Eric's 2007 race update:
Eric's calling from Unalakleet on his scratch at Don's Cabin audio

They are off & Running - Mar 2007
Mushers have happily left the big town of Anchorage behind and are now enjoying trail time with the dogs. The 35th running of the Iditarod, The Last Great Race has begun. Eric is bib number21 this year. He says "I am looking forward to this" with a smile " I know more about my dogs and myself as I head out there this year, and we plan to just have fun".


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Welcome our newest sponsor
The Grueninger Travel Group

I can smell a vet

No clue that a vet is lurking	I'll be good...I feel fine : )
No lady, you don't ride on my back, I pull sleds!	Help me Eric, I'm being "woman handled"
My back itches too...	Thumpy thumpy thump thupm....
" I really hate going to see doctors"	been there, done that, ho hum!

2007 CORPORATE SPONSORS - What can I do to help you promote your business or product as an Iditarod musher? Millions of eyes are on Alaska during the month of March catching Iditarod race news several times a day. The coverage is extensive. Some examples of sponsorship are: Advertising your product through TV commercials or magazine ads, wearing your company logo on clothing & on vechicle, promote your business at news interviews and public events, autograph & speak at your event or business. Participation and rates are all negotiable. Call me and let’s talk about the possibilities.
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FUNDRAISER PLANNED

MEET ERIC ROGERS

Dale and Trish Keefe are holding a fund raiser for Eric Rogers on Saturday August 26th from noon to 4 PM. An all you can eat BBQ for $10 donation. Eric will be there with some of his trusty Iditarod sled dogs.
DIRECTIONS:
Located in Eagle River, go up Eagle River road 5.2 miles past WalMart, turn right onto Denaina Dr at the end of the road (T intersection) turn right onto Bendilent Cir. They are at the end of the road at 25680 Bendilent Cir. There is an American Flag in the front yard.


NOTHING VENTURED, NOTHING GAINED....What is it about signing up for Iditarod that draws other interesting events like a magnet? Last year one week after I signed up for my rookie race I lost my job. This year just before I signed up for my first race as a veteran (is that really me?) Marti found out that she was losing her job. If this trend continues, next year even the dogs will be unemployed ;-). Remember the old saw “we have been doing so much with so little for so long that we are now qualified to do anything with nothing.” Well nothing ventured, nothing gained, so here we go.
Click here for the full story

• 2006 Iditarod Trail Photos from Eric Rogers - Click Here
• 2006 Iditarod photos by Marti Rogers - Click Here

FOLLOW ERICS' DAILY UPDATES:
Now that Eric is back from the trail he is sharing his thoughts along the trail with wonderful detailed notes! Click Here
A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO
Bob and Connie Hendershot for their wonderful hospitality while we were in Nome.

INTO NOME!!!!!
Time In: Tue, March 21, 2006 04:17:50
Dogs In: 8 Finishing Time: 15 Days 14 Hours 17 Minutes 50 Seconds

OUT OF WHITE MOUNTAIN TO SAFETY - 55 MILES
This can be one of the most dangerous stretches on the trail when the wind blows or a storm hits. It can make or break travelers. Mushers have nearly died within what would normally be a few hours' easy running to Nome. In reasonable weather, this is a pleasant five- to eight-hour run; in the worst conditions, it can be impassable.

SAFETY ROADHOUSE

ELIM TO GOLOVIN TO WHITE MOUNTAIN:      
(Trail description from Don Bowers)
This is one of the more interesting legs on the race, with quite a variety of trail and terrain in a very short distance. Moreover, there is always a possibility of two extremely different routes for the first ten miles. Whichever route is taken, the race follows the main snowmachine "highway" from Elim to Golovin and it is usually well marked and packed.

The trail usually heads back out onto the sea ice from Elim and runs a mile or two offshore to a cabin at Walla Walla, on the coast eight miles south of Elim. In some years, when there is open water just offshore, the trail may stay hard up against the cliffbound shore on the fast ice (sea ice that is "fast" to the shore) or may even go overland on the old Elim Mail Trail.

Plan on three to four hours for this leg. If the weather is bad, the trip over the mountain can be a long, hard one because it is almost all above timberline and exposed to the wind. The trail over Little McKinley can range from icy and windswept to soft and punchy.

THEN GOLOVIN TO WHITE MOUNTAIN:
This is normally a yawner (unless the wind is blowing or it's snowing). The trail follows the main snowmachine route, running straight as an arrow for ten miles across Golovnin Lagoon, then winding gently around (with some gentle ups and downs) to cross the delta of the Fish River. The last few miles are on the river. There is sometimes overflow on the lagoon or river. Plan on two hours for the trip, perhaps three if the wind is blowing. Eric will do a mandantory 8 hour layover here. Then off to Safety!!!

