Two men and their dog teams remain on the trail to Whitehorse.
Marcelle Fressineau, in 18th place, has arrived at the Braeburn Checkpoint. Michael Telpin, in 19th place and the current Red Lantern, is approximately 48 miles short of Braeburn and appears to be camped. (His last position was reported some 6 and a half hours ago.
Both men need to spend at least 8 hours in Braeburn before heading out to Whitehorse and the finish line 100 miles away.
IF they continue, Telpin should finish early Monday morning bringing the 2012 Yukon Quest, The Toughest Race In The World, to an end.
Showing posts with label Yukon Quest. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Yukon Quest. Show all posts
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Yukon Quest is won!
The Yukon Quest is won! (Not over it won't be over for a couple of days when the final musher and his/her team crosses the line in Whitehorse.)
Hugh Neff out sprinted Allen Moore to the finish line. The time difference was less than a minute. Neff was officially clocked in at 5:14 AM and Moore at 5:15 AM.
Five plus hours later (10:39 AM) third place went to Lance Mackey. Jake Berkowitz took fourth, arriving at 12:31 PM.
There are still 15 mushers on the trail--or possibly only 13 since two seem to have skipped one of the check points at the McCabe Creek Dog Drop.
The Red Lantern (final musher) is Michael Turpin who left Dawson at 19:22 PM yesterday. He's currently somewhere around mile marker 585 meaning he's got a tad over 400 miles to go. Michael is a rookie to the Quest from Chukotka, Siberia, Russia.
I believe the rules say something about 60 hours after the first musher crosses the finish line the race is officially over. Turpin will not make it to Whitehorse in that time--nor will a couple of others just ahead of him. Checkpoints may be closed when they get to them and assistance may not be available as volunteers head for home.
Of course, nothing short of the RCMP will be able to get some of them off the trail. It's not always about being first. Sometimes just finishing is as important.
Many of these folks and their dogs will be setting off on another 1000 mile race in just over 17 days. The Iditarod, from Anchorage to Nome, starts on March 3rd.
Hugh Neff out sprinted Allen Moore to the finish line. The time difference was less than a minute. Neff was officially clocked in at 5:14 AM and Moore at 5:15 AM.
Five plus hours later (10:39 AM) third place went to Lance Mackey. Jake Berkowitz took fourth, arriving at 12:31 PM.
There are still 15 mushers on the trail--or possibly only 13 since two seem to have skipped one of the check points at the McCabe Creek Dog Drop.
The Red Lantern (final musher) is Michael Turpin who left Dawson at 19:22 PM yesterday. He's currently somewhere around mile marker 585 meaning he's got a tad over 400 miles to go. Michael is a rookie to the Quest from Chukotka, Siberia, Russia.
I believe the rules say something about 60 hours after the first musher crosses the finish line the race is officially over. Turpin will not make it to Whitehorse in that time--nor will a couple of others just ahead of him. Checkpoints may be closed when they get to them and assistance may not be available as volunteers head for home.
Of course, nothing short of the RCMP will be able to get some of them off the trail. It's not always about being first. Sometimes just finishing is as important.
Many of these folks and their dogs will be setting off on another 1000 mile race in just over 17 days. The Iditarod, from Anchorage to Nome, starts on March 3rd.
Thursday, February 02, 2012
Winter Sports
With college football's National Signing Day over, there's a long, six-month wait until there's a game played. That would be somewhere near the end of August. A l-o-n-g time away.
Meanwhile there's the Super Bowl being played this Sunday. After that there's a l-o-n-g six month wait for a pro football game that means anything.
And Major League baseball doesn't start for real until around April 1. The Mets first game is April 5th, at home, against the Braves. (Spring training does start in February, but that's little more than a time to learn who's on the team.)
There's still things worth paying attention to, however. Saturday, February 4th is the start of the Yukon Quest sled dog race. This year's 1000-mile race starts in Fairbanks and ends in Whitehorse, BC. (They change the direction of the race each year.) You can follow the race through the official web site.
