Thursday Musher's Meeting

Signing trail mail 

Lunch with my Iditarider, Gillian

I was wondering who my Iditarider was.  The surprising thing is that we met on the trail last year in Galena.  She met Angie on the trail as a volunteer.  I had no idea that she was bidding on my sled.  We are going to have a fabulous ride on Saturday for the Ceremonial Start.  Below is a picture of us in Galena, Iditarod 2012.  

Introducing Guest Blogger, CindyK

Hello everyone. I’m CindyK. Jan has invited me to be a guest blogger while she is on her way to Nome (Go, Jan!!! Go dogs!!!) and has suggested I practice blogging before she leaves by introducing myself. So here goes:


Jan and I have been friends for about 20 years. We share a passion for sled dogs and for the outdoors, although Jan takes these things to the extreme in comparison. I love hiking and snowshoeing with dogs, but don’t really even enjoy car camping, much less packing all my stuff onto a sled and heading off into the extremes of Alaska’s winter weather for a two week trip! Many years before we met, I sat down and made a list of all the things I could think of that I wanted to experience during my lifetime. That list has directed my life in amazing ways! Number 86 (of 164) on my list was “travel to Alaska for the Iditarod.” Little did I know I would fulfill my dream in 2012, while watching my friend Jan fulfill her dream of actually racing the Iditarod! The universe is generous like that. So many of these “dreams” have come true for me that I highly recommend you make your own “bucket list” and then by all means live it!

So what is there to do for an Iditarod spectator the week before the race? TONS of stuff. The Iditarod comes at the tail end of a week long winter festival affectionately called Fur Rondy. Hockey, dog sled races, footraces, photo contests, snow sculpture carving…it’s a fun-packed week! They even have a carnival going down along the waterfront. I couldn’t quite wrap my mind around riding a Ferris wheel when the temperatures were hovering below 20 degrees in the daytime. And who would eat a snow cone at those temperatures?! Alaskans, apparently! I guess it’s all about wearing the appropriate clothing.

One thing I did last year with my travel buddies Kathleen and Patti was drive from Anchorage to Willow for a visit with Jan and her dogs. Mushers Jan and Bob generously spent most of one day entertaining us, feeding us lunch, and answering all 1037+ of our questions about dogs, mushing, Alaska in winter, etc. I found out that snowshoers and cross country skiers actually like each other and share trails in Alaska - not so here in Washington! There was a record amount of snowfall last year, so much that the dog houses were completely buried and the dogs had to scramble down into their warm straw-filled dens. We had planned a sled ride, but there was a mama moose and baby in the neighborhood, so it really wasn’t safe to just mush on down the driveway. That left us with more time for snacking the dogs and taking pictures. One of my favorites is of me on the sled runners, which brings me to the main point of today’s blog entry. Do you have any idea what it is like to stand on the runners of a moving sled?

It feels to me a bit like water skiing in the wake of a boat in choppy water, except the skis are much much narrower. Similar balance issues. Similar “handle” out front. Similar unpredictable bumps and twists and turns. But imagine water skiing for 1000 miles! At sub-zero temperatures! And there is no one in the sled ready to turn it around if you fall off. Emphasis on the sub-zero temperatures if you fall off and the sled runs away with the dogs. Not exactly a nursery rhyme out there! No thank you! I will forever remain a spectator in THIS race! Until tomorrow…..



Kathleen, Patti (in a perfect Fur Rondy hat), CindyK, Jan,
and Bob pose for the camera





CindyK on the runners of Jan's sled - see all those bumps of
snow in the background? There are dog houses under there!





The team is eager to meet us



Jan snacking the dogs

Thanks Jackie Leake for JOINING THE TEAM !

The racing "Fur Ball".

Just want to thank you so much Jackie for
sponsoring me again this year!
Jimmy

Thanks Randy for JOINING THE TEAM!

THANKS FOR SPONSORING ME RANDY.   HAPPY TRAILS, RED.

A SHOVELING WE WILL GO...

This morning we loaded up the sled and headed over to Happy Trails Kennel, Martin Buser's.  We un-buried two dog boxes and loaded them up on the trailer with the sled and off to Anchorage we went.  Got to Northern Air Cargo and go the shock of my week (can't say life).  I was quoted .25/pound for shipping costs.  When I got there they told me that it was .70/pound to Nome plus a 36% surcharge and tax.  Then it would be .25/pound for the return plus the surcharge and tax.  Over $1,300.00  OUCH ! ! !

