Here are the contacts I have gathered. I will indicate the ones that I have spoken to preliminarily. My main contact is Billy Honea in Ruby; he pretty much knows what is what up and down the river. Billy is the Ruby Iditarod coordinator and also helped with SR 2009 and 2011. Based on conversations with him, our best bet are the schools in Ruby, Galena, Nulato, and Kaltag. They have showers, kitchens, and internet. That would also be true in Manley. In Tanana, it would be the community center; also in Ruby if the principal doesn’t want us at the school. Michele wanted to handle these so I’m simply providing the information to everybody. If she wants, I can take over Ruby and Galena.

OLD MINTO: Michele has contacted somebody there, but still needs to make additional connections. They have several bigger buildings we camped out in for SR 2009.

MANLEY: I’ve reached out to Pam Redington but she doesn’t appear to be home so I am trying to find out what her cell phone is. Based on the notes from Monica Zappa and others (and my own Serum Run experience), the school is the best bet in Manley. The Roadhouse was apparently both expensive and difficult in the winter. I vote for the school. I’ll see if I can find and post the number tonight.

TANANA: Billy said we’d probably want to stay at the community center. Musher Pat Moore (who helped with SR 2009) is willing to help us work on Tanana accomodations. His number is 366-7129. He may be doing Fur Rondy so might not be in Tanana when we get there. Billy suggested contacting Cynthia Erickson who runs the store in Tanana as well.

TRAPPER CABIN: Billy claims it is rundown and moldy, so I suspect we’ll be camping near it on the river.

KOKRINE BIBLE CAMP: Sounds like an awesome place to stay and the caretakers are apparently super nice but too long of a run as it is a 60 miler from Tanana and the snow could be deep

BONEYARD CABIN: It is owned by Gerald Nicholia. Billy is working on getting contact information for him so we can camp by there.

RUBY: The school (principal is Mike Day at 907 468-4465) may be a possibility and it has showers and the internet. But, we need to see if we can stay there. Second choice would be the community center. We should nail down which one and send in the money.

GALENA. Tim Bodony (656-1488 at rave@kiyu.com) told me that the vo-tech school still serves meals but is a half mile away from the community center, which is where Iditarod stays (so hitch a ride with your machiner). It sounds like they are not using the dorms anymore. He said stay at the community center and then make arrangements at the school, which has a theatre, to show ATTLA. He thinks it will be a huge hit.

Nulato: Billy said to contact the school principal or Larry Esmailka (898-2204); lodging would be at the school.

Kaltag: Billy said to contact Richard Burnham at 534-2203.

TALLY: 5 schools that need to be contacted (Manley, Ruby, Galena, Nulato, and Kaltag); 3 community-type facilities that need to be contacted (Tanana, Ruby, and Galena); one rehab center (Old Minto), and one cabin owner (Boneyard).

LAST BUT NOT LEAST, is that we need to make a decision regarding whether to do two nights in Manley and Galena or just one night in Manley. Galena is the halfway point and is comfortable (and machines can be fixed at the vo-tech school). I’ll attach a schedule for everybody later so you can see how it all plays out.