Ceremonial Start where 68 of 65 teams leave the Chute
Bright and early today we drove into Anchorage for the ceremonial
start of Iditarod 2003. We passed several dog trucks doing the same
thing. Parking is not a problem if you get there really early and
you get to walk among the teams, petting dogs, visiting mushers
and taking photos.
G.B. Jones' team looked great in their red, white and blue bandanas
and Bootie Brigade specialist, Becky Griffith, was there cuddling
Sport, now known as "her" dog. [See Photo Gallery] The
Seavey bunch was scattered on different streets but we got by to
see most everyone. The Linwood Fiedler Factor had become the Wild
Hat Gang today which complemented the bright neon yellow doggie
booties for the team.
Bill spent awhile with Lynda Plettner and had to act as her publicity
agent at one point when he saw her being interviewed and photographed
with her hair stuffed under (his words) an ugly green and blue hat
and no make up on. Bill told her to let her hair down, lose the
hat and
get some lipstick on. He saw the reporter later and had him go back
to Lynda (another of Bill's practical jokes) and tell Lynda "Now
that you aren't wearing that ugly hat any more I can take your picture."
All the while Lynda's husband Dan, son Shane, handler Sue Allen
and Bill were laughing their heads off while watching this encounter
take place. Frank Silher had two of the dogs that were in Jordan's
Jr Iditarod team, purchased from Bob and Maureen Morgan, in his
starting line up, Casper and South. Charlie Boulding was looking
well as was DeeDee Jonroe, considering they are both battling cancer
this year. Clint Warnke was in great spirits with Sonny King's dogs.
Jerome Longo helped Melanie Gould get their dogs to the line. Palmer
Sagoonik and family were celebrating and waving flags on the way
down the chute. Susan Butcher walked around the crowds several times
and some say Libby Riddles was there but I did not see her.
There are 64 teams in the race, 65 bibs counting the honorary mushers
but 68 left off the starting line today. Numbers 66,67,and 68 were
Doug Grilliot, Rick Horstman and Judy Merritt who were asked to
take their Idita-Riders on the eleven mile trail to BLM Campbell
Airstrip.
Judy Merritt asked Bill to ride her tag sled and he was thrilled!!!
Had a blast doing it. He became her publicity agent, like he did
for Lynda, when Judy's rider expressed interest in riding the runners
instead of sitting in the sled basket. Bill said to Judy, "Get
in that basket and do your parade wave and everyone will want to
take your picture." Sure enough, everyone did just that as
her 60+ year old rider drove the sled to the starting line
while Bill controlled the team from the tag sled.
I rode with Bill Merritt to the airstrip to watch the last few
teams pull up. It was very muddy by then and 40+ degrees as the
teams packed up to get ready for Fairbanks.
The Anchorage Daily News says today, "The National Weather
Service issued a special statement Friday warning that a mass of
frigid air will likely flood the state from the northwest beginning
Monday. By this time next week, Anchorage could be descending below
zero." This should make for an interesting race as weather
conditions will be a big factor. Interior Alaska is always much
colder than other areas of the state. And wind on the Yukon
has shut down many a team. Most mushers seemed worried about the
mental aspect of the miles and miles of boredom on the huge Yukon
River but all seemed to acknowledge that weather could move in at
any time. MP3, tape or CD players will be almost required equipment.
Check our photo gallery for more pictures from the start!!
Top Headlines from the Anchorage Daily News
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
G.B. Jones' team looked great in their red, white and blue bandanas
and Bootie Brigade specialist, Becky Griffith, was there cuddling
Sport, now known as "her" dog. [See Photo Gallery] The
Seavey bunch was scattered on different streets but we got by to
see most everyone. The Linwood Fiedler Factor had become the Wild
Hat Gang today which complemented the bright neon yellow doggie
booties for the team. 
get some lipstick on. He saw the reporter later and had him go back
to Lynda (another of Bill's practical jokes) and tell Lynda "Now
that you aren't wearing that ugly hat any more I can take your picture."
All the while Lynda's husband Dan, son Shane, handler Sue Allen
and Bill were laughing their heads off while watching this encounter
take place. Frank Silher had two of the dogs that were in Jordan's
Jr Iditarod team, purchased from Bob and Maureen Morgan, in his
starting line up, Casper and South. Charlie Boulding was looking
well as was DeeDee Jonroe, considering they are both battling cancer
this year. Clint Warnke was in great spirits with Sonny King's dogs.
Jerome Longo helped Melanie Gould get their dogs to the line. Palmer
Sagoonik and family were celebrating and waving flags on the way
down the chute. Susan Butcher walked around the crowds several times
and some say Libby Riddles was there but I did not see her. 
line
while Bill controlled the team from the tag sled.
Yukon
has shut down many a team. Most mushers seemed worried about the
mental aspect of the miles and miles of boredom on the huge Yukon
River but all seemed to acknowledge that weather could move in at
any time. MP3, tape or CD players will be almost required equipment.