Nearly 80 teams are still on the trail as we roll through Day 12 of racing in the 2008 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.  In the early morning hours today, we saw the first and second place finishers cross beneath the burled arch, and soon will see the third place team of Ramey Smyth on Front Street.  I expect to see Paul around noon today. But due to the tight pack he is bound into, it remains to be seen if he will hold his current 8th place standing, or have the capacity to edge out teams ahead of him. 

The weather in NOME is favorable at this hour, with light snow and temperatures hovering around 10 degrees. I have not heard reports out of WHITE MOUNTAIN, but wind can always be a factor on the section of trail that Paul is currently traveling on.  Upon departing the checkpoint, the trail follows the Fish River and winds up into the Topcock Mountains.  Although he was running in the dark with just his headlight to illuminate the way, the scenery around WHITE MOUNTAIN is really gorgeous.  There is big timber that gradually gives way to stunted spruce and willow type brush.  Moose frequent the area, and their tracks make erractic paths through the deep snow, as do the fox and wolves of the area. As the trail climbs, it is almost like the landscape crosses an invisible line, and almost suddenly, the dense forest evaporates, and only the occasional hardy little spruce tree can be seen struggling against the nearly-constant breeze on the tops of the mountains.  From the air, the area has an almost lunar landscape.  The Topcock Hills themselves are rounded mountains that appear as a series of interconnected bubbles.  It is what is found on the tops of the mountains that I find an interesting geogological study.  There are huge square and rectangle shaped stones - boulders really - that appear as though the hands of God gathered them up and just scattered them randomly on the higher elevations of the mountains.  Against the round mountains, these parallolagram shapes are a stark contrast.

It is one long descent that takes the trail off the Topcock Mountains, through an area notorious for howling winds that the mushers simply refer to as "the blow hole".  It has been a few years since high winds have racheted the teams on this section, and I am hopeful that this trend does not turn as Paul makes this run today.  Heading towards the final checkpoint before the finish line, SAFETY, it will be approximately a 3-hour run on the last leg of their journey coming into NOME.  Unless significant weather or some other factor impacts their travel, it is unlikely that teams will stop for any period of time in SAFETY. Paul actually won the award for posting the fastest travel time between this checkpoint and the finish line one year.  Since there are mere minutes separating him with the teams immediately around him in the standings, I can bet that Paul will not lollygag.

Since my last update, I did see that Paul had dropped one more dog from the team.  I can gamble on guessing that it may have been the big black dog named Hag. Or perhaps it was the young male, Lieutenant, who is the youngest member of the team and carries blood rich in the genetics of Paul's late leader, Governor. I can be certain that throughout the miles of trail, Paul has been missing the speed that this great leader brought to his leadership role.  But even in the absence of Governor, I think it is safe to speculate that if Paul were to pinpoint the single element that changed the outcome of this race for Paul, it would boil down to one bad run.  I was talking to a family member of one of the other front runners, and they had commented that this competitor had said a person could barely take time to sneeze and their position would be canabalized.  Once he had missed the mark, Paul recognized that his window of opportunity to claim victory in the 2008 Iditarod had evaporated.  By regrouping, and adjusting his strategy, I feel he has done a good job of bringing the team to the finish line.  It would have been easy to call it quits and fly home.  But quitting is not what Paul is about.  If he can use the challenges of this race towards good, I know that he will.  To be approaching the finish line with yet another Top Ten finish on his horizon is something we can all celebrate.  I won't deny that seeing a different team crossing the finish line first was an opportunity for me to indulge in a little self pity, but then I considered how hard each musher in this race has worked to get to this point, and bottom line is only one team can win.

As a culture, we place such a tremendous emphasis on the winning - but true victory is quite often more complex.  Overcoming personal challenges, putting selfishness to bed and reaching deep into the well of an individual's fortitude are all cause for celebration.  How Paul perceives his accomplishments... I expect a degree of disappointment.  He was so prepared to win this year, it was almost a hunger that eminated from him.  But the reports I am hearing off the trail is that Paul is approaching the finish line with an upbeat attitude.  I think he will share in my respect for Lance Mackey's second win, recognizing his cagey hard-earned finish that once again brought an exciting element to the fans of this great event.  I will be very interested to hear Paul's tails of the trail, and am eagerly awaiting his arrival.

I will close this update as the vast white expanse of the frozen Bering Sea in front of NOME, and the remaining miles of trail for Paul, slowly emerge from the cloak of darkness.  By the time we say our prayers and lay our heads down to find sleep at the close of the day, Paul's 2008 Iditarod will be done. It has truly been a journey of extremes as my emotions ran the gaumut from celebratory to fear to selfishness to frustration.  In the end, I think it is pride that prevails.  I appreciate your patience with me in posting these updates, and thank you for sharing yoru many thoughtful words with me and for your unfailing support of Paul and our team.   

Until later - Life is a journey, enjoy the ride! Evy