This dog at the dog drop hub in Galena is rocking the frosted tips on a professional level. Early 90's boy bands are jealous.
I’ll try and keep this short and let my photos do the talking for me…
My dreams of Iditarod officially became reality when I stepped off the chartered Ravn Air plane onto the snow covered tarmac in Galena, Alaska. The air was brisk, but nothing extreme by Alaska standards. After a short layover I found myself boarding a small three-seater plane bound for the village of Huslia. As soon as my feet hit the ground I was whisked away by one of the locals on the back of a snow machine. Having never had a chance to get my face mask out of my bag I zipped my jacked up as far over my face as I could and ducked behind my driver for the trip in to town. I was dropped off at what I came to know as the Ball Field – a large open area in the middle of town that would soon become the our dog yard and main hub of outdoor activity. Thankfully I was working with many seasoned veterans who promptly went to work coordinating with the proper local channels to gain access to the appropriate buildings and find out where all of our gear that had previously been sent up was stored. We set to work setting up what we could right away before finally retreating to a family style dinner in the warmth of the Elders Center. Here I was officially introduced to those whom I would be intimately working with throughout the duration of my time in Huslia. While we were all there to work various jobs our reasons for being there were similar.
The next day began a whirlwind adventure that included earning my keep in various forms, meeting many new faces, trying new foods (including beaver tail, moose tongue, and bear claws), and learning lots of new skills on the fly, but lacked any substantial amounts of sleep. After the first musher arrive my usual sleep cycle lasted about 4 hours and until my last day there, I was able to successfully thrive off so few hours of sleep thanks in part to the adrenaline of the adventure at hand. I hope you enjoy the photos. Some of them are captioned, some of them are not, and many of them were never captured to begin with.
The checkpoint in Huslia, AK
The dog yard. The building in the middle was where Comms was stationed out of.
Musher bags in front of the Tribal Council building in Huslia, AK. The main hall is the round building on the right side of the photo.
The main hall in Huslia, Alaska. This octagonal building remained a hub of activity from the day the first musher arrived until the last one left. Food was never in short supply inside and I was able to try out some interesting vittles like beaver tail, moose tongue, various forms of moose head stew, fish ice cream, and fry breads galore.
The bag drop staging area, missing 2/3 of the bags required for the race still
The staging area for the musher bags
Just like the adults, only cuter!
It took me all afternoon to chase down these kids whizzing by on this thing with my camera, but they were happy to have their picture taken when I asked.
Kids adorable sled in the foreground with the more practical adult version in the background.
Iditarod 2017. Huslia checkpoint. I call this one 'Where all the magic happens. My partners in crime, Katy and Janis
Vern and Judge Judy enjoying some relaxation in our lounge area
So. Much. Food.
The beginning of the musher food bags being assembled.
I went into this race with a favorite, but I came away respecting and loving so many more mushers than I imagined.
The crowd beginning to gather as we eagerly awaited the first musher into our checkpoint
Marty, Bruce, Tara & Vern waiting at the checkpoint
Local Lois V., Katy, and Janis hanging out at the checkpoint in Huslia, AK
Myself, Katy, and Janis: the three Comms amigos for the Huslia checkpoint
Mitch Seavey's lead dogs happy to arrive in Huslia
Mitch going the gear check that was mandatory in Huslia
$3,000 in gold nuggets
Mitch Seavey won the prize for first to the halfway point
First to Huslia, Halfway Prize bay one of the locals. They made these collars for the dogs because they felt bad that only the people got prizes.
Sleeping beauty. There are some who will appreciate this more than others...
A group of school children taking a break from to get some hands on education about the Iditarod
The life of a happy dog.
Some things just fill your heart without trying.
Tara & Dr. Paula loving on the dropped dogs.
I wasn't always working, but the radio on my hip reminds me I was never not working either.
Dr. Paula - she has fire in her soul and grace in her heart.
While not the most flattering photo of myself, the pint sized photographer taking it won my heart over during the race. She and her sister found me every day that I was there to come say hello. They enjoyed taking my camera and gave me some interesting shots to filter through when I got back home.
I cannot say enough good things about Dr. Paula and he passion and compassion for these dogs. She is a rockstar and I can only hope our paths cross again in the future.
Giving some kids a ride into the dog yard. What a sport!
Hungry for a win in the 45th Iditarod
Comms and Checkers comparing footnotes and doodles.
This woman right here just got done through hiking the AT and takes off for the PCT in just a few short weeks. She's worked the Iditarod for the past 17 years in various forms of awesomeness. Janis 'accidentally' loves the color purple. Her age will not be disclosed on Facebook, but she is doing more at her age, both physically and metally, than most people are at mine. Although my favorite color is brown and not purple, she is most definately my spirit animal. I have mad love for this lady right here.
Twilight taking hold.
Dallas Seavey dog in the chute.
The trackers that are required of each musher to keep on them are kept in dog booties pinned to the outside of their sled. Dallas Seavey's tracker was pinned to the back of his sled near his cooker. The singe marks all over the bootie are from Dallas' cooker burning it.
Dallas Seavey out of Huslia and off into the sunset.
When in the field you improvise and make things happen.
Bob J on the right with George Attla's sister on the left. What a story teller she was!
DeeDee Jonrowe's team coming into Huslia. Those are some happy looking dogs.
You took sleep wherever you could get it out on the Iditarod trail.
Just a fraction of the rag tag crew that made Huslia possible. All of them are testaments that there is still so much good left in this world.
The first day we arrived in Huslia I noticed this giant, playful St. Bernard just outside my window. He was attempting to get his next door neighbor, an alaska husky, to play with him. Every day as I sat at my computer he made me chuckle as he tryied to get that husky to play with him. I talked about this dog to all the locals trying to track down his owner. Everyone insisted he was nice and that his ownder wouldn't mind if I just went over and petted him. Word got around because before I was able to track down his owner, Mary Ann tracked me down. On the morning the last team pulled out of Huslia, I took a stroll over to Wladimir's doghouse to give him some love and before I knew it I had a leash in my hand and was taking him for a walk around the village. What a big love!
The Iditarod would not be without the amazing network of volunteers. At the top of this list is the Iditarod Air Force pilots that generously donate not only their time and experience, but their planes as well. Not enough thanks can be given to these guys, especially the awesome ones!
Thanks for the karaoki and making flying so much fun in general! Sorry I almost threw up in your plane... o.0
I hope I never have to use this button.
Something about those striking blue eyes that gets me every time.
This dog at the dog drop hub in Galena is rocking the frosted tips on a professional level. Early 90's boy bands are jealous.
Loading dropped dogs into the plane in Galena to be transported back to Anchorage.
The Batmobile
This guy can drive a forklift like no other.
My comrads for the night drank rootbeer and were very resourceful about what they had on hand to use as fair currency in their poker match.
Swing low, sweet chariot, Comin' for to carry me home!
Denali from my seat
The clear skies surrounding Denali on the rides from and to Anchorage made all the volunteer hours worked completely worth it. Everything else was just an added bonus.