Coming a month before the Iditarod, the Yukon Quest often sees many of the same racers and their dogs. (Some dogs will be switched out between the two races as the teams suffer injuries or the mushers determine which dogs are better at the long distance.) The Quest hasn't got as big a name as the Iditarod and this will be just the 29th running of the Quest compared to the 40th running of Iditarod, but it is just as interesting to follow and has just as much adventure and danger.
The Iditarod itself begins on March 3rd and can be followed here. It's the World Series and Super Bowl of sled dog racing. Like the Quest, the top finishers should end up in Nome somewhere around 10 to 12 days after the race begins. And I'll be following both races from start to finish.
Meanwhile there's the Super Bowl being played this Sunday. After that there's a l-o-n-g six month wait for a pro football game that means anything.
And Major League baseball doesn't start for real until around April 1. The Mets first game is April 5th, at home, against the Braves. (Spring training does start in February, but that's little more than a time to learn who's on the team.)
There's still things worth paying attention to, however. Saturday, February 4th is the start of the Yukon Quest sled dog race. This year's 1000-mile race starts in Fairbanks and ends in Whitehorse, BC. (They change the direction of the race each year.) You can follow the race through the official web site.
Coming a month before the Iditarod, the Yukon Quest often sees many of the same racers and their dogs. (Some dogs will be switched out between the two races as the teams suffer injuries or the mushers determine which dogs are better at the long distance.) The Quest hasn't got as big a name as the Iditarod and this will be just the 29th running of the Quest compared to the 40th running of Iditarod, but it is just as interesting to follow and has just as much adventure and danger.
The Iditarod itself begins on March 3rd and can be followed here. It's the World Series and Super Bowl of sled dog racing. Like the Quest, the top finishers should end up in Nome somewhere around 10 to 12 days after the race begins. And I'll be following both races from start to finish.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Yukon Quest FInals
With Hank DeBruin and his team of nine dogs crossing the finish line in Fairbanks at 22:06 local time on Friday (that would be 03:06 Saturday morning on the east coast), the Yukon Quest is officially over. DeBruin's was the thirteenth team to complete the thousand mile trek from Whitehorse, YT to Fairbanks. Their official race time: 13 days, 10 hours, and 54 minutes.
Twenty-five teams started the race, which was won by Dallas Seavey with a time of 10 days, 11 hours, 53 minutes.
A listing of the final standing for the 2011 Yukon Quest can be seen here.
This is the first year I've followed the Quest closely after several years of closely watching the Iditarod. The conditions the racers faced as they left the Yukon River at Circle City and headed up over through the passes (temperatures down to -40 and -50 degrees with howling winds, chest deep overflows on rivers that had to be swum or detoured around, etc.) were formidable. While this (and the Iditarod) are races that pit teams of man and dogs against one another, it also pits those teams against the elements. Just to go the distance and finish the race is a tribute to the ability and intestinal fortitude of the participants. That said, there is no shame to be placed upon those who were forced to withdraw due to injury or tragedy along the trail. Realizing when you've been beaten, making a strategic withdrawal so as to preserve the health and well being of yourself and your team allowing the team to come back and do battle another day is an honorable decision.
To those twenty-five teams who left Whitehorse after months and months of preparation I say well done! And to the thirteen which managed to finish the race...well, I salute you ladies, gentlemen and dogs! Congratulations!
Now, on to the Iditarod!
Twenty-five teams started the race, which was won by Dallas Seavey with a time of 10 days, 11 hours, 53 minutes.
A listing of the final standing for the 2011 Yukon Quest can be seen here.
This is the first year I've followed the Quest closely after several years of closely watching the Iditarod. The conditions the racers faced as they left the Yukon River at Circle City and headed up over through the passes (temperatures down to -40 and -50 degrees with howling winds, chest deep overflows on rivers that had to be swum or detoured around, etc.) were formidable. While this (and the Iditarod) are races that pit teams of man and dogs against one another, it also pits those teams against the elements. Just to go the distance and finish the race is a tribute to the ability and intestinal fortitude of the participants. That said, there is no shame to be placed upon those who were forced to withdraw due to injury or tragedy along the trail. Realizing when you've been beaten, making a strategic withdrawal so as to preserve the health and well being of yourself and your team allowing the team to come back and do battle another day is an honorable decision.
