RACE RECAP

The Subaru is a meat mobile...hauling all of the meat cut up for the Don Bowers for 2 teams.

Hauling cut up lamb for the Don Bowers in our little Jet Sled...

Well, we only made it to the race on time with the help of friends. A big thank you to the Stitt family, Ted and Paula English and Linda and Larry Cline.

I always like to come to a race well rested and with everything in order. I will have to say that this race I was sleep deprived from the start and very little was in order. We were basically scrambling. It was all understandible, but not desireable.

There was quite a bit of pressure on me as this was my final qualifier and I had no choice but to make it. However, anything can happen on a race so it was a relief when I pulled in the final checkpoint. Each and every race has been a learning experience for me and this one was no exception. A great decision to run this race.

Well, I decided to run a 12 dog team and it was a hard decision to make my team selection. I ended up taking Tok, Pepe, Chop, Red, Jimmy, Otter, Chad, Spot, Roan, Riot, Nugget and Jack(lead dogs in italics). There were dogs who remained home. I also ran my new Prairie built sled. It is a really nice sled.

I have always enjoyed the Don Bowers race and this year was no exception. A great group of volunteers and the hospitality of Ray and Shirley from Eagle Quest Lodge.

Well, Friday morning we pulled the dog truck in to parking spot number 2. I was bib number 2, which meant that I was the first dog team out. Number one is always for Don Bower. They always start the time for Don Bower and the first actual dog team to start is in the number two position. I had trouble right out of the chute. I was hooked to a snowmachine and the way they connected the quick release interfered with my dragmat. So right after I took off, I was fussing with that and trying to get it down and my team went off to the right of the trail out of the chute. I was able to "haw" them over and get on the trail so all was well.

The start Picture by Donna Quante
I was ready for a great time. I was traveling familiar trails for the most part. Jim Kirshner and helpers (my friend Buddy)put in a fantastic trail. It was challenging and put your sled driving skills to a test. I was not happy with the fact that I began this race with very little sleep the night before. The temperatures dropped to the - 40's. What happened to the wether forcast ? It was supposed to have been a mild weekend, but not so. .

will continue tomorrow...so tired I am heading to bed...running on a total of 4 - 5 hours of sleep Friday - Sunday. Good night

The dogs at the first 100 mile checkpoint...Jim and Kathy Kirshners

WELCOME TO MRS. EDWARDS' FOURTH GRADERS

I would like to welcome Mrs. Edwards' 4th grade students to my blog. I will do the best that I can replying to any comments and questions. I have one month to prepare for Iditarod and it will be a very busy month for me. There is still so much to do. When I return home after Iditarod I would love to visit your class.

WEDNESDAY...TO HATCHER PASS

Well, today we ran up on Hatcher Pass. We enjoyed milder temperatures and new trails. The dogs seemed to also enjoy the new trails. We saw signs of moose on the trail, but no moose sightings. Yeah !




After our run, we were working at getting ready for our race on Friday. We will both be running the Don Bower's Memorial Race...300 miles. This evening I prepared our food drops and tomorrow we will cut up our meat and bag the dog kibble. Still have a few things to get at the store so morning will come early. In the afternoon we will have our vet checks and then in the evening we have the musher's meeting.




http://www.donbowersmemorialrace.org/index.php/Bowers/Bowers

TUESDAY...SIMPLIFYING OUR LIVES A BIT...

Well, the dogs got a day off...but interestingly enough, it doesn't work the same for the mushers. Both Bob and I had busy days. Mine started off with watering the dogs and then heading into town. I was on a mission...the fabric store, the feed store, Home Depot, the bank, and 3 Bears.

Well, I made the executive decision...we are going paper...In an effort to simplify our days just a bit and cut down on washing dishes, I bought paper plates, bowls and cups. I also bought a bunch of prepared meals that we will just heat up.

On the way home I stopped by Ted and Paula's and picked up my mukluks that arrived. I will be trying them on and figuring out how I might like them. I am so hoping that they will keep my feet warm...we will see. I will wear them with Neos when it is cold.

We also made the decision to run the Don Bowers Memorial Race rather than the Northern Lights 300. It was a tough decision in the fact that I really wanted to run that race. It all came down to being able to logistically prepare for the race. We would have to have everything ready for the race and take care of vet checks, and attend a musher's meeting all on Wednesday.

