RACE START 2014 and Alaska dreamin'

Well, here I sit back in Wisconsin creating what will be my last blog post about my trip to Alaska...and I'm not liking the sound of that at all! First off,  I would like everyone to know that I have Alaska Fever and its a very, VERY, real sickness. The scariest part is that I'm not sure if this will ever subside and I'm pretty sure the only cure for Alaska Fever is Alaska. During the time I was headed home and first night back I had so many people message me or call me and say, "Aren't you so excited to be home!?" And I think it just got a little overwhelming because truthfully, no, I was not excited to be home. Yes, I missed all my friends and loved ones, but I also missed the beauty of what I just left.

Last summer I went to Europe for 2 weeks with my best friend and experienced some of the most beautiful places this world has to offer, and after those 2 weeks I was MORE than ready to return home! To be honest, I'm usually a very homesick person when I leave, but this time it was different. On the way to Anchorage airport I started thinking about the unknown and when I'd ever return, and before I knew it my eyes were watering and I was trying to hold back tears as much I could so the shuttle driver didn't ask any questions. I'd be lying if I didn't say I'm doing the same thing as I write this.

I've told a few people that being in Alaska for me almost felt like falling in love for the first time. I was like whoa, what are these feelings and why the heck are they here!? Trust me,  I've already seen some pretty amazing places in my almost 22 years of living and I had yet to feel something like that. It's the weirdest and scariest thing I've ever felt, and before I knew it I was searching for jobs and housing in Alaska. After finally realizing that I'm back home and took a second to breathe...I remembered that right now my life is here. Thankfully, I have the best family/ support system a girl could ask for who are always telling me to go for it, and who wholeheartedly support my wildest dreams, so who knows what the future has in store. Only the big guy upstairs knows that for sure!

If there is anything Alaska taught me, and if there is anything I could pass on from this experience its this...if you want something you've never had, then you've got to do something you've never done. If you are not willing to risk the unusual, you will have to settle for the ordinary! One of my favorite quotes goes something like "Taking the leap may be scary, but the feeling of regret is scarier." So whether you're 22 or 62, go out and do it. This doesn't have to be doing something drastic like moving across the country or the world. But find that one thing, that big or small goal and DO IT! Remember, opportunities only come to those who seek them. So take the chance, be scared, and love it with all you have and I promise it will be worth it :)

So with that, here are some of the last moments I've spent in now one of my favorite places on Earth. Much love, Alaska!

When we arrived downtown the sunrise was just beautiful! Take me back!

We started going through teams at 7am, here we are going through Jeff Kings dog trailer.

Rise and shine pups!

Waiting to get checked by the technicians!

As the morning goes on the paparazzi comes out!

Heading to start!

Musher Nicholas Petit, another musher with a good chance of winning this year!

Dallas Seavey heading to the start. Notice the JJ Keller sled? There is always a little bit of home everywhere you look!

This is a handler helping hold back the team as they pull towards the start line. I was able to help do this with a team and I have to say the power of a team ready to race is incredible! It took a lot of strength to not let them drag me to the start ;)

The Jamaican musher Newton Marshall

Aily Zirkle and her team! Aily has competed in the Iditarod many times and has a great chance of winning this years race.

Musher Jessie Royer and her team!

Anna Berrington leading her team to the start, with a few passengers!

Another team headed to the start!

Booty time!

An Australian musher being pulled by his team to the start line

Lounging before heading out!

The start line with all the flags of where the mushers are from :)

I was able to capture a little bit of what the mushers do before they head out. One of those things are news interviews. I'm guessing that's one of the least favorite parts!

Doing the final inspection of the team-making sure everything is where it should be before heading down the trail!

Lets go!

Woohoo!

Members of a beautiful Siberian Husky team

My official arm band!

My last view of Anchorage on the plane! :(

Banquets, Tourists, Sarah Palin...Oh my!

They say all good things must come to an end…

After an amazing sunset sled ride, the team and I headed to Anchorage for the last part of our Iditarod adventure. Pictures of the ride below...videos to come later!

 We arrived in Anchorage pretty late on Wednesday night and decided that we would just go to the hotel sleep, and explore the city on Thursday. Thursday was so fun, for the first time in Alaska I felt like an actual tourist! We headed down to 4^th Ave in downtown Anchorage where the ceremonial start is for the race. There are many cool shops, museums, and plenty of tourists! We ventured downtown with the Iditarod volunteers along with a few mushers before the musher banquet later that evening. Pictures below! My favorite little shop was one where a man sold sculptures and carvings out of walrus ivory and whale baleen.

Another cool event happening in Anchorage before the Iditarod is the “Fur Rendevous” AKA the “Fur Rondy”. The Fur Rondy is a 10 day, 79 year old tradition celebrating way of life in Alaska! They have many events going on like ice sculpting contests, fur bikini contests, a carnival, a reindeer run (where reindeer run down the streets of Anchorage while you run with them…its like the Cheddar Chase, except you’re running with actual reindeer) and a sprint dog sled race. Upon MANY more.  Check out the website for more details if interested… furrondy.net.

Musher Wade Marrs can't escape the school teachers flocking for autographs for the classroom!

This was a tourist who came to the Iditarod from Poland. He was so hilarious and taking pictures of everything and everyone! People go crazy here around Iditarod time!

Crazy Poland tourist posing with Newton Marshall, musher from Jamaica with other Iditarod volunteers!

Musher Newton Marshall posing as Balto.

Just being goofy!

Later that night we headed to the musher banquet. Dinner is served, the mushers get recognized, people talk, they show videos, talk about prizes and the mushers pick their starting #s for the race out of a hat. The banquet was a lot of socializing, looking around, and spotting people we recognized from our time here! Oh and celebrating!

The banquet stage

Myself and two other technicians I worked with...one from Alaska and the other from Massachusetts

So many people!

Took this picture for all you Seavey fans back home! Dallas going up to pick his bib # for race start.

 

Earlier out in the lobby I noticed a big swarm of people and some security guards coming through the door, at the time I just ignored it…not sure why? Later that night I swore I saw Sarah Palin, I asked a musher I recognized if Sarah Palin was here. He said yes, and I said something like “Oh cool, I’ll have to sneak a picture of her.” He replied with, “ How about we don’t sneak a picture and all go talk to her!” So we did, and that is how I met and talked with Sarah Palin. Who was a very sweet lady and who wanted to talk to me more than I thought she would! 

Chatting with Sarah about Wisconsin, Alaska, and her daughter Bristol.

I loved her outfit. Nothing fancy just a USA shirt, green cargo pants, and boots :)

LESSON: If you never open the door, you can’t walk through it! I have had so many unforgettable experiences here in Alaska and it drives me crazy thinking I even pondered the idea of not going. Everyone is capable of doing great things; don’t wait around for your opportunity…find it! 

Tomorrow is the day! Ceremonial race start! Have to be up early! I leave for back home on Sunday morning. Hopefully I'll get another blog post in about the day before I head out!

Mush on,

Sophie