tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46568454797008657422012-01-16T15:34:22.868-08:00Devan & Judy Currier Two Rivers, AlaskaJudynoreply@blogger.comBlogger301100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4656845479700865742.post-58656418701825866262011-11-02T12:29:00.000-07:002011-11-04T20:56:45.503-07:00

Weaz and Pebbles rest after 30 mile run Most of our dogs spend the summer on the Glacier in Juneau or Skagway giving rides to tourists.  This means they arrive here in September already muscled up and ready to train at a distance a bit longer than the norm.  Yesterday Guro, who has been itching to go camping, and Mari took teams on their first camp out, albeit with ATV's rather than sleds (we

Judynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4656845479700865742.post-87202646425817867992011-11-02T12:28:00.000-07:002011-11-02T12:29:53.397-07:00

Our 2011-2012 training is in full swing.  Guru Eidal from Bergen, Norway has been busy since September learning the fall training process, the Two Rivers trails, and having fun adventuring in the area with neighbor Kay.  Guru (pronounced Guroe) is a third year Medical student with a semester off so she will be with us until early January.  She has traveled to Alaska several times before,

Judynoreply@blogger.com0Fairbanks, AK 99712, USA65.0728574 -146.522057764.65576440000001 -147.94266770000002 65.4899504 -145.1014477tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4656845479700865742.post-79316230717823475252011-08-15T23:22:00.000-07:002011-08-15T23:22:42.318-07:00

During last year's Yukon Quest,  a good friend of mine wrote me saying "Judy, don't ever do that race.  Its too dang cold."  Well, sorry, Donna, we just have to.  I just can't see myself standing out on the Paw Print corner handing out hotdogs to mushers enroute to Whitehorse and wondering what the  trail will be like.  Its a habit I developed as a kid, riding my ponies, Rosie and Lucky.  After

Judynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4656845479700865742.post-29863210636368695212011-04-01T22:41:00.000-07:002011-08-15T23:02:32.340-07:00

Me and My Barney Hey all, We are all home safe, sound but disappointed. Iditarod dogs are bouncing around on their chains, enjoying the sunshine.  I'm licking my wounds, wishing I had spent more time on the runners and wishing I had better luck prior to the race when several key  leaders got sidelined.  Oh well.  We usually start the race thinking we have 6 to 8 leaders who can rotate up

Judynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4656845479700865742.post-46677526352323840702011-03-06T10:13:00.000-08:002011-03-06T10:13:46.495-08:00

Yippee!  At last, the Real Start.  Time to harness up and pull the hook.   The line up it pretty much fixed, just deciding between 3 year old Merlin and 2 year old Tundra.  Consensus seems to be Mighty Merlin.  The rest will be Teva, Pistol, Phoenix, Athena, Doc, Pebbles, Barney Wilma, Skor, Screamer, Wizard, Abbi, Hooch, Oprah, and Maniac Muggles.   Time to take my last shower, don the wardrobe

Judynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4656845479700865742.post-56828904811518716592011-02-27T08:27:00.000-08:002011-02-27T08:27:07.556-08:00

Just one week from today my team and I will embark on our 6th Iditarod.  Most of the work has been done but we still have to pick the team.  On Thursday Misha and I took 24 dogs into Fairbanks for the pre-race blood draw and ECG screening.  Providence Hospital in Anchorage sponsors Iditarod by processing full panels for all of the teams.  The results are then analyzed by Stu Nelson, Head Vet for

Judynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4656845479700865742.post-45321654214885273992011-02-20T09:12:00.000-08:002011-02-20T09:12:09.456-08:00

Wow.  Last year the Yukon Quest was finished in record time with good trail and great weather.  This year the weather turned on them - not unusual for the Quest - and provided many challenges to surmount and made Devan feel much better about staying home.  The first half of the race was reasonably "easy" with mild temperatures and good trail. Once the mushers headed for the Alaska border, however

Judynoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4656845479700865742.post-3066450776781894472011-02-20T08:24:00.000-08:002011-02-23T08:04:12.035-08:00

As I write this, seven of my main team members are headed to Whitehorse for the start of the Yukon Quest. No, they won't be spectating, they will be running in Tamara Rose's team as she takes on the YQ for the first time.  Since Devan is unable to run this year, I offered our three/four year olds for TROSE to run instead of the two year olds she had been training.  So the Harry Potter kids -

Judynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4656845479700865742.post-21790374495952203282011-01-25T22:48:00.002-08:002011-01-27T12:59:19.095-08:00

Although our plan for two one thousand mile races for 2011has changed, we still plan to run the Iditarod in 2011 and the Quest in 2012.  If you'd like to contribute to our Idita-Quest - Midlife Mush II, we would be happy to send you a Hoodie Sweatshirt as pictured below.   A contribution of $100 or more is requested to cover shipping and the hoodie.  Colors are pigment died Blue, Green, Sandstone

Judynoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4656845479700865742.post-41493799574876624482011-01-25T22:48:00.000-08:002011-01-25T22:48:21.603-08:00

