Photo by Leanne Quirk
- Photo by Leanne Quirk
Today I woke up much calmer than yesterday knowing that I had Nigel back. It has been a too short adventure ending in a way I just could not believe. I will try to share the re-start and the rest of the week with you.
Re-start March 8
It was a beautiful day at the kennel. I woke and Glen and I ate something for breakfast. Leora was next door and Mike was sleeping on a bed in the great room. Misha andVern feed and packed the truck to head to the start. Susan had to take Dee Dee to the emergency room due to her having some excruciating pain in her lower back. That gave us two less pairs of hands but we got everything loaded. I woke Mike and we all headed to Willow to the staging area for the start around 10am.
Once there Glen, Mike and I headed to to the community center to have breakfast and try to relax. It was a wonderful and festive atmosphere with allot of craft venders selling their wares.
Because I had the # 3 starting position I would be leaving at 2:04pm. There were allot of visitors in the staging area. Louise from Dog Booties.com stopped by as well as the lady that actually sewed my dog boots. People from church and my friends from North Dakota made it really special. Ellen Halverson and her son Peter were also there helping. Everything was so exciting that I could have come apart, but for some reason I was very calm. It was so special to have Glen and Mike there also.
When it came my time to head to the start it was as smooth as silk. We got in the starting chute and I thanked all the volunteers that were helping. Right at the end I got a hug and good wishes from David Monson. What a special treat. Then 3-2-1 and we were off down the chute past hundreds of waving fans and friends. What an exciting time. The fans continued past the Yentna check point all the way to Skwentna and beyond.The run to Yentna was great. The dogs were listening even with all the airplanes and snow machines on the river. It was truly exciting.
I arrived in Yentna at 6:15pm. I stopped and strawed the dogs, feed them some Salmon and kibble and changed their boots. We stayed just 3hours and left for Skwentna. It was a beautiful run to Skwentna although warmer than you would like. I arrived at Skwentna at 1am and strawed the dogs and started their dinner. I then spoke with Greg Heister from the Insider. Following that I unbootied the dogs and oiled their feet. I feed them at two hours in the checkpoint and then began fixing their second meal. The vets examined the dogs and the team received a happy face which means all is good. I feed them again at 4 hours and then went into the checkpoint to eat and rest. I slept or at least rested for about two hours.
After returning to the dog yard I salved the dogs feet. It was to warm to put boots on because the snow would stick to them and then ball them up, possibly hurting the dogs, so the salve was applied very liberally both inside and outside of their feet. Next chore was to pack the return bag and repack the sled. When that was all done I got ready to leave and finally pulled out at 8:30 am
The trip to Finger Lake was beautiful although very slow and punchy due to the warm tempatures. I arrived at 2:28 pm. As I was nearing the checkpoint I heard a plane overhead and looked and saw a red Beaver. I thought it looked like the type of plain I had flown out on the trail in before and was hopeful that Glen and Mike would be there. To my great pleasure it turned out to be them. Leora, Stacy and Diane were also with them. I could not visit with them but enjoyed knowing they were there.
I followed the same routing as the last check point. Mike did come to me to tell me that my drop bag at Rainy Pass had been broken into by the Ravens and he had brought a new drop bag of dog food for me. They did not think they would be able to land at Rainy Pass and the race judge suggested I carry it with me. I did not want to add the extra weight so I only took part of it. The vets examined the dogs and found no problems. I slept for about 2 hours and then had some homemade icecream at the lodge. I repacked the sled and left for Rainy Pass at 10pm. It was a beautiful evening and the dogs were moving so well I thought how wonderful it all was. Not a good thing to think as 8-9 miles out I broke the right runner completely off my sled at from the stantion back. What a real bummer as it makes it almost impossible to steer and control the sled. The trail to Rainy Pass consists of some of the worst trail in the race. Needless to say I was upside down allot. I had a huge crash in the last portion of the steps sailing off to the right side of the trail and slamming into a tree. I tried to no avail to move the sled. I figured I should get the dogs off the trail so I tied them to any tree or any piece of brush I could find. Needless to say I was pretty tired and sore from hours of hitting the ground.
