Kelley Griffin
Quinn Iten
Tracey Schaeffer
Karl Leissner
Tracey Schaeffer
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Showing posts with label Kobuk 440. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kobuk 440. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Kobuk 440 Photos From Ambler
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Kelley Griffin
Quinn Iten
Tracey Schaeffer
Karl Leissner
Tracey Schaeffer
.
Kelley Griffin
Quinn Iten
Tracey Schaeffer
Karl Leissner
Tracey Schaeffer
.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Tracey's Kobuk 440 370
***My friend, Tracey Schaeffer, sent out this email describing her experiences during the Kobuk 440. She graciously gave me permission to repost it here*****
We took off in about 30 degrees with blowing snow from the east (right in our faces) which eventually became mixed rain and snow. Had a fast trip to Noorvik, which was a busy stop, lots of dog teams and people, lots of wringing out of soaking clothes. It was a bit stressful for my dogs and I ended up having a dog fight which fortunately wasn’t too serious. Took off for Selawik. The dogs ran really well, I couldn’t see a darn thing because the snow was thick and heavy and I was constantly wiping snow off my goggles and my head lamp so I could at least see some of my dogs. Got to Selawik and took care of the dogs, wrung out my clothes and tried to sleep a bit.
Next I took off for Ambler, a long stretch, 90 miles with one shelter cabin in the middle. The trail was wet, heavy and had been churned up by all the dog teams and snow machines that been in front of me. My dogs got more and more tired, but I was traveling with another musher, so I was cheering them on, kicking and running when I could. Finally, they just got tuckered out so we took a long rest and the other musher went on. After a long sleep they started to perk up and eat. We continued on the slow trail, resting when they needed and eating more and more. Finally the trail improved and we started moving better. We were winding through the trees and feeling good when we came upon a creek, full of water, slush and ice. Of course, the dogs (being far more intelligent beings than us) refused to go through. So, in I went, dragging the dogs a couple at a time across the water, which was up to my knees. Getting the sled out of the slush on the other side was tough, but eventually it came out, running a dog over in the process. My leaders that had fought in Noorvik decided that was a good time to fight again, so I had to break that up. We make it through that creek and the next one (I knew there were two). I change frozen dog booties and move along the trail…everyone was pretty perked up by this time! We then came to a small lake which, of course, was covered with water and slush. Got through that then I started noticing a lack of trail markers….hmmmm. I was seriously wondering if I had taken a wrong turn because it had snowed so much I had very little trail to follow. So I continued on and finally a snow machine came up and let me know that I was
9 miles outside of Ambler!!
In Ambler, I clomped around with frozen snowpants and boots (like everyone else), took care of the dogs, got a beautiful beaver cap for being the last musher into Ambler, and took a blissful two hour nap while all my gear flopped around in the drier of the bunk house we get to stay in. When I awoke I went out to feed the dogs and noticed that all the mushers coming back from the next stretch of trail ( a loop that leads back to
Ambler) were SOAKED again. Groan. I ate and took care of the dogs and was getting ready to head out when I got great news from the last musher to come in…. all the water was freezing. I was able to glide over the trail and see very clearly where everyone else had to plow through a couple of feet of overflow. Made it to Shungnak where I got a very cool neckwarmer for being the last musher in (sometimes it pays to be last). Headed to Kobuk where I got a really warm and wonderful reception, a great meal and headed back to Shungnak. My leaders were getting tired and confused, so it was a lot of stopping and going, but we finally made it to Shungnak ( much to the relief of the very tired checker!) and then to Ambler.
In Ambler, I see Ozzie and Bianca, two Norwegian girls that are working for one of my neighbors, the Itens. They are having leader problems and tired dogs, too and want to scratch. We decide to travel together, since we know by now we won’t make it to the finish line in time to be an actual finisher for the race. We travel though beautiful country on an amazing day (about 2 degrees, sunny and no wind) and get to the shelter cabin half way between Ambler and Kiana, where we overnighted, enjoying ourselves. We wake up in the morning to 20 below temperatures and head to Kiana. A snow machine met us about an hour after we took off with coffee and juice.
About 10 miles outside of Kiana Chuck pulls up and we visit with him and let him know we think we should fly home out of Kiana; my mom is only here for a few more days and the Itens are heading to Hawaii, so we all need to get home. Besides, we say, we are actually running the Kobuk 370, the Least Great Race. When we arrive in Kiana, Chuck had set up the charters and we had time to eat and get on the planes. We flew into Kotz where a friend was waiting with dog boxes to pick us up.
