Author Topic: Iditarod 2016 (Read 4265 times)

Akhardwater · « **on:** Feb 17, 2016, 10:01 PM »

Hey guys it's getting to be that time of year again, the first weekend in March is right around the corner. I spoke with the head trail groomer in Willow and he says that there is enough snow in rainy pass so the restart should be in Willow this year. We setup on the north end of long lake and useally cut a spearing hole throw out a bunch of tipups and fire up the bbq. This is a good time for the whole family and so bring the kids. The dogs start running at 2 pm so if you only want to see the dogs try to be there by then, we are only about a mile from the start so it happens pretty fast. The restart is on Sunday hope to see everyone out there.

mr.clean · « **Reply #1 on:** Feb 18, 2016, 04:35 AM »

Akhardwater may you and the family have a good outing . Sounds like a great way to spend time as a family ice fishing and getting to see the Iditarod.
Steve

Drifter_016 · « **Reply #2 on:** Feb 18, 2016, 10:08 AM »

Say hey to my buddy Rick Casillo as he runs by will ya?

bighof · « **Reply #3 on:** Feb 18, 2016, 11:22 AM »

Im down, sounds like a hell of a good time!

Akhardwater · « **Reply #4 on:** Feb 18, 2016, 12:44 PM »

Quote from: Drifter_016 on Feb 18, 2016, 10:08 AM

Say hey to my buddy Rick Casillo as he runs by will ya?

I can slip him a beer when he goes past. Most of the mushers love a beer before they have to go through hell.

Akhardwater · « **Reply #5 on:** Feb 18, 2016, 12:47 PM »

Quote from: bighof on Feb 18, 2016, 11:22 AM

Im down, sounds like a hell of a good time!

If you guys have cross country skis bring them. Once the race is over we usually hook up our dogs and let them drag people around until traffic dies down.

Drifter_016 · « **Reply #6 on:** Feb 19, 2016, 11:05 PM »

Quote from: Akhardwater on Feb 18, 2016, 12:44 PM

I can slip him a beer when he goes past. Most of the mushers love a beer before they have to go through hell.

VinceAK · « **Reply #7 on:** Feb 21, 2016, 12:12 AM »

That sounds like an awesome time. Mind if my girlfriend and I join you guys?

Akhardwater · « **Reply #8 on:** Feb 21, 2016, 09:20 AM »

Everyone is welcome the more the merrier.

Akhardwater · « **Reply #9 on:** Mar 05, 2016, 05:26 PM »

Checked with a buddy and he said the public access is just fine for driving on the lake. Take long lake road from the parks to sides road. Turn right onto sides and just follow it around until you hit the lake. I'm going to try and be there around 630 or 7 o'clock to get set up and maybe catch a few fish before traffic picks up. The race starts at 2 pm and we will be set up on the north end of long lake. Once you get on the lake just head due north and you will run into us. Please don't drive down the groomed trail in the middle of the lake stay to the east shore. Hope to see everyone out there it's allot of fun.

Drifter_016 · « **Reply #10 on:** Mar 05, 2016, 05:58 PM »

WOOHOO!!!!
GO RICKY!!!!!!!!
#20

J_Edwards · « **Reply #11 on:** Mar 05, 2016, 10:05 PM »

Hope to make up by 10 or so, we will see if the young one is cooperative.

Akhardwater · « **Reply #12 on:** Mar 07, 2016, 01:27 PM »

Hey drifter I think your buddy quit drinking, either that or he saw I was trying to give him a corona.

Drifter_016 · « **Reply #13 on:** Mar 07, 2016, 02:35 PM »

Quote from: Akhardwater on Mar 07, 2016, 01:27 PM

Hey drifter I think your buddy quit drinking, either that or he saw I was trying to give him a corona.

I told him to expect the hand off. Maybe it was too early?

mr.clean · « **Reply #14 on:** Mar 10, 2016, 05:06 AM »

Akhardwater just curious did you take any photographs of the racers?
Steve

Akhardwater · « **Reply #15 on:** Mar 10, 2016, 01:25 PM »

I didn't but bighof did maybe he can chime in with some pics. I've been doing this for years and really don't take pictures anymore. I was kind of disappointed this year with the lack of drunks, I usually have more fun watching them than I do the dogs.

Lavman · « **Reply #16 on:** Mar 10, 2016, 01:54 PM »

Quote from: Akhardwater on Mar 10, 2016, 01:25 PM

I didn't but bighof did maybe he can chime in with some pics. I've been doing this for years and really don't take pictures anymore. I was kind of disappointed this year with the lack of drunks, I usually have more fun watching them than I do the dogs.

Drunk mushers or drunk spectators?