Trent Herbst passed and suggested I take the dogs off the sled and he would tie them up at the bottom. I tried to do this but to no avail as they would not leave and just tried to ball up. I went about tying them back to the trees when another team came by. They wrecked due to my dogs spooking them and I felt terrible about that. I tried to warn the next few approaching teams but it was hard as I really needed to attend to my dogs. Alan Peck and Lou Packer arrived next and both tried to help me. Lou and I were able to get my sled back up on the trail. We attached most of the dogs to the sled but only with their neck lines. I did not hook them all up as I did not want all the power even though they only had neck lines attached, as it was another big vertical. Once down the next step I hooked the team down and made sure they were tied off the trail. I returned to get the dogs I left. I felt they would follow me so I turned them loose. We do this all the time at the kennel so I did not think there would be a problem. All but Nigel fell into steep. He spooked a little and ran off the trail. After attaching the dogs that followed I returned to get Nigel with some food. He did not want to come so I returned to the sled. I know he must have thought I lost my mind tying them to trees of a steep ledge the way I did. My helpers we busy getting Alan’s sled ready to go as he had twisted a runner. They then began cutting wood for a fire for me. I wanted to change as I was wet from perspiration and was ready to rest for a few. There was some discussion and I said they could go on as I could not right then. One of them went after Nigel which I told him was a mistake but he went anyway. I never saw Nigel after that until after I rested and he came tearing down the hill in front of another team passing us. Prior to him being chased he was sitting at the top of the step looking at what was going on. I truly appreciate the help and concern but at some point I just needed to get things done myself and not be told what I should do. I know the race rules and what happens if you arrive without a team member. Lou left me most of his heat, which I used on my way to Rainy Pass, and he and Allan left. I truly appreciate their kindness.
After changing my clothes I feed the dogs. and laid on the sled to rest. I took some meds and laid on the sled to rest and fell asleep for a few. I awoke and then gave the dogs a nice kibble and water soup prior to trying to get underway again. Not to long before I was ready to leave Blake Matrie came by. He checked to see if I was OK and I assured him I was. He said Kim was coming and if I didn’t mind could I wait for her on the river. I said I would and he left. I only had neck lines hooked as we went down to the river. I went down a little way so Kim had room and I hooked the team down. I put all their tugs on and finished just as Kim arrived.
We greeted each other and then continued. Again it was very difficult to steer and control the sled. Right turns were doable most of the time but left turns were near impossible. The trail consisted of one right turn then one left turn. Needless to say I was on the ground allot. After a few hours I again had the sled upside down to the point that I could not move it. I waited for Kim and she helped me get it up and off the tree. I hooked the team down and then helped her get her team by and went about feeding my team and resting so I could continue. I blanketed them as they were on an icy trail and wanted them to be as warm as possible. I think we were only 6 miles from Rainy Pass which under good sled conditions is only 30-40 minutes but with my sled it was hours.
I finally got going again after resting and cooking for the dogs and me. I had some beef stroganoff and some pine needle water. I could not find snow without them but since it was boiled I think it was pretty safe. I traveled a few miles and then ran into a group of snow machines. They asked me if I had seen the lady with only one runner and I said “that would be me”. They asked if I was OK and if I wanted some water. I took a vitamin water and thanked them. They wanted to know how to help and I asked them to stay far enough behind to not scare the dogs. They were so kind and nice and did exactly as I asked. I arrived at Rainy Pass having been upside down a few more times at 10:02 pm, 24 hours after I left Finger Lake. What a miserable run.
I hooked the team down, strawed them and gave them a snack and then answered some questions from the ADN reporters and their camera man. They asked me if I remembered that in ‘07 Lance had lost a runner in that same area. I said I had and I wish I had his youth and agility. The vets arrived to look at the dogs and the race official. I told them that I would have to scratch because I did not have all my team members and my sled was destroyed. They brought me the paperwork later and I signed it.
I was very devastated to have my race end this way. I was most upset that Nigel was lost. I went into the check point. I was asked to come to the lodge for dinner and had a wonderful ham and corn dinner. There was bread and juice and anything else you could want. The lodge owners Denise and Steve Perrin were very gracious and kind to me. The ADN camera mad let me use his computed to e-mail Glen. I then left and found that I was invited to stay in the COMS area of the checkpoint,and that they had put a cot up for me. I checked the dogs and returned to sleep.