So while I didn’t finish, I did exactly what I wanted to do…I learned a lot about my dogs and dog care and myself. I also got to spend time with great people and their dogs, where as I spend a great deal of time alone with my dogs. So I’m happy, I’m proud of my yearlings that did a ton of growing up in the last few days and I’m very thankful for all the great help and support along the trail.
I can’t wait until next year!!!!
Tracey
***If you would like to learn more about Tracey and her family you may visit them at Iviq Adventures
We took off in about 30 degrees with blowing snow from the east (right in our faces) which eventually became mixed rain and snow. Had a fast trip to Noorvik, which was a busy stop, lots of dog teams and people, lots of wringing out of soaking clothes. It was a bit stressful for my dogs and I ended up having a dog fight which fortunately wasn’t too serious. Took off for Selawik. The dogs ran really well, I couldn’t see a darn thing because the snow was thick and heavy and I was constantly wiping snow off my goggles and my head lamp so I could at least see some of my dogs. Got to Selawik and took care of the dogs, wrung out my clothes and tried to sleep a bit.
Next I took off for Ambler, a long stretch, 90 miles with one shelter cabin in the middle. The trail was wet, heavy and had been churned up by all the dog teams and snow machines that been in front of me. My dogs got more and more tired, but I was traveling with another musher, so I was cheering them on, kicking and running when I could. Finally, they just got tuckered out so we took a long rest and the other musher went on. After a long sleep they started to perk up and eat. We continued on the slow trail, resting when they needed and eating more and more. Finally the trail improved and we started moving better. We were winding through the trees and feeling good when we came upon a creek, full of water, slush and ice. Of course, the dogs (being far more intelligent beings than us) refused to go through. So, in I went, dragging the dogs a couple at a time across the water, which was up to my knees. Getting the sled out of the slush on the other side was tough, but eventually it came out, running a dog over in the process. My leaders that had fought in Noorvik decided that was a good time to fight again, so I had to break that up. We make it through that creek and the next one (I knew there were two). I change frozen dog booties and move along the trail…everyone was pretty perked up by this time! We then came to a small lake which, of course, was covered with water and slush. Got through that then I started noticing a lack of trail markers….hmmmm. I was seriously wondering if I had taken a wrong turn because it had snowed so much I had very little trail to follow. So I continued on and finally a snow machine came up and let me know that I was
9 miles outside of Ambler!!
In Ambler, I clomped around with frozen snowpants and boots (like everyone else), took care of the dogs, got a beautiful beaver cap for being the last musher into Ambler, and took a blissful two hour nap while all my gear flopped around in the drier of the bunk house we get to stay in. When I awoke I went out to feed the dogs and noticed that all the mushers coming back from the next stretch of trail ( a loop that leads back to
Ambler) were SOAKED again. Groan. I ate and took care of the dogs and was getting ready to head out when I got great news from the last musher to come in…. all the water was freezing. I was able to glide over the trail and see very clearly where everyone else had to plow through a couple of feet of overflow. Made it to Shungnak where I got a very cool neckwarmer for being the last musher in (sometimes it pays to be last). Headed to Kobuk where I got a really warm and wonderful reception, a great meal and headed back to Shungnak. My leaders were getting tired and confused, so it was a lot of stopping and going, but we finally made it to Shungnak ( much to the relief of the very tired checker!) and then to Ambler.
In Ambler, I see Ozzie and Bianca, two Norwegian girls that are working for one of my neighbors, the Itens. They are having leader problems and tired dogs, too and want to scratch. We decide to travel together, since we know by now we won’t make it to the finish line in time to be an actual finisher for the race. We travel though beautiful country on an amazing day (about 2 degrees, sunny and no wind) and get to the shelter cabin half way between Ambler and Kiana, where we overnighted, enjoying ourselves. We wake up in the morning to 20 below temperatures and head to Kiana. A snow machine met us about an hour after we took off with coffee and juice.
About 10 miles outside of Kiana Chuck pulls up and we visit with him and let him know we think we should fly home out of Kiana; my mom is only here for a few more days and the Itens are heading to Hawaii, so we all need to get home. Besides, we say, we are actually running the Kobuk 370, the Least Great Race. When we arrive in Kiana, Chuck had set up the charters and we had time to eat and get on the planes. We flew into Kotz where a friend was waiting with dog boxes to pick us up.