To those twenty-five teams who left Whitehorse after months and months of preparation I say well done! And to the thirteen which managed to finish the race...well, I salute you ladies, gentlemen and dogs! Congratulations!
Now, on to the Iditarod!
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Yukon Quest: And the Winner Is....
Dallas Seavey checked into Fairbanks at 23:05 Tuesday night (I think that's about 3:05 EST) to become the winner of the 2011 Yukon Quest. The 24-year old Dallas is a "Rookie" in the eyes of the Quest folks, but he's been around. As a teen, he ran the Quest Jr. four times as he helped his father, Mitch (the 2004 Iditarod winner), train sled dogs, and in 2005 he became the youngest musher to run the Iditarod. Dallas' official elapsed time was 10 days, 11 hours, and 53 minutes.
A half hour or so later, Sebastian Schnuelle arrived to claim second place. An hour after that, Ken Anderson ended his run in Fairbanks. And Brent Sass should be the fourth man into Fairbanks barring any unforeseen disaster. Sass is currently about 30 miles from the finish line in the vicinity of North Pole, AK. (Brent Sass is not listed as participating in this year's Iditarod. The other three will be lining up in Anchorage on March 5th.)
Of course, having a winner does not mean the race is over! Even after Brent Sass gets to Fairbanks, there will be ten teams still out on the trail and, as Yogi might have said, it ain't over 'til it's over. (Current Standings are here.)
A half hour or so later, Sebastian Schnuelle arrived to claim second place. An hour after that, Ken Anderson ended his run in Fairbanks. And Brent Sass should be the fourth man into Fairbanks barring any unforeseen disaster. Sass is currently about 30 miles from the finish line in the vicinity of North Pole, AK. (Brent Sass is not listed as participating in this year's Iditarod. The other three will be lining up in Anchorage on March 5th.)
Of course, having a winner does not mean the race is over! Even after Brent Sass gets to Fairbanks, there will be ten teams still out on the trail and, as Yogi might have said, it ain't over 'til it's over. (Current Standings are here.)
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Yukon Quest Update
Sunday I wrote about how Hugh Neff had what seemed like an insurmountable lead of 30 miles and nearly 6 hours over his closest competitor, Hans Gatt. As of late last night, both are out of the race.
Gatt, continuing to suffer from the soaking and unbelievable cold he experienced on American Summit, got a second drenching from some severe overflow on the trail heading into, I believe, Central. Frostbite started to affect his hands and he required assistance from musher Sebastian Schnuelle. When he scratched, Hans Gatt said he had stage two frostbite--think second degree burns--and his hands were extremely sensitive.
After Hugh Neff left Central at 4:11 AM Monday morning--more than eight (8) hours ahead of the #2 musher, Dan Kaduce (who left at 12:30 PM Monday), Neff seemed like a shoo-in for the winning spot. But that was before Eagle Summit threw its full fury at Neff and then Kaduce. First Neff found the going above tree line more than he and his team could stand, then his lead dog, Geronimo, fell in his traces.
Neff was eventually joined by Dan Kaduce, who had left his parka back at Slavens and whose team also found Eagle Summit to be too much. After being pinned down at the tree line just below Eagle Summit for hours and eventually being passed by Sebastian Schuelle, both Neff and Kaduce headed for the road and they and their teams were trucked into 101 Milepost Check Point where they are expected to scratch.
Weather and the Great White North have played havoc with this year's Yukon Quest. If/when Neff and Kaduce scratch there will be just 14 mushers and their teams of the 25 that started the race still on the trail.
Gatt, continuing to suffer from the soaking and unbelievable cold he experienced on American Summit, got a second drenching from some severe overflow on the trail heading into, I believe, Central. Frostbite started to affect his hands and he required assistance from musher Sebastian Schnuelle. When he scratched, Hans Gatt said he had stage two frostbite--think second degree burns--and his hands were extremely sensitive.