Akhardwater · « **Reply #17 on:** Mar 10, 2016, 02:02 PM »

There were a couple mushers that had beers when they went past but normally there are a couple spectators that start drinking the night before it seems like.

Lavman · « **Reply #18 on:** Mar 10, 2016, 02:22 PM »

I just checked the race standings, leaders are about halfway through and Dallas is in second place. What an amazing event!

Akhardwater · « **Reply #19 on:** Mar 10, 2016, 02:28 PM »

You should come up and join us next year. One of these years I'm going to fly to nome and watch the finish. I'm rooting for Lance Mackey and my wife is rooting for Ally Zirckle. I feel for Ally I think she's come in second the past three years in a row. Go Lance.

Lavman · « **Reply #20 on:** Mar 10, 2016, 02:46 PM »

THAT would be pretty damn cool. Alaska is on the bucket list. Seeing the Iditarod would make the trip even more special.

J_Edwards · « **Reply #21 on:** Mar 10, 2016, 10:18 PM »

Poor Lance, not looking good, seems his dogs got sick.. sucks after such a strong start

Akhardwater · « **Reply #22 on:** Mar 11, 2016, 02:26 AM »

Man I know he was looking super strong I'm still rooting for him. He is a class act all the way, and in my opinion there is no better.

Drifter_016 · « **Reply #23 on:** Mar 12, 2016, 11:29 AM »

**censored**!!!!!
People are so effed up these days.
Someone on a snowmobile attacked the teams of Aily Zirkle and Jeff King out of Nualto!!!!
The jackwagon repeatedly ran @ the two teams killing one dog in Kings team and injuring 2 others as well as one dog in Zirkles team.
King needed medical treatment himself.

This makes me all kinds of mad.

http://www.adn.com/article/20160312/one-dog-dead-several-injured-after-snowmachine-attack-iditarod-trail

http://www.ktuu.com/news/news/iditarod-1-dog-dead-3-injured-in-snowmachine-attack-on-frontrunners-king-zirkle/38480106

Akhardwater · « **Reply #24 on:** Mar 12, 2016, 10:30 PM »

There should be breathalyzers on every machine that goes to the villages. Most mushers carry guns, he's lucky he's still breathing.

mr.clean · « **Reply #25 on:** Mar 13, 2016, 05:31 AM »

Drifter thank you for the links, very sad to read about these incidents. I know the musher but a great deal of time into training their dogs. Glad Jeff King and Aily Zirkle were not injured or killed by this snowmobilers actions.
Steve

Drifter_016 · « **Reply #26 on:** Mar 13, 2016, 11:41 AM »

The fella came forward and turned himself in.
As predicted he was pissed to the gills.
He is very remorseful and taking responsibility for his actions which is refreshing.
Aily is in 4th while Jeff has dropped to 15th as of this morning.

Yesterday my buddy scratched as his lead dog was injured and he has no leaders left on the team.
His other 2 leaders are back @ the kennel with one in heat and the other injured in training.

jacksmelt71 · « **Reply #27 on:** Mar 15, 2016, 06:53 PM »

we had the can am race here a few weeks ago. its maines biggests race. a musher was hit by a 16yr. old sledder. broke his arm and messed up his hand! they should ban sleds near the dog teams completely! fine the hell out of them if they don't listen! i don't know the laws in alaska but in maine if you're OUI on a sled they pull your drivers license too! big fine also!

Drifter_016 · « **Reply #28 on:** Mar 15, 2016, 11:39 PM »

Quote from: jacksmelt71 on Mar 15, 2016, 06:53 PM

we had the can am race here a few weeks ago. its maines biggests race. a musher was hit by a 16yr. old sledder. broke his arm and messed up his hand! they should ban sleds near the dog teams completely! fine the hell out of them if they don't listen! i don't know the laws in alaska but in maine if you're OUI on a sled they pull your drivers license too! big fine also!

No different than if you were driving a car, motorcycle etc.
What's really goofy is a few years ago a drunk guy was floating down the river that runs through the middle of Fairbanks on an air mattress.
He was charged with DUI!!! For driving an air mattress!!!!

Akhardwater · « **Reply #29 on:** Mar 16, 2016, 01:16 AM »

Unfortunately this isn't the first time this has happened. In 2008 a dog team was struck by a snow machiner, in the article I read it didn't mention if the driver was intoxicated or not but my guess would be yes. This kind of thing happens way more than people realize and unfortunately this one incident is going to have some pretty bad ramifications. Alcohol will always be a problem no matter what kind of regulations are imposed. Congrats to Dallas Seavey on yet another win and drifter sorry to hear your buddy scratched better luck next year.

News:

Author Topic: Iditarod 2016 (Read 4265 times)