Author Archives: tundratech

Good Morning again, Race Fans!

Pete and the Team are into Nikolai at 9:31am followed 2 minutes later by Eddie Burke Jr. and the Wildstyle Racing Team.

The dogs looked great and right now Pete is feeding the Team before taking a break himself. The dogs are eating well and everyone looks in fine shape.

I mentioned earlier that it must have been a better trail than expected, but after a short interview by the insider crew with Kelly Maxiner, it was not to be so. Kelly related that he had never mushed in mud before… and mud isn’t good for mushing!!! Apparently the trail was pretty rough and the South side of the hills had melted all of the snow away. Mud on the way up and ice on the North side on the way down. Also, the team had to deal with the jarring of the sled over the moguls. It was indeed a rough trail after all.

The insider live cam showed Richie Diehl taking a look at his sled. I’m wondering how the sleds fared after all of the rough trail as well.

Teams will be taking a 4 hour break here before returning to the trail and making their way to whatever place they decide to take their mandatory 24 hour layover.

Here’s hoping Pete and the Team fared well. They did look amazing!

Go Team Kaiser!!

Good Morning Race fans!

It is looking like the warmer temperatures may have also tempered what were first described as tough trail into Nikolai.

Nicolas Petit arrived first this morning into Nikolai at just before 7am. Taking no breaks from Rohn, an impressive 8 hour 30 minute run over the trail. He has declared his 24 hour layover, but we will see if that happens or not. It is common to declare your 24 hour layover because the layover time starts when the musher declares the rest. With warm temps in store, who knows if that is his strategy. Many mushers will declare a layover, but Petit took a 24 parking spot. Let the games begin!!

Down the the trail, Pete is moving in a good speed in 8th position. After leaving Rohn last night at 9:30, Pete and the Team continued two more hours stopping at 11:42pm. After a 4 hour break they returned to the trail at 3:50 am on the trail to Nikolai. I wouldn’t expect any breaks between his present position and Nikolai. Presently (7am) they are 23 miles out of Nikolai which should put them into the checkpoint right about at the end of the 6 hour run.

Weather is not optimistic, unfortunately with warm temperatures rearing their head. Teams are going to be looking forward to Takotna and Ophir to wait out the warm weather and return to cooler temperatures later in the week.

The Team is still running with 14 dogs which is good news at this point. Several Teams have dropped dogs along the Alaska Range.

Here’s my first plug for the Insider. It really is worth it to see the GPS and the videos. At $4/day or so, it’s pretty worth it.

Pete through Rainy Pass – By Corinne – Kaiser Super Fan

Good evening Race Fans!

What a day on the trail it’s been for Teams as they cross the Alaska Range and make their way into the Upper Kuskokwim Valley.

Pete has been staying on his 6/3 schedule fairly strictly and camped out into the Rainy Pass trail this afternoon after passing through the Rainy Pass checkpoint.

I sat watching the tracker and the standings page at Iditarod.com seriously confused for awhile and even called Ron to see what he thought. The standings page showed Pete leaving Rohn, but the tracker showed the Team still resting. As we discussed the situation, the tracker updated after a 40 minute standstill and there was the Team on the trail to the West.

With word of a tough trail and warm temperatures to come, Pete will be wanting to take advantage of the good cool trail before taking a break and starting the challenging trail later this evening through morning.

In terms of the trail, I’ve heard that it’s in some of the worst condition ever. Frozen drifts close together will make for a challenge for Man and equipment. The dogs should run right over it, but Pete will have a pretty jarring ride to be sure.

Weather ahead is not looking great, Iditarod-wise. Temperatures along the trail are expected to rise in the next couple of days and that can make for less than ideal conditions. It seems a ways up the trail, but once Teams take their 24 in McGrath through Ophir, that extra time for rest will also be time to let this warm weather system pass by and hopefully cool down.

It’s Iditarod time! Never a dull moment!

Go Team Kaiser!

Good Morning Race Fans!

Iditarod 23 looks like it’s going to be a good one! Hunter Keefe, running Raymie Redington’s Team is first into Rainy Pass this morning with a pack of Teams hot on his heels.

