Weekly Mushing News Round Up (Sept 14)

Jeff King smiles at the start of the 2012 Tustumena 200.

South Central Alaska continues its odd fall pattern of bright sun and warm weather. I'm not complaining, after a rainy summer it feels like we're owed a dry fall. Everyone is taking advantage of the decent weather. I'm currently house sitting in Kasilof which is prime sled dog country on the Kenai Peninsula. There are several dog yards close by and I can hear them in the early mornings and late evenings. I'd go stalk them, but I am trying very hard to not be a stalker.

Fall means the start of school, frost, colder weather, pumpkin spice... and politics. And, as we all know, you can't escape politics no matter what you're paying attention to. Sports used to be an escape, but it's bled over. Politics in the sports themselves (no this isn't another update on any Iditarod mess) is one thing, but now more than ever athletes are becoming outspoken on national politics. It's their right and I support anyone who takes the time, researches, and takes a stand - even if I don't agree. This week Jeff King somehow shocked part of the mushing fanbase when he took to a public event to call on Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski to oppose the President's nomination of Brett Kavanaugh for the Supreme Court. King flew down the week prior to meet with Murkowski in DC along with others to voice their concerns in person. Murkowski has not declared where she stands on the issue (though a quick look at her track record can show that King and crew really don't have much to worry about).

King's kennel had good news this week as well. Famed dog Zig is mother to a large brood of newborn pups! They shared an update this week on facebook on how mom and babies are doing.


Another legendary Iditarod Kennel - Susan Butcher's Trail Breaker Kennel - shared a cute puppy photo this week as well. Some repairs to the puppy pen were made, and they had the sweetest supervisors one could ever hope to have.


While we're on the subject of Iditarod - the roster is now up to 35 names with the latest entry of Robert Redington. Redington is the youngest grandson of Joe Redington Sr. - the "Father of the Iditarod".

Keeping with the legends theme, two artistic legends tied to mushing and the Iditarod are teaming up again on another art project! Photographer Jeff Schultz - the official photog of the Last Great Race, as well as a top Alaskan photograher - and Jon Van Zyle - official artist of the Iditarod who is also a musher and has run the race - have collaborated and are working on another painting that sets on a photograph. Think Walt Disney's Mary Poppins where hand drawn animation was put onto live action film. Same basic idea. The duo's first collaboration happened last year as a way to raise funds to support Jeff's son's recovery from a Traumatic Brain Injury he suffered during a fire fighting training exercise.


Iditarod finisher Lisbet Norris has a "I am Woman hear me Roar!" themed winter dog sled adventure available for booking if you're so inclined. It's not really news, but I don't get a kick back for recommending it. It sounds like an interesting tour, though, so if you're able - check it out.


The Pedigree Stage Stop Race posted on social media information on their race director. Always good to put a face with a name and learn a bit about the people in charge of a race.


Kristy Berington had a magical training run this week. Like I said, this fall weather has been amazing. The Kenai doesn't have THAT many leaves on the ground, though. Winter looks like it'll hit the MatSu area well before it hits down here.


Another post from Trail Breaker Kennel that was so heart warming - seeing a retired sled dog have a moment of bliss and energy as they ran free. You can retire the sled dog from running, but you can't retire the running out of the sled dog.


Smokin' Aces Kennel - run by 2017 Yukon Quest Champion Matt Hall - shared this keeper of a pic today. TGIF is right, I had a very relaxing day myself.


Jeff Deeter's kennel Black Spruce Sled Dogs shared what they've been up to and how their fall is shaping up. Lots of work before the snow flies and the training runs get longer. I'm tired just reading it. Guess I'll wrap things up and get to bed!


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May 1st Prayer...

May 1st Prayer...
Now I lay me down to sleep
one less terrorist this world does keep.
with all my heart I give my thanks
to those in uniform regardless of ranks.
you serve our country and serve it well
with humble hearts your stories tell.
so as I rest my weary eyes
while freedom rings our flag still flies.
you give your all, do what you must
with God we live and God we trust.
Amen.

-Angie Whitmore

I cannot come up with words to express the news of tonight. Needless to say I am so proud of the men who served our nation in this covert operation. They will forever be the unsung and unnamed heroes of this war. The War on Terror is far from over my friends, and for our media and government not to see that is disturbing, but tonight is a night for a celebration of victory.