Picked up a few things that we needed on the way.  We will be making more neck and tug lines tonight.  Can you believe it?  I found out that I have a chewer.  For 3 weeks  Turbo hasn't chewed a thing.  After yesterday's run he chewed the front end hook's two neck lines and also another snow hook line.  Hmmm....wondering what Turbo is going to do when he is on our 24 hour layover and two 8 hour ones.   I will be armed with a chain for him.  I have a cable gang line so that is not a worry, but eating everyone's tug and neck lines are a pain in the rear.

Will be busy sewing a few more fox tails and mending some harnesses for Angie.  Hoping to make a pouch for my sled bag, but may not have the time.

All in all, a great day.  Time is ticking!!!

IDITAROWS....

 I am ready for the ravages of Iditarod...that leave your long hair a twisted tangled mess...never to be combed out again.   Last year I thought that I might have to buzz cut my hair.  So...this year I decided to be proactive.

Saturday was spent in Wasilla for last minute needs.  I guess you could say that I am ready from the top of my head to the tip of my toes.  Stopped in for a spa pedicure to get my feet ready for 1100 miles.  At least they will be happy feet for the start!  

CAMPING TRIP

Betty and Turbo in lead

We took off somewhere around 8pm on a roughly 100 mile camping trip with the dogs. I have a 14 dog team, with Betty and Turbo in lead. We camped on the Susitna River around 2am, fed the dogs soaked kible and Eureka Power and then snacked them with lamb and tripe. As for the mushers, I dined on chili and Bob had tuna noodle casserole.   Around 3:30, I was able to sleep for about two hours on the straw pile with wheel dogs, Kevin and Chef (who kept me company). We woke up at 5am and got back on the trail. It's dawn, so we have no headlamps now; we shut them off.  The dogs are doing fantastic.   We've been enjoying our snack bags that were prepared by Amy from Georgia – one of our sponsors – who sent us each a box full of snacks for the trail. We had some extras, so we're using them on our training runs. We shipped the rest of those snacks out in our drop bags and will enjoy them while on the Iditarod.

 Drinking tea and enjoying a snack while waiting for the cooker to melt snow and bring the water to a boil.  I put my food saver sealed meal pouch into the water to heat.  Then I fish it out and enjoy!   When the water is boiling I will pour it over the frozen meat that is in the cooler.  I will then put the lid on it and let it thaw.  Then I add the kibble and feed the dogs.

Kevin, Chef and Jan

Bob's Team 

It's been snowing the whole time, and the dogs have been breaking trail and working hard. We have not seen one dog team, we've seen no snow machines, no dog teams... nobody. It's just Bob's team and my team.

Check out my website, www.jansteves.com, for more about the dog team, my sponsors and much more!

The information in this post was transcribed from a live phone call with Jan from the trail.  Transcription and blog administration are courtesy of Kate MG and Andrew W.
Photos were added after Jan returned to the kennel.

GO PRO CAMERA

If there is anyone out there who is a techie...and has time to research the Go Pro Camera that is mounted on a head strap.  I am looking for the best bang for your buck and the smallest light weight.  Price is a biggie.  I would just love to catch some of the daylight runs on Iditarod.  I have no idea the temps this year, but last year it was so cold -30's to -50 degrees) and I really didn't take many pictures on the trail.  You just don't want to take your hands out of your gloves.   I most likely don't need all the bells and whistles...but would like to know the options.  Thanks !  

Welcome to my Journey!

If you are from my brother, Rick Steves" blog, welcome to my journey...Iditarod 2013.  There are no European style museums or fancy food where we are going.  Our accommodations-sleeping on straw on the snow- make Rick's budget hotels seem like palaces.  But, we mushers would have it no other way.

The clock is ticking and it is just 9 days until the start.  My biggest challenge will be running the race post knee injury, just 6 weeks out.  I have been off the runners for 4 weeks resting and rehabbing the knee.  Good for the knee, but not for me physically.  This race is incredibly demanding and you have to give it your all and more.  What amazed me last year on Iditarod 2012 was how I found that "more".  We are far more capable than we think we are.

Today will be the 5th day back on a sled.  After physical therapy this morning we will gear up for a camping trip with the dogs...probably 100 miles.  This gives both the musher and the dog team a chance to practice their camping skills.  Efficiency is everything.  The more I have my routine down the better.  It has to become second nature.

Trying to find the time to have my hair done into cornrow braids.  It's either that or I will have unintentional dreadlocks by the finish of the race.

Again, thanks for following my blog and welcome to a ride of a lifetime!  Stay tuned for updates on the past few runs and the ones yet to come.  Next blog...Moose on the trail!

