm. Redington had a hard time getting his team to come together and by the coast it was clear his dogs just weren't feeling it. The champion musher decided to regroup and just make it to Nome and not push them to do more. It was a good thing it happened as Ryan was tasked with finishing a mission first given to Aaron Burmeister. Burmeister was carrying the ashes of one of the Iditarod legends Howard Farley - a Nome resident who helped get the race off the ground - and when Aaron scratched in Unalakleet he asked Ryan to get Howard home. Aaron met Ryan in the chute and together they brought Howard home to Nome.

And at 9:43pm Wednesday the Rookie of the Year Josi Thyr made her way into the finish with tears in her eyes. Completing the Iditarod was a lifelong dream for Thyr who started her mushing career as a kid in Oregon. She was mentored by some of the greats of Iditarod like Jessie Royer and Aaron Burmeister who were both in the chute to welcome her to the finishers club. 


There are more teams coming in later tonight and into tomorrow morning. The back of the pack still have a ways to go as they are in Koyuk (with a lone musher still trying to make his way to Unalakleet tonight, here's hoping Bryce Mumford gets his pizza). The race is far from over and each finisher will have stories to share and tell. It's hard to believe we've come to this part of the race where just a few teams are left to come home, but here we are. The lantern will be extinguished before we know it and our focus will start to shift to sign ups in June (though most mushers will be thinking of tourist season).

Oh, to be in Nome tonight.