BS: WE let the DOGS out! - IDITAROD 2018

Subject: BS: WE let the DOGS out! - IDITAROD 2018
From: robomatic
Date: 05 Mar 18 - 01:11 PM

This Saturday we had the ceremonial start of the Iditarod dog sled race. It was everything it should be, along with the heightened sensibilities of these times adding in a drug scandal and animal 'rights' protestors to boot.
Our local public radio is full of young, talented broadcasters who like being outside and like dogs. You can find an excellent podcast here, and you can go google on "Iditarod" and pick up plenty of local so
unds and colors.
It is a celebration of doghood in the north.
We are having a relatively normal Winter here, with lots of snow and appropriate temperatures.

Subject: RE: BS: WE let the DOGS out! - IDITAROD 2018
From: bobad
Date: 05 Mar 18 - 04:09 PM

Let the mushing begin!

Subject: RE: BS: WE let the DOGS out! - IDITAROD 2018
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 06 Mar 18 - 03:54 AM

Fantastic stuff! I'd have loved to be a Musher in my younger days. Unfortunately, there aren't the opportunities for it here in the UK.

Subject: RE: BS: WE let the DOGS out! - IDITAROD 2018
From: Mrrzy
Date: 06 Mar 18 - 07:43 AM

Time to rewatch Balto...

I wonder how much longer this race can go on what with not enough snow and all.

I remember a song... I did I did I did the Ididerod trail

Subject: RE: BS: WE let the DOGS out! - IDITAROD 2018
From: gillymor
Date: 06 Mar 18 - 07:53 AM

This is all I know about dog sledding.

Subject: RE: BS: WE let the DOGS out! - IDITAROD 2018
From: robomatic
Date: 06 Mar 18 - 01:20 PM

We've got a nice cover of snow for the race this year. And more on the way.

Song by Hobo Jim

Subject: RE: BS: WE let the DOGS out! - IDITAROD 2018
From: ranger1
Date: 07 Mar 18 - 09:11 AM

Nice to see Aliy Zirkle and Jessie Royer once again in the top ten.

Subject: RE: BS: WE let the DOGS out! - IDITAROD 2018
From: Senoufou
Date: 07 Mar 18 - 09:27 AM

There are lots of mushing clubs/opportunities in UK. One company says they have 72 huskies. But the sleds are actually on wheels!

Subject: RE: BS: WE let the DOGS out! - IDITAROD 2018
From: robomatic
Date: 07 Mar 18 - 01:56 PM

There is nothing inauthentic about 'sleds' on wheels. When the snow mushers have no snow, they lace up their dog teams and attach them to four-wheelers for practice runs. I've found one tied up to a power pole with its huskies straining to go and the driver attending to personal needs nearby in the tundra. If I remember right, the nylon strap tying the four wheeler to the pole was too long and under tension, so when the musher returned he couldn't release the assemblage single handed without losing the team which was straining to go. I assisted.

Today's Anchorage Daily News headline: "It's 32 degrees on the trail, and the teams are getting wet"

Obviously that's Fahrenheit, but it's far warmer than anyone would like for the comfort and safety of the run.

Subject: RE: BS: WE let the DOGS out! - IDITAROD 2018
From: Rapparee
Date: 07 Mar 18 - 09:40 PM

Gee haw for Nome!! Git them wheelers moving!!!

Subject: RE: BS: WE let the DOGS out! - IDITAROD 2018
From: keberoxu
Date: 09 Mar 18 - 03:01 PM

what happened next?

Subject: RE: BS: WE let the DOGS out! - IDITAROD 2018
From: ranger1
Date: 09 Mar 18 - 10:08 PM

Keberoxu, you can check out the Iditarod for yourself at the Iditarod's homepage. They keep the standings fairly up to date. This is the first year in a long time that I haven't subscribed and had access to the live GPS tracker.

Subject: RE: BS: WE let the DOGS out! - IDITAROD 2018
From: JennieG
Date: 10 Mar 18 - 09:48 PM

On our visit to Anchorage in 2006 (hi Rob!) we found the Iditarod shop while strolling around.....a calendar for the following year came home with us, it had great pictures of dogs and handlers.

Subject: RE: BS: WE let the DOGS out! - IDITAROD 2018
From: keberoxu
Date: 13 Mar 18 - 06:14 PM

It is hard not to imagine Alaska
during a Massachusetts blizzard
like the one outside right now.

Subject: RE: BS: WE let the DOGS out! - IDITAROD 2018
From: robomatic
Date: 14 Mar 18 - 09:20 PM

About 3 AM Alaska time Joar Leifseth Ulsom of Norway came in first, after some great route finding and navigating where some other good mushers went astray. Joar made it in 9 days, 12 hours. There have been at least nine more finishers since.

It ain't over until the final finisher, called the "Red Lantern" gets in. Then everyone gets some hot coffee or espresso, and then some sleep, not always in that order.

Hi Jennie! Still singing the Haka!

Subject: RE: BS: WE let the DOGS out! - IDITAROD 2018
From: JennieG
Date: 15 Mar 18 - 03:51 PM

Still singing all kinds of stuff, Rob!