If you were watching Anna’s GPS tracker, intent on seeing her and the dogs into Nome, am I right when I say those last couple of miles were the longest miles ever? They were worse than football minutes… when there’s three and a half minutes on the clock, but 37 minutes and another beer later, you’re still in front of the tv?! I think those were some of the longer miles I have armchair mushed as Seeing Double’s Mad Blogger.
It was well worth the wait, though. Sun shining, plumes of frosty breath coming from fans lining the chute, my app reported -1F in Nome with only a light breeze. Sitting in Wisconsin with our Mom and my dog, Otis, we saw Kristy walk into view. Laughed when she and her husband, Andy, waved and later took a selfie.
And finally, Anna’s dogs in their light green Musher dog jackets, came into view. Anna mushed up the remainder of Front Street, made sure her lead dogs crossed under the burled arch, set her snow hooks, and after 10 days, 22 hours, 24 minutes, and 1 second, was in Nome. 21st place.
When Anna got off her sled and gave Kristy a big hug, I’ll admit it, I was on the verge of choking up. I know Anna missed sharing this journey with her twin. Meanwhile, Kristy could imagine exactly - literally, exactly - what Anna was going through out there. As I wrote these posts, I missed knowing they were traveling together. They’re perfectly capable on their own. But the force is particularly strong when they’re together. So seeing them together again felt pretty darn good. I’m sure all of their family, friends, and fans felt the same.
Watching the live feed, in addition to Anna and Kristy’s monster embrace, I very much loved seeing the dogs and how happy they looked. Lots of wagging tails, at least one dog plopped into the snow and did a happy “powder sugar roll”. Anna promptly went to each dog after hugging Kristy, lavishing them with praise. They certainly earned it! And the snacks that followed. I think both twins were handing out frozen chunks of beef and fish, and I saw more than one dog double dip.
The eight dogs going the full 975 race miles with Anna include Mayhem and Havoc, who lead the way into Nome, Shoshanna, Astro, Platinum, Rampage, Trout, and Elmer. The other eight ~ Maverick, Ruckus, Albert, Zwickel, Anvik, Rocky, Fog, and Diego are all home at the kennel and doing great. Yes, Diego is actually already back at the kennel. He had a chance to hop an Iditarod Air Force flight from Unalakleet right back to Anchorage and then a ride to the kennel, and that made more sense than detouring through Nome.
Bottom line, all the dogs are healthy and either with the twins in Nome or home at the kennel (or the kennel they were loaned from in one or two instances).
Back to the burled arch… Before a finisher can really drop the mic, so to speak, he or she has to check off mandatory gear items with officials. This includes an arctic sleeping bag, an axe, snowshoes, some Iditarod promotional material (trail mail and tokens), 8 booties per dog (2 pair each), a cooker and pot, enough fuel (HEET) to boil water in the aforementioned, a vet book, a non-chafing harness for each dog, and an insulated dog coat for each dog. Additional specifications go with each item. I haven’t learned what yet, but one item on that list seemed to really be hiding in Anna’s sled bag. It apparently got settled, but I’ll be curious to learn what she was digging around for!
With that sorted, Anna hopped back on her sled. I think Kristy ran in front to help guide them down to their parking spot in the dog lot. I learned that Kristy had all the dogs beds set up. The sky kennels they use to fly the dogs home can easily be split in half, and the lower half gets lined with fresh straw. The dogs can bask in the sun, nap, get their regular meals. The two times I have been to the finish in Nome, the dog lot is my very favorite place to be.
It requires credentials, though, and is closely watched. Veterinary and volunteer eyes on high alert. But with the dogs settled, fed, and secured on a line, the twins can finally rest and catch up. I think there may have been pizza involved. And I know Anna will sleep very, very well. Oh, and a nice hot shower.
She won’t sleep too long, though. She’s pretty trail hardened at this point. And the urge to check on her dogs every few hours will keep her from totally crashing. I believe they have arrangements to fly the dogs home Friday or Saturday, and then the finishers banquet is Sunday before they catch the next available flight home themselves.
New fans might feel like I’m about to close the curtain for this year, but fear not! It has been my tradition since this Mad Blogger’s first year in 2012. I will not close the blog until the final musher, our 2024 Red Lantern, is safely into Nome.
Which, lucky for you, isn’t too terribly long. After Anna arrived early Thursday afternoon in 21st, she was followed by three rookies ~ Will Rhodes, Lara Kittleson, and Anna Hennessy. A name I’ve mentioned before, rookie Bryce Mumford, ended up scratching in Unalakleet after a long slog on that long stretch from Kaltag. He had 12 dogs in harness and I’m happy to say they were all reported in good health. Bryce is from Idaho and on behalf of Seeing Double, this Mad Blogger wishes him and his dogs safe and swift travels back to their home kennel.
With 24 into Nome and our scratch tally growing to 8, we have 6 mushers still on the trail to Nome. They’re all rookies. One is out of White Mountain, three are in WM, and two are making their way from Elim. Sean Williams and Joshua Robbins are our current Red Lanterns with 93 miles to the finish.
Before I finish this post, I have two other noteworthy things to report. First - and I think this is HUGE - for the first time in 52 years of the Iditarod, four women made the Top 10 this year. Paige Drobny claimed 5th, Mille Porsild 7th, Amanda Otto took 8th, and Jessie Royer rounded it out in 10th. That is just outstanding! Well done, ladies. Well done.
Another woman who deserves some mad props is rookie Josi Thyr of Fairbanks, Alaska. She earned 2024 Rookie of the Year when she crossed under the burled arch in 15th place and with 10 dogs in under 10 days and 7 hours. Congrats, Josi!
