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Hardcore Huskies Newsletter 08 Race Edition.pdf [ Archive ] |
| Heather Arrives At Joe Mays Cabin | Sat, Jan. 26th, 2008 | |
It took her a little more than four hours but Heather and the Hardcore Team arrived at Joe Mays Cabin at 5 AM ASKT this morning (9 AM EST). Heather left from Oil Well Road at 00:57 this morning AKST (4:47 AM EST). after resting for nearly four and a half hours.
When Heather and the team left Oil Well Road, they took the "106" trail back to the Parks Highway, crossed the Parks at (under) Susitna Bridge and continued up the river several miles, then through the swamps to Joe May¡¯s and an 8 hour layover. This leg was approximately 34 miles and it took Heather 4 hours and 3 minutes.
Race officials say all went smoothly for the start, with a slightly cloudy morning at around 6¡ãF. The five or more inches of snow they received last night will slow down the trail, and they have had intermittent flurries¨Csome heavy¨Csince around 3pm Friday. The trail is very well marked with reflective tape and pie plates on stakes, so no one should have problems finding their way (whiteout conditions excepted).
Stay tuned for more updates and information is made available.
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| Heather 2nd to Arrive at First Checkpoint | Sat, Jan. 26th, 2008 | |
It took 8 hours and 16 minutes to get to the first checkpoint, which was the second fastest time. Molly Yazwinski, who is running a team of 14 dogs compared to Heathers 12, made the trip in 7 hours and 3 minutes. Yazwinski and her team averaged 9.36 mph while the Hardcore team was clocked at an average of 7.98 mph.
Race records were last updated at 23:52 AKST last night and showed Heather had not yet left the Oil Well Road checkpoint.
Weather should not be a factor with the race. Current temp is minus 13 under a clear sky with very little wind. The high today should reach near 6 above with abundant sunshine and a light wind from the north at 5 mph..
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| Off They Go! Heather Leads the Bowers Race | Fri, Jan. 25th, 2008 | |
The 2008 Don Bowers 300 Memorial Dog Sled Race began at 12:02 PM AKST this afternoon (4:02 PM eastern) when Heather and 12 members of her Hardcore Team left the Willow Community Center for the start of the race. Heather drew bib number one so she was the first one down the trail. Let`s hope that is a good omen.
After leaving the Willow Community Center the trail drops down onto the Big Su using the Corral Hill trail. The team will then enter the Deshka River and proceed to Deshka River Lodge. From there they proceed up the Deshka River several miles then overland to the tent checkpoint near Oil Well Rd. This leg is approximately 50 miles. Looking at times from previous years this leg could take anywhere between 7 and 14 hours.
In addition to Heather and her team, there are 11 other mushers in the 300 mile race and a total of 11 mushers racing 200 miles. At the start of the race the temperature was 4 degrees below zero under a mostly cloudy sky and the visibility was about 15 miles.
Check back during the weekend as we`ll do our best to keep you up to date with their progress.
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| HARDCORE TEAM ENTERS DON BOWERS 300 | Thu, Jan. 24th, 2008 | |
Heather and the Hardcore Team are off to Willow, Alaska this weekend to compete in the Don Bowers Memorial 300 dog sled race which starts on Friday, Jan 25, 2008.
The race is named in honor of Don Bowers, author, airman, dog driver, who started a combined 200-300 mile dog race in Willow, Alaska in 2000. Following his death that year, a group of volunteers continued that race, now renamed in his memory. The race is a qualifier for both the Iditarod and the Yukon Quest. It is sponsored by the Montana Creek Dog Musher`s, Mile 94.2 Parks Highway Alaska.
Heather says this tune up race will be good for both her and the dogs.
`It will give me a good feel of where we are in preparation for the Iditarod,` said Heather.
Iditarod 36 is set to begin on March 1, 2008 in Anchorage.
According to race officials, the 2008 Bowers race is expected to follow the same course as last year [see map].