Our New Year really did not start out well.  January 1 Devan awoke to a "ping" and then pain in his back.  After one visit to the ER room, a few days flat on his back and another doctor visit via cell phone, we were headed to Anchorage, courtesy of Judy's Medivac Service.  Friday evening at 9pm, Dr. Jensen performed a bilateral laminectomy.  With 12 weeks required for recovery, there will be no

Judynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4656845479700865742.post-49843752365952647742010-12-27T12:22:00.000-08:002010-12-27T19:49:21.649-08:00

Sheep Mountain Lodge put on yet another great race, offering one of the best  and most challenging trails in Alaska.  Spectacular views, steep and grinding ascents and descents, a competitive field of mushers.  All we could desire.  My goal was to not make the mistake I made in 2008 - going too fast at the start of the 2nd run; I succeeded at that but think I likely went to fast on the first

Judynoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4656845479700865742.post-78715390484694745102010-11-22T23:14:00.000-08:002010-12-06T17:39:40.814-08:00

When Devan decided to run the Iditarod at age forty, I called the run his Mid-life Mush;  now that he has decided to run the Yukon Quest at age fifty some might  call it Mid-life Madness but I think maybe it should be called the Mid-life Motivation.  Running the trail from Whitehorse, Yukon to Fairbanks with our furry friends is great motivation in the midst of the cold, Alaskan winter to get off

Judynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4656845479700865742.post-42790526041381446062010-09-29T21:31:00.000-07:002010-09-29T21:55:07.405-07:00

I wanted to be sure to thank everyone for their support before, during, and after Iditarod.  It really does take a small army to put a team on the trail and (sometimes) to get it off the trail.  Devan, of course, provides key support building fixing my sleds, maintaining the dog truck, and counseling me on do's and don'ts.  Reto, who handled for us all season, worked hard preparing the dogs for

Judynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4656845479700865742.post-88334048503839610182010-02-12T08:05:00.000-08:002010-02-12T08:05:45.575-08:00

Today Reto and I will head to the White Mountains Recreational Area just north of Fairbanks.  It a hilly, very scenic trail system maintained by BLM and frequently used by mushers.  There are cabins located roughly every 20 miles used by skiers, snowmachiners, and mushers. With the current warm temperatures - 0 to 20 - we will have little need for a cabin so plan to camp out just off the trail. 

Judynoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4656845479700865742.post-75498283495612236572010-02-04T07:36:00.000-08:002010-02-04T07:36:50.608-08:00

The Black and Blues pulled me to victory in the Don Bowers Memorial 200 race this past weekend!  For me and the other Iditarod teams entered, the DBM was intended to be a training run and it served the purpose very well.  Reto and I both fielded 12 dog teams with the plan to run 5 1/2 hours, rest 3 hours on the trail, and then run 5 1/2 hours enroute to Joe May's 1/2;  my plan for the run home

Judynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4656845479700865742.post-61126844735635625932010-01-17T12:11:00.000-08:002010-02-01T21:59:05.662-08:00

Plans are progressing and evolving toward the end goal, the Iditarod.  Reto and I ran the Knik 200 over New Year's weekend.  It was the best trail for the Knik in a long time and the temperatures were nearly perfect.  I started the race 16th and passed ten teams before Flathorn, not really my intent but  the trail was very fast for the first 30 miles and it was difficult to keep their pace down.

Judynoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4656845479700865742.post-65130186372437335132009-12-22T23:11:00.000-08:002009-12-27T08:39:11.746-08:00

Well, December did not turn out exactly the way we planned.  We had intended to run the Sheep Mountain 150 the second weekend of the month; but it was cancelled. Then we thought we might run the Solstice 100, afterall, it starts a mile from our house; but it was cancelled.  So then we started planning for January races and intended to enter two teams in the Copper Basin 300, Devan running the one

Judynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4656845479700865742.post-56104084380200010662009-11-29T21:19:00.000-08:002009-12-03T11:34:28.523-08:00

It is already November - no wait , it is December -   and the Lara-Ke team is well into the 2009/2010 training season.  We have some new faces on the team this year and said good-bye to a few in a post season trade.  Foxy, Natalie, Doc, PD, Barker, and Cody are on loan from friends, Russ and Jill Bybee;  all have finished the Iditarod and many of them run lead thus adding a lot of depth to our

Judynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4656845479700865742.post-37431857816636632992009-05-16T22:13:00.000-07:002009-11-08T19:13:34.079-08:00

Life is just not the same. Sticks now lay untouched in the yard. We put on our carhartts without fear of a tackle. The feed buckets are accumulating fat, no longer licked clean. The puppies must navigate the trails without a guide who they can tease and tug. The water bowl does not need to be refreshed two times daily. Despite the presence of three other house dogs, there is a huge void in

Judynoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4656845479700865742.post-40025899364361586312009-03-02T08:01:00.000-08:002009-11-08T19:15:37.517-08:00

Food drops are shipped, bloodwork and veterinary check completed; now it is time to pack the truck and head to Anchorage for the pre-race events. I have the drivers meeting all day Thursday, the banquet that night. Then we have the ceremonial start Saturday in Anchorage and the real start Sunday in Willow. My last day of work is Tuesday so there is not much time to spare for sharing online.

Judynoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4656845479700865742.post-14462228304599714142008-12-22T20:25:00.000-08:002009-11-08T19:17:19.076-08:00

There is little doubt that the most critical members of team are the leaders. A team can and should have many leaders among the 16 dogs who start the Iditarod. The Black & Blue team will likely have about eight leaders in the mix but could have as many as ten. Athena and Phoenix, both four year olds, have been leading my team to very good finishes last season and this. They are a noisy

Judynoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4656845479700865742.post-37264857819353326112008-11-02T18:31:00.000-08:002008-11-02T19:03:37.407-08:00

I wanted to introduce each potential member of the Iditarod team. I will start with the fourth of July litter - Adams, Abigail, Jefferson and Salli. As any history buff can guess they were named for two presidents and the women in their lives. Both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4th 1976. Notably, the two also died on July 4th, 1826 within four

Judynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4656845479700865742.post-60586106030951871462008-10-03T23:13:00.000-07:002008-10-05T22:46:44.169-07:00

Every day for fourteen years he smiled in the morning, wagged his tail, licked our face. He was a gentle soul, with deep brown eyes and an unending supply of fur. Determined, loyal, and dependable, he led our team to Nome and many other wonderful destinations. Laika was a great leader and friend.Yesterday, after two days of rapid decline we said good-bye to our buddy, Laika, pictured above

Judynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4656845479700865742.post-70062130935179905112008-09-28T21:35:00.000-07:002008-12-22T22:28:20.815-08:00

Snow flurries in September and 6 inches in October - a good sign for the season. Training is progressing well, assisted by almost perfect temperatures and a nice base of the white stuff.Handler, Louis, has settled into the cabin and the routine of training. We have three teams of fourteen dogs, one which is a yearling team. He is focusing on developing younger leaders and addressing a few

Judynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4656845479700865742.post-86771110952989939392008-09-02T21:49:00.000-07:002008-09-13T09:03:23.623-07:00

Yes, indeed, the Journey that is Iditarod 2009 has begun. The Core team has returned from "Summer Camp" on the Glacier where they worked giving rides to tourists and are now adjusting to life back here in Two Rivers. We will give them a week or so more of Rest and Relaxation and begin training in earnest. Looking out at the group now spinning around in the yard, I am impressed by the view -

Judynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4656845479700865742.post-79098716523805756362008-08-14T23:02:00.000-07:002008-09-28T21:23:24.175-07:00

We had a busy 2007/2008 race season. Our plan had been to enter the Sheep Mountain 150 as a tune up but unfortunately it was cancelled due to poor snow conditions. So Mike (Barnett), our handler, and I headed to the Gin Gin 200 the last weekend in December. Mike was running young dogs so he camped the route, while I raced the main adults finishing 3rd for women and 5th overall - not far behind

Judynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4656845479700865742.post-924344041842626222006-04-21T22:09:00.000-07:002008-05-07T23:18:13.644-07:00

Iditarod 2006 Race ReportA rainy day in April...what better time to sit down, listen to some John Prine tunes, and think about the 2005/2006 mushing season. I have deliberately taken my time in writing about the 2006 Iditarod for two reasons: one, my hand still hurts a bit, slowing my typing and two, I wanted some perspective so I could share the experience in a more positive light. Still working

Judynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4656845479700865742.post-51151268521369748692005-05-07T22:11:00.000-07:002008-05-07T23:17:10.926-07:00

Home from Nome – Post Race Report 2005It has been nearly four weeks since we finished the race and I have been biding my time, waiting for my energy level to return to normal and a persistent cold to abate. Still waiting so I thought I’d better start putting my thoughts down on paper (or file) before I forget all the bad stuff and remember only the good. Tends to be a common occurrence among

Judynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4656845479700865742.post-26190027656439680252005-02-28T22:38:00.000-08:002008-08-21T23:37:34.002-07:00

October 11 2004 Finally, the smoke cleared early in September allowing us to safely begin training the dogs. Honestly, we wondered whether the fires from Alaska’s worst ever fire season would be lighting up the night sky at Christmas. Many folks here in Interior Alaska joked that the fires would burn until the winter snows put them out; but we could not imagine that this would truly

Judynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4656845479700865742.post-54273628797529695161999-04-21T22:30:00.000-07:002008-04-21T23:02:39.909-07:00

by Judy CurrierIditarod '99 proved to be a trying, but worthwhile journey through the most isolated and peaceful parts of Alaska. Since Alaska has so many beautiful and varied terrains it may be an overstatement to say we also traversed the most beautiful parts, but certainly each segment of trail offered its own unique twist of wilderness. My favorite part of every day was to stop and listen to

Judynoreply@blogger.com0