Beargrease Journal 2008
by Jason Rice jrice2005@hotmail.com

Check back in a couple days for Jason's final blog on the race!

SCROLL DOWN to see previous posts!!

Another Barron in the books (3:30pm)

Billy's Bar, Duluth, MN----First off, my apologies for no post in quite some time. I did indeed watch each and every team come into Billy's for the finish today, but I was also without computer for a while.

Jason Barron of Lincoln, MT is indeed our 2008 Beargrease Champion, strolling into Billy's at 8:37 this morning, greeted by warm applause from volunteers and fans and Beargrease officials. He was also greeted by 30 mph wind gusts and -14 degrees. Barron was followed by John Stetson, in at 9:16. Barron managed to boost his lead time by more than a half-hour on the run down from Two Harbors. His attitude was jovial despite icicles dangling from every corner of this face.

"This run down here was very tough. The trail is just so hard and it's been really hard on the dogs feet," he explained to me while simultaneously doing post-run chores. An interesting side-note, Jason and Harmony have put their Montana home on the market and have been doing some scouting of possible new digs here in Northern Minnesota! They'd certainly be in a good spot for mushers... but hey--Montana's not too shabby in that regard either!

After making himself available for several media interviews, I arranged a call-in for Jason on a local radio station where they must have discussed the ins and outs of all things mushing-related for close to 10 minutes. The dj's didn't know what they were in for! Barron is an animated, well-spoken guy filled with great stories and explanations for those who may not know much about dog racing. For PR purposes, he's about as interesting as they get in an interview. On top of that, he's super tuned into the needs of his dogs. He even stopped an interview in mid sentence to ask a vet which dog had just wimpered. The dog had a sore foot, but Barron's attentiveness was not shut off just because he was in the spotlight. Very impressive character.

Stetson's arrival was followed by that of Matt Carstens of New Hampshire around 39 minutes later. Ryan Anderson came in 4th, and Matt Rossi claimed his highest finishing spot yet in this race: a very respectable 5th place. With these strange conditions we faced, all of the finishers really earned my respect for being able to withstand and work around the ever-changing trail conditions. Sixth place belongs to Chisholm, MN resident Nathan Schroeder, who's been trying to balance a busy work schedule as of late leading up to the race. He's a union millright and the work has been very steady for him lately, preventing him from doing as much training as he would have liked. Tim Calhoun, Blake Freking, Rita Wehseler and Peter McLelland rounded out the top 10 in that order. As you can see, some teams still had enough proverbial fuel in the tank to step up their pace and overtake a team in front of them, and that's a good sign that they had paced themselves nicely over the course of 3 and a half days. Mike Bestgen and Ward Wallin claimed the final two spots... the balance of the 27 teams that started on Sunday had already scratched.

As we put the wraps on this very special 25th anniversary running of the Beargrease, it's the same old feeling I've always experienced. Glad we'll all get to shower and stop offending each other by our scent... glad it's going to be a full night of sleep----DEEEEEEEEP sleep... and glad everyone had a good time. There were some great moments of competition and sportsmanship out there. Touching displays of love for canines popped up all over the place as well to remind us of the symbolic value of a dog race.

The sadness creeps in for all these very same reasons... because I'll miss seeing these best attributes people have to offer in such measure as they are offered here on this race course. I'll wait anxiously to come back another year and remind myself of the good people can accomplish as a team.

For all you diehard fans and followers, I plan to do a couple more posts that will share some stories from the trail I haven't yet told. But my time has run out for now. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR EMAILS----IT'S THE ONLY WAY I KNOW THIS MEAGER BLOG MAKES ANY DIFFERENCE... thanks for affirming that it has. Responses to many of you will be coming tomorrow.

