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Iditarod

Junior Iditarod

March 10, 2014 by teamineka

nicole forto junior iditarod finishNicole ran the Junior Iditarod in February as a rookie and finished with a team of 10 happy dogs lead by Sidney and superstar stand out, Aussie!

As Nicole’s dad and armchair musher for this race, this re-cap will be a little different than most. It does include an excellent 60 minute interview with Nicole talking about her race on The Sibe Vibe show hosted by Dorothy Wills-Raftery. You can listen to the show by clicking on the link at the bottom of this post.

Race Recap

Nicole started training for this race more than a year ago after she finished the Willow Junior 100 and decided that she wanted to run the biggest junior race in the world, the Junior Iditarod.

Nicole was the first musher to sign up in October and was given a generous donation by Alaska Chicks, Co. to pay for her entry free.

Lead up to the Race

As many of you know, we had a crazy winter here in Alaska. Just a little bit of snow in December then a huge warm up and a big melt in January. After I ran a few of the sprint races in late January we let the dogs have a couple weeks off to gain some weight and relax a bit as we geared up towards race day.

We waited for a couple weeks before the Junior Iditarod folks would make a formal decision on the race and the trail. Finally, about a week before they said that the race would leave from Martin Buser’s Happy Trails Kennel in Big Lake, follow through the swamps to the river past Scary Tree and up to Yentna, have the kids do a 10-hour lay over and return.

Musher Meetings

The week before the big race is always crazy! First we had to drop off Nicole’s drop bags so that they could be flown to the checkpoint at Yentna Station. Each musher was allowed two drop bags that weighed no more than 60 pounds. Each drop bag would contain everything that Nicole would need at the checkpoint and the return trip back. They included things like kibble and meat for the dogs, meat and salmon snacks, extra dog booties and batteries for Nicole’s headlamp, food for her and a few extra supplies.

On Thursday night Nicole had her rookie musher meeting at Iditarod Headquarters in Wasilla. It was very informative. Iditarod veteran Cim Smyth talking about feeding and snacking on the trail, another Iditarod veteran Zack Steer talked about dressing for cold weather, many others spoke about vet care, sled repair, the trail, and more.

On Friday morning we had to arrive before noon back at Iditarod Headquarters for the Vet Check. All the dogs looked good and passed the check except the vets told us to make sure that we gave the dogs a nail trim before the race.

Friday night was the musher meeting. Nicole, Michele and I attended and heard about all the formalities of the race and the bib draw took place. Since Nicole was the first musher to sign up she was the first to draw. She picked number 6. She would be going out in the middle of the pack.

Race Day

Race day is always organized chaos. We had all of Nicoles gear and sled packed up the night before. We loaded up the team and headed over to Happy Trails by 8:00. We had to be there by 9:00. Nicole was going out 6th so we knew we had a little over two hours before her race started.

They parked us down on the lake and we got started with our pre-race chores: dropping the dogs from the truck, putting on the tags for each dog, prepping Nicole’s sled, a talk with the veterinarian, many pictures from fans, and much, much more.

As we began to hook up it was my job to lead the team out to the starting line by holding on to the leaders. Dale was near the front as was several other volunteer handlers as we made our way across the lake ice to the starting line. Michele was already there to take some pictures as they counted down to the start of Nicoles race!

Day 1

Nicole and her team were off shortly after 11:15 and on the trail. The team looked good as they rounded the first turn and then she was out of sight. For us armchair mushers, the first time for me with Nicole in a big race, it was now a waiting game. The Junior Iditarod was testing out a new tracking system that would be used by the big race, the Iditarod, in a couple weeks. Each team is given two trackers, actually emergency locator beacons or SPOTS. They not only have the ability to track the teams on the trail but should the musher have an emergency they can push a button on the tracker and help would be on their way. But, if a musher pushes the button they are withdrawn from the race.