IDITARIDER

Just wondering if my Iditarider is following my blog.   I would love to know who you are.  My curiosity is really getting the best of me.  Please feel free to contact me if you would like.  I am looking forward to the Ceremonial Start and having you share my sled.   Hope it is an experience of a lifetime for you.  Wondering if you have ever been to a Ceremonial Start or Re-Start for that matter.  Wondering if you have ever ridden in a sled.  In any event, I look forward to meeting you.

THANKS JUDI WORLEY FOR JOINING THE TEAM!

Roan sends a big thank you to Judi for sponsoring him.  Roan is such a sweet dog.  So very lovable and yet a very hard worker.  He is quite strong and has a nice pull.  He is really good natured and gets along well with all the dogs.  He is one of the dogs from Ted English.  Roan has made it to Nome, but it was on the Serum Run.   This year it will be serious business...all the way to Nome Roan!   Jan also sends a big thank you!

OH...HAPPY DAYYYYY !

Started the day off with Physical therapy 8 AM.  Then drove to O'Reilly Auto parts to hook up my car to a computer to see why the check engine light went on.  Sometimes timing just amuses me.  There is no time for anything to go wrong between now and Iditarod.  I have all I can do to get us to the start.

Back on the sled after 4 weeks of R & R.  Well OK, I guess it wasn't really R & R, but it was 4 weeks off the sled.   It was so good to be back out with the dogs.   The knee did really well.  I am so happy. Thank you for for all your prayers and continued prayers.  I have been praying and praising God throughout this whole healing process.  My recovery has been remarkable compared to how it was 4 weeks ago.

10 dog team going around Almond Lake

Down on the good knee, Left knee in my brace.  

Bob took this pic of me and the dogs just onto Lucky Shot trail.  Arnie and Turbo in lead.  I think the dogs were as happy as I was to be back out together on the sled.  We ended up doing a 26 mile run.  That was good for the first time out.  The plan was to run really short, but  I knew as soon as I took off out of the kennel and drove down "Suicide Hill" that I was going to be OK.  We then altered our route taking us over a road with a good drop onto the trail and all was well.  Then we decided to head to Willow Swamp for a few more miles.  Knee handled everything.

When you are on sled runners there is so much time to think...thoughts were just racing through my head.  What will it be like day after day on the trail....will the knee hold up?  Just got to get to Nikolai with my knee and I should be OK....How will it do on the side hilling?  Will the swelling get worse?  Can we get more of the swelling down in the next two weeks?  How will the brace feel on my knee after days of 24/7...when it is tender on the outside of my knee now?

Being around the dogs is what may be more dangerous for my knee than anything...in their excitement they sometimes come crashing into you.  After the run when I was back in the Kennel, Chef banged right up against my bad knee.  Luckily it was a head on and not from the side.

Elevate and Ice...and sleep.

HOME TO FINISH THE NON MEAT DROP BAGS

Well, after the meat cutting and bagging and drop bag stuffing, I got home at 7 pm. I knew that this would be an 'ALL NIGHTER'.   The kibble bags were already done and loaded into the trailer.

The drop bags were laid out in the tent garage and then the items were placed on the top of each bag.  After carefully checking and rechecking, the bags were filled and then tied and placed into the waiting trailer.


Each drop bag got a bag of booties, a glove bag, a sock bag, a chemical warmer bag, neck warmers.  Some drop bags got two of each.  Neck lines, tug lines, foot ointment, algeval, additional clothing, were placed onto designated bags.  It is quite a process and hopefully we didn't miss anything.  Buddy arrived at about 7 AM and  helped with the assembly line process and loading everything into the trailer.   Then it was off to Mat Valley meats to load up the meat bags.  Then off to Anchorage.

View from inside the trailer looking out the back door.  The bags on the left side are mine, the ones on the ride, Bob's.  You can see the volunteers ready to take and weigh each bag, and then tag them.  

Buddy offloading bags from the trailer.  

Volunteers taking each bag and weighing them.

Volunteers lined up to then take the bags to the designated check point pallets.  What a process!
Then it is time to head to the accountant and find out how many pounds we dropped off and pay for shipping.

Drop bags done....what a huge relief!   

PHASE TWO...ASSEMBLING THE DOG MEAT DROP BAGS

As fast as we were bagging the meat, we would push a cart full of bagged meat out to the conex.  Here you can see garbage cans full of bagged cut up meat...each can has a designated meat snack.  

