Iditarod 2011! ROOTIN FOR NEWTON!!!!

[Nanook]

Re: Iditarod 2011! ROOTIN FOR NEWTON!!!!

Newton is resting in Takonta (mile 309) with 12 dogs. He is taking either a 8 or 24 hour mandatory layover, and he is in 32nd place of 56. Six mushers have scratched so far. Rick Swenson, who has won the race several times is out there with a broken collar bone but he decided to keep going! That's one tough man there, because you cannot go along forever with one hand.

Earlier in the day Newton was in 25th place, but with the mandatory rest times for everyone, things change fast. Actually, the race for the lead has been really fun to watch, with the big names duking it out as always and a few others sneaking in under the radar suddenly in front.

Lance is also in Takonta with 12 dogs on his 24 hour layover, in 6th place. At least he declared his 24 hour there, but he also said he wasn't sure if he would stay in the actual camp for all of the 24 hours or not. Lance is not about to give away any secrets! His back and forth rivalry with Martin Buser for lead has been upset, with Buser in 5th place at the moment. Buser still has 15 dogs so things are looking good for him still. Lance is still optimistic and says he has overcome more woes than he has had so far this year and still won.

It's all quite entertaining..

More updates and things of course, on the JDT Facebook page..

HERE

[Nanook]

Re: Iditarod 2011! ROOTIN FOR NEWTON!!!!

It is worth mentioning that Newton helped out Martin Buser on the trail, and this is a great story!

<span style="font-style: italic"> TANGLED DOGS</span>

A case of runaway dogs cost four-time champion Martin Buser at least half an hour, as Rainy Pass officials refused to check him in until he recovered the rest of his team.

Jamaican musher Newton Marshall said he was on the right side of the trail between Finger Lake and Rainy Pass, when Buser's team surged beside him.

&quot;I pulled over just to let him pass, and I guess he had a dog in heat or something, and so they went on to my team,&quot; Marshall said.

Buser told Swenson that the dogs tangled and he was forced to turn some of the team loose to unwrap the teams.

Some male dogs in Buser's team chased the female in heat down the trail, Marshall said.

Marshall, who was mentored last year by Mackey and is running his second Iditarod, said he caught the runaway female and placed her on his sled. But he tipped and rolled in the winding, downhill turns leading into Rainy Pass.

Read more: http://www.adn.com/2011/03/07/174223...#ixzz1G9uwlS31

This is just an excerpt from a page of very crazy stories that happened to some of the big names so far in the race. The trail sounds especially brutal this year, though so far the weather has not been.


rest of the story

[MsExced]

Re: Iditarod 2011! ROOTIN FOR NEWTON!!!!

Thanks for the article Nanook, so can he continue on? Some of the comments thinks so, some not sure.

Great sportsmanship Newton

[Nanook]

Re: Iditarod 2011! ROOTIN FOR NEWTON!!!!

Yes, good on Newton for helping Martin Buser with his runaway dogs! As far as I know, it is Ok for the mushers to help each other in this kind of situation, so Newton should not be penalized. I have seen a few trail escapades in the past, and I have never seen another musher turn his or her back on another in need on the trail.

[MsExced]

Re: Iditarod 2011! ROOTIN FOR NEWTON!!!!

<span style="font-weight: bold">Sorry Nanook I meant to ask if Martin can continue</span>



<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Nanook</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Yes, good on Newton for helping Martin Buser with his runaway dogs! As far as I know, it is Ok for the mushers to help each other in this kind of situation, so Newton should not be penalized. I have seen a few trail escapades in the past, and I have never seen another musher turn his or her back on another in need on the trail. </div></div>

[Nanook]

Re: Iditarod 2011! ROOTIN FOR NEWTON!!!!

Oops! Yes Ms. Exced, since the dogs were recovered and safe, Martin is good to go. I did notice that after this event, Martin dropped one dog and is down to 15.

[SistahD]

Re: Iditarod 2011! ROOTIN FOR NEWTON!!!!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Nanook</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Yes, good on Newton for helping Martin Buser with his runaway dogs! As far as I know, it is Ok for the mushers to help each other in this kind of situation, so Newton should not be penalized. I have seen a few trail escapades in the past, and I have never seen another musher turn his or her back on another in need on the trail. </div></div>


Actually, from what I have been reading, there is a sportsmanship award... Newton may qualify for this one!