Each Iditarod we see this take place, where one or two mushers run fast into the Alaska Range and try to get a bit of a cushion built up before they head for the mighty Kuskokwim River.

This morning Pete and the Team have left Finger Lake and are headed towards Rainy Pass themselves. Pete and the Team are using a strategy that Pete has used many times- Consistent run/rest times. Early in the race, camping on the trail is ideal to have your own private space, so checkpoints are not a requirement except to sign in and sighn out. Sticking to a consistent run/rest schedule gets the Team into race mode and a race routine.

Pete left Willow at 3:06 and stopped at 9:06- Perfectly 6 Hours! Then a 3 hour break to snack and snooze and off at 12:10 am. Another break at 6:00 am and then another 3 hour break until 9am and now they are headed for Rainy Pass and the warm sun of the day. Weather is still outstanding!

Go Team Kaiser!

Here’s the train rundown from Zuma at Iditarod:

The distance from Finger Lake to Rainy Pass Checkpoint is about 30 miles with some really tough spots along the way.  About ten miles out of Finger Lake, mushers are challenged with the Happy River Steps.  It’s one of the very technical segments of the trail that calls up the very best sled driving skills of every musher.  The Steps are equally challenging for veteran and rookie mushers.

Most Iditarod mushers can tell stories about their experiences on the infamous steps.  Starting position makes a big difference when it comes to the condition of the steps.  Every musher is riding the brake while zigzagging down the tight trail to the Happy River.  The more mushers that run the steps, the deeper the rut in the trail gets and the more difficult it becomes to navigate.

Rainy Pass Checkpoint on Puntilla Lake is at 1,800 feet elevation.  The checkpoint is located at Rainy Pass Lodge that is run by the Perrins Family, Steve and Denise along with their five sons.  Hunters come to the lodge to bag Dall sheep, caribou, moose and bear – black and grizzly.  In the summer, the lodge offers horseback trips, fishing, awesome scenery and relaxation.  As the lodge is located in the Alaska Range, humans travel there by plane, snowmachine or dog team.

Rainy Pass Lodge goes way back.  It was founded in 1937 and is considered to be Alaska’s oldest hunting lodge.  The Perrins family purchased the lodge and surrounding property in 2003.  R5 Sons Alaska was filmed at Rainy Pass Lodge featuring the adventures of the family with five growing sons as they ran the wilderness lodge.  Some two-dozen episodes were filmed and enjoyed by many as one of the early Alaska based family friendly reality TV shows.

What a beautiful day to be in the Mat-Su Valley!!

The mountains and scenery was absolutely stunning, but all eyes were on the Restart of the 2023 Iditarod!

As we gathered at Doug Dorland’s home to get ready for Pete’s 14th run of the Iditarod, it was a pretty relaxed atmosphere. After a winter in Bethel with wind, rain, snow, and frigid temperatures, the sunlight and news of a good trail made for a pretty “chill” morning.

Pete, Ron, and Sterling loaded up the dogs and we all headed for Willow. The road was ice free and in no time we were finding a parking spot as we watched Pete and the Dog truck arrive. With only 33 Teams, we just “chilled out” and waited for Pete’s number to be called. Pal Richie Diehl needed a bit of help, so the handlers chipped in to help make his way to the Starting line.

Soon it was Pete’s turn and we followed Mike Williams Jr., bib number 32, to the Starting Line.

Pete was ready, the dogs were ready, and we were ready as well. After a long week in Anchorage, Pete was more ready than most to leave the busy metropolis and head for the wilds of the trail.

I had great help this year in gathering footage. Thanks to everyone who helped out as I put a camera in their hands!

Go Team Kaiser!

So many Iditarods, so many awesome people we have had as Iditariders at Team Kaiser! Each holds a special place in our heart and even Pete’s Mom, Janet, took the ride as his reigning Championship Ceremonial Start in 2020.

This year we were honored with Iditarod History!

