Armchair Musher: Sebastian Schnuelle: The Push Up The Coast
Talking to Dallas on the ice, he was confident, that Aliy would now more focus on what is behind her.He was swift in his tasks, make sure every bootie is on, chickenfeet gaitors are on. The dogs left focused, Aaron Burmeisters old leader “Elim” in lead. Aaron is now in…
Out of Nowhere, Ramey Smyth Just 6 Miles Behind Iditarod Leaders
The Iditarod’s “blue collar musher” appears to be making a move.Ramey Smyth of Willow has nearly caught race frontrunners Dallas Seavey and Aliy Zirkle. Seavey, traveling at about 7.5 mph, is about 36 miles out of White Mountain, according to Iditarod GPS. Zirkle, in second, is just two miles behind…
On the Iditarod Trail, Recalling a Mom Named Susan Butcher
Deep in the subzero cold of Northwest Alaska’s frozen trails, a father is leading his two daughters in search of an Iditarod legend they can no longer touch, no longer hold. When Alaska lost one of its most celebrated Iditarod champions to cancer in 2006, David Monson and his children…
Inspired by John Baker, Young Native Mushers Make Their Mark
When Kotzebue musher John Baker won the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race last year, the popular racer rocketed to statewide fame by becoming its first Inupiat champion, a victory made sweeter because Baker was staggeringly fast, shattering the speed record.This year, Baker’s race doesn’t appear so smooth. Even so, he…
Iditarod demographics: Are they a’changing?
In a Facebook post about the end of his race on Sunday, Jeff King said that at least it should be fun to watch how the closely contested battle ends.The race appears to be a duel between 25-year-old Dallas Seavey, who is making a bid to become the Iditarod’s youngest…
Day 9: Seavey rips through Elim
Dallas Seavey blew through Elim ahead of Aliy Zirkle on Monday afternoon. He’s on his way to Golovin, 28 miles away.Seavey reached the checkpoint at 3:19 p.m. with 10 dogs. He left six minutes later, at 3:25, with nine dogs.At 3:51, Zirkle arrived. Sebastian Schnuelle, the veteran musher who is…
How the final miles to Nome should play out for Seavey, Zirkle, others
The hunter has become the hunted.Dallas Seavey completed a breakout run last night from Unalakleet to Koyuk, traveling the 90-mile distance 75 minutes faster (including rest stops) than Aliy Zirkle who is second. The two race leaders’ strategies varied on where they rested, but the end result was Dallas assuming…
First to Koyuk, Frosty Seavey Looks to Press His Advantage
Across the frozen sea they came, like low-slung stars flaring out from the night-black horizon, headlamps bobbing and weaving in the slow approach to hot coffee, food and sleep. Even before musher Dallas Seavey had a chance to thaw out his frost-covered eyelashes, he wanted to know was who was…
Watch Out Leaders, Here Comes Ramey Smyth
Start slow, finish fast. For years, that has been the style of Willow musher Ramey Smyth, and this year is no different. Smyth, 36, the runner-up last year to John Baker’s fastest Iditarod ever, started this year’s race at a sometime dawdling pace. He was 43rd in Finger Lake, 25th…
Day 9: Seavey’s Lead at 96 Minutes in Koyuk
Dallas Seavey led Aliy Zirkle by 96 minutes as the race hit Koyuk on Monday morning.Seavey reached Koyuk at 3:17 a.m. with 11 dogs.Zirkle got there at 4:53 with 12 dogs.Third-place Aaron Burmeister arrived at 6:43 with 12 dogs. He dropped two in Shaktoolik.Zirkle and Burmeister had faster run times…