After Hugh Neff left Central at 4:11 AM Monday morning--more than eight (8) hours ahead of the #2 musher, Dan Kaduce (who left at 12:30 PM Monday), Neff seemed like a shoo-in for the winning spot. But that was before Eagle Summit threw its full fury at Neff and then Kaduce. First Neff found the going above tree line more than he and his team could stand, then his lead dog, Geronimo, fell in his traces.
Neff was eventually joined by Dan Kaduce, who had left his parka back at Slavens and whose team also found Eagle Summit to be too much. After being pinned down at the tree line just below Eagle Summit for hours and eventually being passed by Sebastian Schuelle, both Neff and Kaduce headed for the road and they and their teams were trucked into 101 Milepost Check Point where they are expected to scratch.
Weather and the Great White North have played havoc with this year's Yukon Quest. If/when Neff and Kaduce scratch there will be just 14 mushers and their teams of the 25 that started the race still on the trail.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
More on Brent Sass and the Yukon Quest
I was wondering how Brent Sass lost 6 hours [Actually, the numbers may just be a little FUBAR. One place it says they were just an hour apart. Still, it doesn't detract from the rest of the story...as Paul Harvey might have said.] to Hans Gatt when they both got into Eagle at the same time--give or take a few seconds. Looking at the leader boards indicated Sass left Eagle about half an hour after Gatt, but then things went badly for Brent.
A six hour a stop at Trout Creek was followed shortly thereafter by tragedy. One of Brent's wheel dogs, Taco suddenly fell dead in his tracks. This was a seasoned veteran of the trail. Obtained as a pup in 2005, Taco had completed the Yukon Quest twice as well as run many 200 and 300 races. Brent carried Taco's body in his sled some 60 miles to Slavens Dog Drop, the next check point in the race.
Sass will continue the race without a trusted companion on the trail; one with skill, fortitude, and experience. One who, earlier had helped save a human life. One he clearly loved and one who loved to race.
God speed Taco. As they say, all dogs go to heaven. I think you've earned your entry.
A six hour a stop at Trout Creek was followed shortly thereafter by tragedy. One of Brent's wheel dogs, Taco suddenly fell dead in his tracks. This was a seasoned veteran of the trail. Obtained as a pup in 2005, Taco had completed the Yukon Quest twice as well as run many 200 and 300 races. Brent carried Taco's body in his sled some 60 miles to Slavens Dog Drop, the next check point in the race.
Sass will continue the race without a trusted companion on the trail; one with skill, fortitude, and experience. One who, earlier had helped save a human life. One he clearly loved and one who loved to race.
God speed Taco. As they say, all dogs go to heaven. I think you've earned your entry.
Yukon Quest, Heroism, and Sportsmanship
The race is now into its eighth day and there are still 19 mushers participating of the 25 that started the race.
Hugh Neff is the current leader and, with a six hour (and 30 mile) lead over his nearest competitor, seems well on his way to the winners circle in Fairbanks. Neff and team of 13 dogs (he's had to drop one of his starting 14 dogs) have completed 820 miles of the 1000 mile race.
The second musher in the race, Hans Gatt, won the Quest last year, is currently at 790 miles, but he nearly lost more than the race atop American Summit. He got soaked and turned around in confusion. When he felt hypothermia starting to set in, he set up camp and called for help--or, at least he thought he did. He pushed what he thought was the emergency button on his GPS but hit the reset button by mistake. He lay in his sleeping bag awaiting help that wasn't on the way when another musher, Brent Sass, found him.
Sass saw to it that Gatt got warm, hitched both sleds and teams together and got Gatt to the next check point at Eagle. After an hours rest, both mushers continued the race.
Sass and his 10 dogs is presently listed as in 8th place. They arrived at the Circle City check point (159 miles from Eagle) about 6 hours after Gatt and 2 hours after Gatt had already left with 9 of his dogs hauling his sled.