The Eureka Power was bagged in Target shopping bags.  Here we have 8+ pounds/ bags.  These will be used for meal time on the trail.

Here we have bags of Hi Pro for snacking on the trail.  They were marked with a fat blue scribble across the fronts of each bag.  That way we can easily tell the difference between the Power and the Hi Pro.  

The fun begins...Here I am with a drop bag and now we will put the designated amount of meat in that bag.  Each bag will have a minimum of Power, Hi Pro, and assorted snacks.  On our master list, I know which check points need additional meat, kibble and snacks.    After the bags are filled they are tied shut and put back in the conex to stay frozen "Rock Hard".  

MEAT CUTTING AT MAT VALLEY MEATS

Again it was an early morning rise...going through the check list to be sure that everything we need for meat cutting and bagging will be with us.  

Target shopping bags, check.  Permanent markers, check.  Ziploc bags and more Ziploc bags, check.  Hand held scale, check.  Drop Bags, check. Master List of meat distribution for each check point, check.  Hand and toe warmers, check.  Box with coffee thermos, hot chocolate, sandwiches, granola bars, and juice, check.  Hand sanitizers, check.  Para cord and zip ties  check.  My head...thank goodness it is attached to my body, check!

I get to Mat Valley meats just before 10 am.  Scheduled cutting time...10 AM.  Mary and Leslie arrive and I am immediately relieved.  I am so grateful for their help.  Again, we couldn't have done this on our own.  

The assembly line...one butcher...four baggers.  It was all we could do to keep up!  It was a pleasure working together with great people.  Even though we were on a time crunch...we managed to have a fun time.  

Oh boy, did we all smell after this.  Here Mary and Leslie are bagging snacks for the dogs.  They will be snacked salmon, tripe, chicken skins, Hi Pro, lamb, and ground turkey skins.  

More meat in waiting...That is Hi Pro.  Break time for the Butcher...while we catch up with the bagging.

Our butcher was so wonderful to work with.  He made meat cutting easy.  Right now he is cutting up 200 pounds of lamb for snacks on the trail.  He also cut up 200 pounds of ground turkey skins, 50 pounds of chicken skins, 50 pounds of tripe, 650 pounds of Power, and 300 pounds of Hi Pro.   We cut up 1400 pounds of meat today.  

Mary and I getting ready to bag Eureka Power for dog meals on the trail.  Then we will bag Hi Pro which will be snacked out on the trail.  

 THE WORK HORSE

A JOB WELL DONE....

WHAT'S BEHIND DOOR NUMBER ONE?

ALL OF OUR MEAT SAFELY IN A FREEZER CONEX AT MAT VALLEY MEATS

How many trips does it take in a Subaru Forester to get all your dog meat and people food to Mat Valley Meats in Wasilla?   Far too many !

This year we had everything in one location for our food drops.  Schedule wise we were doing great.  We had a tent garage to work out of and we had all of our meat here at the kennel, with all of our freezers full.  But that left about 3/4 of a ton of meat buried in the snow.  With the temperatures above freezing at the critical time of meat cutting we had no choice but to haul the meat to town.  Now we would be assembling drops in two different places...which is a logistical nightmare and not to mention, way more time intensive.   If the temperatures hadn't warmed up, we would have had all of our meat cut up and here at the kennel.

I took at least 6 trips with my car filled up to weight capacity to Mat Valley Meats.  I figure that I spent at a minimum, 12 hours of driving and 6 hours time spent loading and unloading.   That was 18 hours of unplanned work just to keep our meat in a frozen state.  That meant that I had 18 fewer hours available to spend on getting our drop bags and other work done.   This was not good.  I am now working well behind my schedule.  And to make matters worse, our meat was scheduled to be cut up on Tuesday,  the day before drops were due.  We were just so grateful that Mat Valley Meats was able to cut up our meat.

I joke and say that I am in training for Iditarod, right now I am training for sleep deprivation.

MOOSE ROAST AND TWO MOVIES

Last night for dinner we had a moose roast that had slowed cooked all day.  YUMMMMM!   While we bagged kibble we watched a movie.   We figured out our plan for getting our drop bags done.  I have a 7:30 Physical Therapy appointment in town and I will haul 600 pounds of meat to drop off at Mat Valley Meats.

Bob and Mary will each take out two teams and run short.  Most likely I will head back to Wasilla to deliver another load of cut up meat to Mat Valley and put into the freezer connex...will be bagged Tuesday. 

SUNDAY AND RAIN....

