Frank, I do like the “donation” can idea. I doubt it will generate much but, at the very worst, we can treat ourselves to pizza in Unalakleet and a meal in Nome! I think the problem is the fiscal situation in the state; the schools were hit very, very hard with budget cuts and they are struggling so charging a uniform rate to visitors is obviously an idea they hit upon. We will have WiFi access in the schools and access to warm water (important for the mushers) and the mushers can bring in their food to thaw out inside in their cooler each night. Most will have toilets and some will have showers so that is a big plus. Don’t get me wrong, I think $70 a night to stay in a gym is high but we will have at least three to five nights on the trail at no cost to offset that. If we have a lot of subzero weather, it does help to be inside for the night (ask anybody on last week’s Copper Basin). It took 6 bottles of HEET this weekend to get the dog water lukewarm for each meal (a case for one day); it takes 1 bottle to heat up the water if we start with warm water and 2 bottles with cold water. So, having access to warm or cold water is pretty important to the mushers.