Did I mention that temperatures in the area fell to -40 or thereabouts? No need for either an F or a C after that temperature number. They are the same. Effing COLD! It has warmed up some during the day, however. It's presently -24 F at Circle City. That's -31 C if you care to feel colder. It will get down to around -49 F tonight. It will be warmer on the summits, only -25 F to -30 F. Those who are climbing the 75 mile switchback trail from Circle City to the Central checkpoint will appreciate that. (Or maybe not. Despite the switchbacks on the map, both check points have elevations between 950 and 980 feet. A closer look at the trail map shows the route follows a pair of wide river valleys. All those switches may be to follow the rivers, not to go up a slope.)
Hugh Neff is the current leader and, with a six hour (and 30 mile) lead over his nearest competitor, seems well on his way to the winners circle in Fairbanks. Neff and team of 13 dogs (he's had to drop one of his starting 14 dogs) have completed 820 miles of the 1000 mile race.
The second musher in the race, Hans Gatt, won the Quest last year, is currently at 790 miles, but he nearly lost more than the race atop American Summit. He got soaked and turned around in confusion. When he felt hypothermia starting to set in, he set up camp and called for help--or, at least he thought he did. He pushed what he thought was the emergency button on his GPS but hit the reset button by mistake. He lay in his sleeping bag awaiting help that wasn't on the way when another musher, Brent Sass, found him.
Sass saw to it that Gatt got warm, hitched both sleds and teams together and got Gatt to the next check point at Eagle. After an hours rest, both mushers continued the race.
Sass and his 10 dogs is presently listed as in 8th place. They arrived at the Circle City check point (159 miles from Eagle) about 6 hours after Gatt and 2 hours after Gatt had already left with 9 of his dogs hauling his sled.
Did I mention that temperatures in the area fell to -40 or thereabouts? No need for either an F or a C after that temperature number. They are the same. Effing COLD! It has warmed up some during the day, however. It's presently -24 F at Circle City. That's -31 C if you care to feel colder. It will get down to around -49 F tonight. It will be warmer on the summits, only -25 F to -30 F. Those who are climbing the 75 mile switchback trail from Circle City to the Central checkpoint will appreciate that. (Or maybe not. Despite the switchbacks on the map, both check points have elevations between 950 and 980 feet. A closer look at the trail map shows the route follows a pair of wide river valleys. All those switches may be to follow the rivers, not to go up a slope.)
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Man! I hate when that happens!
"Early to bed, early to rise" is not a saying steeped in wisdom. It is a curse!
I went to bed early last night for no good reason other than there was nothing to watch on TV and I was bored with surfing the net and seeing much of the same-old same-old. I did a crossword, read a couple of chapters in a Jim Butcher novel (Academ's Fury...it's Book Two in the series) and turned off the light just shy of 10 PM. Then, damn it, I woke at 3 AM for no particular reason and just could not fall back to sleep.
At 4 AM, using his ECP (Exceptional Cat Perception), Chester started to yowl at the door so I gave up and got up, got dressed and headed down stairs. Fed the cats their breakfast (tuna!--maybe Chester read the can) and heated up a mug of coffee. Then the lights went out--literally--three times in half an hour. Power loss was just long enough to cause the electrical clocks on the microwave and stove to start blinking and require resetting each time.
Once everything got back to order, I built up the fire in the fireplace and restocked the wood supply next to the hearth. Then I settled down to look at the web. The problem with getting up so early is that there's no one else up and all the posts are from before you went to bed. Except for those folks out in Alaska who have just gone to sleep when you woke up at 4 AM EST.
Checked Rev. Paul's site and Brigid had a new post at her's all about Revenge. Then I went over to the Yukon Quest site to see what was going on.
Michelle Phillips scratched at Dawson City. A little over 400 miles into the race, she was down to just 8 dogs and had the toughest part of the trail yet to go. Once they leave the Yukon River at Circle City, things get, shall we say, bumpy--and very, very steep.
Hugh Neff is the current leader. He left Dawson City at 3:35 AM local time a good three-and-a-half hours ahead of Hans Gatt. (Dawson City is a 36 hour mandatory rest so it's pretty easy to see who is ahead of whom at this point. Still, lots of time left and distance to go.)
