2010 Iditarod...GPS enabled

[PetersCreek]

The Iditarod sled dog race is about half over and my two favorite mushers, Jeff King and Lance Mackey are in Ruby. I'm pulling for Lance again this year.

If anyone wishes to check on race progress every now and then, IonEarth hosts the 2010 Iditarod Sled Dog Race GPS Tracking page. GPS units worn by the mushers feed position data to the map every 15 minutes.

One of these days, I've got to be in Nome for the finish. One of these days...

 

[RBE17]

I hope Discovery is doing a show on it again. It really captured my attention. Here's some info on the race: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iditarod_Trail_Sled_Dog_Race I'd like to see Lance Mackey win. He'd be the only person to win 4x's in a row.

 

[blackfoot]

This is so cool! The ultimate man against nature!

 

[PetersCreek]

I'd like to see Lance Mackey win. He'd be the only person to win 4x's in a row.

It gets even better than that. Lance is also the only musher in history to have won the Yukon Quest 4 times and did it 4 years running (2005-2008). Also a first, he won both the Iditarod and Yukon Quest races back-to-back in 2007, with only about a 2-week break between them...then he did it again in 2008.

 

[bradyarz]

when i used to live in anchorage we would go to the timed start every year. it was pretty neat to see.

our one family friend had a dog team, but he didn't have a lot of time to exercise them. every winter my dad and i would take them down to the local track (several loops of differing lengths, up to 10 mi. or so iirc). it was the highlight of the year when my dad let me stand on the sled all by myself and be in command for a mile or two (i was probably 6 or 7 at the time). the only downside is the dogs didn't listen to me too well because they are trained to listen to one musher's voice--at the time, my dad.

 

[BrianL]

Thanks for the post, I used to live in Palmer/Wasilla and would always look forward to the race.

 

[Leche]

It gets even better than that. Lance is also the only musher in history to have won the Yukon Quest 4 times and did it 4 years running (2005-2008). Also a first, he won both the Iditarod and Yukon Quest races back-to-back in 2007, with only about a 2-week break between them...then he did it again in 2008.

Brett, which is considered the more difficult race? Don't seem to hear to much about the Yukon Quest.

 

[PetersCreek]

I think the Iditarod may be popularly considered the more difficult because it's more widely known. I can't speak authoritatively about trail conditions and such but at 1000 miles, I think the YQ is a tough race in it's own right. The fact that there's so little time between the end of one and the start of the other makes winning both an amazing feat.

 

[blackfoot]

when i used to live in anchorage we would go to the timed start every year. it was pretty neat to see.

our one family friend had a dog team, but he didn't have a lot of time to exercise them. every winter my dad and i would take them down to the local track (several loops of differing lengths, up to 10 mi. or so iirc). it was the highlight of the year when my dad let me stand on the sled all by myself and be in command for a mile or two (i was probably 6 or 7 at the time). the only downside is the dogs didn't listen to me too well because they are trained to listen to one musher's voice--at the time, my dad.

That is so neat! I know I could never command a team, but I would love to see it some day. I would also love to watch this race. I realise you only see a small part of it, but it would be worth it.

I think the Iditarod may be popularly considered the more difficult because it's more widely known. I can't speak authoritatively about trail conditions and such but at 1000 miles, I think the YQ is a tough race in it's own right. The fact that there's so little time between the end of one and the start of the other makes winning both an amazing feat.

No arguments here.

 

[TimmyBoston]

The mushers are being drug tested this year as well. If I'm not mistaken the athletes (ie the dogs) have been tested for sometime.

 

[blackfoot]

The mushers are being drug tested this year as well. If I'm not mistaken the athletes (ie the dogs) have been tested for sometime.

This drug thing bugs the crap out of me. Why can't people just... Oh, I don't know.

 

[TimmyBoston]

This drug thing bugs the crap out of me. Why can't people just... Oh, I don't know.

What, just not do drugs?????

 

[SRock]

This is so cool! The ultimate man against nature!

You got that right!

 

[TimmyBoston]

You got that right!

I've always it a little bit more like dog against nature.

 

[SRock]

I've always it a little bit more like dog against nature.

Touche!

 

[blackfoot]

I've always it a little bit more like dog against nature.

Sure, rain on my parade.

 

[blackfoot]

It gets even better than that. Lance is also the only musher in history to have won the Yukon Quest 4 times and did it 4 years running (2005-2008). Also a first, he won both the Iditarod and Yukon Quest races back-to-back in 2007, with only about a 2-week break between them...then he did it again in 2008.

Is this Lance guy even in it this year? I don't see him.

 

[SRock]

Sure, rain on my parade.

 

[PetersCreek]

Is this Lance guy even in it this year? I don't see him.

Yep. As I type this, Lance is in first place out of Unalakleet, more than 3 hours in front of Jeff King.

 

[blackfoot]

Yep. As I type this, Lance is in first place out of Unalakleet, more than 3 hours in front of Jeff King.

So, he is Mackey #49? He has been in the lead for over a day now.