2008 Alaska Outing - The Iditarod

2008 ALASKA OUTING AND THE 2008 IDITAROD
Thank yous to Mike Dagley, Todd Ruppenthal and Carol Preble for the awesome photos!!

First day in Alaska
Thursday, February 28, 2008

A 'must' visit to Jon and Jona Van Zyle
The Musher's Banquet

VZIONS

Jon and Jona Van Zyle live in Eagle River, Alaska. Jon is known for his Alaskan wildlife art as well as being the 'official artist of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race'. Jona is also well known for her hand made jewelry and leather works.
Check out their web page:
http://www.jonvanzyle.com/

Musher's Banquet

Sullivan Arena in Anchorage
This is where each musher will personally draw his/her starting position.
Wayne drew number22 and Karen Ramstead drew number 19.

Athabascan for the "High One"
20,320 feet

Two views as seen along
Parks Highway on the way to Natalie's.

Natalie and Earl Norris have been breeding Siberian Huskies for over 60 years.

IDITAROD TRAIL COMMITTEE HEADQUARTERS

Joe Reddington, Sr.

Joe is considered the 'Father of the Iditarod'.
He created and funded the first event in 1973.
Joe passed away on June 24, 1999 from cancer.
He was buried in his favorite dog sled in Wasilla, Alaska.
For more info on Joe and his life, click on the link below:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Redington

The Group at the ITC HQ's with the Joe Reddington, Sr. bronze.

Togo

(October 1913 – December 5, 1929)
Was Leonhard Seppala's lead dog that led his team in the 1925 relay of diphtheria antitoxin from Anchorage to Nome, Alaska, after an outbreak of the disease. They covered the longest distance of any of the other teams.

For more info on Togo click on the following link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Togo_(dog)

Curtis Open House Reception
Wayne Curtis is running an all Siberian team in the 2008 Iditarod.
Chris and Wayne were members of the Chicago club while they lived in the area.
The Club is a present and past sponsor of Team Stormwatch.
Chris and Wayne hosted a pre-Iditarod party on Friday.
It was also a chance for Sponsors to meet their special team dog.
See more info about Wayne and Team Stormwatch at the link below:
http://www.iditarodtrail.com/

A VISIT TO JILL'S

Finished!!
Karen - 56th place
12 days 6 hours 52 minutes 58 seconds

Karen Ramstead and her all Siberian Team.
See Karen and her Team at:
http://www.northwapiti.com/

ANCHORAGE
Day 5 in Alaska
March 3, 2008

TUESDAY OUTING
Seward Highway
March 4, 2008

The Alyeska Tram in Girdwood.

ALASKA
MARCH 6, 2008
FAIRBANKS

Chena Hot Springs
Aurora Ice Museum
http://www.chenahotsprings.com/

The Chena Hot Springs Resort is located in Fairbanks, Alaska. The resort is also the home of the Aurora Ice Museum.

What a great way to end a day!!

But, wait!!!
The day was actually concluded after an evening at International Ice Carving Competition

http://www.icealaska.com/

Alaska and the Far North are known for their frequent visits of the Aurora Borealis, aka The Northern Lights. To many, viewing the Lights is a sacred event. The sight to the right will take you to the Geophysical Intstitute at the University of Alaska Fairbanks for a schedule of the Light Show!

NOME
March 16, 2008

***CONGRATS TO WAYNE AND HIS TEAM!!***

Team Stormwatch crossed under the burled arch at 14:25:26 on Sunday, March 16, 2008.
Wayne and 13 of his dogs crossed the finish line in Nome.
Placing 71st in 13 days 23 hours 25 minutes 26 seconds

For more info and photos of Team Stormwatch visit:
www.iditarodtrail.com

For more info on Nome visit:
http://www.angelfire.com/trek/nome/

2008 ALASKA OUTING AND THE 2008 IDITAROD Thank yous to Mike Dagley, Todd Ruppenthal and Carol Preble for the awesome photos!!

Click here to go to the Iditarod HQ site for complete results and news about the Race.

First day in Alaska Thursday, February 28, 2008 A 'must' visit to Jon and Jona Van Zyle The Musher's Banquet
VZIONS Jon and Jona Van Zyle live in Eagle River, Alaska. Jon is known for his Alaskan wildlife art as well as being the 'official artist of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race'. Jona is also well known for her hand made jewelry and leather works. Check out their web page: http://www.jonvanzyle.com/






Musher's Banquet Sullivan Arena in Anchorage This is where each musher will personally draw his/her starting position. Wayne drew number22 and Karen Ramstead drew number 19.


