The "Dog Lot" in Wasilla

We used the back of one of Uncle Chuck's service stations to "hold" the dogs while waiting for the race start.

Denali Training Run

Ed and Andrew took the dogs up to Denali National Park for a pre-race training run. Their run was cut short by too much moose traffic on the trail.

Badger and Rat

Break time after the training run.

Spare sleds get shipped to McGrath

Just in case the mushers destroy a sled on the trail, a spare is sent into McGrath.

Iditarod Banquet

All mushers had to sign over 100 pieces of Iditarod memoribilia from fans.

The Nature's Kennel Mushers and Handling Crew

Here's to the best dressed handling crew at the 2005 Start!!

Ceremonial Start

Ed and the team prepare for the downtown Anchorage start.

Micro-chip Check

Each dog is micro-chipped at the vet check, and then correctly identified before the race start.

Andrew's Team at the Ceremonial Start

BBQ at the Wasilla Re-Start

Uncle Darc Stielstra and Andrew's Mom (Paula Rossi) were in charge of the Nature's Kennel Grill.

Fans Arrive at the Wasilla Re-Start

More and more race fans...

Ed's Team heads to the starting chute

Ed's Off!

Thumbs Up to the Crowd

Andrew's ready to go!

Kodiak Island

While Ed and Andrew hustled down the trail, Tasha headed to Kodiak Island to do some school programs and some hiking.

Dropped Dogs

Once the dogs get dropped from the race, they got flown back to Anchorage and picked up by Tasha. Here are Pie, Lewis, and Luke playing at Hatcher Pass. Being a dropped dog isn't so bad afterall!

Nome Sweet Nome!

The race course was wet and warm this year, and as you can see, the snow was melting in Nome too!

The Alaska Airlines Igloo

The dogs and sled all got flown from Nome back to Anchorage in "Igloos" on the Alaska Airlines Cargo Plane

They've Returned!

Play Time

Everyone deserved some time to mess around the dog yard in Wasilla while waiting for Ed and Andrew to return.