It's Gonna Be a Long Night...

Packing has come to a standstill, why? Because I'm watching the numbers come in for the state. So far those that I've voted for are leading. The senate race is, of course, what everyone is talking about not just here but also nationally (thanks *SO* much for that Sarah Palin. Ugh.). I've not been happy with teh potshots the outside media has taken tonight, but there's nothing I can do about that.

My state has been overtaken by transplants and outsiders, but Alaskans are fighting back. We're telling Palin to blow it - even if the write in campaign fails to win Murkowski her seat back, as long as we stay neck and neck, if you add in the votes going to McAdams, there's a strong message there. The Sarah Palin that stands away from Alaska today, is not our Palin. We backed her up two years ago, and she's turned her back on us now. Why? Because we're too small for her. In all of our vastness, we just don't matter nationally.

Instead of fighting for Alaska, she's agreed with the rest of the outsiders and has decided Alaska is only good to peak people's interests. It's only important when it suits her political needs. Fine. That's her own choice. But then STAY OUT of our affairs, Sarah. This "Palin's Alaska" crap is not welcome here, and we're saying it loud and clear.

I am a conservative Alaskan Republican. If speaking out against this disgusting turn of events revokes my card, let me be the one to burn it. No, I don't think Murkowski is going to be able to bring money to the state that doesn't exist. No, I don't think she's the best chioce we could possibly have (I've suggested Knowles would be better than Murkowski, so obviously that's not it). No, she's not Pro-Life. It's why I bought into the Joe Miller campaign early on and voted for him in the primary.

Then he shot his mouth off and has decided in order for him to effectively LEAD, Alaska must change. That the Bush/Rural communities need to change if they want the money we're funnelling into them, is absurd. That he keeps talking to a national LIBERAL media instead of the STATE'S liberal media, showing us that ultimately the nation's opinion matter more. That he did not want to wait to see the people's choice - true chioce, not just primary - and declared himself the winner months ago. That he speaks of national plans, and barely mentions Alaska plans to the general public....

I vote ALASKA first. This does not make me less of a Republican (until now Republicans have looked out most for our state), this does not make me less of a Christian (as we all know God allows us to choose our Earthly Leaders, but he was not pleased in Saul and David's time about it, and I doubt highly He's any more okay with it these days) - OMG, I didn't vote for the pro-life candidate, I'm going to Hell! I'm pro-life, but that's NOT ENOUGH for me in this election. Life is important, but not at the expense of life that is going on now. Potential life will be well protected by others. Murkowski dances polls, she's had the wake up call, she'll vote smarter - but what this does make me is an Alaskan.

I don't believe transplants who come in, live in Anchorage, and talk of leaving the state or talk about rural areas as if they're third world countries are ALASKAN. You're city folk who buy into the whole Alaska thing. There's a reason why we say Anchorage is just an hour outside of Alaska in any direction. It's NOT Alaska. It's a quaint little city on the edge of our borders.

This does not mean all Anchorage-ites are non-Alaskan. There are many who were here before "The City of Anchorage" was. They're the ones backing the Alaskan traditions, and they're Democrats, Republicans, Independants, and unsures. But they think and live and feel and BREATHE Alaska first. The Feds be damned, they've not done a thing for this state that Ted Stevens and the other founders didn't fight tooth and nail - and yes across partylines - for. The Feds control 45% of this state. They tell us how to live, they tell us how to think, but refuse to understand our culture, our way of life. It's not the stereotypical life in "Palin's Alaska" where we mush dogs in our designer duds (most Mushers wear carharts because they're practical, not because it's a designer name). Where we wear make up and do our hair just so to go fishing while yelling that we love tranquility scaring away the brown bears. And we certainly don't throw one another under a bus when climbing the ladder.

That's the outsider influence. And if it all went away tomorrow (even if that meant the money went away, too) that'd be just fine. We did fine without you, we'll continue to do fine.

So here's to Don Young - who stands for Uncle Ted's Alaska (which is far more important than Palin's)! And Sean Parnell who stuck it to Palin after she dumped a mess in his lap and fled our state. And here's hoping those of us independent enough to vote for the state get to be heard through the write-ins!