Apologies for this long overdue post.
Its taken time to decompress, get healthy (I got really sick along with my dogs) was so tired and got a mild concussion after I scratched from the race. (thats another story).
Needless to say, the brain fog I’ve been feeling since I scratched has been like nothing I’ve experienced so I apologize for the lack of posting here.
I’m finally feeling better!
With that said…
Iditarod was an epic experience, I had so much fun and felt so much gratitude for being healthy enough myself and to have a dog team to qualify for the The Iditarod, for all the support of so many from everywhere!
I was smiling every mile, enjoying seeing new country, encountering new challenges and to watch my team run with so much heart.
The beautiful dog blankets my dogs wore felt so special and it was such an honor to bring this tradition back to life with the help of the amazing artists and volunteers who made this happen. (more on that in another post)
Like all the mushers I know, my dogs are everything to me.
I am so proud of them, they worked hard and together we kept the momentum as best we could while slowly my dogs were getting sick, mild at first.
I had to drop dogs early for orthopedic issues due to a section of “sugar pits” in some bad mogul trail conditions.
As we continued, a couple of dogs got a stomach bug resulting in diarrhea and not eating but got over it after a couple of days.
Kennel cough started around Nicolai with one dog and it was mild.
Vets were giving dogs with any sign of kennel cough antibiotics because kennel cough was turning into pneumonia with some dogs.
As we continued down the trail, the kennel cough spread and so did the stomach bug.
I was giving the dogs extra rest at checkpoints, massages for sore muscles, and meds the vets prescribed for kennel cough and diarrhea.
We were hanging in there, dogs seemed happy and going strong still.
Eventually by the time we got to Kaltag, more dogs were coughing but nothing that seemed serious.
We left Kaltag after decent rest, heading toward Unalakleet on a super bumpy trail which can be challenging for teams.
As we continued, they just didn’t have the energy as usual.
The coughing didn’t seem too bad still.
We had to stop often because leaders didn’t want to run lead, they would lead for a a short distance then stop and look back at me.
We took a lot of breaks and I snacked them to keep their calorie intake going, however two of my leaders Coki and Sunny were not eating.
We got to Tripod cabin, I started melting snow for dog food and chopped down a tree to build a fire in the cabin.
Dogs were happy for straw and another rest but they didn’t each much.
I decided that maybe there needed longer rest so I decided to give them 6 hours before we departed for the long run to Unalakleet.
When I went out to get back on the trail, it was very cold and my dogs were coughing so bad, two had severe coughs and snotty noses which is much more serious.
At that point, with two lead dogs not eating from the stomach bug and the dogs who had kennel cough from mild to severe, I had one healthy dog left, Kobuk- a young male.
I decided it was time to call it for the sake of their health.
It was an easy decision.
I satellite texted the race marshall informing of my decision to scratch, then went out to chop for dead trees to start a fire in the cabin and bring my dogs inside to rest in warmer conditions.
I was bummed but the health of my dogs was so much more important and more of my focus.
Since then, my dogs for the most part have recovered with the exception of two dogs who still have a cough.
We just got home a week ago and are finally able to relax.
I’ve never seen my dogs so happy to be home.
We’ve been enjoying short runs around Eagle, and walks in the woods and down to the river.
I’m already planning for next season and Iditarod 2027!
Hitting more early races to expose my dogs to viruses earlier in the season, so hopefully we don’t have to deal with the severity of illness at Iditarod.
Looking forward to next season already.
I definitely couldn’t have made it to the Iditarod without all the support of my family, friends and sponsors!
Hard for me to say this publicly but I guess I have fans now so I really want to say thank everyone who came out to the start, trail, checkpoints with signs, for the encouragement and comments and support.
I’m seriously so appreciative of everyone who followed my journey!
I had the time of my life and I’m looking forward to more epic adventures on the trail!
More on Iditarod in future posts, now that I’m rested and of clearer thought.
Mahsi’choo to my kind and generous sponsors:
Chenega Corporation, Ryan Air, 72 and Sunny, Tanana Chiefs Conference, Alaska Wilderness League and some of their individual board members, Everts Air Cargo, Cultro Media, Moose Soup Lady BnB, Shār Snacks, and the North Face for making me a custom parka and bibs.
A special thank you to Lane’s Quicky Tacos for making me some tacos for my drop bag, Moose Soup Lady Jennie Mclean for making moose soup for the trail and Terry M for all the goodies!
I couldn’t have made it 658 miles without everyone’s support!
Thank you to everyone.
Forever grateful for all the love, for my beautiful dogs and everyone who works so hard to put this race on.
Happy Trails!