We have experienced a number of situations that have made it so very hard to get ahead and prepared for the race this weekend. My mother's death and my trip home to Washington, our moose encounters and impact of trucking our dogs now, the break down of the dog truck and a day spent digging out a backup dog truck.

So, I decided to run a race that we would be better prepared for, giving us another day of training and being able to utilize the day off of training before the race to prepare our drop bags, do our vet checks and then attend the musher's meeting. We will have a friend drive our drop bags to the check points on Friday. This all means less stress, more sleep and a more enjoyable race experience.

The Don Bower's race has been one of my favorites because of the volunteers who put it on. It does mean that I won't have the opportunity this weekend to travel the Iditarod trail and got to the first three check points of the Iditarod. That is a bummer.

Well, it is late and I need to get to bed. We will be running out on the river again tomorrow.

ANOTHER GREAT RUN ON THE RIVER...

Well, sometimes things just don't go as planned and sometimes I just have to chuckle. Yesterday after morning chores, we headed down to the community center in Willow to run our team out to the river again. When we got there we couldn't believe our eyes. There was a bull dozer plowing up the parking lot for the upcoming carnival and our access to the lake trail was covered in piles of plowed up snow.

We couldn't believe it. Thankfully Bob knew of another access to one of the lakes and we drove on over and had a great place to hook up our teams. We got in a nice long run and ran the dogs out to the Yetna River. By the time that we were heading back, it was dark and we traveled by headlamp. We saw four other dog teams out there.

When we got to Kroto Slough I was in lead. All of a sudden I could see the outline of two large figures heading across the trail. Moose.... I wasn't too worried at first because the moose had wide open space and plenty of room to get away from us.

Well, suddenly my lead dogs take an abrupt 90 degree turn and they are in hot pursuit of the moose. I can't believe it...after all we have done to avoid moose and my dogs are in chase mode. I was able to "gee" them back on the trail and thankfully the moose didn't turn and bother us. Whew !

It was a great run...the dogs came in strong and happy. When we got back to the truck we snacked and watered them...the it was time to load everything up and head back home. Now that we are trucking the dogs, our days are extra long.

A BEAUTIFUL AND SAFE DAY ON THE RIVER...

On The River...

Well, Bob had to wake up in the wee hours to start the truck and let it run for 30 minutes. I then got up early in the morning and started it. We did our chores and got ready for a long run on the river. We figure that it will be far safer trucking to the community center and heading across the lakes out onto trails that were more wide open. We saw two moose, but they had lots of room and were no issue.

It was a beautiful day and so nice to get in a longer run. The temperature was actually near or slightly above zero...that is a compromise...as I think it was above zero and Bob thinks is was still below zero.

Getting ready to go after snacking the dogs and mushers...

SATURDAY...A CHANGE OF PLANS

Well, today Bob had to make a run into Wasilla to pick up a starter motor for the truck. We are hoping that will fix it, but we won't know until he replaces it. We called my son, Tyler and he did some troubleshooting over the phone.

Not having a dog truck is devastating...so Bob dropped me off at Ted and Paula's and I spent the day digging out the dog truck and trailer. I did have some help from a young man named Joe. I was so grateful for his help.

Bob spent about 5 hours under the truck working on it in -34 degree temperatures. He had to take many trips into the house to warm his hands by the stove. When he was finally finished around 6:30 that evening, we just held our breath. Bob turned the key and it turned over. Yeah ! We still couldn't start it until we had it plugged in to warm up. We ran the generator for about 4 hours and had a blanket draped over the hood. He also had a little propane heater going. At 11:00 we got the truck started. Good night...we are exhausted.

FRUSTRATION...

Well, we had the truck all loaded ready for heading out to Big Lake in the morning. It is a diesel so we have to keep it warm so it will start up. Bob just went out to start it so that we could get some sleep. He would set his alarm to wake up in the middle of the night to again start the truck and run it for a while.

The truck wouldn't start. After working on it for an hour, Bob returned to the house so very disappointed. No dog truck. No trucking dogs tomorrow. Neither one of us wants to run that trail out of the kennel. We were so hoping to get the dogs to warmer temperatures again tomorrow and get in a very needing longer training run.

A DAY FULL OF EXTREME EMOTIONS...