[Nanook]

Re: Iditarod 2011! Trials and Tribulations



I knew something was wrong the past couple of days, the checkpoint times were telling a tale that something had to be wrong....and we could only sit and pray he was OK,and that his team was OK...


Newton &amp; his team are fine, the Insider video I just saw in the end he was smiling and laughing, but he has had some very rough times..

About 3 to 4 hours before the town of Iditarod, (It was -25°F below zero), he reached a spot where his dogs did not want to go.

While he was trying to help the dogs go forward, Newton stepped into deep water and got soaked. Snow on top of the water made it impossible for him to know there was water underneath, and as soon as he found himself soaking wet, his team dragged him a ways.

Three to four hours later, Newton finally reached the town of Iditarod checkpoint &amp; everyone was helping him try to get his boots off but his laces were frozen to his boots and it took about 10 more painful burning cold minutes before they could remove his boots.

He had a FUNNY AS HELL story to tell, I wish you could hear him tell it. Maybe this will end up on youtube, &amp; if it does I will post a link. Anyway, Newton has fallen asleep on the trail (there are a LOT of stories of mushers falling to sleep on the trail!), and has woken up finding himself ski poling along to help the dogs go faster/easier.

At one point he woke up and saw people waving, so he was waving back, and the people ended up to be &quot;a family of four spruce trees!&quot;

I'm just glad you are OK Newton. I was definitely worried about you for I KNEW something was wrong yesterday. I hope your feet are OK!

I will come back and post any more pertinent updates in a bit, I have hardly been around a computer in days and I have a lot of catching up to do tonight!

At the moment Newton is in Anvik with 11 dogs, resting. Rest well Newton! You are halfway there!

[Nanook]

Trials and Tribulations, Newton is out...

I am so sorry to report that Newton has scratched. He said his dogs are not doing well, and some were sick.

The soaking he took in below zero temps and then continuing on for 3 to 4 hours, was I am sure not only painful but excruciatingly so. Having suffered mild frostbite myself, I am betting Newton is in a lot of pain right now. His pain is added to by the pressure to continue then finally have to give up for the well being of his dogs.

Bless you Newton. You gave it your all, and you did great. It doesn't always work, no matter how hard you try.

I hope Newton is OK and didn't push himself too hard and that the dogs are soon better.

There has been some kennel cough spreading on the trail, I read in earlier reports and on youtube.

[SandiF]

Re: Trials and Tribulations, Newton is out...

Tell Newton that we are all very proud of him. I will stay in the chilly above sub-zero temps here and cheer him and his faithful dogs on.

I know what mild frostbite feels like... Very very very very very very very very very excruciatingly painful.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Nanook</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I am so sorry to report that Newton has scratched. He said his dogs are not doing well, and some were sick.

The soaking he took in below zero temps and then continuing on for 3 to 4 hours, was I am sure not only painful but excruciatingly so. Having suffered mild frostbite myself, I am betting Newton is in a lot of pain right now. His pain is added to by the pressure to continue then finally have to give up for the well being of his dogs.

Bless you Newton. You gave it your all, and you did great. It doesn't always work, no matter how hard you try.

I hope Newton is OK and didn't push himself too hard and that the dogs are soon better.

There has been some kennel cough spreading on the trail, I read in earlier reports and on youtube. </div></div>

[Gen]

Re: Trials and Tribulations, Newton is out...

frost bite


Next time bredrin

[Nanook]

Re: Trials and Tribulations, Newton is out...

I have not heard reports of frostbite for certain, but I don't see how you can take a soaking in below zero weather, and have to continue on for some hours before you can reach to where you can get help and NOT have frostbite of some sort. That had to suck having to wait for 10 minutes for people to be able to thaw his boots enough to loosen his laces!

But you know? Newton still continued on from there...to the next checkpoint. I know that would have been it for me at the soaking point!

The dogs well being is number one, great job. I am sure the decision to scratch was the most difficult of his life. Just from watching him for the past few years, it has to have been.

[Nanook]

Re: Trials and Tribulations, Newton is out...

Now that I have some free time, I'm off looking for pics of Newton in the race. I found this on facebook a little bit ago..

[Nanook]

Re: Trials and Tribulations, Newton is out...

[Nanook]

Re: Trials and Tribulations, Newton is out...