Whew ... I'm finally done with the Iditarod pictures

[Blue_In_AK]

If you want to check them out, the set from the ceremonial start in Anchorage and the real start in Willow the next day are here:

http://northernvisions.smugmug.com/Sports/Iditarod-XVIII-The-Beginning/11717464_vh6ED#826841474_fX4kF

The ones from the finish in Nome are here:

http://northernvisions.smugmug.com/Sports/Iditarod-XVIII-The-End/11719486_WK7V6#827011089_umjUc


There are kind of a lot of them, but I didn't want to leave anyone out -- as if any of them would even know or care :rofl: -- but with 71 mushers and three separate events, the photos add up.

[NV Whino]

1. Great photos as always

There seems to be many more women this year. Or is that my imagination?

[Blue_In_AK]

2. If I'm counting right from last year's gallery,

there were 13 women who started and 8 who finished, so just a couple less.

There were several "new girls" this year, though, who hadn't raced before. I think it's time for another Susan Butcher. http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/but0bio-1 We used to say back in the '80s, "Alaska, where men are men and women win the Iditarod." :)

[Celebration]

3. great job

I am still looking at them. Wow! I still have more to go through. Nice refresshing change after the hot weather here. I hope you get a ton of orders for your photos.

[Blue_In_AK]

4. I apologize for there being so many,

but, believe me, these are a fraction of the photos I took. :)

[Celebration]

5. I believe that

Also it is a big secret to success. Snap, snap, snap, especially with candids like this. Delete is very easy. I finally learned this.

[CC]

6. I almost missed this.

Off to look and forward. I look forward to your Iditarod pictures every year and so do people on my email list. No such thing as too many.

[Blue_In_AK]

7. Oh, thanks, CC

I'm trying to get them out there. I had big bumps for a few days and then it kind of dropped off, so anything you can do to spread them around. It was a lot of work putting these together with the captions and all, and I don't want to think it was wasted effort, all in vain.

[CC]

8. The look great.

And sent them off. Let me know if you do get some spikes. Some tell me they looked (like my mom) others don't say.

[mth44sc]

9. I'm depressed no end

I haven't seen where Versus or The Discovery Channel or anyone else is or has done anything with this years race. So double thanks for these wonderful images!

[Blue_In_AK]

10. Thanks, mth44sc.

I don't think anyone did a special on this for 2010. Word is that the ITC lost a lot of money on the TV shows. The economics all around were tough this year. For some reason, Cabela's has dropped out as a sponsor, and it got so bad that Jeff King even donated $50,000 toward the purse...hoping he would win it back, no doubt. :) The ITC officials took a pay cut, and you probably noticed that the winning check was down from last year's $69,000 to $50,000.

Anyway, I'm glad I could give you your Iditarod fix. It really is a great race, and it's a shame that they're having so many financial problems. Hopefully, the situation will improve in coming years.

[Tindalos]

11. These are wonderful

I only had time for a quick peek tonight, but I'll definitely be back for another view or three. Great stuff.


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[Blue_In_AK]

12. Thanks, Tindalos

I had a lot of fun this year. Next year, I will miss NO ONE. I have the system down now. :)

Particularly Gerry Willomitzer -- I missed his finish last year, too. I couldn't believe I missed him again this year. If I have to stay up all night, I'll catch him coming into Nome in 2011.