Well, I have said a few times in earlier posts that this winter has been quite a challenge. I try and keep my sense of humor but at times that is hard. Our morning started out with a great lightness...we had the dogs ready and in the truck and soon we were headed to Big Lake. We had received a call telling us of big winds early in the morning. So we checked weather underground and winds were just 6 mph.

Well, as we headed south, we saw that our early morning warning call was really more reliable than the weather report. Winds were probably 25 mph and that would mean that our trails would all be blown in on the lakes... we opted to head back to the kennel. We both wanted dark chocolate and I reached for the chocolate bar that I had set on the dash of the truck. BIG MISTAKE...It was all melted...Not to worry, I thought. All I need to do is hold it out the window for a minute or two. I rolled down the window just enough to hold the candy bar out and sure enough in about a minute, it was solid enough to eat ! We had a good laugh and enjoyed the dark chocolate and almonds.

Back at the kennel, we hooked up our two teams and off we went. We decided that we would just run short due to temps of -30's and head back down to Big Lake for a long run on Saturday. I led out of the kennel and at one point there was a big moose on the trail but he ran off in the woods. We went around Almond Lake and we headed back. About two and a half miles from the kennel, as I came up a knoll, I could see the eyes of a huge moose in front of me. There was nothing I could do. On a dog team there is no reverse. I stood there frozen, realizing that this was it. It all happened so quickly, but like slow motion. The moose came charging and before I knew it he was in my team stomping. I was terrified and here he came charging right on past me, just inches from me. The dogs are fine and still lined out. I get the heck out of here, not wanting to give that moose another charge at me. Looking back I am horrified at what may be happening to Bob...I knew that he was behind me and probably closer than he wanted to be. He said that when he saw the moose standing on the knoll that he too knew that it was over. And he too was charged.

I was so very grateful that my dogs were amazingly unharmed. As I stood on my sled and waited for any sign of Bob, it was the most awful feeling. Not knowing what was happening. I could hear barking dogs but I could not see any sign of a headlamp. After what seemed like forever, I could see a dog team heading for me. I kept screaming " are you alright" and Bob responded with a yes and a yell for me to get moving.

We still had two miles to go and I knew that on our homestretch our trail could have a moose on it...we had that earlier encounter there. Just after the big hill we come up, I could see two eyes reflecting back to me. Oh my Lord, there was another moose and I wondered if it was going to be a repeat. I stopped the team and the eyes disappeared ahead of me. I continued down the trail slowly, straining to see the form of a moose in the darkness ahead of me. Then the eyes were looking back at me again. Again I stopped and they disappeared only to keep keep looking back a bit further down the trail. I kept looking behind me and Bob was right behind. Praise God that the moose got off the trail and we made it back safely to the kennel.

As soon as I set my hook, Bob came by and I looked at each dog as it passed on by. I was thanking God for keeping both mushers and the dogs safe...terrified, but safe.

After returning the dogs to their houses, I sat shell shocked for a while on the couch. How to get this out of your head. How to go back out on the trail without fear. Questions of "why am I doing this?"

When I got online I read on DeeDee Jonrowe's Facebook that a very dear couple that I have had breakfast with many times at Eagle's Quest Lodge just endoured a moose attack. George who is 82 years old and an Iditarod pilot of 33 or so years was stomped by a moose while he was walking his dogs. His wife Dorthea was beating the moose with a snow shovel. He is in critical care at Providence Hospita. Prayers for both George and Dorthea. So very sad.

TRUCKING OUT OF THE COLD....

Well, today we loaded up the dogs and trucked on out of Willow. We left the -34 degrees and headed for the tropics...ok...still below zero but so much more enjoyable. We actually got in a longer run. Yea !

If was fun running new trails. Beautiful clear day. I actually took out my camera to take pictures...took about 5 or 6 before I realized that my SD card was in my laptop and not in my camera...bummer.

It has been a while since I have taken any pics....as at -34 it is just too cold to take out the bare hand from a nice warm mitt. I will try and remember to put the card in my camera tomorrow. We will truck back to the tropics again and I hope to have some pics of the dogs and scenery.

A long but wonderful day.

SUNDAY

Well, we were up early to start the generator and plug in the Subaru so that we could make it to church. Church cancels when the temperature is -30 or below...hmmm...it was - 20 something at Cazwell Lakes, but -34 here this morning...church was on and we did our dog chores and had a quick breakfast. The Subaru wasn't very happy at the thought of starting up this morning, but nevertheless, it started and soon we were on our way.