All my best,

Jason

 

Barron chasing dad's tracks - Stetson chasing Barron (3:15am)

When Jason Barron of Lincoln, Montana leaves the gravel pit that is the Two Harbors checkpoint it will be 4:46am and 21 seconds... and probably not a second longer. He's in a good position to claim the champion title, but Duluth musher John Stetson isn't likely to give him any margin for error. When Stetson pulls out, he'll be 16 minutes behind, and John's dogs know this home stretch well. For them, the finish line is something many of them have seen before. Why does that matter? Dogs remember experiences from the trail even more vividly than we humans do. As they get closer to Billy's Bar on Jean Duluth Road, they'll recall the meal they had their last time they finished. The tendency is for the morale to boost with the knowledge something good is ahead. Barron's team has been moving faster than Stetson's and Jason's strategic move to skip rest at Finland was proven beneficial as his time eclipsed John's run time down to Two Harbors. Barron's lead of 5 minutes leaving Finland has now turned into a lead of 16 minutes.

However you look at what's been done so far, we have two very talented teams giving us an exciting race. The winning time is expected to be recorded around 8am today (Wednesday).

The gravel pit checkpoint at Two Harbors is a chilly spot on the earth this morning. Air temp is minus 18 degrees, the wind is steadily whistling through the lot and I have true sympathy for the vets, volunteers, and handlers working their tails off in profoundly cold conditions.

All teams are in at the pit and the order is as follows--second number is the time they may leave the checkpoint.

Three drivers duke it out to the pit ( 6:42pm Tues.)

As expected Jason Barron came in to Finland, checked in and checked right back out. But hot on his heels will be John Stetson, just 5 minutes behind him. And of course, Stetson will have Ryan Anderson breathing down his back, another 5 minutes back. Talk about an exciting moment for Beargrease fans as this 25th anniversary edition!

Barron left at 6:29, Stetson at 6:35, and Anderson at 6:41. The 42-mile jaunt down to Two Harbors will take them about 3.5 to 4 hours, and all three teams will have only their 6-hour mandatory rest to take before dashing toward the finish line.

Barron's team looked good taking off and he still has 10 pullers on the line. But he has just run 33 of the most challenging miles on this trail, and has another 40 or so left to go.

Stetson's team still numbers 10 strong, but his troops still looked like they needed a few minutes to wake up. It will take a few minutes to get them warmed up and running at their normal pace, which is not uncommon at this stage of the race. Ryan Anderson's crew of 9 dogs was in the same shape going out. Who can blame them? It's around -10 degrees and dropping further overnight.

Another quick update-- Nathan Schroeder has just left Finland and word came in that Scott White (bib #22) has decided to hang it up at Sawbill. There are now 12 teams left in the marathon.

Another face springs into the mix (5:15pm Tues.)

Finland, MN -- Don't be fooled... this is NOT a 2-man race tonight. The Iditarod veteran Jason Barron is expected into Finland sometime between 6 and 6:30 this evening, with most of his rest already taken. Dan Bergerson, a handler for Barron, says their plan is to blow through Finland and move on toward Two Harbors. While this practice of doubling up legs of the race into longer segments isn't new, it hasn't been a frequent strategy used in the Beargrease. If it works for Barron, he could theoretically depart ahead of Stetson and Anderson. Not that they would necessarily mind someone on the trail just ahead of them for a little while. Dogs just love to chase other dogs, and it's a powerful motivator on the trail.

Also in at Finland right now: Matt Rossi, Tim Calhoun, Nathan Schroeder, Matt Carstens, Rita Wehseler. More to come around 6:30 when we see them lining out for the chute!!!

 

Making the Move (posted 2:30pm Tues)

Finland, MN----The strategies that once were not as evident in the 25th Beargrease Marathon have now begun to be revealed. Duluth musher John Stetson came cruising into the Finland checkpoint with a 10-dog squad in front of him. Having signed in and out at Sawbill in quick fashion, it would appear he's breaking the home stretch into bigger chunks and it has helped propel him into a lead position, even if only temporary. Devil Track to Finland, skipping rest at Sawbill, makes for one big run of 67 miles. That's not a surprising move by today's popular mushing strategies, and a well-trained dog team can easily gobble up that sort of mileage.

Ryan Anderson pulled in with 9 dogs at 2:12 and by my observation from the window of our humble trailer, they were looking good. 6 more teams are on their way here as this post is written, and as they say "we'll just have to see how fast they can get here".

So the way this shakes out by my math, John Stetson has a 5-minute lead over Anderson when you factor in the total required rest each man will have to accumulate. What a race!