For us armchair mushers (and parents), it would become a maddening 30+ hours of constantly hitting the ‘refresh’ button on our iPhone/iPad/computer to see where Nicole was on the trail! It was so maddening that by the time I made it home from the race start, I hooked up a 10-dog team and went out on a 40 mile run. When I made it back to the house, I said, “well that took me 4 hours, Nicole should be on the river by now!”

Sure enough she was. Over the last several hours Nicole was pretty much keeping pace with the middle of the pack. As the hours wore on she fell into last place but she was keeping and even speed of about 7.8 miles an hour. The average speed of our dogs, many of them Iditarod and Yukon Quest veterans who’s speed is much more deliberate and they set themselves into a comfortable pace.

Nicole arrived to Yentna station close to 7:00 to begin her 10 hour mandatory layover. She was a couple hours behind the musher in front of her but to Nicole she didn’t mind. She started her chores and even got a few hours rest before leaving in the early morning darkness heading toward the finish. The reports from the trail said that her dogs looked great and so did she and she left without any problems.

Nicole would tell us later that she mushed along the river with the Northern Lights swirling above her. What a sight!

Day 2

I woke up at 5:30 and the first thing I did was check on Nicole’s status of her tracker on my iPad. She was allowed to leave at about 4:50. I saw that she was moving down the river and went back to sleep until about 7:30. After the morning chores and meeting with a dog training client at our house, we left to head to Big Lake at about 11:30. We arrived by 12:15 and could see by the tracker that she was still several hours away. We alternated between sitting in the truck and the visitors center at Happy Trails to get updates on Nicole.

When she was five miles out we all started getting anxious and headed out to the finish line. What was so cool was that everybody that was still at the visitors center came out to cheer Nicole in.

Nicole made it up the hill and crossed the finish line a little after 3:30. After all the formalities were done: she had to check in, make sure all of her mandatory gear was there and a quick pat on the head for each of the dogs, I went up and gave her a hug and told her great job!

We lead the team over to the truck and Nicole gave them a quick salmon snack. I looked over the dogs and so did the vet. While they were tired, there were no injuries at all! That is a testament to good dog care out on the trail by Nicole.

We packed up the gear and loaded up the team and headed for home. Nicole grabbed a quick shower while Michele and I put the dogs back at their houses.

By our schedule that we came up before the race, we thought that Nicole would arrive just in time for the banquet. She made it with a couple hours to spare!

The Banquet

The banquet was held at the Willow Community Center at 6 pm after the race. It was a packed house and all the mushers got to sit front and center. The guest speaker was Iditarod veteran, Mike Williams, Sr. He talked about the importance of mushing and preserving our way of life and the junior mushers becoming a mentor for someone else. He also performed the invocation in both his native language and in English. It was a very moving experience.

After dinner, the awards ceremony started. Each musher received a large amount of goods and services donated by local businesses. Nicole received her Red Lantern award and thanked me when she spoke to the crowd. I was so proud of her at that moment I started crying.

What Nicole learned

As we always do on our race recaps, we share what we learned on the trail. The following is Nicole in her own words about what she learned on the trail:

1.) Pack extra boot liners or boots. I had no idea that i would be going through open water but I shouldve thought ahead and planned for the absolute worse. I did not pack extra liners or boots and ended up going through open water and recieved frost bite on my feet. (Robert here: Nicole had to cross a stream of open water up to her knees. Hear the whole story on the interview on The Sibe Vibe.)

2.) Try to push through swamps as fast as possible. The swamps were the worst part for me and the dogs. They got to hot and that’s when a lot of them slowed down and my time increased. (Robert here: The swamps she is talking about are miles and miles of mostly treeless land around Big Lake, Alaska. Even with temperatures in the mid-20s with the sun bright overhead it feels much warmer and it doesn’t take long for the dogs to get too warm.)

3.) Even dogs who are 4th and 5th string leaders have the greatness to be 1st string. Aussie a last choice leader lead the entire race. (Robert here: Aussie was a dog we got from a good friend of ours, Hugh Neff. After hearing about this he asked if he could have him back. Nicole said, “Not!” They both laughed.)