It's now approaching 9 AM and I've had two mugs of coffee (approximately four cups total) and I'm ready to either get really active or take a nap. The problem with either of those two options is...well, four cups of coffee. Can't get too far from the toilet. (Coffee's fluids, like beer, are only rented.) Can't get to sleep. (Decaf is for sissies. Black. Strong. Unadulterated. The only way to drink coffee.)
I went to bed early last night for no good reason other than there was nothing to watch on TV and I was bored with surfing the net and seeing much of the same-old same-old. I did a crossword, read a couple of chapters in a Jim Butcher novel (Academ's Fury...it's Book Two in the series) and turned off the light just shy of 10 PM. Then, damn it, I woke at 3 AM for no particular reason and just could not fall back to sleep.
At 4 AM, using his ECP (Exceptional Cat Perception), Chester started to yowl at the door so I gave up and got up, got dressed and headed down stairs. Fed the cats their breakfast (tuna!--maybe Chester read the can) and heated up a mug of coffee. Then the lights went out--literally--three times in half an hour. Power loss was just long enough to cause the electrical clocks on the microwave and stove to start blinking and require resetting each time.
Once everything got back to order, I built up the fire in the fireplace and restocked the wood supply next to the hearth. Then I settled down to look at the web. The problem with getting up so early is that there's no one else up and all the posts are from before you went to bed. Except for those folks out in Alaska who have just gone to sleep when you woke up at 4 AM EST.
Checked Rev. Paul's site and Brigid had a new post at her's all about Revenge. Then I went over to the Yukon Quest site to see what was going on.
Michelle Phillips scratched at Dawson City. A little over 400 miles into the race, she was down to just 8 dogs and had the toughest part of the trail yet to go. Once they leave the Yukon River at Circle City, things get, shall we say, bumpy--and very, very steep.
Hugh Neff is the current leader. He left Dawson City at 3:35 AM local time a good three-and-a-half hours ahead of Hans Gatt. (Dawson City is a 36 hour mandatory rest so it's pretty easy to see who is ahead of whom at this point. Still, lots of time left and distance to go.)
It's now approaching 9 AM and I've had two mugs of coffee (approximately four cups total) and I'm ready to either get really active or take a nap. The problem with either of those two options is...well, four cups of coffee. Can't get too far from the toilet. (Coffee's fluids, like beer, are only rented.) Can't get to sleep. (Decaf is for sissies. Black. Strong. Unadulterated. The only way to drink coffee.)
Tuesday, February 08, 2011
Shoveled! (Again)
It took 3+ hours and Terry's one hour of assistance to get the driveway cleared using nothing but shovels. With the drifting and the inch or so from the previous snow, perhaps I should/could have used the snow thrower for a large chunk of the drive, but then the wind would have been blowing much of the thrown snow back at me.
It is done, however, and there's nothing more than a few flurries on either the 10-day Weather.com or the 15-day Accuweather forecasts. We will be seeing some pretty cold nightly lows in the next few days. Zero and even negative digits are a possibility, if not at the Aerie, then certainly down in the valley.
It never got above 17 degrees while I worked, but I'm still soaked from the skin out from the workout I got.
******
Time to check in on the Yukon Quest again and see how Michelle Phillips is doing....
Apparently she's taking a rest a few miles short (currently at 352.6 miles into the race) of the Scroggie Creek Dog Drop (mile 354 on the route). She's been there for some time now. She was running as high as fourth, but this lay over has allowed many mushers to slip past her.
It is done, however, and there's nothing more than a few flurries on either the 10-day Weather.com or the 15-day Accuweather forecasts. We will be seeing some pretty cold nightly lows in the next few days. Zero and even negative digits are a possibility, if not at the Aerie, then certainly down in the valley.
It never got above 17 degrees while I worked, but I'm still soaked from the skin out from the workout I got.
******
Time to check in on the Yukon Quest again and see how Michelle Phillips is doing....
