My husband (who knows you from your Palmer days) and I would love to take you up on an offer of housing if that will work for you.

An additional machiner would be great, Juliah. One of the problems dogging prior Serum Run expeditions was not enough machiners, particularly if a machine breaks down. I know somebody mentioned not using straw. I think for most dogs, straw is the signal to lie down and rest. We are not going that many miles each day so the dogs aren’t simply…[Read more]

I had a very long e-mail that I sent to the group via regular e-mail last night. For whatever reason, sometimes when I try to type items in here, it is hard to see them and I can’t seem to print out a single reply, just the whole chain. I’ve got a little wood stove in my arctic oven tent; I think I used a duraflame log in it before but will…[Read more]

I love, love, love your idea. I must confess I am not much of cook so that’s why I was suggesting freeze dried food which tastes OK if you are really hungry. I’m basically gluten free, so perhaps some gluten free bread?

Juliah,

You’ll need 48 a day times 18 = 864. I am buying a bunch at a good price if you are interested. My cell is 321-1256. What sizes do you use?

Deposit sent in X
Roughwoods Inn contacted for lodging on 2/21 X
Aurora Inn in Nome contacted for lodging on 3/10 to 3/12 X
Dogs in training X (we are doing numerous mid-distance races prior to the Serum run so the dogs will be in great shape)

We are figuring out what snowmachine to buy for the Serum Run. I would love to know…[Read more]

If anybody needs to buy really nice dog bootie.com dog coats, I know of some for sale. They were only used for a few days. I think they retail for about $65 or $75 apiece. The musher is asking $50 apiece for the set. They look like new.

Dog Crates: please let us know if you find any ones that are reasonable. Shipping 12 dogs back at $ 50 a dog = $600. If the crates are $130 apiece, that would be about $1500 in dog crates per person. I will be taking 12 dogs. If Gil or Michelle have found some reasonable crates, please let me know.

Shipping Dogs back from Nome: I am…[Read more]

We should seriously think about recruiting two more machiners. In the past, more machiners were needed than the number of mushers. Too few machines are a problem, just saying. If one breaks down (last time, we had two that broke down) it is a BIG problem.

Jane Steves found some dog crates for me on Pet Zoo or Petco which were about $89 apiece. Those were the cheapest. That is why the Serum Run used boxes to ship the dogs in as it was cheaper.

Jimmy’s number is 907 741-8998. He was flying back east today to visit his mom. He’ll be back in AK on the 6th or the 7th.

I didn’t see the exact dates anywhere on this website for the Serum Run. Am I correct in thinking it is February 20th to March 9th?

Gil, Jimmy Lebling has one in my storage unit that he was thinking of selling or leasing so you may want to get in touch with him.

The best resource is the posted Serum Run handbook. Print it out and read it as it is chock full of good stuff. The only thing I recall shipping back in a return poly bag was used dog booties. Basically, mushers will use over 50 booties a day and some will have plenty of life left in them after the shorter runs. I had bought these $5 and $10…[Read more]

I’ve got an arctic oven tent and a Satellite phone with about 10 minutes a month in the event of an emergency, so I can bring that. Basically, each of us had an action pack for our gear; we stopped in local laundramates to do the wash and brought plenty of change (so knowing where they are is big). Ditto with showers. I would HIGHLY recommend…[Read more]

Phil,
I have an arctic oven tent that sleeps four. My former dog handler has a smaller one that he would consider renting out for the Serum Run. I highly recommend the cots they sell at Alaska tent and tarp for the Serum run. They are light weight and foldable.

In the serum run (and in the Iditarod), there were poly bags marked that could be returned via the post office. I bought some fairy pricey stamps to use for that. This may be in the Serum Run handbook.

How many dog teams are coming from Nome to the start? And how many from Nome back to Fairbanks or Anchorage? Sounds like Hugh, Juliah, Robert, Marla and I will be flying teams back from Nome. Anybody else?

Stephanie,

The real cost of shipping the dogs back is for the crates — a 12 dog team is about $1200 to $1400 in dog crates. So, that’s why the Serum Run had those boxes built which are at Martin’s house.