 

7:05 update from Pike Lake- Freking & Calhoun turn it up

7:05am Tuesday---- Blake Freking and Tim Calhoun apparently found a good running rhythm for their teams this morning. They have both passed Wehseler and Schroeder on the way to the next road crossing at Caribou Trail. Have Rita and Nathan slowed down? It doesn't look like there's been much speed change in their teams. Also in play--Freking and Calhoun may be thinking it's time to put some miles on before the big chill moves into the area and the forecasted blowing snow threatens travel conditions.

Also, keep an eye on Jason Barron today. He's a veteran musher with a ton of distance mushing experience, and he's driving a full team of 12 dogs on his way toward my vantage point right now. He's banked some rest by staying a little longer than many other teams at earlier checkpoints, so in the home stretch he may be in a position to leave earlier than most.

Word has just come down that Eric Morris has called it quits at Trail Center but I have not heard why.

Big chill on the way as teams head south (6:15am Tues)

The bottom hasn't dropped out on the thermometer just yet, but teams are shifting position by the hour in this 25th Beargrease. Here's the update from where I sit (at Pike Lake road crossing).

First team to cross was Nathan Schroeder at 4:46am. Rita Wehseler crossed at 5:10, followed by Tim Calhoun at 5:28, Blake Freking at 5:39 and Mike Bestgen at 6:06. Matt Rossi has also just crossed the road at 6:25. The dog count is still looking pretty good for most teams. Rossi and Schroeder have teams of 11 right now, and they appear to be moving along nicely as they pass by. Freking has 10 running at a pretty nice clip. Calhoun, Wehseler and Bestgen are down to 9 dogs and although it doesn't appear to be an issue with their pace this morning, they will need to guard against injuries to keep the squad well-staffed for the long journey home. Of course, mushers know these things and worry all the time about keeping every member of the team as long as they reasonably can do so.

Trail conditions today following last night's rain will be slick in spots, crunchy and jagged where snow machines have left tracks. I would speculate every musher out here this morning must be thinking and praying the trail doesn't tweak any of their dog's wrists or shoulders... or any other parts for that matter.

More teams are headed this way coming out of Devil Track Lodge, and it appears Ward Wallin has opted for some rest at that checkpoint.

Update: Matt Carstens has now crossed Pike Lake Road at 6:42 with 11 dogs. The winds are starting to crank up and we've just received word that Mitch Ingerson and Neil Rasmussen have decided to call it quits for this Beargrease. We're sorry to hear that, guys...

 

Volunteers in action: 148th Fighter Wing helps 25th Beargrease

Near the shores of remote Pike Lake just outside Grand Marais, MN, the Air National Guard is on a mission to keep Beargrease teams safe. It's a remote road crossing point, and isn't necessarily easy to find. I was lost for 30 minutes trying to get to this dot on the Beargrease trail where a small campfire sizzles and three men in camouflage discuss when the next team should be passing by. A few hundred yards away, up a hill and through the woods there's a football field size clearing with a massive trailer. The trailer belongs to the state of Minnesota, but the fine folks from Duluth's 148th Fighter Wing use this trailer year-round for emergency communication needs.

From its outward appearance you'd think some television station was setting up business here. A mast protrudes from one end of the roof, satellite dishes and radar units are perched on top as well. The trailer is a JCP or joint communications platform used in cases of public emergency and catastrophe. Last year, this very JCP was deployed to the Cavity Lake Fire near the Boundary Waters Wilderness where it was used to help communicate with firefighting aircraft.

As I type this posting inside the JCP, two generators rumble away, supplying enough power to run a house or two. High-speed data links and tons of gadgets to make a tech guru drool. It's a cool thing to see and even more impressive to use. I want to thank my hosts, Tech Sgt. Tom Walden and Master Sgt. Bryan Druar... not just for getting me "hooked up", but for helping the Beargrease and at the same time, staying up on their training to use this powerful tool. Thanks to their annual winter training exercise on our trail, they're ready if we ever need them for something more pressing. Let's hope we never do.

Rain in January? Marathon Prepares for a Rough Ride (4:00am Tues.)