We ended up staying quite a while afterwards and enjoyed the fellowship. We had made the decision to not run the dogs today because of the temperatures.

Pastor Cheryl sewed thirty neck warmers for us. They are blessed and anointed. I love it ! More fleece was left for her to sew fleece booties, a few more neck warmers and dog leggings.

This evening I went Ted and Paula's and Paula and I powdered booties. We got nearly 1000 booties powdered. Bob stayed at the homestead, held down the fort, chopped dog meat, fed dogs and worked on food drops for Iditarod(packaged up some of our "top secret items" and I am sworn to not divulge it...ha ha ha). All in all a very productive day.

STOMPIN' SNORTIN' MOOSE ENCOUNTER

Since Bob was the first team out of the kennel, he will tell you his experience....Bob writes

Another day at the ranch, hmmmm, maybe not just another day.

When it comes to why dog drivers live in Alaska, an endless diatribe often results in an underlying theme about the association with the “wilderness/scenery/sunsets” or the inherent freedoms we enjoy with being outdoors.

I’ve had numerous encounters with moose over the years, some humorous, some sad and some uneventful. One thing I’ve learned is a training run from one day to the next can either be angelic or a run from----well, you know that one.

I could have plucked the scenario from 4 others of this nature for this run which doesn’t come close to the sum total of different scenarios encountering moose.

It all started early in the run, plenty of daylight, no shadows. Rounding a corner of a section of trail I call the “goat rope” for identification purposes, we came around a corner not far from the kennel, under a pretty good head of steam, and yupper, this corner not entirely open to vision. But, hec, what the hey, like out of nowhere a two to three year old moose stood just as surprised to see me as I her/him. How far? Lets say the distance of a slow pitch softball from the mound to the plate. Absolutely no time to react, except I hit the brake and in that instance the moose was caught between decisions, flight or fight. This one chose fight. Ears went back, head down and faster than “Jack Sprat over the candlestick” this moose was churning the snow. In four steps stomping from the lead dogs through the whole team, past me on the sled and when I turned to look he/she was headed back for another crack at us. Alright, became ALRIGHT and we pulled away with the moose in slight chase. Down the trail I hooked down as the moose had stopped and for the third time decided to move down the trail towards where we had just come from. The moose disappeared around the corner. The front end of my dog team was now going ape. I knew Jan would be coming shortly AND I also knew she would encounter the moose heading towards her. Tell you what, a real gut wrenching feeling, knowing what might ensue. Dogs were still going ape, I thought wanting to “go”, stole a quick look behind me and here came that moose, dead, flat gallop towards me. Do I leave out expletives here???? I pulled the hooks and fortunately for me/us we sped down the trail, just as a big cow was moving from the woods towards the trail. Jan had encountered the smaller one (likely 6 to 700 pounds) and fortunately the moose headed away from her but towards me AND thankfully moved off the trail when it came near its mama.

The next section of trail has a hairpin turn sort of blinded for sight from one side to the other. While in the hairpin we hit not exactly mach-one but suffice to say the accelerator was stuck on the floor. Boom, we chased, fortunately, a moose to the creek where the moose found much less snow depth and accelerated away from the trail down the creek.

A short trail farther to what is called the “Lucky Shot”, after a mine in Hatcher pass, we motored down this piece of history towards the Susitna River. Cresting the unplowed Willow Creek parkway, two VERY LARGE moose greeted our vision. Spontaneously hitting the brake and setting the hooks, these two wanted nothing to do with our group.

The next, two (geesh) miles were uneventful and then it happened rounding the corner to Almond Lake. Can we say 0 to 100 in, oh lets see, maybe the blink of an eye? That it was. Once we rounded the corner, there were my leaders trying to bite the heels of a moose trying to get away from us.

Did I mention we went to see my cardiologist and urologist yesterday? Well, we did, checked out A-okay. Now today--------we’ll leave it at that.

The remaining trail miles home were uneventful, except when I hooked to a tree to get my shotgun more readily available, couldn’t for the life of me get the hook off the tree. Good tree too. And yup, it was cold enough I worried about it snapping off, which has happened to me before. Anyway, anticipated where Ma and offspring were, so, to let them know we were in the vicinity, I turned on the headlamp (didn’t need to) and started singing/did best to yodel too---failed miserably but by the pace of the dogs knew we had passed the dynamic duo. Remainder of the trip home was uneventful. Our joke was, of course, checking ones shorts.