Dick Wilmarth was the first Iditarod Champion in 1973. Joining us for the Ceremonial Start this year was his granddaughter, Ricki Nicoli.
Joined by her Mom, Rebecca Wilmarth, Dad, Corey Nicoli and sister Corynn, Ricki patiently waited through all of the commotion that is Ceremonial Saturday!

A quiet little gal, Ricki was raring to go once it became time to load up on the sled and head out for the trail. Mom, Rebecca was doting on her, a bit worried for her, but Ricki was like, “Mom– I’m okay!”

Everyone was smiles as the team jolted forward towards the Start Line.

Along the way even Senator Lisa Murkowski wanted to shake Ricki’s hand and wish her well on the trail.

And then those immortal words– “3-2-1 GO!” and they were off on the streets and trails of Anchorage on the 10 mile run to Cambell Creek airstrip.

Thanks for joining us Ricki and family! Welcome to Team Kaiser!!

Ari Kaiser has the Iditarod and dogsled mushing in his veins! I can remember one finish of the Iditarod where we were all celebrating, save for Bethany, as the secret was not yet revealed– She and Pete were going to have a young one, and his name would be Ari Kaiser!!

Over the years there have been so many memories that we have had with Ari on the Iditarod. Such fun to see the youngster grow into a fine young man, now at the ripe old age of 10.

Dad asked his son if he was ready for the tag sled and this year he said YES! He was a bit nervous in previous years, but surely could have handled it then as well.
2023 was the year and to start it all off, the rest of his “crew” joined him on the sled to the Start Line. With “brother” on the runners, “sister” Aylee, and nieces Ava and Anabelle mounted up and got a front row seat past thousands of fans and dignitaries including Senator Lisa Murkowski and others.

For Ari it was fun, fun, fun, lots and lots of people, and a hot dog tossed to him by a fan as he passed by and waved. Go Ari Kaiser!!

Since it was his first run, I just let the footage roll for the most part and it is a little longer than usual! Go Team Kaiser! We start them young out in Bethel!!

Iditarod 2023 is underway!

What started a bit cold, was heated up by the brilliant sun and the fans, supporters, and Teams that met this morning on 4th avenue in Anchorage.

Missing, like the old 4th avenue theatre, were several avenues of Teams as this shortest field ever left the Starting Line to meet thousands of fans lining the trail towards Campbell Creek airstrip.

Team Kaiser, as bib 33, was parked just across from the empty lot once occupied by the old Theatre that was a landmark in so many Iditarod photos. Fans seemed not to notice and many remarked that there were quite a few more folks joining Team Kaiser this morning. Lined up on the 4th avenue isn’t something Team Kaiser has done very often and being so close to the Start line gave us a front row seat to the 32 Teams headed towards the festivities.

As we all grow older, so do the little ones that charmed everyone and got their own front row seat as Ari, Aylee, Ava, and Annabelle rode the tag sled behind Pete and this year’s Iditarider, Ricki Nicoli, in the main sled. Ricki is the grand-daughter of the first winner of the Iditarod, Dick Wilmarth. Interesting bit of trivia, Dick’s bib number that year, was 33- Same as Pete this year…

Pete and Bethany’s son Ari, now 10 years old, took to the tag sled for his first run through the streets of Anchorage. I asked him if he was ready and, in total Ari Kaiser style announced, “I’ve been on sleds before.” I was nervous for him as I had face-planted twice on my run several years ago, but Ari was confident and so was Pete. (In the end, he had no problem at all! No crashes for the veteran!)

With the kids on the tag sled, Bethany grabbed a leash and was part of our excellent handler crew showing each year. As I’ve said before, at this point in Pete’s mushing career, we all know our jobs and everyone just does what needs to be done.

It was a great gathering of friends this morning as many stopped by to give Pete their well wishes and take an opportunity for a photo with the Champ!

Here’s the photos!

Tomorrow we’ll meet at Willow lake for the 2:00pm Restart and the official start of the race. It is supposed to be great weather. Parking is $20 cash, and be there early. Ron and I found out last year that showing up late can make for a bit of stress looking for a place to park.

See ya there!

Go Team Kaiser!!