Day two in Alaska Friday, February 29, 2008 Denali A visit to Natalie Norris at Howling Dog Farm. A stop at the ITC Curtis Open House
DENALI
	Athabascan for the "High One" 20,320 feet Two views as seen along Parks Highway on the way to Natalie's.
Howling Dog Farm Home of Anadyr Siberian Huskies A visit with Natalie Norris http://www.anadyr.com/
	Natalie and Earl Norris have been breeding Siberian Huskies for over 60 years.
	Finished!!! Jen - 50th place 11 days 21 hours 40 minutes 27 seconds She has been awarded the most inspirational musher for Iditarod 2008. Blake - 51st place 11 days 21 hours 40 minutes 36 seconds **new Sibe team record** This also included a visit with Jen and Blake Freking who have made their base camp at Natalie's. Jen, number 60, is running Siberians with some Alaskans. Blake, number 54,is running an all Siberian team. They are from Minnesota. Learn more about Jen and Blake and their Iditarod experience at: http://www.jedeyesleddogs.com/mushers.html
IDITAROD TRAIL COMMITTEE HEADQUARTERS
	ITC is located in Wasilla, Alaska. It is the Headquarters of the Iditarod Sled Dog Race, a museum and a store with lots of memorabilia! For more info about ITC, click the links below: http://www.iditarod.com/learn/history.html http://www.iditarod.com/aboutus/
Joe Reddington, Sr. Joe is considered the 'Father of the Iditarod'. He created and funded the first event in 1973. Joe passed away on June 24, 1999 from cancer. He was buried in his favorite dog sled in Wasilla, Alaska. For more info on Joe and his life, click on the link below: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Redington
		The Group at the ITC HQ's with the Joe Reddington, Sr. bronze.
	Togo (October 1913 – December 5, 1929) Was Leonhard Seppala's lead dog that led his team in the 1925 relay of diphtheria antitoxin from Anchorage to Nome, Alaska, after an outbreak of the disease. They covered the longest distance of any of the other teams. For more info on Togo click on the following link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Togo_(dog)

Curtis Open House Reception Wayne Curtis is running an all Siberian team in the 2008 Iditarod. Chris and Wayne were members of the Chicago club while they lived in the area. The Club is a present and past sponsor of Team Stormwatch. Chris and Wayne hosted a pre-Iditarod party on Friday. It was also a chance for Sponsors to meet their special team dog. See more info about Wayne and Team Stormwatch at the link below: http://www.iditarodtrail.com/
	The party view from the upper deck at Chris and Wayne's. (to the left) Todd and his sponsor dog, Yukon. (to the Right)
A VISIT TO JILL'S
	Jill is a good friend of the members of the SHCGC. Jill lived in the Chicago area prior to her trip to Alaska in 2003 to become Kennel Manager for Team Stormwatch. She was to help Wayne Curtis train for the 2004 Iditarod. After the 2004 Iditarod, she decided to stay! Their gain and our loss!
THE BIG DAY Day 3 in Alaska THE CEREMONIAL START OF THE IDITAROD IN DOWNTOWN ANCHORAGE For more coverage and photos on the 2008 Race check out these links: http://www.iditarod.com http://www.adn.com/iditarod Saturday, March 1, 2008



	Finished!! Karen - 56th place 12 days 6 hours 52 minutes 58 seconds Karen Ramstead and her all Siberian Team. See Karen and her Team at: http://www.northwapiti.com/


Restart of the Iditarod Day 4 in Alaska Willow, Alaska March 2, 2008





ANCHORAGE Day 5 in Alaska March 3, 2008

TUESDAY OUTING Seward Highway March 4, 2008
	The Tuesday Outing was a road trip down the Seward Highway (Route 1) travelling southeast of Anchorage. The road runs along a body of water called the Turnagain Arm of the Cook Inlet. These photos were taken near the town of Girdwood. For more info on the scenic drive from Anchorage to Girdwood click on the ollowing link: http://www.alaskascenes.com/turnagain.html
The Alyeska Tram in Girdwood.		For more info and photos from the Alyeska Tram: http://alaska.org/girdwood/ride-mt-alyeskas-tram.jsp
WEDNESDAY'S OUTING Talkeetna, Alaska March 5, 2008
First stop on the Wednesday trip was to Dave Totten's Gallery in Talkeetna. Dave is famous for his pastels of Alaska's wildlife and scenery as well as Sled Dogs. See Dave's Gallery at: http://www.davidtotten.com/index.html After working up an appetite shopping at Dave's gallery, the group headed to the Talkeetna Roadhouse for lunch. For more about the Roadhouse: http://www.talkeetnaroadhouse.com/photogallery.html Upon finishing a relaxing lunch, it was time to hit the Parks Highway to Fairbanks. But the trip would not be complete without a stop at Denali National Park. Find more about this spectacular 20,320 foot mountain: http://www.nps.gov/dena/

ALASKA MARCH 6, 2008 FAIRBANKS
Chena Hot Springs Aurora Ice Museum http://www.chenahotsprings.com/


The Chena Hot Springs Resort is located in Fairbanks, Alaska. The resort is also the home of the Aurora Ice Museum.		What a great way to end a day!! But, wait!!! The day was actually concluded after an evening at International Ice Carving Competition http://www.icealaska.com/
Alaska and the Far North are known for their frequent visits of the Aurora Borealis, aka The Northern Lights. To many, viewing the Lights is a sacred event. The sight to the right will take you to the Geophysical Intstitute at the University of Alaska Fairbanks for a schedule of the Light Show!	http://www.gedds.alaska.edu/AuroraForecast/



NOME March 16, 2008 *CONGRATS TO WAYNE AND HIS TEAM!!* Team Stormwatch crossed under the burled arch at 14:25:26 on Sunday, March 16, 2008. Wayne and 13 of his dogs crossed the finish line in Nome. Placing 71st in 13 days 23 hours 25 minutes 26 seconds For more info and photos of Team Stormwatch visit: www.iditarodtrail.com For more info on Nome visit: http://www.angelfire.com/trek/nome/
	Wayne under the burled arch in Nome. (left) The Outwater family - Peggy, Percy, Ruby and CJ. The Outwaters graciously host Team Stormwatch while they are in Nome.

NOMEMarch 16, 2008

NOME
March 16, 2008