THURSDAY...Packages finally arrive !

Well, this morning we woke to 3 inches of new snow...and it was still snowing. We drove out to Shirley Towne, one of our favorite hill training areas and it was still inaccessible to dog teams and sno-goes alike. Really a bummer. Then we drove over to Ted's to see how "snowed in" Whitey (the dog truck) was.

Then we drove on over to the post office...more packages. I received a pennant of my mother's ashes. I also got my ruff and trapper's hat. They are so very beautiful. The ruff I bought and the trapper's hat was my Christmas present from Bob. The two additional battery packs for our magicshine headlamps arrived...we are still waiting the arrival of our headlamps.

We opened up our box that arrived yesterday with our sledbags. It seems like Christmas...The sleds arrived a week ago and we have been waiting for the arrival of the sledbags. I can't wait to drive my new sled with the sled bag. I really like the sled bag!

We also opened up the big Cabela's box. We ordered two Trans Alaskan Trail Suits. Pretty funny...we were both layering up and trying on the different sizes. It is a bummer that there isn't a Cabela's in Anchorage...so usually we end up ordering different sizes and then trying them on and then sending back the size that doesn't work. We are still waiting for our back ordered boots.

We got a late start for our run today because of all of our running around and trying everything on. I took out a 12 dog team and we traveled flat trails, twisty turny trails, short up and downs, steep up and downs, and long up and down trails. For part of our run it was white out conditions.

I wore my pennant and my mother was with me on the trail today and will be for each and every run....all the way to Nome. I also wore my new hat and it kept me so warm.

Today was a close encounter with a moose. It was about a two year old so it wasn't all that big, but never the less, it was good size and totally startled me. I was so glad that it ran from us rather than to us. I think that he was all of 10 to 12 feet away from the team. The dogs took off like a lightening bolt and then we took a hairpin turn which turned us back in the direction that the moose had taken off to. I was so hoping that we wouldn't have an encounter with him around that corner. Thankfully, he stayed in the woods. Whew !

When we got home from our run I walked into the house and was going to dry my booties in front of the stove...I noticed that the stove was out....we ran out of fuel...not good. I called Newman's and the fuel truck drivers had just gone home for the day. So we had no choice but to drive out to Newman's and fill two 5 gallon cans and return home to add it to our tank. Then we lit the stove...waiting for the warmth to fill the house once again. You can believe that we will be monitoring our fuel tank a bit more carefully.

Getting ready to feed dogs and then heading to bed. A great day !

TUESDAY...NEW TRAILS !

This morning I mailed off fleece and a pattern to Cecile. She is having a sewing party with Frannie and Cheryle and they will be sewing leggings for the dogs.

Today we got in a much longer run with the dogs. It was snowing and the dogs were breaking trail most of the run. I thought that I had packed a sandwich, but I left it in my bag back at the kennel...bummer. We went from lake to lake to lake. We snacked the dogs on the trail and headed back to the kennel. I enjoyed the new trails and I am sure that the dogs did too.

This evening was a sewing day. I finished up sewing the wristies that I had cut out. Now I just have to cut out the remaining pieces from the fabric that is left. I am trying to get something done each night for Iditarod drops.

GATHERING WITH FRIENDS

Linda and Larry Cline, proprietors of Gigglewood Lakeside Inn so graciously hosted a work party for Bob and I. It was a wonderful day spent sewing, powdering booties, packaging work gloves and socks, packaging booties and cooking and preparing meals. We became a neck warmer and wrist warmer factory. Such a good feeling to be getting things done. Dogs had a rest day...but not the mushers.

Bob was busy at the kennel taking care of my dogs as well as his, cutting meat, making drop chains, making the usual dump run and trip to the hardware store. A full day for both of us.

With thanks to Larry and Linda, we now have all of our meals for Iditarod safely in a freezer. That is such a good feeling.

42 DAYS UNTIL IDITAROD DROP BAGS ARE DUE

As you know, my mother passed away suddenly and this has bee a very difficult and emotional time for me. I would like to thank you for all the kind words and condolences that you have sent me. So many of you have share the passing of your parents with me and how time finds a way to heal the pain. My mother will forever be in my heart and I cherish my memories. She will be with me on the trail to Nome. I will run Iditarod in memory of my mother.

