Love it when I go to the Post Office and find something other then bills in the mailbox! And lately that has been happening much more then expected. This is a good thing for you too, because today I am going to share something that came in the mail awhile back. Photos from the 2012 Iditarod taken by our good friends Walt & Janet Tremer. We met in Nome when Dan ran his rookie race in 2010, and have been friends ever since. Janet had been an Iditarider* many times, and so I was tickled when they decided to bid for a ride in my sled at the Anchorage start. (*the Iditarider program is an auction that allows folks to bid for a chance to ride in a mushers sled for the ceremonial start in Anchorage) When I saw them in Anchorage before the race I found out they had decided this year Walt would be taking the ride! Being able to take a good friend out for the start made the whole day more fun and relaxing. Plus Janet has already told me she would give me 50$ if I dumped him, Walt then mentioned he as good for $50 if I didn’t. So no pressure, crash or don’t crash, either way I won.
They got photos from the start, the checkpoint of Galena, and at the finish in Nome. Huge thank you to Walt and Janet for sharing these photos, for all the laughter and encouragement, and for being such great friends to Dan & I.
Now here they are without further delay, the Walt & Janet Iditarod 2012 photos album…
*there are a lot, so maybe go to the bathroom and top off your coffee while they load
First there are the pre-race activities, which include meetings for mushers, a lunch where we get to meet our Iditariders (which was easy for me cause I already knew mine.) and the start banquet where mushers draw their numbers for the start order.
Having dinner with Walt, Janet and Theresa in Anchorage before the race.
With the Distance Divas at the pre-race meeting.
All the mushers gather for a traditional champagne toast at the Millennium Hotel in Anchorage.
After the toast is a pizza lunch for mushers & Iditariders, which Walt and I completely enjoyed.
With the Divas at the start banquet.
Going up on stage to pick my number.
At the start banquet, proof I clean up nice.
Then the Anchorage start. A short run through downtown Anchorage, ending in near-by Campbell airstrip. It is but like a parade and a lot of fun. It gives everyone a chance to get to see the teams in action.
Getting kisses from Dan and Walt (although it kinda looks like I am getting kissed by Walt and last minute instructions from Dan).
Giving Walt dog booties stuffed with candy to toss out for the fans lining the trail in Anchorage.
Just in case you forget 😉
The team for the Anchorage start.
Meeting with fans on Second Ave.
Dan keeping me calm and sane (kinda).
Orchid, ready to go.
Prepping the sled.
The starting chute.
Walking with the leaders to bring the team to the start line.
Lots of high-fives and waves for the ceremonial start.
Almost time to go...
...and we're off!
Big crowds, beautiful dogs...
...great weather, snow falling...
...everyone is having a great time.
The end of the ceremonial start.
For the record, I did not dump Walt on the run.
Kids playing with the team after the run.
OK now we are on to the re-start, or real start, in Willow. Once we leave from here there is no turning back, no last trip to the store or the bathroom, you are headed to Nome the long scenic route.
Some interviews with the media while you are getting ready.
Dogs are relaxing on the truck before the race. (They never seem to get as nervous as I do)
There you are with the dogs you love, your sled, clothes, gear all of it. You have worried, obsessed, & planned for this for months. Now with the clock all but audible Tick /Tocking in your brain you have to pull it all together, and get to the start line on time with everything you need. And it looks a little like this:
And then it is time, and you are ready to go! (you hope)
Walt and Janet were out on the trail in Galena and I caught up with them there. It was cold, in the minus 40-45 range if memory serves. Not entirely unheard of temps for Interior Alaska. You can tell it was ‘real cold’ because I was sporting my bright orange and red parka, affectionately known as ‘the skittle’ for its color and the round shape it gives me.
My drop bags waiting for me at the Galena checkpoint.
The team is parked and I am getting into my gear.
Snacking the team.
The next place I will see Walt and Janet is Nome.
Waiting.
The team coming into the finish chute in Nome.
Finished.
Some scenes from the finish. I had finished right behind friend Lance Mackey and had the pleasure of sharing the chute with him, I heard from friends after that he had personally made sure there was room for my team as I came in. But that is the kind of gentleman Lance is.
Then the dogs are taken to the Nome dog lot, for a well deserved meal and a nice long rest.
In the dog lot, getting gear and dogs taken care of.
Mama, Mama, Many Worlds I've come since I first left home.
And now we come full circle. The race is done and I want to thank all the many wonderful people who helped make it possible. And hugs to our friends Walt and Janet, for being there, taking the photos to prove it!
Dan & I with Walt & Janet in the dog lot in Nome. Taken shortly after I arrived, and shortly before I went to Airport Pizza, ate a HUGE breakfast, and then went and slept for 10 hours.
Jodi Hi,
Looking forward to keeping up with all of you Mushers come March. My hats off to you for living your dreams the way you do. The photos are great, are you going to be running in any other Sled-Dog races this season?? Stay safe out there. Happy trails to you, the Southern fan man, G-Pa.
Wonderful, wonderful photos, such fun to look through them and remember! You really need to put these and all the rest into a book!
It is July as I watch a stage of the Tour de France. Athletes going the distance just like you and the sled dogs of Dew Claw Kennels. I really enjoyed seeing the Walt and Janet photos. It was beyond great to help you move your team to the start as a volunteer. It was amazing to participate overall. What an event you and Dan work towards each year as well as other races. I am inspired to possibly change my whole life up eventually after my mushing ‘field trips’ to MN and being at the Iditarod this year. Incredible! I have to get into this sport more..it is getting in my spirit and blood. 🙂
It is July as I watch a stage of the Tour de France. Athletes going the distance just like you and the sled dogs of Dew Claw Kennels. I really enjoyed seeing the Walt and Janet photos. It was beyond great to help you move your team to the start as a volunteer. It was amazing to participate overall. What an event you and Dan work towards each year as well as other races. I am inspired to possibly change my whole life up eventually after my mushing ‘field trips’ to MN and being at the Iditarod this year. Incredible! I have to get into this sport more..it is getting in my spirit and blood. 🙂
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As Jodi’s Iditarider, and having Jodi and Dan as friends, Jan and I were privileged to be able to follow her journey from Anchorage to Nome… At all times, Jodi reflects the joy and excitement of the challenge, and the heartfelt caring towards her fans and others. Her love of her dogs is only paralleled by her love of people. Her writings give us all an inspiring insight into the world of mushing and the glory that is Alaska.
We look forward to the coming Iditarod, and encourage everyone to support Jodi and Dan and Dew Claw Kennel!
I luv it when mushers posts the photo’s the fans have taken. Thanks for sharing Jodi and Dan, and thank you Janet and Walt for taking them. As Helen said, those pics bring back some great memories. Wished i could also have taken more photo’s when in Rainy Pass or Nome. But at Rainy Pass , just when you came in , our pilot came to pick me up in order to make sure we could still fly out. And at Nome i missed the mushers finishing and i also missed our flight out to White Mountain ;-( But still , i had a great time with Helen, Theresa , Bob, Walt and Janet. It was fun having breakfast together and driving all the icy roads of Nome together. Maybe we will just have to try and do it all over next year (maybe….) Meanwhile counting the days to come over next month 😉 “All going well” we should stay at the Chatanika Lodge on 17th sept.
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