In January, 2000 Don Bowers—author, airman, dog driver—started a combined 200/300 mile dog race in Willow.
Following his death that year, a group of volunteers continued that race, now renamed in his memory. The race is a qualifier for the Iditarod and Yukon Quest.
The 2012 Races
1/28 7:46pm: News! Justin completed the 200 for 1st place for 31:05mins in total (unofficial); Aily in at 19:25. Ryne and Dallas have left Nowhere although an hour apart, with Ryne in the lead. [Willow −29°F]
1/28 5:30pm: The last two teams have left Kershners. And I have heard unofficially that Aily (and Ryne?) have cleared Nowhere. Waiting for confirmation.
1/28 4:50pm: Justin is through Nowhere! At 4pm! He did in 5:31 incoming what took 7:53 outgoing. How can I forecast with differences like that? And Bob’s out of Morgan’s, dropping two dogs.
1/28 3:39pm: Joe and Dee Dee through Morgans. [Talkeetna −3°F!]
1/28 2:41pm: Both Jeff and Jan are now through Morgans, travelling, um, nose to tail? [Willow, warming, −20°F; Talkeetna, tropical, −6°F]
1/28 2:08pm: And Karen’s through Morgans.
1/28 2:00pm: While we wait for further news, let’s try to handicap our leaders into Nowhere on their return to Eaglequest.
Forecast removed before Google indexes [I should know better—mrb]
1/28 1:30pm: And Bob has left Kershners (1:23) leaving two teams still completing their layover.
1/28 1:06pm: Karnen, Jeff, Joe and Dee Dee have all left Kershners starting their run for the 200. [Willow −26°F, Talkeetna −16°F]
1/28 12:13pm: Jan’s left Kershners, Tamarra is through Morgans.
1/28 12:00pm: From Ham Central re Steve Geiger:
Just wanted you to be aware that Steve Geiger informed us about great race sportsmanship! Jeff Hemann spent 6 hours with Steve while he was sick. Jeff refused to continue in the race until he knew that Steve would be alright! Steve convinced him to continue on, but he refused, watching in the trees and covering his headlamp monitoring Steve until he was able to continued on. He then reported Steve’s condition to the officials when he arrived in the next checkpoint! That’s a caring musher, who would sacrifice his place in the race for a fellow musher.
1/28 11:52am: Justin is through Morgans, followed by Jerry Sousa as our 200 leaders; Dallas Seavey is through Morgans running third in the 300. [Sunny and clear: Willow −27°F, Talkeetna −23°F]
1/28 10:25am: Standings etc., now up-to-date (Wilmotte excepted). [Willow −33°F, Talkeetna −27°F]
01/28 10:23am Wilmotte Arnaud has made it to Kershner`s!!
01/28 10:02am Ryne has now made it through Morgan`s checkpoint too!!
01/28 09:46am We have our first team in and out of Morgan`s checkpoint!!! Way to go Aliy!!
01/28 08:15am Ryne and Justin have joined Aily on the trip south! Dallas is scheduled to leave next! They will encounter Philip and Wilmotte on their way to Morgan’s! We wish them safe passage!
01/28 07:27am Our last musher has finally passed through Morgan’s checkpoint and our first musher has left Kershner’s heading south…Aily’s on her way south!
01/28 06:47am Philip Walters has left Morgan`s checkpoint at 5:25am.
01/28 06:11am Steve, Joe, and Dee Dee are all in… Only 2 still to come.
01/28 05:19am Jeff Hemann has just checked in at Kershner`s!
01/28 05:07am Bob Chlupath has arrived at Kershner`s. Mushers are taking care of their dogs and eatting and taking their naps.
01/28 04:26am Karen Ramstead has just checked in at Kershner`s checkpoint!! We are getting closer to getting them all in.
01/28 04:13am Jan Steves has now joined us at Kershner`s! All seem to be enjoying the trail so far!
01/28 03:19am Justin, Jerry and Tamara have joined the others at Kershner`s.
01/28 03:15am All mushers are through Morgan`s cabin except Wilmotte and Philip.
01/28 02:15 Ryne & Dallas into Kershner’s! Bob Chlupach and Jeff Hemann have passed through Morgan’s!
1/28 01:39am: Aily first into Kershers for the 300 at 1:12am, Karen through Morgan’s at the same time.
I will retire now, so Standings will not be updated until I rise; progress should be reported on this page though, throughout the night. [mrb]
1/28 12:32am: Sousa and Rose through Morgan’s 23:56—00:20. Fast and Furious! [Willow −21°F, Talkeetna −9°F]
1/27 11:56pm: Dallas Seavey is through Morgan’s as is Justin Savidis, although he dropped two dogs while retaining the lead for the 200.
1/27 11:21pm: And Ryne Olson is also through Morgan’s.
1/27 10:51: Just in from Ham Central—Aily blew through Morgans at 22:38 without stopping. So my last eta was lousy (but the Nowhere checkpoint was good). Aily has 22 miles to go to Jim (Kershner’s) and a six hour rest. [Willow −22°F, Talkeetna −9°F]
1/27 9:22pm: Philip Walters is now out of Nowhere. [One° warmer: Willow −21°F, Talkeetna −10°F]
1/27 8:21pm: As you were…times are right, order is not! When we find the problem we will fix it; until then please bear with us. Update: I have hacked a fix so at least current standings are correct. Order for the “checkpoint” report remains, um, unusual. 2ndUpdate (11:23) The problem is now fixed.
1/27 5:57pm: All times now posted. Wilmotte plans a rest outside of Nowhere (what?).
1/27 4:44pm: Ham crew having radio problems but, just in, all teams are either through or resting at Nowhere checkpoint. Aily and Dallas in the lead (300), Tamarra and Justin in the 200 (before offsets). Philip Walters intends to rest at Nowhere. Will post exact times shortly. Eta Hal Morgan’s probably around 7:15pm. [Clear, Willow −22°F, Talkeetna −6°F]
1/27 3:33pm: Comes from Donna Quante some nice photographs of the race start.
1/27 1:29pm: All teams have left the start. Tony Angelo could not get his truck to start and had to scratch; Tamarra Rose made a late switch from the 200 to the 300. The start was a little more eventful than we would have wished (don’t ask). Earliest eta at Nowhere checkpoint circa 3pm? [Sunny, −24°F]
1/27 9:33am: Sixteen teams in total signed up, eight each for the 200 and 300. No teams running the 100. A couple of teams switched to the 200 from the 300. Final vet and mandatory equipment checks, with the start set for noon. Should be slightly warmer then. [Partly cloudy, −33°F]
