/ 2008 Archived Material / Jr. Musher Meeting

Target Iditarod Teacher on the Trail^™ Jr. Musher Meeting

by Jane Blaile

 

Tonight at 7 p.m., the junior mushers had their mandatory meeting at Iditarod headquarters in Wasilla.  Twenty-one mushers are signed up to start from the lake in Willow tomorrow.  The Jr. Iditarod board was introduced first.  That was followed by a briefing from the trail manager; he showed the trail markers and explained trail conditions, markings, and distances.  This year's route is 70 miles out and back on the same trail, with checkpoints at Eagle Song and Yentna Station.  Then the mushers drew for their starting positions and received goodie bags and their bibs.  The last part of the meeting was to go over the rules and to answer any questions.

 

I was impressed with the maturity and responsibility of these young men and women.  At 14-17 years old, they have trained a dog team, planned their supply needs, and can be self-sufficient on a trail for 2 days.  These teens already have life skills which will serve them tremendously in whatever they choose to do in their lives.  Some will attend college, some won't.  Some will continue mushing, some won't.  But in any case, they all have developed crucial life skills to use on their chosen paths.

 

They can arrive at the lake as early as 7:30 and will be parked in their designated spots by 9:00.  Then, the first one will go at 10:00 with the others following at 2 minute intervals.  After their 10 hour mandatory layover at Yentna Station, they will begin their return trip.  Some of the front runners could be heading back at 3 a.m. Sunday morning. I can't wait to watch them prepare, go, and return from their journeys.

 

After the meeting I enjoyed meeting and talking to Melissa Owens, 2005 Jr. champion, her brother, Michael, and her dad, Mike, who is on the ITC board.  They live in Nome.  Michael is running his 2^nd Jr. Iditarod, Melissa her first Iditarod.