Ellie Claus, Champion, Junior Iditarod 2003 for UltimateIditarod

A pink glow slips beneath the Bearing Sea pack ice. Another day closes and another night emerges, wrapping the icy coast in darkness. Time cannot be persuaded to bend to the schedules of the mushers. And neither will they bend to follow the rules of a 24-hour day.
They will not sleep only because it is night, they will not travel only because it is day. Instead each will create their own time warps where routines will become schedules and darkness will blend with the day.

It’s day nine of Iditarod 2003. Sorlie’s dogs sleep on their last mandatory rest, only 70 some from the finish in Nome. Predictions are good at this point as to who will reach the burled arch first. But further back down the trail the days will continue in a blurred pattern as the rest of the teams push on in pursuit of their own victories.

For Tyrell, Jim, Cindy and many others the focus has been and will be on the condition of their teammates. Their victories shine in the watchful eyes of each dog. No matter what position they finish, they are champions to their teams and to the spirit of dog mushing.