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March 5, 2002
 South Fork Kuskokwim River
Interior Alaska

So....How DO we do this??

In case any of you are wondering how it is possible to update this website on a daily basis from along the Iditarod Trail, here's the scoop.  
First we use a small, hand-held digital camcorder to record the visual parts of the story.  I keep this always with me, in a pocket on the inside of my parka.  This keeps it warmer, as well as protected from bumping, in case I wreck on the snowmobile.  It's in a lower, left hand pocket, so I can quickly reach in with my right hand, get it out, and have it ready to go very quickly.  
The video is saved on a tape, and we have lots of tapes.  We are planning to make a video of this adventure after the race is over, so we don't delete any of the footage we take.  
We select our still images from the video on tape, and right within  the camera this is put on a multimedia card, and from this card we transfer the data into our laptops.  We then delete the data on the card, so only one card is needed for the whole trip.  

Tyrell in action!  Note the satellite phone on the dashboard, the antenna pointing to the sky; the laptop screen shielded from the sunlight by his parka liner, and the intense look of concentration!

Once within the laptop computer, we edit the images to improve their contrast and brightness, and also to make them smaller.  This smaller package of data speeds up transfer  between devices, yet still maintains adequate quality.  
We then write the updates on the laptop, using our web-design software, and insert the photos that go with that article.  
Finally....and most amazing to me-a real rookie to this technology...we use a satellite phone to upload the data to the server, and make it available to the whole world to see. This phone has been provided for us by World Communications Center, one of our sponsors.  It has been working flawlessly (when we do our part correctly.
Now...everything we are using is capable of operating on battery power.  We cannot rely on having a source of 110 volt AC, so we must be always mindful of keeping our batteries charged.  For this purpose, we have a 12 volt DC outlet mounted on the snowmobile, and we are often running with one or the other of our battery charging unit plugged into this, and the device is stored in a cargo bag on the dashboard of the machine, just inside the windshield.  Just in case there's a glitch in the battery power, we also have a 12 volt DC to 110 volt AC inverter.  We can use this while stopped, so that in effect we are using the snowmobile's battery to give us the same power source you get out of a wall outlet.  
Now you can just imagine how many cords we have!!  They all have a specific purpose, and if any ONE is missing, the whole project could fail.  So whenever we stop and get everything out, it is extremely important that we keep track of our cords.  We also must be careful not to damage one, which means watching where we step, and also being aware of how brittle and fragile they become at 20 below zero.   So far things have gone without a hitch.  If information stops coming, it may well be because we have lost or damaged one of our vital cords!

For Ultimate Iditarod....Bill Gallea

© 2002 Ultimate Iditarod, Snowcrest Racing Sled Dogs, Seavey's Iditarod Racing Team
Reproduction or distribution in any way or by any means prohibited without permission.
Ultimate Iditarod http://www.ultimateiditarod.com  email: dogboy@ultimateiditarod.com