In addition to covering the race through the red lantern, I also hope to post one or two special editions and a final recap after I talk to Anna!
So stay tuned. It all might take a few days, but watch Insta or check the Blog every so often. After all, you’ve come this far.
It was well worth the wait, though. Sun shining, plumes of frosty breath coming from fans lining the chute, my app reported -1F in Nome with only a light breeze. Sitting in Wisconsin with our Mom and my dog, Otis, we saw Kristy walk into view. Laughed when she and her husband, Andy, waved and later took a selfie.
And finally, Anna’s dogs in their light green Musher dog jackets, came into view. Anna mushed up the remainder of Front Street, made sure her lead dogs crossed under the burled arch, set her snow hooks, and after 10 days, 22 hours, 24 minutes, and 1 second, was in Nome. 21st place.
When Anna got off her sled and gave Kristy a big hug, I’ll admit it, I was on the verge of choking up. I know Anna missed sharing this journey with her twin. Meanwhile, Kristy could imagine exactly - literally, exactly - what Anna was going through out there. As I wrote these posts, I missed knowing they were traveling together. They’re perfectly capable on their own. But the force is particularly strong when they’re together. So seeing them together again felt pretty darn good. I’m sure all of their family, friends, and fans felt the same.
Watching the live feed, in addition to Anna and Kristy’s monster embrace, I very much loved seeing the dogs and how happy they looked. Lots of wagging tails, at least one dog plopped into the snow and did a happy “powder sugar roll”. Anna promptly went to each dog after hugging Kristy, lavishing them with praise. They certainly earned it! And the snacks that followed. I think both twins were handing out frozen chunks of beef and fish, and I saw more than one dog double dip.
The eight dogs going the full 975 race miles with Anna include Mayhem and Havoc, who lead the way into Nome, Shoshanna, Astro, Platinum, Rampage, Trout, and Elmer. The other eight ~ Maverick, Ruckus, Albert, Zwickel, Anvik, Rocky, Fog, and Diego are all home at the kennel and doing great. Yes, Diego is actually already back at the kennel. He had a chance to hop an Iditarod Air Force flight from Unalakleet right back to Anchorage and then a ride to the kennel, and that made more sense than detouring through Nome.
Bottom line, all the dogs are healthy and either with the twins in Nome or home at the kennel (or the kennel they were loaned from in one or two instances).
Back to the burled arch… Before a finisher can really drop the mic, so to speak, he or she has to check off mandatory gear items with officials. This includes an arctic sleeping bag, an axe, snowshoes, some Iditarod promotional material (trail mail and tokens), 8 booties per dog (2 pair each), a cooker and pot, enough fuel (HEET) to boil water in the aforementioned, a vet book, a non-chafing harness for each dog, and an insulated dog coat for each dog. Additional specifications go with each item. I haven’t learned what yet, but one item on that list seemed to really be hiding in Anna’s sled bag. It apparently got settled, but I’ll be curious to learn what she was digging around for!
With that sorted, Anna hopped back on her sled. I think Kristy ran in front to help guide them down to their parking spot in the dog lot. I learned that Kristy had all the dogs beds set up. The sky kennels they use to fly the dogs home can easily be split in half, and the lower half gets lined with fresh straw. The dogs can bask in the sun, nap, get their regular meals. The two times I have been to the finish in Nome, the dog lot is my very favorite place to be.
It requires credentials, though, and is closely watched. Veterinary and volunteer eyes on high alert. But with the dogs settled, fed, and secured on a line, the twins can finally rest and catch up. I think there may have been pizza involved. And I know Anna will sleep very, very well. Oh, and a nice hot shower.
She won’t sleep too long, though. She’s pretty trail hardened at this point. And the urge to check on her dogs every few hours will keep her from totally crashing. I believe they have arrangements to fly the dogs home Friday or Saturday, and then the finishers banquet is Sunday before they catch the next available flight home themselves.
New fans might feel like I’m about to close the curtain for this year, but fear not! It has been my tradition since this Mad Blogger’s first year in 2012. I will not close the blog until the final musher, our 2024 Red Lantern, is safely into Nome.
Which, lucky for you, isn’t too terribly long. After Anna arrived early Thursday afternoon in 21st, she was followed by three rookies ~ Will Rhodes, Lara Kittleson, and Anna Hennessy. A name I’ve mentioned before, rookie Bryce Mumford, ended up scratching in Unalakleet after a long slog on that long stretch from Kaltag. He had 12 dogs in harness and I’m happy to say they were all reported in good health. Bryce is from Idaho and on behalf of Seeing Double, this Mad Blogger wishes him and his dogs safe and swift travels back to their home kennel.
With 24 into Nome and our scratch tally growing to 8, we have 6 mushers still on the trail to Nome. They’re all rookies. One is out of White Mountain, three are in WM, and two are making their way from Elim. Sean Williams and Joshua Robbins are our current Red Lanterns with 93 miles to the finish.
Before I finish this post, I have two other noteworthy things to report. First - and I think this is HUGE - for the first time in 52 years of the Iditarod, four women made the Top 10 this year. Paige Drobny claimed 5th, Mille Porsild 7th, Amanda Otto took 8th, and Jessie Royer rounded it out in 10th. That is just outstanding! Well done, ladies. Well done.
Another woman who deserves some mad props is rookie Josi Thyr of Fairbanks, Alaska. She earned 2024 Rookie of the Year when she crossed under the burled arch in 15th place and with 10 dogs in under 10 days and 7 hours. Congrats, Josi!
In addition to covering the race through the red lantern, I also hope to post one or two special editions and a final recap after I talk to Anna!
So stay tuned. It all might take a few days, but watch Insta or check the Blog every so often. After all, you’ve come this far.