Furondy!!!!!

Hanging out on Long Lake waiting for the start of the Ititarod

I've been informed by one of my legion of fans (all three of you) that it's been a month since I've written anything on here.  I've been homesick lately and missing the mountain so I've been re-working some photos from last summer.

The past couple of weeks have been absorbed with work and getting photos ready for display at the gallery on Elmendorff Air Force Base.  It's a small gallery in the PX mall but it's a start.  It's an investment getting the materials around to display the photos and I hope it will pay off by at least getting my name out there.

It's been  a busy end of February and into March.  We attended Furondy, which is short for Fur Rendezvous, in downtown Anchorage.  This hold over from when the trappers of old would bring their furs into town for sale still has a fur auction but also a carnival with rides.  Other events include running with the reindeer and the worlds largest outhouse race (outhouses on skis)!  The first weekend is also featured for the International Dogsled races as the dogs run a sprint race through town, out along Campbell Airstrip and back downtown over.  They run three races over a three day period.  I saw the start and finish of the Saturday race downtown and on Sunday went out to Campbell Tract by the airstrip to get pictures.

The following weekend is the start of the Iditarod.  The 1000 plus mile dogsled race from Willow to Nome.  There is a ceremonial start in Anchorage on Saturday and we went downtown to see the dogs getting ready and talk to the mushers.  When the crowd starting getting thick, we headed out of town to Campbell airstrip where the teams end up for that day.  The crowd was more sparse out there and picture opportunities better.  It was fun watching these dogs do what they do best.  They truly are happier when they are running.  On Sunday, it was an early start for the hour and twenty minute drive to Willow for the actual race start.  We parked early and walked out onto Willow Lake where the race begins.  The dog handler area was off limits so we headed across the lake, down the road and out onto Long Lake to find a good vantage point to watch the teams go by.  People were just starting to set up on the lake for the massive tailgate party that it was.  Ice fishing and bonfires were the order of the day as people celebrated and enjoyed the cloudless sunny day on a frozen Alaska lake.  Snow machines and four wheelers raced every where along with an air boat that wizzed across the ice.  Planes with skis and bush tires (large rubber tires) began to land on the ice before the start of the race.  It's much easier to fly up from Anchorage than it is to drive on race day.  We spent the afternoon with a gentleman named Rob we met on the ice.  Rob's a pilot for Delta and offered us race tips as well as sharing his smoked salmon.  Delicious.  Eveyone cheered the mushers as they raced by ion their way to Nome.  I was rooting for the Allie, one of the cute blonde twin sisters from Wisconsin that I met downtown the day before.  I was also routing for the team from Jamaica because well he's from Jamaica.  I mean, come on, there's no snow there!  He has guts.

International Dogsled race, Campbell tract

International Dogsled race, Campbell tract

International Dogsled race, Campbell tract

International Dogsled race

International Dogsled race

International Dogsled race, Downtown Anchorage

Ceremonial start of the Iditarod, Campbell Airstrip, Anchorage, Alaska

Iditarod, Long Lake, Willow, Alaska

Iditarod, Anchorage, Alaska

Iditarod, Anchorage, Alaska

Iditarod, Long Lake, Willow, Alaska

Iditarod, Long Lake, Willow, Alaska

Iditarod, Long Lake, Willow, Alaska

Iditarod, Long Lake, Willow, Alaska

Iditarod, Long Lake, Willow, Alaska

Iditarod, Long Lake, Willow, Alaska

I was planning since my trip to Alaska last August to attend the start of the Iditarod and I did it.  My next big adventure is tentatively planned for Memorial Day weekend and a trip north to Fairbanks at least.  The days are getting longer.  The sun rises at 8:00am and sets after 8:00pm so summer is coming.  A large laminated Alaska map is on the bedroom wall marked with dots of the places yet to be seen.  The benefit of working at the University where the USGS has an office full of maps.  This along with being asked to judge a cookie contest for the Culinary Arts school makes Kevin happy....and fatter.

Bush plane with skis on in Cantwell, Alaska.  The Alaskan Mountain Range in the background.