So while I didn’t finish, I did exactly what I wanted to do…I learned a lot about my dogs and dog care and myself. I also got to spend time with great people and their dogs, where as I spend a great deal of time alone with my dogs. So I’m happy, I’m proud of my yearlings that did a ton of growing up in the last few days and I’m very thankful for all the great help and support along the trail.
I can’t wait until next year!!!!
Tracey
***If you would like to learn more about Tracey and her family you may visit them at Iviq Adventures
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Kobuk 440 Start Pics
**If you are looking for Kobuk 440 results, finish photos, and photos from the Mushers banquet they can be found a couple of posts down**
I have had a few requests for pics from the start of the 440. Unfortunately I was in Anchorage during the start and was not able to photograph it. I was able to find someone who did take photos and she was nice enought to let me post them here (thanks Wendy). So here's what I have........
I have had a few requests for pics from the start of the 440. Unfortunately I was in Anchorage during the start and was not able to photograph it. I was able to find someone who did take photos and she was nice enought to let me post them here (thanks Wendy). So here's what I have........
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Kobuk 440 Results
We had some finishers today for the Kobuk 440. It was nice of the leaders to come in while it was light out so I could take pictures. I do not have the overall times for the whole race but it started on April 3rd at 4:40pm. If you want the overall time you'll have to do the math yourself.
First in was John Baker of Kotzebue. I just barely made it there in time to take these photos.
He came in at 11:38 AM.
Second was Mike Jayne. He came in at 12:36 PM.
Third was Martin Buser of Big Lake, AK. His came in at 1:18 PM.
Buser and Baker swap race stories.
The officials check Buser's sled bag for manditory items.
Fourth was Ken Anderson of Fairbanks, AK.
He came in at 3:06 PM.
Fifth was Hugh Neff of Skagway, AK. His dogs ran right up to me and stopped right at my feet. He came in at 3:15 PM.
Hugh and Libby Riddles catching up and talking dogs.
Sixth was Eric Sieh of Kotzebue.
He came in at 4:28 PM.
Seventh was Sebastian Schnuelle of Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada.
He came in at 4:46 PM.
So that's all I got. I was thoroughly refrigerated by the time Sebastian came in so I led him and his dogs back to where they were staying and helped him take booties off. Sebastian said the warm weather the first couple days was really rough. The rain soaked the mushers and the trail was slop. He said he hit water heading out of Kobuk. Had to wade through water up past mid thigh. When the weather cooled the going got better.
8th in was Louie Nelson at 5:13 PM
9th in was Brian Mills at 5:21 PM
10th in was Michelle Phillips at 5:45 PM
11th in was Ed Iten at 7:09 PM
I hope to have the photos and results for the 3rd day of the Arctic Circle Championship posted tomorrow but I can tell you now that Terry Streeper was 1st overall and Kornmuller was 2nd.
First in was John Baker of Kotzebue. I just barely made it there in time to take these photos.
He came in at 11:38 AM.
Second was Mike Jayne. He came in at 12:36 PM.
Third was Martin Buser of Big Lake, AK. His came in at 1:18 PM.
Buser and Baker swap race stories.
The officials check Buser's sled bag for manditory items.
Fourth was Ken Anderson of Fairbanks, AK.
He came in at 3:06 PM.
Fifth was Hugh Neff of Skagway, AK. His dogs ran right up to me and stopped right at my feet. He came in at 3:15 PM.
Hugh and Libby Riddles catching up and talking dogs.
Sixth was Eric Sieh of Kotzebue.
He came in at 4:28 PM.
Seventh was Sebastian Schnuelle of Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada.
He came in at 4:46 PM.
So that's all I got. I was thoroughly refrigerated by the time Sebastian came in so I led him and his dogs back to where they were staying and helped him take booties off. Sebastian said the warm weather the first couple days was really rough. The rain soaked the mushers and the trail was slop. He said he hit water heading out of Kobuk. Had to wade through water up past mid thigh. When the weather cooled the going got better.
8th in was Louie Nelson at 5:13 PM
9th in was Brian Mills at 5:21 PM
10th in was Michelle Phillips at 5:45 PM
11th in was Ed Iten at 7:09 PM
I hope to have the photos and results for the 3rd day of the Arctic Circle Championship posted tomorrow but I can tell you now that Terry Streeper was 1st overall and Kornmuller was 2nd.
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