Apparently she's taking a rest a few miles short (currently at 352.6 miles into the race) of the Scroggie Creek Dog Drop (mile 354 on the route). She's been there for some time now. She was running as high as fourth, but this lay over has allowed many mushers to slip past her.
Saturday, February 05, 2011
Morning Report, February 5, 2011
Yesterday was indeed a carbon copy of Thursday. Bright sunshine and warm (36 degrees!). Thoroughly enjoyable. Except that the setting sun has moved far enough north on the horizon to shine in my eyes for the last hour of the day.
Today we were supposed to get 3-6 inches of snow, but it looks more like we will be getting sleet, freezing rain and rain during the day with a possibility of a little light snow after dark. It's that dreaded "wintery mix" that's no fun to be out in at all.
******
The birds (and squirrels) seem to know that foul (pun intended) weather is on the way. Dozens of common red polls have been flocking to the tray feeders, stick feeders, and the ground beneath the feeders searching for an easy meal. But they are only one of four or five avian gangs hitting the seed. There's the slightly smaller flock of goldfinches who are also looking for thistle seeds. The one or two dozen mourning doves intimidate the smaller birds on the ground. The roving band of a dozen or so blue jays will take no guff from anyone they choose to bully--or scare off with their screeching calls.
All of those birds act as cohesive units. Not so the juncos, chickadees, titmice, nuthatches or woodpeckers. Those are more loosely affiliated groups and sometimes resort to intra-species squabbling. The chickadees and nuthatches in particular are very individualistic. For them, it's much more every bird for itself as they swoop in, grab a seed and then swoop out to either devour the seed in the trees nearby or to cache it in the woods at some distance.
******
I've been running the fireplace the last couple of days and that's produced a real comfortable warmth in the house. The cats--or at least Shadow and Julie--certainly appreciate the warm air. One curls up on the love seat directly in the path of the warm air from the fireplace and the other stretches out on the carpet immediately in front of the hearth. Chester could care less. He curls up in his pet bed (the large one!) and stays there fast asleep all afternoon. Might be a warm spot in the floor's heating system--or it could just be he likes the fleece lining.
******
We're still waiting for the propane delivery we were told week ago last Thursday would be happening Any. Day. Now. We've got to be down to 20-25% in the tank by now. I'm going to hate looking at that bill!
******
While the Super Bowl is to be played tomorrow, there are several important sporting dates to remember:
The Yukon Quest starts today in Whitehorse.
Pitchers and catchers (at least the Mets' pitchers and catchers) report to Port St. Lucie on February 15--just 10 days away!
The Iditarod ("The Last Great Race on Earth") starts in Anchorage on Saturday, March 5, 2011.
Today we were supposed to get 3-6 inches of snow, but it looks more like we will be getting sleet, freezing rain and rain during the day with a possibility of a little light snow after dark. It's that dreaded "wintery mix" that's no fun to be out in at all.
******
The birds (and squirrels) seem to know that foul (pun intended) weather is on the way. Dozens of common red polls have been flocking to the tray feeders, stick feeders, and the ground beneath the feeders searching for an easy meal. But they are only one of four or five avian gangs hitting the seed. There's the slightly smaller flock of goldfinches who are also looking for thistle seeds. The one or two dozen mourning doves intimidate the smaller birds on the ground. The roving band of a dozen or so blue jays will take no guff from anyone they choose to bully--or scare off with their screeching calls.
All of those birds act as cohesive units. Not so the juncos, chickadees, titmice, nuthatches or woodpeckers. Those are more loosely affiliated groups and sometimes resort to intra-species squabbling. The chickadees and nuthatches in particular are very individualistic. For them, it's much more every bird for itself as they swoop in, grab a seed and then swoop out to either devour the seed in the trees nearby or to cache it in the woods at some distance.