KOYUK TO ELIM 48 miles
(Trail description from Don Bowers)
This leg always seems longer than it is. Plan on five to seven hours, more if the wind is blowing. The trail follows the main snowmachine trail to Elim and is usually well marked. However, the wind can blow hard in the Moses Point area and the trail can drift over very quickly. From Koyuk, the trail runs southwest just offshore on the sea ice for about 12 miles and then cuts inland to the west across the wooded peninsula behind Bald Head, a prominent cape.
Ten miles later the trail crosses the mouth of the Kwik River, makes a three mile overland run along the dune line, and then jumps two miles across Kwiniuk Inlet to Moses Point. It then runs along a narrow spit and across some tidelands for about 11 miles to the old Moses Point FAA station, now abandoned. From there, the trail usually follows a nine-mile unplowed state highway up and over the heavily forested bluffs and down into Elim. An alternate route has been followed in the past along the sea ice for the last 25 miles from Moses Point to Elim (this was the 1999 race route).

ON THE SEA ICE NEAR KOYUK

SHAKTOOLIK TO KOYUK
(Approx 50 Miles)
This stretch is a bit boring. There is not so much as a shrub on this stretch until you reach the outskirts of Koyuk. Most of of the trail crosses over the sea ice of Norton Bay. Today's weather -
Increasing clouds. Snow showers. Blowing snow through the day with poor visibilities at times. Snow accumulation up to 1 inch. Highs 10 to 15. East winds 25 to 30 mph. Gusts to 55 mph. This is about a 6-7 hour trip.
   

UNALAKLEET TO SHAKTOOLIK (38 Miles)
The Yukon River is behind Eric now. The trail from Unalakleet to Shaktoolik is about 38 miles. About a six hour run, but the wind predicted this evening and throughout tommrow may slow Eric down. The trail turns inland from the beach and then into the "Blueberry Hills" a thousand foot climb. Then drops back down towards the beach. Crossing sloughs and dunes until Shaktoolik.

MARCH 16 AUDIO INTERVIEW FROM UNALAKLEET Report
PART 1 (MP3) - Click Here
PART 2 (MP3) - Click Here

MARCH 12 AUDIO INTERVIEW FROM RUBY
PART 1 (MP3) - Click Here
PART 2 (MP3) - Click Here
PART 3 (MP3 - 3.40 MB) - Click Here

MARCH 10 AUDIO INTERVIEW FROM McGRATH - Click Here


UPDATE 9 MARCH 2006: Eric says he is tired and sore - he played bumper cars with the trees coming down the Happy River steps. He said he was looking forward to a meal and shower and a nap, probably in that order. Eric says "I am not stressed at all - and I'm having a great time, it is a wonderful experience". He has dropped one dog, "Belle", not because anything was wrong with her, she just wasn't pulling.

I've learned to be patient
by June Price
A smile crosses Eric Rogers face as he prepares to tell me about one of his favorite dogs. “They are all favorites, of course,” he says, “but let me talk about a dog that isn’t here now.” Thus begins the story of how a shy dog became a beloved leader.

PRE RACE AUDIO INTERVIEW WITH ERIC

FOR CURRENT RACE STANDINGS

Don Bowers 300 Audio: (MP3)
Listen to Eric as he describes the trail, the weather and the team as he races in the Don Bowers 300.

2006 Don Bowers 300 Race stats: Click Here
Eric placed 2nd in the Don Bowers 300 mile race with a time of 02 days:18 hours:24minutes.

Training Updates every week - Click here

Eric at the start of the Knik 200 photo by June Price

Fall training means lot's of puddle jumping

ERIC ROGERS

Let's consider the basic training run - I get off work at 5pm, home by 6, dogs loaded, hauled to the trail, unloaded, harnessed, and ready to run by 8pm. Back to the truck at midnight - dogs fed and back in their dog houses by 2am. And get up at 6 am to do it again! So why do I do it?

In the first case I had a six dog team when my leader quit. I went through every dog but one in the team looking for help. Every fall I asked each dog if they would like to lead, and every fall for three years my wheel dog said he just couldn't do it. And every fall I said OK, I still love you because you are a great wheel dog. Well this time he was the only dog left, and I needed help. So I asked him pretty please would he run lead just this once - he looked at me with his big blue eyes and said 'Sure'. And he did! Not only did he run lead, but he did it with authority and set such a pace the rest of the team was begging for mercy. He went on to become one of my best leaders. I was so proud I almost cried.

Or this spring with my puppy team. I had an 11 month old lead prospect running dual with my 9 yr old command leader in a five dog team. Within 200 yards the pup had flat run the legs off the old leader - and 2 mile of trail left - now what? I asked this 11 month pup if she could run lead by herself. She looked at me, looked down and said "the trail goes that way, doesn't it?" I said "Yup" and we were off. I couldn't have been more proud if one of my kids cured cancer.

Or you take that midnight run, tired and all, and the moon comes out. The dogs are running like a fine Swiss watch. Maybe the Northern Lights are shining bright and all you hear is the padding of the dog’s feet and the swish of the runners. You can almost hear Scotty Allan calling up Baldy of Nome to win the sweepstakes. At times like this you wonder just a little what the mere mortals who aren't out tonight are doing. In the words of Gary Paulsen, for just a little while you are part of the team - you have become dog.

That's what it is all about. Being part of the team - part of the history - part of the greatness that is sharing your life and you dreams with dogs.

Eric