Finally--internet access near the Gunflint. It's now nearly 4am Tuesday, and it's been a difficult night for everyone. Marathon mushers camped at Trail Center were treated to steady rain showers for several hours and it had a lot of folks scratching their heads. To make matters worse the rain was freezing on Highway 61 near Grand Marais, and I've seen ice rinks that weren't as nicely slickened as the scenic Gunflint Trail was at 10pm Monday.

Needless to say, weather was causing travel problems for Beargrease staff and handlers driving dog trucks. This whole thing could get even more out-of-hand when temperatures drop off to the single digits today. Veterinarians were warning the mushers of the injuries that are common with slippery trails. One vet suggested that mushers consider going without booties on the dogs once things cool off. But as of this post, it is still hovering around the freezing mark--32 degrees F.

The Trail Center arrivals usually signal some semblance of leadership in the race, but based on the varied running speeds and rest totals all over the board... this is still anybody's Beargrease to win.

First team out of our halfway point at Trail Center was Matt Carstens of Whitefield, NH around midnight. The rain eased off just in time for Carstens to hit the trail--a bit of good fortune. Minutes later other teams scurried to get their troops up and moving and back onto the trail. Ward Wallin of Two Harbors and Nathan Schroeder of Chisholm, MN checked out minutes after Carstens.

Still waiting for some key times to be reported in, but there are now about a dozen teams that have launched their homeward bound journey.

Strong Finish Caps Off a Mid-Distance Beargrease (6:00pm Mon)

The chase pack in today's Mid-distance finish saw some shifting and jockeying for position in the midst of a warm Northland morning. Temps in the upper teens and low 20's made it warm for the early out mushers hoping to catch Don Galloway, and some teams posted awesome runs into Tofte.

Tom Benson of Ely, MN took off at 7:15 and was followed closely by teams driven by Sharon Nelson-Curtice of Michigan and Robin Beall of Grand Marais. Coming across the finish line about 20 minutes after our winner, Sharon's team was still animated and she was clearly pumped by the run where she made up some time and passed Benson.

"Who was that who came in right behind me?" Sharon asked the gathering of well-wishers at her dog truck. "I was looking back and saw someone coming up on me, and I thought -- 'let's go guys - we can't let them catch us!' We were pushing hard to stay ahead of her right to the end."

Nelson-Curtice, who has finished in the top 10 multiple times in this race, was visibly pleased with the run. But it was no gimme as Grand Marais musher Robin Beall applied steady pressure right to the finish line. Beall, who left several minutes after Sharon at Finland, claimed 3rd by mere seconds. Tom Benson came in 4th - his best showing so far in the Beargrease.

Throughout the day the parade of teams down the slope into the AmericInn Hotel parking lot at Tofte gave a crowd of more than a hundred spectators something really special to observe and cheer about. The dogs were coming in happy and healthy, although a bit on the sweaty side with temps surging well into the upper 20's.

A school bus dropped off some 60 elementary students from the nearby Birch Grove Elementary School. Something was very right with this picture... kids and dogs share a place in our hearts - they're both a beautiful part of our lives.

 

Winning... the Gallo-way! (11:30am Mon)

Coming down the sweeping S-bend into the Tofte finish line, Don Galloway's demeanor was nothing like you might expect: calm, business-like yet modestly upbeat. If he wanted to give a shout or hoot n' holler it would've been perfectly understandible. But his winning run ended just the way it began. Calm, business-like... yet upbeat.

Don's finish line arrival came at 9:59 before a crowd gathered at the bottom of an unusually snowy North Shore hillside. The team still as happy as the moment I saw them off at Finland. In less than 5 minutes, he's surrounded by cameras and reporters and spectators.

"You've done well in this thing before...So what was it that made this year different from the others?" asks a Duluth television reporter. The answers don't come quickly, but they are to the point. "We just ran faster," he says. That was worth a good laugh from the folks crowding around his dog truck. Don isn't a self-absorbed kind of guy looking to play up the victory.

Something he and his wife August have been working toward a moment like this for years. All 8 dogs that started the race finished it... and all 8 of those guys were raised from puppies by Don and August. Theirs is a story of methodical growth and improvement in their kennel. Finding the bloodlines they desire and calculating their breedings. Years of dedication to improving their program finally paid off with the top prize in the premiere 8-dog race in America.