4.) Sometimes keeping your attitude happy and exciting is the best for the dogs. If you think you can’t make it the dogs will feel that energy and they will just quit on you.

Nicole says that she will be back next year to run the Junior Iditarod and remember that thing about mentoring that Mike Williams talked about at the banquet? Well, it is in the works that Nicole will be mentoring a young lady from Canada and they will run the race together next year!

A huge thank you to Nicole’s sponsors and supporters for this race. Not only were your donations much appreciated but your kind words, advice and support that helped make all of this possible: Alaska Chicks, Co. The Upholstery Gallery, Ed and Judy Perry, April Cox, James Wheeler, Bob Morgan, Jeff Rogers, Hugh Neff, David Scheer, our awesome vet Susan Dent and many other family and friends that cheered for Nicole along the trail and to the finish line.

Listen to Nicole’s interview on The Sibe Vibe:

Online Pets Radio at Blog Talk Radio with Dog Works Radio Show on BlogTalkRadio

 

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Filed Under: Blog, Races Tagged With: Alaska, Iditarod, Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, Junior Iditarod, Martin Buser, Mushing, Yukon Quest

A Musher’s Dream: Team Ineka

October 26, 2013 by teamineka

A Musher’s Dream: Team Ineka

Paperback

Robert Forto and Michele Forto (authors)

Barbara Slocum (illustrator)

Published by ArcticHouse Publishing (October 2013)

Price: $10.95 plus shipping

Our first Children’s book, A Musher’s Dream: Team Ineka, is now available. The book tells the story of Team Ineka and the journey north to Alaska to train a team of Huskies to one day run in the Iditarod. With wonderful illustrations this book will spark your child’s imagination and bring up conversations of American history.

The book will make a wonderful gift. If you would like to order a copy please click on the link below.



What people are saying about our book:

From: Sid Korpi
I had the privilege of reading a copy of “A Musher’s Dream,Team Ineka,” by Robert and Michele Forto and found it a delightful little book. The illustrations capture your heart and the story of how the spirit of Ineka, the much-beloved husky who passed on before the Fortos realized their Iditarod dream—but who nevertheless continues to inspire it and watch over the progress of the new dogs who joined their household and mushing team—is simply touching.
From April Cox
This wonderful book is geared towards children but I certainly enjoyed it!!! A story about Team Ineka and their dream to run the Iditarod… I do have a personal interest in it as it stars two dogs that came from my kennel… I believe in you Robert Forto and can’t wait for the ending to happen in real life!!!! Then the sequel – Coming into NOME!!!

From Leah Morse

I loved your book “A Musher’s Dream Team Ineka” The story is interesting and the illustrations are wonderful. I read to my grandson of 14months old and he engaged with the pictures (we did a shortened version due to his short baby attention span) He loved pointing at the husky pictures. I think this is a great book for a younger child as a pre- chapter book. Thank you for sharing your experience through the story. It engaged us from an illustrated point and from the story line. I recommend this to all my friends with dog loving kids. Take Care!

Filed Under: Blog, Gear Tagged With: Alaska, Children, Iditarod, Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, MUSH, Sled dog, Team Ineka

TyTy

August 5, 2013 by teamineka

Hi, my name is TyTy and I am part of the Kasilof Crew that joined Team Ineka in the summer of 2012. I am one of the leaders here at the kennel and I have been in several races; including the Tustumena 200 with Robert where we had to scratch because it was so dang hot, and the Willow Junior 100 with Nicole.

I am pretty shy until I am in my harness and hooked up to the sled. Then I am all business. I will pull and pull and pull. I am pretty good at listening to the musher and will even break through deep snow when there is not much of a trail.

I have an interesting trademark. Some time when I was younger I got a little bit of frostbite on my nose so now it looks kinda cool.