I don’t think I slept very well but I did get some. I awoke and started breakfast for the dogs and then went to the lodge for breakfast. I was told I would be flown out as soon as a flight could land on the lake. I visited with some of the guests at the lodge and then returned to check on the dogs. I made them some thin soup and was pleased they drank it all. Ellen (one of the dogs) was having a hard time resting so I sat down with her and she finally laid down. We both then fell asleep on the nice hay they had. They use hay there because the Perrin’s have horses and they can eat it after the dogs sleep on it. It is a nice way not to waste everything.
There was a lady there named Vicki who was flying an ultra-lite up the trail. The ceiling was to low to fly over the pass and continue her journey, so she was giving the guests rides if they wanted. They seemed to be enjoying themselves but I was not interested as I am very height challenged.
I meet a very nice guest names Susan and we visited quite allot. She is from Richmond, Virginia and also a painter. We shared talking about watercolor and many other things. As sad as I was it helped to have such nice kind people around me. We kept hoping we would hear something on Nigel. Late that day or early the next we heard that some snow-machines drivers had seen a dog like Nigel in the area of the Happy River. Vicki offered to fly me down the trail to look for him.
I feed the dogs dinner and then I had another wonderful meal at the lodge. They were having a get together after dinner but I opted to go to bed as I was tired and sore. I went right to sleep but woke at 3am. I was to sore to stay in bed so I got up and went to start breakfast for the dogs. About 3:30 a heard of horses started across the dog yard. Last night the horses were in a pin at the top of the hill so I went to wake Steve to make sure that they should be loose. I felt bad getting him up at 3:40am but I did not want anything to happen to them. He thanked me but said it was OK for them to be there. I returned and feed the dogs and then went back to the check point COMS building.
I again went to the lodge for breakfast and visiting with Susan. Vicki had offered to take me up in her ultralite to look for Nigel so I returned to my sled to put on my heavy clothes.
The race staff said I had quite a bit of time as the drop dogs would fly out first followed by my dogs. It would then be my equipment and then me, so I agreed to fly with Vicki. After putting on my heavy clothes I got in the ultra-lite followed by Vicki in front of me. We took off and headed down the trail toward finger lake. We circled allot to make sure that tracks we saw were not him. We landed at Finger Lake and spoke to the lodge owner Carl and took off again to return down the trail. We saw two dog teams just before the steeps and decided to land by the Happy River to see if they had seen anything. After landing I walked down the trail and Vicki stomped a path so we could turn the plane around.
I meet the dog teams and found G B Jones on the second sled. He was headed to Rainy Pass Lodge to pick up a few items he left two years ago when he lost a dog in that area. He reassured me that we would find Nigel and headed off down the trail.
When I returned to Rainy Pass I found that my team had just left for Anchorage. I needed to break my sled down so it could go then I would leave. I spoke to Carl the care taker at Rainy Pass to see if I could borrow some tools. He told me he would meet me at my sled. When he arrived we looked at the sled and decided the best course of action. He said he would break it down and loaded in a toboggan to take to his shop. When he returned it was in 3 pieces and all the parts were in a can so I would not loose them. When we loaded it in the plane the pilot said it was the best broken down sled to load that he has ever loaded. I shared that information with Carl and thanked him again for helping me. Once all my gear was loaded the plane left and headed back to Anchorage. That meant the next plane that came was for me to get on. It came very soon after my gear left and Sharon, Carl’s wife, and I got on board. Our pilot was Wes who flies air cargo and said when he heard I was up in an ultra lite he said a prayer for me. Sharon was heading to Anchorage so she could head out to work at White Mountain during the race. It is amazing how many people are needed to pull this race off.
Once back in Anchorage I meet Misha and Dee Dee who had the dogs loaded already. They were in the Millennium eating so I decided to join them. My friend Diane Johnson came and I saw Mark Kellerher from logistics who has been another Iditarod friend for several years. I received many kind words and encouragement that I would find Nigel. There were many tears shed before I finally left with Misha and Dee Dee. Misha drove as I was just to sore and tired. It was nice to get back to the kennel and the dogs were happy to be home.