******
I've been running the fireplace the last couple of days and that's produced a real comfortable warmth in the house. The cats--or at least Shadow and Julie--certainly appreciate the warm air. One curls up on the love seat directly in the path of the warm air from the fireplace and the other stretches out on the carpet immediately in front of the hearth. Chester could care less. He curls up in his pet bed (the large one!) and stays there fast asleep all afternoon. Might be a warm spot in the floor's heating system--or it could just be he likes the fleece lining.
******
We're still waiting for the propane delivery we were told week ago last Thursday would be happening Any. Day. Now. We've got to be down to 20-25% in the tank by now. I'm going to hate looking at that bill!
******
While the Super Bowl is to be played tomorrow, there are several important sporting dates to remember:
The Yukon Quest starts today in Whitehorse.
Pitchers and catchers (at least the Mets' pitchers and catchers) report to Port St. Lucie on February 15--just 10 days away!
The Iditarod ("The Last Great Race on Earth") starts in Anchorage on Saturday, March 5, 2011.
Thursday, February 03, 2011
Aerie Report, February 3, 2011
Glorious day here today. Sunshine, clear skies, temperature up to 30 degrees, no wind, and the sun didn't set until 5:30 PM, at which time there was a gorgeous rosy glow on the western horizon.... What's NOT to like?! After those clear skies help produce a low near 0 degrees tonight, tomorrow (Friday) will be a near carbon copy.
BUT (and there's always a "but") that ends very early Saturday morning--probably before dawn--when the next wave of snow hits from the southwest. Accu-hunch is saying 3-6 inches before it's over.
******
Speaking of Saturday...and snow....
The Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race starts Saturday in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory. It's a 1000 mile race like the Iditarod (which starts March 5th in Anchorage, AK). The Quest traverses the road we were unable to travel this summer due to the Top Of The World Highway being washed out. Racers will leave Whitehorse and head north through Braeburn, Carmacks, Pelly Crossing, Dawson City, Circle City, Eagle, Central, Mile 101, and Chena Hot Springs on their way to Fairbanks, Alaska. Next year, the route will be reversed and the race will start in Fairbanks, AK, as it did last year. (They alternate the route which is appropriate since it is along the old gold rush mail route which was not a one-way affair like the Iditarod's race for serum/medical supplies.)
Last year's winner, (heading from Fairbanks to Whitehorse) was Hans Gatt who made it in 9 days and 59 minutes. Lance Mackey finished second a little more than an hour later. A few weeks later, they would reverse that order as Mackey won the Iditarod in 8 days, 23 hours and 59 minutes with Gatt coming in second after 9 days, 1 hour and 4 minutes on the trail. It was Mackey's fourth consecutive (!) Iditarod victory to go with four Quest titles.
I certainly hope there's sufficient snow for both races. I'll be following the Quest at the web site linked above.
BUT (and there's always a "but") that ends very early Saturday morning--probably before dawn--when the next wave of snow hits from the southwest. Accu-hunch is saying 3-6 inches before it's over.
******
Speaking of Saturday...and snow....
The Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race starts Saturday in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory. It's a 1000 mile race like the Iditarod (which starts March 5th in Anchorage, AK). The Quest traverses the road we were unable to travel this summer due to the Top Of The World Highway being washed out. Racers will leave Whitehorse and head north through Braeburn, Carmacks, Pelly Crossing, Dawson City, Circle City, Eagle, Central, Mile 101, and Chena Hot Springs on their way to Fairbanks, Alaska. Next year, the route will be reversed and the race will start in Fairbanks, AK, as it did last year. (They alternate the route which is appropriate since it is along the old gold rush mail route which was not a one-way affair like the Iditarod's race for serum/medical supplies.)
Last year's winner, (heading from Fairbanks to Whitehorse) was Hans Gatt who made it in 9 days and 59 minutes. Lance Mackey finished second a little more than an hour later. A few weeks later, they would reverse that order as Mackey won the Iditarod in 8 days, 23 hours and 59 minutes with Gatt coming in second after 9 days, 1 hour and 4 minutes on the trail. It was Mackey's fourth consecutive (!) Iditarod victory to go with four Quest titles.
I certainly hope there's sufficient snow for both races. I'll be following the Quest at the web site linked above.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)