We woke up this morning and it was raining...temperatures were at 36 degrees.  Not good for our meat that was just cut last night.  Thankfully we only had 100 pounds there.   We were supposed to drop off 600 more pounds to get cut up this morning, but we are going to wait...too warm.  Temps are supposed to drop to 12 degrees tonight.   So....we will see.

Snow slid off our roof, so we had to get out there with the snowblower to remove it or it would have frozen into a mountain along side the house.

10:30 and it is looking like a winter wonderland...swirling snow like in a snow globe.  Dogs are feeling a bit frisky and Betty and Magic are playing together.  Betty is sure a nice addition to the kennel.

We managed to get all of our musher food bags into a freezer and also all of the meat that we have here in a freezer.  Whew!

Still trying to figure how we will get all of our stuff down to Wasilla to assemble drop bags.

Well, we are off to church and then will return to bag kibble and continue to work on our personal stuff to put together for the trail.

First Choice Physical Therapy

Had a great sesson with Jeff at First Choice Physical Therapy. Things are really looking good. I am so optimistic. I am still not back on a sled, but I have more exercises added to my list. I am really glad that I ended up at First Choice...I am getting excellent care and special attention because of my musher status. I had the most exciting surprise today in session. Deanna came in with a check to sponsor my team for iditarod. I was elated as it comes at a time when everything is hitting us.

I would like to thank you Jeff and Deana LePage so very much for sponsoring me today.   It means so much.  We couldn't make it to Nome without the support of our sponsors. 

After physical therapy, I off loaded my car of frozen cases of meat. Then back home to pick up 9 bags of cut up meat. They were put into freezers at home to freeze "rock hard". I am hoping that later today I will be able to bag them up into gallon ziploc bags, for dog snacks along the trail.

I also hope to get all of our musher food bags for each checkpoint done. If I get this done soon enough, I will run them into Wasilla. If not, I will run them in Monday morning. Can you tell that when drop bags are done and delivered to Anchorage there will be a HUGE celebration? It is a HUGE relief to have that all behind us.

While I have been writing this blog entry, I have iced my knee and then heated my knee. Now I will put on my layers and head out to sort through the people food that we have been preparing since November.  I will bag up meals for each checkpoint and have them ready to put into our drop bags.

MORNING CAME FAR TOO EARLY....

Up way too late last night.   Lesson number one on Drop Bag Week....Never invite people to come in...we ended up chatting away the evening and then before we knew it, it was late.  Everything on my list to do was not going to get done that evening.  To bed at 1 AM,  Up at 5:30 AM.  UGH!

Actually iced and then heated my knee this morning.  Now it is 6:30 and I am off to my 7:30 Physical Therapy appointment and it is snowing hard . 

WORK PARTY DAY

Linda putting together our drink bags

Well, 6am and I am on the couch heating my knee.  Buddy, Cindy and Linda are coming out this morning and we are going to bag kibble, gloves,  meals, and drinks for the trail.

Update:

Well, we got so much done.  I would like to thank Buddy, Cindy and Linda so much for helping.  We bagged all the kibble that we had.  (Figures, we got a delivery later that evening.)   I have 40 bags yet to fill.

Zip lock bags were notched, socks were matched and bagged, gloves were matched and bagged.  Banana chips were bagged.   Far more than I could have ever gotten done in a day.  It was also fun just being together. 

Amber was right in the mix of things when the kibble was being bagged.  She scarfed up any kibble that fell to the ground. 

Amber checking things out

A little closer

Amber thinking that she can sneak in from behind...

Kibble bagged for the race...ready to put into the drop bag
(still need to bag 40 more bags of kibble)

With the temperatures rising and the risk of all the meat thawing, the decision was made that I would rush a car full of meat to Mat Valley Meats in Wasilla.  I had just enough time to get there before closing to unload my meat into their freezer conex.  The plan is that I will take a load into town in the morning after my physical therapy appointment.

Snack Bags ready for the trail

 Note to Amy Young, Georgia:   Bob returned from the post office today and brought in your two boxes of snack bags for the trail.  Thank you So Much Amy.  They are wonderful and we will enjoy them on the trail and think of you.  I really appreciate the time and effort and expense that you gave to us to support us on the trail.  Bob and I both send our thanks.  I also noticed that some of them have messages written.  That will be fun for on the trail...I am going to put the ones with messages into checkpoints where we may encounter the toughest conditions.

Close up of a snack bag.  These were put together by Amy.
 We added a peanut butter sandwich to them and a hand sanitizer.
This snack bag has a message from Amy for me to read along the trail.
So very cool !