Today the Beargrease Mid-distance has a new champ and he did it his way... the "Gallo-way".

 

( More details of the BG Mid-distance finishers to come later today. Please check back.)

Hunting for a Championship (7:45am Mon)

At 6:54 this Monday morning, 8 dogs stood in the chute pointed uphill and looking down the trail leading northward out of Finland. They didn't just stand there--actually they looked just like the dogs we all heard wailing with excitement at yesterday's starting line. No different. Yelps and howls, leaps and lurches. This was the departure scene just before dawn for team Galloway, and driver Don Galloway didn't have a whole lot to say. He didn't need to... his dogs spoke volumes.

Galloway enjoys a 20-plus minute lead over the Benson team and with a short run of about 35 miles ahead of them, he knows the Mid-distance Championship is just one clean run away.

"I'm a little bit nervous about this," Don tells me as we await the countdown until he can leave. "I just don't wanna screw this up." By now, the dogs are ballistic with enthusiasm.

A handsome young couple applies tight tugs from the lead position. A young blonde named "Soda" and her boyfriend "Mug" are leading this mission to Tofte, MN. They've been taking turns as leaders throughout this race, and they seem genuinely focused on that line of snow carving through a stand of pines. They'll see many more today. And if they see them before anyone else for the next 3 hours, their coach Don will win his first Beargrease title.

Mayhem After Midnight

5:22am - Finland, MN--- Work overruled the writing for a while. My apologies. In helping to get timing set for the mid-distance teams, I have been pre-occupied and unable to post til now. But in this fast and furious mid-distance field, our front runners are now clear. Don Galloway of Makinen, MN will be the first to leave and make a push for the finish. Don finished 2nd in this same race 2 years ago, but he could better that by a spot if things continue to roll his wayafter he departs at 6:55am. His wife and kennel partner August stopped in to check on his leg times and noted that he ran the 40-plus leg from Two Harbors into Finland at a faster pace than he had really planned. She didn't sound concerned, but did acknowledge she doesn't know what that may or may not do to the team going into this short but undeniably jagged, hilly finish.

Don's chase pack will be fronted by Ely's Tom Benson, leaving at 7:15, followed by another repeat contender--Sharon Nelson-Curtice. But with a 20 minute lead, Galloway may hold his fate in his own hands. Weather could make things interesting, depending on the actual arrival time of this so-called "wintery mix" we're allegedly on track to receive.

Finland: No Building, No Problem - (posted 1:45am Mon.)

In the 3 hours or so leading up to this posting, the mass exodus of teams got underway and the teams are making their way toward me at Finland. This year Finland checkpoint has no recreation center as in years past -- we miss it, and we miss the ability to spread out and relax indoors. There are no famous pancakes on the griddle, served with a smile from the ladies of the local Lutheran church. There are no heavenly massages in the massage chair... heck, there isn't even a massage chair this time. The town of Finland tore down the old rec center and they're geared up to build a new one sometime later this year.

But this isn't to say things are uncomfortable. Sponsors came through and provided a construction trailer that's giving many volunteers, vets, and race officials a nice respite from the cold. Actually, cold is relative. It's about 10 degrees ABOVE zero right now-- that compared to the balmy 20's we felt back in Duluth at the starting line. And some shiny new RV's flank our construction trailer, compliments of Bullyan RV in Duluth.

Lakenet out of Two Harbors has provided wireless internet access for us and it's working flawlessly, much to a blogger's delight.

Longtime race judge Jack Welsh, still on crutches from a recent surgery, reclining in the only chair in the room... giving the vets a ribbing here and there. Discussions at this hour vary from catching up on each other's lives since last we got together--Beargrease 2006. This reunion of dog sled sports enthusiasts is like a family gathering after all the siblings have moved to separate ends of the earth. It's always nice to see a familiar face and hear about their adventures. It puts your own life into a different perspective.

The Flight to Two Harbors... (posted 10:30pm Sun.)

What a start! After spending the afternoon helping launch the teams (via the announcer's booth) we're off on a heck of a dog race! The start was fast and furious around a couple harrowing bends - with a handful of small mishaps at the first turn - 71 teams are coursing their way up the beautiful North Shore of Minnesota tonight.