I went to bed and awoke to find out where to begin looking for Nigel. Vern suggested I call Finger Lake and then Denali Air. I called Carl at Winter Lake Lodge at Finger Lake to see if he had a snow-machine I could rent or borrow. He did not but suggested I call his neighbor Joe Beach. I then called Denali Air and talk to Barry Stanley. When I called Denali Air Barry was not there. I mentioned I wanted to find out about flying me out to Finger Lake and maybe Joe Beach’s and the lady on the other end said Joe Beach was there. What an amazing turn. I spoke to Joe and he said he had just come in by snow machine. He said as he traveled south on the Skwentna river and observed some tracks that “were to big for a Coyote and to small for a wolf. He figured it was a 60# sled dog. It was stopping at all the camp sites to forage then move on down the trail. He said it was past the Skwentna checkpoint heading toward Shell Lake.” I thanked him and immediately called Iditarod Logistics. My friend Mark Kellerher answered and I shared the information and he said they were on it. He called me back about 15 minutes later and told me to go to Willow Air by the gas pump and as he was sending a plane for me. I also spoke to my friend Diane Johnson and she shared that someone had called about Nigel near Skwentna. When I got to the gas pump I called Mark to let him know I was there. He said I now needed to go to the Big Lake airport. I told him he would need to tell me where to go but corrected that immediately and said he would need to tell me how to find Big Lake Air. He gave me directions and I immediately headed there. I arrived just as Phil Morgan arrived. We both used the facility and then headed for the Skwentna checkpoint. We circled and tried to land on the river as Phil was told to try and land there. We even skimmed the river but Phil decided we needed to land at the airport. As soon as we landed we were greeted by the postmaster and his Beagle both on their snow machine. He took me to the check point and I was told they heard a dog was found at the old Skwentna checkpoint. We returned to the plane and headed for the old Skwentna lodge. Phil had never been there but thought he knew where it was. We began to circle and Phil said he thought that the lodge was just below us. I saw 2 snow machines on the river and then said I thought I saw a landing strip next to them. He said we would go to investigate it and prepared to land on the river. After landing as we approached the snow machines I saw Nigel tho object of all our concern. Phil could not stop the plane fast enough for me. As soon as it was stopped I jumped out and once Nigel heard my voice we had a very happy reunion. I brought him something to eat and needless to say he finished it all. The lodge owners were wonderful. The lodge is now called Talvista Lodge and it is owned by Chris, Sara and Miranda Poynter. They were as happy as I was to be reunited with Nigel.
We visited for a short time and then I headed back to the plane with Nigel and Phil. Phil opened the cargo door and Nigel jumped in like he flew all the time. He curled up on the padded floor and went right to sleep.
Once we landed in Big Lake I put Nigel in my truck and then returned a call from Chas St James from Iditarod. He said everyone was so happy we had Nigel and that the news Media was also wanting a press conference, so I headed to Anchorage for Nigel’s press conference. I also received a call from Stan Hooley the Executive Director of Iditarod saying how happy he was that I got Nigel back. Once I arrived at tbe Millennium, Nigel received a heroes welcome. Chas gave me a big hug and then Nigel got one. Everyone there was so kind and Nigel thought it was great to be back with his people again. He had many pictures taken and many hugs, then was live at 5 on KTUU TV.
We returned to the kennel and Nigel was very happy tp be back with his friends.
Saturday I was treated to a massage by Mary the massage therapist I have been seeing. That was a wonderful treat. I went to church Sunday and had lunch with Ellen and Peter. Monday I went to the Chiropractor and he was so supportive. It is wonderful to be surrounded by such supportive people.
I headed to Anchorage afterthe Chiropracter. Glen was comming Tuesday and we were heading to Nome for the finish. I truly wanted to see Lance win his 3rd in a row. What an accomplishment.
Nome was all I thought it would be. It was thrilling to see Lance win his 3rd. Glen and I enjoyed our time there. We attended many classes at the Beringa Land Bridge National Park office and learned allot about the area. I most enjoyed the skin sewing class and intend to use what I learned.
We enjoyed the finishers banquet. It was great to share in all the excitement and emotion. I was surprised by aaron Burmeister when he gave me Bess the dog I leased from him. What a pleasent surprise. No wonder he won the Humanitarian award for his kindness to John Baker during the race.
I headed home on Friday on April 3 and arrived 7 days later. It was a very nice drive. Misha and I stopped at the Laird hotsprings and enjoyed the natural beauty there. Misha did a great job of navigating and we arrived home Thursday the 10. Misha left on Monday for Seattle and then Australia to visit her aunt.
I have already begun to prepare for that event. I purchased two new dogs from Aaron Burmeister and am working on getting them here. They have both finished the race with him so I know they will be a great addition.
Today I woke at 2:30 when my son Mike arrived from Connecticut. I did go back to sleep but did not sleep well.