I am the veteran of two Junior Iditarod’s with Nicole and one of the main leaders in the team. I am currently training the up-and-comers Atreyu and Bastian of The Oracle Crew to lead too.

If you would like to sponsor me that would be pretty neat! You know lots of people wear jerseys of their favorite player but not many people can say, “hey I know a lead dog and I sponsor her too!” You will also get a signed picture of the team, your name on our dog truck which is really cool if you own a business and care about promotion and stuff like that, and you can also ask me questions anytime, well at least you can ask the musher anytime.

Become a part of the team! 

Filed Under: The Dogs Tagged With: dog sledding, Iditarod, Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, MUSH, Sled dog racing, Sledding, Sports, Tustumena 200, winter sports

Gear: Dog Team Sign

November 29, 2012 by teamineka

Dog sledding fan? Own your very own “Dog Team Crossing” sign and help support Team Ineka in the process! These make great gifts and can also be used as trail markers/warning signs if you are a musher as well.

Dog Team Crossing Sign

$25.00 plus shipping

Do you want your sign personalized? The Team Ineka Crew will autograph your sign along with a personal message.

Personalized Dog Team Crossing Sign

$35.00 plus shipping

 

 

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Filed Under: Blog, Gear Tagged With: Alaska, Dog, dog sledding, Iditarod, MUSH, Mushing, Pets, Recreation, robert forto, Sled dog, Team Ineka

iPods shut down at -34 degrees–dog sledding in Alaska

January 16, 2011 by teamineka

It was early Saturday morning at the dog yard. The four of us sitting in the kitchen planning out the days run. It was going to be two dog teams and two snow machines.

The snow machines were going to go out first and put in a turn around at about 25 miles and then head south to scope out some of the trail for next weeks Serum Run shakedown that my friend competes in. Well, its not really a race, but an endurance for the sake of history.

The Serum Run pays homage to the original Serum Run of 1925. You know the story if your kids have ever watched Balto or you have heard of the Iditarod, Nome, Diphtheria and/or possibly just dog sledding in general.

The two dog teams would head to Susitna Landing, about 10 miles north of Willow, Alaska and run northwest towards the Rabideaux Trail.

It was a very cold -28 degrees Fahrenheit at the dog yard while we were feeding the dogs and packing all of the gear that we would take on our 50 mile run.The first of our troubles started before ever beginning. The dog truck’s battery kept going dead and would not hold a charge, so we all decided that I would drive my truck to jump it at Su Landing.

We arrived at 11:30 am and paid our fee to park and launch on the river. 18 bucks. Did I ever say that dog sledding is probably one of the most expensive weekend sports that you can partake in? Well, if you are thinking about getting into this sport make sure you have deep pockets and not just deep pockets to hold extra dog booties, a neckline or two, if you know what I mean.

At the river the temperature had dropped to -34 degrees. This will be fun!

We hooked up the dog teams and the new handler on a snow machine showed me the way to the river and cut off any snow machiners that may be coming up the chute. Within a couple miles I was out on my own running due north with the most magnificent view of Mt. McKinley that I have ever seen.

What a beautiful day!

With the cold temperatures the dogs were in their coats and booties and I was dressed in all of my gear. I put the 1000s of dollars that I have spent on clothes since my arrival to Alaska and can say that Wintergreen Northern Wear’s parka and gloves rock!!!

About 20 miles into the run I thought it would be a good idea to switch the shuffle on my iPod to something a little less heavy– I usually start out a run rockin’ to White Zombie, Metallica or Tool. After the dogs and I settle in I usually switch over to Regge, Classical, Jazz, Blues or maybe even some old school Herbie Hancock or Robert Cray.

Hey, Apple! Did you know that at -34 degrees iPods shut down as soon as they hit the cold air?

Hey maybe I could get a job field testing Apple stuff. Steve, you can contact me through my blog if you like…

So no more tunes for the next three hours or so but thats okay, the music of the runners and the swishing of the snow under the dogs feet is music to my ears.