I'll be posting whenever and wherever internet access is available. Right now I need to thank the Country Inn of Two Harbors for welcoming me and the laptop into their lobby for some screen time! This was aweful nice of them...

E-mail address for those who wish to communicate: jrice2005@hotmail.com

The trail is very fast this year thanks to the perfect trifecta of early snow, then a day or two of drizzle and warmth in late December, followed by some bitter cold. The snow has a crunchy quality to it tonight and the sled dogs are finding little resistance on their path from checkpoint to checkpoint. Tomorrow could get interesting, depending on whose forecast you want to put stock in.

Where do they stand???? Alright, here we go...

As far as traveling time, in the marathon the fastest times posted (unofficially) came in this order: Tim Calhoun made the trip in 3 hrs. 58 min, Nathan Schroeder did it in 4:05, Mark Black in 4:07, Mike Bestgen in 4:09, Matt Rossi and Rita Wehseler in 4:22 and John Stetson in 4:23. To peg this better, you need to subtract the amount of time they spent at Billy's Bar where some opted to re-booty and make some adjustments. This is still very early on in this competition, so we'll get into the nitty-gritty on the marathon later. Unfortunately, Jen Freking had to call it quits with a hand injury early in the race. We hope she recovers quickly so her Iditarod plans for this year can still happen. Best wishes, Jen and family.

Mid Distance at Two Harbors: The Cream Rising Early

With 2005 and 06 champion John Stetson running the marathon, the field of folks vying to take his place on a Beargrease trophy is growing deep and it's laced with mushing talent. This will be a real nail biter, but we should see some real clues as to team resilience as they roll down into the valley at Finland, MN sometime in the next 4-to-6 hours. The most impressive speed demon so far is Ely's Tom Benson, recording a time of 3 hours 55 minutes to hit the pit at Two Harbors... the fastest time recorded by any of the 71 teams in the field this year, and one of the faster times for the opening 50-plus mile leg in several years.

Benson has tried his hand at the marathon several times, but maybe he's found his niche in mid-distance racing? One thing's for sure--he'll face a brisk challenge from a cluster of fast dogs just minutes behind his standing. Those teams belong to Robin Beall (multiple top 10 finishes), John Hull (a guy with some success in other races just waiting to pounce on a BG title), Don Galloway (2nd place to Stetson in 2006), Tasha Stielstra (multiple top 10's), Sharon Nelson-Curtice (multiple top 10's) and Dawn Breedlove who could spring a surprise on this whole pack. Check the "results" page on this website and you'll see how tightly they're jammed on the clock!

Need to leave for Finland now (11pm CDT), but plan to start posting the goods after we see the flashing lights of the lead dogs arrive at the checkpoint. Temps have been mild today, and teams that blazed a fast trail could really light it up out there under the stars tonight. Dogs just love to run under a clear sky. Makes me think they like star-gazing too!

The Journey (and the Journal) Begins! (posted 8am Sun.)

Race start is only 6 hours away as I write this, and I'm already getting the "good jitters". Jitters are a good thing, at least once in-a-while. I'll be attempting to update every 4 hours or so with stories from the trail. Those who read the 2006 Beargrease Journal may recall my style--I'll give the basic stats of who's where in the lead pack, I'll mix in some musher insights, and I'll try to answer your questions as best I can along the trail of this 25th Beargrease.

The times I give are my observations at each checkpoint, and should in NO WAY be considered the official race times, but I will be using the stats you can start to see today on the Beargrease Results page on this website. We thank David Thickens for his dedicated work to make sure that we have good timing measures in place and we are able to share them with the public and Beargrease fans all over the world.

As in the past, I will attempt to answer every e-mail question I receive, but I cannot guarantee what time of the day or night I will be available to do this. PLEASE BE PATIENT... I will have to sleep here and there, don'tchaknow!!

Marathon Teams to Watch in 2008

I won't go out on a limb and pick any top-5 or even top-10 teams at this early stage, but there are teams that have done well in the past at Beargrease and elsewhere in the dog sled racing world... and here are just a few in no particular order: