Church bells rang out Friday to welcome Lance Mackey as he pulled into the Yukon River community, 500 miles from the finish line in Nome. Lance was the first musher to reach Anvik and was treated to a gourmet dinner and $3,500 for arriving first. The seven-course meal that included braised pork belly, Alaskan bouillabaisse and duck breast was prepared by a chef flown in from Anchorage.
After having dinner with Lance and Tonya, I can assure you no one enjoys good food more than Lance.
Restart in Willow
In this video, The Millennium Alaskan Hotel's Food and Beverage Director,William Wallace, walks us through the preparation of the meal from his portable kitchen in Anvik.
When Lance arrived in Anvik, he said he'd made a mistake on the trail that could end up costing him the race.
He said dozed off while riding his sled after leaving the Shageluk checkpoint on the way to Anvik, about 500 miles from Nome. When he awoke, he was up a slough without a trail marker in sight.
"I couldn't believe it," Mackey said. "It very well could have cost me the race right there."
He said dozed off while riding his sled after leaving the Shageluk checkpoint on the way to Anvik, about 500 miles from Nome. When he awoke, he was up a slough without a trail marker in sight.
"I couldn't believe it," Mackey said. "It very well could have cost me the race right there."
At this time, Lance is still holding on to his lead, with Sebastian Schnuelle hot on his trail.
Ceremonial Start, ANCSebastian (Sab) Schnuelle and partner Libby Riddles
(first woman to win Iditarod-1985)
(first woman to win Iditarod-1985)
Sab and Libby
Restart in Willow
It's difficult for me to choose a favorite to win. I feel that each musher is a winner in his or her own right and just competing in the Last Great Race is quite an accomplishment.
I do, however, have my favorites and I am very pleased with the way the race is currently shaping up. I do wish Aliy Zirkle and Warren Palfrey could move up.
For current standings:
http://www.iditarod.com/race/race/currentstandings.html
http://www.iditarod.com/race/race/currentstandings.html
Fellow Arctic Camster, Kathy, sent me the following information:
Starting March 15th at 7 PM Eastern DST, on Versus, (channel #603 on DirecTV, not sure what channel on cable or Dish), they will have a running series of the Iditarod 2009 Race. So if you didn't have a good internet connection, like me, for the Iditarod Insider, here's your chance to get caught up on the race. It runs until March 30th.
Link to the schedule:http://www.versus.com/schedule
Full Iditarod coverage, including some free videos:
Happy Trails,
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