I met up with my friends on the snow machines for the last time and they let me know where the turn around is. You see, dog teams don’t turn around on their own. It can take a great deal of effort to get them to go the other way. That is the reason a large loop is put in ahead of the teams so that they will do a long u-turn to head back the other way.

I snacked the dogs on some frozen fish, gave them all a “good dog”, replaced any lost booties and made sure every dog was “A-OK.”

I hadn’t seen my friend with the other dog team since we left the dog truck but soon passed him going the other way. He was only a couple minutes behind me but in the middle of the Alaskan swamps you feel like you are all by yourself.

My snow machine friends headed southwest to check out other trails.

The rest of the run was awesome. It had gotten a bit colder but the dogs or I didn’t seem to mind. We kept up the pace that I would later find out was abut 10.4 miles an hour. A great pace for a long distance mushing team.

We arrived back at the truck just as it was getting dark. My friend was behind me by about 10 minutes. We got all the dogs unhooked and loaded up in the truck and began to head home.

About three miles in, my friend called saying that the dog truck was over heating and he had no heat in the cab. I followed close behind him and could smell a strong aroma of anti-freeze. We had hoped to meet our snow machine friends at Deshka Landing for a burger but it would have to wait.

The dog truck trucked on and I stopped at the C-store to pick up a gallon of anti-freeze. It was 16 bucks, but hey what are you going to do?

The truck made it back to the kennel and my friend looked it over. He is thinking it is just the thermostat. We hope its not the water pump or worse, a head gasket.

We un-loaded and fed all the dogs in the yard. I chore that takes about an hour.

Our snow machine friends made it back to the house just as we were finishing up, our burgers in tow!

It was now 8 pm. 12 hours since we started the day. We talked about the day’s run and talked about just how cold -30 degrees really is.

I headed home a little while later, started a fire and settled in for the evening at the ice box.

While I grump and moan about this house and how cold it is in here I would not give it up for a minute just for the chance to do what we did today;

Living a life with dogs.

 

 

Filed Under: Mushing Tagged With: Alaska, Iditarod, ipods, Mushing, robert forto, serum run, team ineka, willow alaska

Mush! You Huskies radio show: Graveyard of Dreams

November 9, 2010 by teamineka

On the latest edition of Mush! You Huskies, we interviewed author and journalist Craig Medred about his book, Graveyard of Dreams.

Graveyard of Dreams is a book about all those who aspired and dreamed of running the Iditarod. The Iditarod is known as The Last Great Race and to many they sacrifice it all in order to chase a dream often find out why it is called that.

Medred has covered the Iditarod for more than 25 years at the Anchorage Daily News and the 2010 race for the Alaska Dispatch on a snow machine covering the “back of the packer’s” and telling their stories.

Graveyard of Dreams is about perseverance, determination and sometimes the will to survive in some of the harshest weather in the world. This book is a must read for any musher attempting to run the Iditarod and chase the illusive belt buckle that is awarded to all those who finish the 1,049 quest from Anchorage to Nome.

Listen to Mush! You Huskies: Graveyard of Dreams

Mush! You Huskies is hosted by Robert and Michele Forto. Robert is in Alaska training for his first Iditarod and running his qualifying races this year. He is racing under the Team Ineka banner. Michele is the lead trainer at Denver Dog Works and specializes in services dogs and board and train programs.

We welcome your comments suggestions and concerns. Please comment below or send them to live@dogdoctorradio.com

_______________

Dr. Robert Forto is a canine behaviorist and the training director for Dog Works Training Centers. Dr. Forto is a musher currently in Alaska training for his first Iditarod under the Team Ineka banner and the host of the popular programs, The Dog Doctor Radio Show and Mush! You Huskies.

 

Filed Under: Mushing Radio Tagged With: Alaska, alaska dispatch, anchorage daily news, craig medred, dog sledding, graveyard of dreams, Iditarod, Iditarod belt buckle, michele forto, Mushing, Nome, robert forto, team ineka

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