by northwapiti » Sat Mar 22, 2008 3:21 pm
Cool questions Heidi.
Don't know if I can pick one checkpoint though - let me give a few and my reasons for them.
Best location - Rohn. Rohn is really I imagined an Iditarod checkpoint to be before I ran my first Iditarod. A great, secluded, little cabin in a beautiful location. Dog teams are parked nestled in the trees. The little cabin is always warm and cozy. Jasper and Terry (the checkers) always have water on the stove, a place for you to dry your gear, and are happy to heat up meals for mushers - just don't put your hat or gloves on the table.
Most hospitible - Takotna. Just no denying it - Takotna is in a league of it's own for looking after mushers. Huge amounts of great food, hot water for the dogs, flushing toilets, showers, and a community that makes mushers feel like the most important people on the planet. I can't imagine 24'ing anywhere else.
Best Northern Lights viewing - Ruby. A beautiful spot up on a hillside which the northern lights seems to love to dance around. The display this year was amoung the best I've EVER seen in my life.
Best Stop for Sleeping - Galena. Galena offers sleeping matts, blankets and pillows for the mushers. Sweet!!!
Most Improved - Nulato. Nulato used to be a 'not great' checkpoint, but this year they had great parking for dog teams, hot water for the dogs, matts and cots for mushers to sleep on, flushing toilets, showers, a great room for drying gear, and weather and trail reports! They really deserved the 'Golden Clipboard' award this year.
Best 'checkpoint' that isn't a 'checkpoint' - Old Woman Cabin. Another beautiful location, a great cabin, lots of split wood, good parking for the dogs, and great history. A truly cool place to camp. Just don't forget to leave some candy along the trail for the old woman. That will ensure safe passage along the portage!!
The five things I think every checkpoint should have -
1. A warm place to sleep
2. Somewhere to dry out wet clothing
3. A quiet place to sleep
4. Hot water for the dogs
5. TANG!!
Karen