I would also like to take this time to again thank all of my sponsors...you are a part of the team...without you I couldn't do this. Again, I am so very appreciative for every part that you have played...the friends back home who helped with the Spaghetti Feed, those who helped with the fliers, website, post cards and slide presentations. Those who are sewing and those who have financially contributed by sponsoring a dog or filling the sled. I would also like to thank all those for the moral support you have given me to follow this dream.

Iditarod drops are just around the corner...Church friends have rescheduled our work party to this Friday. We will be cooking meals and FoodSaver sealing them, sewing leggings for the dogs, neck warmers and wrist warmers for Bob and Jan, powdering booties and packaging them.

I have had many offers from people asking if we can use any help. If you are a sewer and seriously have the time to sew, I can package up some fleece and a pattern and send it off to you.


Pastor Cheryl at our church has offered to powder all of our booties and package them. My friends Cecile, Frannie and Cheryle back in Washington are getting together to have a sewing day. We are so appreciative.

If you have Alaska airmiles that you don't know what to do with and you aren't using them...(I have no idea if they expire)...but we can put them to use flying the mushers and dogs back from Nome.

Just send me an email with your contact info and I will give you a call. jls.livingmydream@comcast.net

Thanks so much !

Jan

New Years Day...Back in Alaska

Well, I sure learned a lesson...when you leave Alaska in the winter and it is mild out (5 degrees) and you have traveled lightly...no long johns, regular street clothes, no hat, thin trouser socks...beware. At the time I didn't even think that it would be - 33 when I returned. At the time I don't think that I thought about anything...except getting to Seattle as soon as I could.

Thank goodness it is usually warmer in Anchorage. As I walked to my car in the long term parking lot I worried if my car would start. By the time I got to it, I couldn't feel my fingers. Thankfully my car started. Whew !

On the drive home, I stopped at Fred Meyer and 3 Bears. I had to chuckle as I placed 15 boxes of "UnCrustables" (individually wrapped frozen peanut butter and Jam sandwiches). Right now my Subaru is a mobile freezer. I just left all the bags of frozen food in the back of the car. I knew that they would have to stay outside as we just have the refrigerator freezer for our frozen foods.

My trip home was a whirl wind...and I had hoped to have the time to think and find items that would come in handy here. I did find one of my small headlamps and I brought back a bolt of fleece. We how have enough fleece to sew leggings for the dogs, face warmers for us, some wrist warmers for us, and we can line some dog coats and have left over for dog blankets.

Wishing you all a Happy New Year. Bob and Jan

LIFE IS SO VERY PRECIOUS....

Wednesday when Bob and I were at dinner, I called my father. I usually make phone calls when we are away from the house as our signal is so much better. My dad told me that he was at the hospital with mom and that she was being treated for pneumonia. I figured that all would be fine as they would put her on an antibiotic and perhaps she would have to stay the night. I called my dad back about 20 minutes later and he told me that she had had a heart attack. I couldn't believe it. She seemed fit as a fiddle, other than having Alzheimer's. Then with in the next half hour I was told that she was fighting for her life.

We drove home and with in a half hour I had a flight booked and I was driving to Anchorage. I made the 12:30 am flight and prayed that she would hold on until I arrived. Needless to say, it was a very emotional flight. When I arrived in Seattle I made the phone call...I was told that she died at 2:30. I was two hours too late. Because of training this was the first time that I didn't make it home for Christmas. I called my son and he consoled me. telling me that just a few days earlier when he was with her on Christmas Eve, she was so very happy. The grandkids then took her out to lunch that very Wednesday and they had a very nice time.

My sister from Rhode Island arrived that evening and we joined my brother and planned her memorial service. Her husband and my niece arrived Saturday morning just in time for her memorial service. Other relatives flew in from Florida, Colorado, and others drove down from Canada. It was so beautiful to see so many gathered at the church to celebrate her life. There were friends from when my parents were in high school. It was truly beautiful. Many stood and shared their memories of my mother.

I will miss her dearly. It comforts me knowing that her last days were surround by friends and family and that she was happy. It was so very hard to leave my family and return to Willow. I will run Iditarod in memory of my mom, June Steves.