Brenda's 2003 Daily Iditarod Coverage

Countdown to Iditarod 2003 Restart — Fairbanks, Alaska, USA

February

March

March 12 , 2004

“Grand Central” Ruby, Mushers Hit the Yukon River.

Today the plan was to take off for Ruby early. After saying goodbye to Lynn and Jeremiah, Earl needed a piece of stovepipe for warming his plane so a quick stop at AIH, Alaska Industrial Hardware, took care of that. Next stop, the airport, and we were off. The weather was great, even warm for interior Alaska. It is always amazing to be in the air, looking for miles and miles and miles, over tundra and mountains, and not seeing a road, house or another airplane for hours. I always have to wonder just how much of that wide-open space is untouched by human footprints. The beauty of Alaska is so awesome.

We landed gently on the airstrip in Ruby with Earl at the controls. The pastor in town, and a friend of Earl’s, Tim Ungry, met us with his pickup truck. That was a blessing as the walk into town is over a mile. We transferred all our gear into the back of the truck and dropped it off at their home, met the family: wife Lisa, daughters Emily and Naomi, son Timmy and little Bonnie. Next we headed over to the checkpoint.

Front runner, Kjetil Backen was long gone when we arrived and Charlie Boulding was soon to pull out. Among the sleeping mushers in the Community Center were John Baker, Mitch Seavey, Martin Buser and Rick Swenson. Ramey Smyth was parked in the afternoon sun, as was rookie, Hugh Neff. Most of our afternoon was spent wandering amongst the teams, but not too close, while taking photographs. A most pleasant surprise was being invited to lunch with local residents, Annie and Don Honea, Jr. Annie had made some wonderful soup and sandwiches for us.

As the afternoon wound down, mushers booted up their teams and headed down the slope to hit the mighty Yukon River. After Charlie Boulding pulled his hook, next to go was John Baker. A short while later Martin Buser blasted out and then Mitch Seavey. Susan Butcher was out and about, talking to everyone. Sonny Linder’s team was resting. Jeff King stayed until 6:05PM and rode into the sunset on what he calls his new OMS, old man’s sled. More teams pulled into Ruby, such as Aily Zirkle and Bill Cotter. The checkpoint was bustling with activity as planes flew in and out and mushers came and went. After Earl helped a pilot who was having some plane difficulties, he picked us up to go back to the Unger’s home for dinner. While we were sitting around the dinner table, some of the next mushers expected in were Joe Garnie and Melanie Gould.

Cripple Checkpoint Web Cam (refresh often)

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2004 IDITAROD MUSHERS

WEBCAMS:
Iditarod FINISH LINE (View One)
Iditarod FINISH LINE (View Two)
Iditarod FINISH LINE (View Three)

Cripple Checkpoint Web Cam (refresh often)

Unalakleet Checkpoint (refresh often)

Town of Galena, AK



		February 28, 2003 Start Position — Musher — Hometown 1 — Howard and Julie Farley — honorary 2 — John Baker — Kotzebue 3 — Ted English — Willow 4 — Cali King — Denali Park 5 — Perry Solomonson — Whittier 6 — Jason Barron — Lincoln, Mont. 7 — Tyrell Seavey — Seward 8 — Jessie Royer — Fairbanks 9 — Ed Iten — Kotzebue 10 — Dexter Kancer — Nenana 11 — Blake Matray — Two Rivers 12 — Ben Stamm — Argyle, Wis. 13 — Jim Lanier — Chugiak 14 — Paul Gebhardt — Kasilof 15 — Martin Buser — Big Lake 16 — Karen Land — Sand Coulee, Mont. 17 — Cim Smyth — Big Lake 18 — Jeff King — Denali Park 19 — Vern Halter — Willow 20 — Lance Barve — Willow 21 — Frank Sihler — Wasilla 22 — Gerald Riley — Nenana 23 — Robert Sorlie — Hurdal, Norway 24 — Cindy Gallea — Seely Lake, Mont. 25 — Aaron Burmeister — Nome 26 — Lynda Plettner — Houston 27 — Charlie Boulding — Manley 28 — Ray Redington Jr. — Two Rivers 29 — Todd Capistrant — Emerald, Wis. 30 — DeeDee Jonrowe — Willow 31 — Jack Berry — Salcha 32 — Debbie Moderow — Anchorage 33 — Ramey Smyth — Big Lake 34 — Carla Kelly — Anchorage 35 — G.B. Jones — Wasilla 36 — Ken Anderson — Fairbanks 37 — Bruce Lee — Denali Park 38 — Karen Ramstead — Perryvale, Alberta 39 — Randy Chappel — Arlington, Texas 40 — Peter Bartlett — Willow 41 — Linwood Fiedler — Willow 42 — Ramy Brooks — Healy 43 — Mitch Seavey — Seward 44 — Sonny Lindner — Fairbanks 45 — Aliy Zirkle — Two Rivers 46 — Melanie Gould — Talkeetna 47 — Rick Swenson — Two Rivers 48 — Tim Osmar — Ninilchik 49 — Gerald Sousa — Talkeetna 50 — Ellen Halverson — Wasilla 51 — Mike Williams — Akiak 52 — Bill Pinkham — Glenwood Springs, Colo. 53 — Palmer Sagoonick — Shaktoolik 54 — Adam Scott Gibler — Chugiak 55 — Dean Osmar — Clam Gulch 56 — Jon Little — Kasilof 57 — Jim Gallea — Sterling 58 — Bob Hickel — Anchorage 59 — Keith Aili — Ray, Minn. 60 — Jessica Hendricks — Copper Center 61 — Russell Bybee — Willow 62 — Kelly LaMarre — Geneva, Ill. 63 — Lachlan Clarke — Colorado Springs, Colo. 64 — Robert Bundtzen — Anchorage 65 — Clint Warnke — Bonnie Lake, Wash