"The Last Great Race"
finished in a time of 10:16:21:01 in 22nd
making Hugh the Rookie of the Year. We are so
proud - well done!
found at www.iditarod.com, and daily
race updates can also be found at
www.cabelasiditarod.com
YukonQuests as well as numerous mid-distance events. We've trained with and competed against some of the greatest
dogmen ever. Without their dogs and shared knowledge we never would never have had a chance.
In the end it really doesn't matter if you're a place or two higher in the standings if your team doesn't come across that
line with Good Attitude. That's what my #1 goal for the Iditarod will be. Having them come in as happy as the day the
event unfolded. Being a dog musher is a Gift I've been given from the Great Almighty, travelling through Alaska's
Greatland is the True Treasure that this Trail entails. It's a gift that I hope some of you are wise enough to come on up
and enjoy some day. After all who said that a slice of Heaven isn't already on this earth?
Autumn and Sky presented Hugh Neff with his Rookie of
the Year award for being the first rookie to reach Nome this
year.
| Position In/Out |
Check Point |
Time In |
Time out |
Distance from last CP (miles) |
Speed (mph) |
Dogs leaving |
|
| 76 |
Willow |
07 12:30 |
16 |
||||
| 67/39 |
Yentna |
07 15:56 |
07 16:02 |
39 |
13.10 |
3:26 |
16 |
| 19 |
Skwentna |
07 19:14 |
07 19:30 |
34 |
10.62 |
3:12 |
16 |
| 26/14 |
Finger Lake |
08 05:53 |
08 06:16 |
45 |
9.2 |
10:23 |
16 |
| 14 |
Rainy Pass |
08 09:37 |
08 15:11 |
30 |
8.53 |
3:31 |
15 |
| 9/17 |
Rohn |
08 20:14 |
08 20:39 |
48 |
9.50 |
5:03 |
14 |
| 15/17 15/17 |
Nikolai |
09 11:14 |
09 17:35 |
80 |
6.37 |
14.35 |
14 |
| 12 |
McGrath |
09 23:27 |
09 23:28 |
48 |
8.18 |
5:52 |
13 |
| 16/20 |
Takotna |
10 2:46 |
11 3:08 |
18 |
6.96 |
3:18 |
13 |
| 15 |
Ophir |
11 5:51 |
11 6:03 |
25 |
13.98 |
2:43 |
12 |
| 12 |
Cripple |
11 22:27 |
11 22:39 |
60 |
3.65 |
16:24 |
12 |
| 15 |
Ruby |
12 13:41 |
12 21:41 |
112 |
7.45 |
15:02 |
11 |
| 17 |
Galena |
13 5:29 |
13 11:40 |
52 |
6.66 |
7:48 |
10 |
| 15/19 |
Nulato |
13 19:55 |
14 2:20 |
52 |
6.30 |
8:15 |
10 |
| 14 |
Kaltag |
14 7:07 |
14 7:25 |
42 |
8.78 |
4:47 |
10 |
| 17 |
Unalakleet |
15 1:49 |
15 7:44 |
90 |
4.89 |
18:24 |
9 |
| 18 |
Shaktoolik |
15 14:37 |
15 19:29 |
40 |
5.81 |
6:53 |
8 |
| 19 |
Koyuk |
16 4:05 |
16 9:30 |
58 |
6.74 |
8:36 |
8 |
| 20 |
Elim |
16 16:21 |
16 20:35 |
48 |
7.00 |
6:51 |
7 |
| 20 |
White Mtn |
17 4:40 |
17 12:40 |
36 |
5.69 |
8:05 |
7 |
| 22 |
Safety |
17 22:38 |
17 23:04 |
55 |
5.51 |
9:58 |
7 |
| 22 |
Nome |
18 2:21 |
22 |
6.70 |
3:17 |
7 |
So I've just returned from the start line in Willow. Before the race Hugh and the dogs were happy,
well rested and fed, and he felt well prepared to embark on his 1,049 mile journey to Nome. He
was trying to temper the enthusiasm he felt about how well his dogs have been running as of late
with some reality and was trying to concentrate on making their last few rest days happy. His plan
at the start of the race was to try to keep up with Tim Osmar's team (he's finished 18 Iditarods)
and to follow a 6 hour run rest schedule which he appears to have been doing. It's really difficult
to determine positions in the first half of the race as everyone is on different schedules and the
difference in starting times is not accounted for until mushers take their 24 hour layover. Since
early Monday Hugh appears to be running in the top 15 and has been the leading rookie. The
challenging Alaska Range is now behind them and they are heading into flatter terrain and high
winds. This is where Hugh's dogs were bred to shine. A large portion of Hugh's dogs are of sprint
mushing origin so they run faster on the flats than the more husky type dogs which are good in the
mountains, but we'll just have to wait and see, anything can happen and often does. Hugh arrived
at Takotna at 2:46 this morning. It looks like he's taking his 24 hour layover now so don't be
concerned if it appears he's dropping down the standings board, its just some mushers will take
their's further down the trail. Takotna is the last warm building for about 200 miles of desolate
trail until the teams reach the Yukon River and the villages of Ruby and Galena. Temperatures for
the first few days of the race have been between minus 25 and 35 with winds of 35 to 40 miles an
hour.
