Target Iditarod Teacher on the Trail^™ Cripple

by Jane Blaile

Cripple. Stark beauty. Stark as in utter, absolute, and total. Oddly, maybe, Cripple is one checkpoint I had a strong desire to see. I know there isn't a village or a school there; that is why. How often do you get to visit a place so distant, that no one lives there? Our flight there took me over Ophir and the abandoned gold mines, piles of tailings now resembling sugar loaves. The sights when we landed in Cripple: a tent being scaled by a monkey with lawn chair and palm trees in front of it, Bureau of Land Management "cabins" with tropical decorations on the doors, lots of food drop bags, straw and HEET. And vast expanses of frozen over wetlands with small pine trees dotting the area. Quiet, quiet, quiet. Earlier today Dee Dee Jonrowe surprised herself when she became the first musher to the halfway point and won $3,000 in gold nuggets. She was there as were Martin and Rohn Buser, Paul Gebhardt, and Hugh Neff. Paul Gebhardt was rested and regrouping after he had taken a wrong turn and lost valuable hours on the trail. The mushers were nested amongst the evergreens, enjoying peace and quiet, a serene setting. We were invited for lunch - one of the cabins, which this year will become permanent for the first time, was stocked with shelves, Coleman stoves, a table, and food. There was even a volunteer cook there. A bologna sandwich and chicken noodle soup were a luxury meal. I watched Dee Dee talking to the race judge there an wandered over to the parked mushers. Martin Buser was there wearing a tropical shirt. I complimented him on his shirt and how it fit into the "theme" of Cripple. He explained that it was Wasilla High School colors. Then he asked, "So how is the Target Teacher on the Trail enjoying her journey?" And I answered as best I could emphasizing the wonder of it all, but not really being able to express my feelings in words. Rohn was parked beside him, so I chatted with him a little as well. The serenity, peace, and pastoral feeling of Cripple will remain with me forever. A side trip worth every minute...

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