Cool Huh?!
Greetings from Alaska!!!!
Well guys, I have to tell you this is about the most amazing experience of my life. I don't know where to start, so perhaps at the beginning.....
Living on the West Coast, and having traveled from one end of Canada
to the other, numerous times, including visits to the Yukon I've seen
some pretty incredible country.
Alaskan Mountains
(Photo by Gwen Ross)
Vast is about the only way I can
describe Alaska. And looking at tundra that stretches for miles, and
then snow covered mountains that seem to go on forever, I had a
glimpse of what Karen is going to do. AGAIN. WOW. I am completely humbled
.
Mountains by Willow, Alaska
(Photo by Gwen Ross)
I caught up with Karen at the Mushers Meeting on Thursday morning at
the Millennium Hotel here in Anchorage. As soon as her eyes met mine
thru the crowd she finished up her conversation, rushed over and gave
me a HUGE hug. Man it was so good to see her. Karen is sporting a new
do. She is blond!!!! When I was first looking for her amongst the
mushers and their riders, I was scanning for my dark haired Karen. It
was my friend who said "isn't that Karen?" to which I replied "no,
that lady has blond hair" He chuckled and said "look again!!!" New
do!! but same warm smile and sparkle in the eye!!
Mark & Karen
(Photo by Donna Finner)
Then off to the banquet where we had a wonderful dinner and where she was swamped
with autograph requests but always remained smiling and gracious.
Friday was the open house out at Jamie's. Man does she have a nice
place out there. I can only dream.
Jamie West's Place - Willow, Alaska
NorthWapiti's Home Away from Home
(Photo by Gwen Ross)
As per usual Mark was entertaining
us with stories of dogs and pranks and Karen was so very patient with
us all. And the dogs? Charming and sweet, getting and giving lots of
loving, and living up to their reputations as "tough" sleddogs!!!
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Tough
Sled Dogs at the Open House
(Photos by Donna Finner & Gwen Ross) |
Today (Saturday's Ceremonial Start) was quite an event. I had the opportunity to bounce back and
forth between a couple dog trucks as my friend Perry Somolson is also
running Iditarod again this year. So as Perry was at start position
#19 and Karen at #37, I was able to assist both getting the teams to
the Start.
(Note: Most of the
photos below are of the Restart
taken by Gwen and entourage, however, the handling of the
dog team is very similar to that of the Ceremonial Start)
Getting Team Karen ready
at the Restart
(Photo by Gwen Ross)
Man, was that a workout and a half!!! All through the
morning I kept hearing comments from the crowds "now THAT's a good
looking team!!!" or "now THOSE are sleddogs".
Starting towards the Start
line.
(Photo by Gwen Ross)
I cannot describe how
it felt to be part of team Karen, and to get them to the start. The
team was beautifully behaved, wonderfully dressed in their red
bandanas with the maple leafs on them, and those Siberian smiles,
nothing quite like them!!
Gwen Ross (in blue Eagle Pac jacket)
assisting
the team to the start line
(Photo by someone holding Gwen's camera)
As we were ready to make the trek down to the starting chute, Karen
gave us explicit instructions. We were to walk about 10 feet, stop, let
them get the trailer sled hitched up, and then to get them to the
start.
She said "WALK" to the
start!
(Photo by Gwen Ross)
Once at the start we were to take the leashes off the gang
line, and by the 10 second countdown we were to step away, as at 10
seconds to go, the team was HER responsibility, and hers alone. It went
like clockwork. Like a well oiled, superbly tuned machine.
Moving towards the Starting
Line...check out Marcus' hat!
(Photo by Gwen Ross)
And here I am, standing at the start of Iditarod 2005. I take off the
leash, and must have been wearing the biggest grin possible. At the one
minute mark Karen steps off her sled, and calmly walks down the line,
petting each pair of dogs, a quiet loving word to each dog, moving to
the front, to speak with her leaders and then back down the team
again.
Pre-Race pep talk
(Photo by Belinda Hutchings)
When she got to where I was standing (third pair of dogs back)
she stopped, with a big smile, patted me on the shoulder and
said "Cool, Huh?" and continued making her way down the team talking
to the dogs. "Cool Huh?" indeed!!!
Ceremonial Start handlers - this Diary
Entry is written by
the handler Gwen, on the left side of this picture as viewed by the reader
(Photo by Belinda Hutchings)
My heart swelled with joy and
pride.... the musher had even given me a little pet and a kind
word!!!!! If I had a tail, I would have wagged it!!! Tomorrow is the
big day. When I watch my friend and mentor, and that incredible group
of dogs ride off into the wilds of Alaska.
The team running...this picture from
their
arrival at Campbell Air Field after the Restart
(Photo by Gwen Ross)
Cool, Huh?!!!!
Gwen Ross
NorthWapiti Group Member
(Originally posted to North Wapiti Yahoo News Group - Join us if you like!)
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