Be sure to check out the Iditarod page - I've just added some photos from the musher's meeting,
Anchorage start and Willow restart, and the Dawgs page - I've tried to get more photos of the team
up. I'll add more photos as I get them.
March 11
Hugh and the dawgs have completed their mandatory 24 hour layover and have left Takotna and
blown through Ophir in 15th place, just grabbing some supplies for a likely stop on the way to
Cripple. Just found out from Kathy Doran about the status of Hugh's dropped dogs. Lulu and
Suarez were dropped at Rainy Pass and Rohn. J.R. at the Pioneer Lodge in Willow was gracious
enough to pick them up and look after them. Both appeared well, just a bit cold and tired.
Malaki was dropped in Takotna and Uncus was dropped in Ophir. Kathy Doran picked them up
today and with the help of Devon Williams will be looking after these and any future dropped
dogs. Malaki was dropped due to fatigue and Uncus has some sore feet and a foot infection. Both
are eating well and trying to catch up on some well deserved rest.
An update about Lance Mackey's dog Wolf who died yesterday on the trail to Nikolai. An exam
found that the cause of death was a result of gastric reflux and subsequent inhalation or aspiration
of stomach contents. We hope Lance is doing ok - our thoughts are with him.
March 12
Hugh and the dogs have arrived in Ruby and appear to be taking their mandatory 8 hour rest on
the Yukon River. They're currently sitting in 14th position! Having come through the rolling hills
and wet snow from Takotna the dogs should enjoy the Yukon River. Temperatures are still on the
warm side making travelling during the heat of the day difficult. Hugh will pick up a new sled in
Galena - a light weight sprint sled which should help the pooches out a bit. Tim Osmar has just
left Ruby with 9 dogs - lets see if Hugh can catch him again.
March 13
Hugh arrived in Galena early this morning and rested here for about six hours before leaving with
their sights set on Nulato. Seems like he's doing well at sticking to his run-rest schedule and
concentrating on his own dogs without getting caught up with what the other teams are doing.
He's down to 10 dogs but hopefully they're 10 happy, healthy ones. Just found out that Colby was
the dog dropped at Ruby due to a sore front shoulder.
March 14
Hugh and the LEK dogs left Nulato at 2:20 this morning after a good six hour break there. Make
sure to read the article on Hugh in the Anchorage Daily News today. Their website is
www.adn.com/iditarod or check out a copy of it on our website here. It's a great article and gives
some insight into Hugh and life on the trail. The latest update has Hugh arriving at Kaltag at 7:07
this morning and leaving shortly after in 14th position for the first checkpoint on the coast
(Unalakleet).
March 16
And they're on their way home! Hugh and the team arrived in Koyuk early this morning which
marked the end of the sea ice travel across the Norton Sound. After a five hour nap they were
again on the trail toward the Eskimo village of Elim, arriving at 4:21pm and leaving again four
hours later. They're now headed to White Mountain where there will be a mandatory eight hour
layover before the last push to Nome. Just found out that it was Makaj who was dropped at Galena
and Mertyle was dropped at Unalakleet. Congratulations to Mitch Seavey - the winner of the 2004
Iditarod!
March 18
Hello followers of the Hugh Neff and Laughing Eyes Kennel Iditarod saga. Thought I'd wait until
I'd heard from Hugh before I wrote an update. Hugh got into Nome at 2:21am Alaska time in 22nd
position and was able to hold on to the Rookie of Year title. Hugh and the Iditarod dogs are doing
well and trying to catch up on ten days of missed sleep. For those following the internet updates
yesterday you know that the White Mountain to Safety stretch was one of the most difficult for
Hugh and the team. High winds picked up yesterday afternoon causing drifting snow and made
the long hills an even greater challenge. Hugh became the lead dog on these uphill climbs in order
to convince the team to continue. Finally into Safety, they took a half hour break before
continuing on the trail to Nome. Hugh came down Front Street, had some photos taken, gave an
interview, looked after the dogs and then crashed hard in his bed. He had just woken up today at
2pm and his plan was to eat for the first time in 48 hours, and then sleep some more. He will try
to find a computer tomorrow to start reading some of his e-mails and he will also provide some
information on his Iditarod experiences soon.
The 7 Laughing Eyes Kennel dogs to cross the finish line in Nome were: June-Mari, Shyela,
Piccalo, Mahoosic, Gracie, Maestro, and Mojo.
From the Roxy Report at ramybrooks.com on March 19, 2004:
"Hugh Neff was the top placing rookie this year. Hugh arrived in Nome in 22nd position
at 2:21:01 on the 18th , for a time of 10 days, 16 hours, 21 minutes and 1 second. That
would have been faster than the winning time up until 1993, when Jeff King was 10
days, 15 hours, 38 minutes and 15 seconds. The pace and the top competition has
greatly accelerated during the past ten years!
Though a rookie to the Iditarod, 36 year old Hugh was not a novice to long distance
racing, having competed in the Yukon Quest for the past four years."