Iditarod Race Updates and Coverage--Ultimate Iditarod

It's nice to be back on the trail again! Tyrell mentioned in his articles that my snowmachine was broken down. Well...I'm now fixed up and ready to go on. Since it's the only story I've gotten in the last day, it's what I have to write about.

It's testimony to how rugged the trail is that the suspension system of my snowmobile broke down completely. It actually occurred in two stages. First the frame member that holds the left main spring broke off about 10 miles out from the Rohn Checkpoint. Once we removed the broken pieces, I was able to literally limp along about 3 to 5 miles an hour. This worked for the next 40 miles, until the right side main spring broke down. That left me stranded about 25 miles from Nikolai. We decided that Tyrell should go on ahead to Nikolai, so that he could keep up with what was going on in the race, and provide you with regular updates. I gladly camped out in the middle of the Farewell Burn, and waited for our rescue plan to unfold.

There's no need to worry that I was in any way in danger, or even uncomfortable. I have great equipment, and plenty of delicious food. Actually I enjoyed my time alone, and the northern lights were spectacular for a while during the middle of the night.
The most interesting part of the story is how we got out of our predicament. First Tyrell and I discussed options, and decided to keep heading for Nikolai, rather than turn back to Rohn. Even though Nikolai lay over 50 miles away, it offers a good landing strip, sufficient for larger wheeled planes, plus people with snowmobiles, trailer sleds, and possibly even parts in case they might be needed.
The next step involved using our trusty satellite phone, which we've been using for these updates. We were able to call friends down on the Kenai Peninsula, including Carlie (who made all our food for the trip); Will, who runs Clearwater Air, out of Soldotna; and Cody, who owns a snowmobile repair shop in Kenai. Carlie was able to look up the phone numbers we needed. Will was willing and able to fly to NIkolai the next day. And Cody not only was willing to fly in with Will, but he also had all the parts we needed to get back on the trail again!!
Once I broke down for good, and could not move at all, we needed to locate a local person from Nikolai, with a snowmobile and a trailer sled, to bring Cody and the tools and parts in to me. Tyrell was able to accomplish this once daybreak came.
So...about 5:30 PM, with about two hours of daylight left, Cody and Jim arrived, and we got right to work. Cody is like a surgeon, who works quickly, yet accurately, and obviously knows his way around each and every part of the snowmachine. He had to do some improvising, but was able to accomplish everything, and even before it got dark!
We all drove in together the last 25 miles, and both of us agreed: the machine works just like new! On the way into the village I recalled the oft-repeated saying of the western humor/music group, "Riders In The Sky", and I thought of a new twist-which applies to what I'd just been through.

Hopefully, we'll be able to get an early start tomorrow, and catch up with the leaders within a day or two. We've been hanging out with the "back of the pack" for the last two days. Now...as the race for first place heats up....we'll try to give you a direct look at the leaders, and try to analyze what's happening.

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© 2002 Ultimate Iditarod, Snowcrest Racing Sled Dogs, Seavey's Iditarod Racing Team
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