- Musher`s will leave Willow Community Center and drop down onto the Big Su using the Corral Hill trail. From there they will enter the Deshka River and proceed about 15 miles to the Deshka River Lodge. After leaving the Lodge musher`s will proceed up the Deshka River several miles then overland to the tent checkpoint near Oil Well Rd. This leg is approximately 50 miles.
- From Oil Well musher`s will take the `106` trail back to the Parks, cross the Parks at Susitna Bridge and continue up the river several miles, then through the swamps to Joe May`s for an 8 hour layover. This leg is approximately 34 miles.
- Return along the same course, except for the 300 mile race. They will leave Deshka River Lodge [checkpoint-food drop] and proceed to Trail Lake via Su-Landing and the old Iditarod Trail. From there the trail proceeds to the Yenta River then turns south to Yentna Station. Musher`s will return to Willow back along the same route [but without stopping at Deshka River Lodge].
Check back during the weekend for race updates. Updates will be posted as information is made available. Based on finishing times in prior years the 300 miles should take between 48 to 60 hours to complete.
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| Training Pace Picks Up – Race Goals Set | Tue, Jan. 22nd, 2008 | |
Hello again from Talkeetna. Iditarod 36 is only about six weeks away and training is going full speed ahead.
So far I have logged over 1600 miles on the dogs. We are running five or six hours, rest for 4-6 hours, and then running again. The trails near where I live in Talkeetna are similar to what we’ll find on the northern leg of this year’s Iditarod. This year when we leave the Ophir checkpoint, we head north to Cripple and then Ruby, Galena, and Nulato. Then we hit Kaltag which is where the northern and southern routes unite. From Kaltag it’s off to Unalakleet where most Iditarod historians say the real race begins. Unalakleet is along the Bering Sea where the winds can get real nasty!
I’ve heard the weather has been warmer than normal along the route. I haven’t really heard much about how much snow is there. I know we’ve had more this year than last in Talkeetna so hopefully that holds true for the race. Last year there were several spots that lacked snow which made it tough for everyone, especially the dogs.
As for myself, I am running hills and hauling water three times a day to help get myself into race shape. I also do my paloties several times a week.
Someone sent me an e-mail the other day and asked if I were going to run a tune-up race before the Iditarod. I plan to run the Don Bowers 300 on January 25th.
It is important that I get my meat and dog snacks together for the Iditarod race. Race meat alone costs nearly $1,000. I have to get all of the food drop stuff ready by the third week in February because that is when the Iditarod Air force begins staging the food bags for all of the mushers at the various checkpoints. That will probably cost me about $1200.
My other race supplies are nearly set. Friends are helping put Gold Bond powder into the dog booties and then sorting the booties into groups of four. I am packing the plastic runners for my sled and getting my lithium batteries and other supplies ready to stage at the checkpoints along with the food.
The dogs for this year’s race are about set. All of the dogs are happy and perky, Piggy and Earp are my main leaders this year, but almost all of my dogs are trail leaders, Minnie, Shadow, Wyatt, Snogo, Horst, Diamond, Louise, Tweety, Cal, Dixie, Colvin, and Pluto are good trail leaders, and the rest Bruner, Dexter, Kitty, Dolly, Fast Eddy are all on the team too. Some of you may have met Kitty if you were at the mall or Bismarck State College after last years race when I came to Bismarck. A lot of kids at the various schools also met her.
Last year my goal was to finish the race with a happy and healthy team. That is my goal again this year but I want to improve my time a lot. I really believe I can finish the race in 10 to 12 days. I will be resting a lot less in the checkpoints this year compared to last.
While my funds are a bit tight, I know somehow it will all work out. Everyone has been so kind and giving and I want you to know the dogs and I truly appreciate all of the help you have given me these past couple of years. Without you, my dream of racing the Iditarod would not have come true. I am sorry that I cannot thank you individually but please know that each and every one of you has a special place in my heart.
Thanks again and keep coming back to the website for more updates before and during the race! Wish me luck!
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