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« Mackey’s Team hit by Snowmachine into Nome

AAS Update

We’re at a spot in the race right now where everyone can take a deep breath! The next musher isn’t expected to reach Nome for another 14 hours or so, and because of a storm front that is in right now most teams are being advised to stay where they are for the time being. Aaron Burmeister was the last musher to arrive so far, and whenever Aaron gets in from the Iditarod the people of Nome always come out to welcome the home-town musher…..AAS was no different.

Burmeister was welcomed by a healthy crowd in Nome, and when asked how the trail was Burmeister replied “Well…it was there!”. All of the mushers arriving into town have been greeted by All Alaska Sweepstakes Queen, Janice Doherty and the members of the queen’s court. In total over $40,000 was raised by the queen’s contest and will be distributed among the top 9 finishers.

The big story of today was the news of Lance Mackey’s collision last night outside of Safety and Cape Nome. We’ve received an update on his dog Zorro who was in the sled bag, and was taken to Anchorage to be treated.

This is the latest coming out of the crew in Anchorage:

The big injuries are 3 broken ribs, and possible damage to Zorro’s spinal cord. At this point Zorro can’t feel his back legs, but can feel his front paws. Doctors aren’t sure if this is due to a spinal injury which could be permanent, or feeling could come back if it was due to spinal swelling. As horrific as these injuries are, they don’t appear to be life threatening… he is being hydrated with IVs at this time.

Finally, many of you are probably reading this on alaskasweepstakesblog.com, and may have never stumbled upon my blog before. I do this same thing during each Iditarod over on my permanent site iditablog.com. If you haven’t done so already, please add me as a bookmark for next year. As I’ve told a few friends, if I’m going to devote so much of my time during these races to writing about and covering them, I might as well have people read it! I appreciate all the new readers who have found me over the last few days.

I’ll be in Nome for a few more days, and will try and keep the information flowing on this historic race as the final mushers make their way to the finish line.

(Aaron Burmeister poses at the finish line with first his trail support team, then the AAS Queen, and Katie Schobert the queen contestant who raised Aaron’s purse, and finally a young fan greets one of Aaron’s dogs in his sled bag)

Posted by admin on Saturday, March 29th, 2008 at 10:20 pm.

20 Responses to “AAS Update”

Glad to hear that Zorro will most likely make it. It’s a shame that these things happen and maybe something can be done for the future so it doesn’t happen again. Hope old Zorro will be fine. Any news on witch other dogs were injured?
Thanks Josh. I’ve only heard about it this morning.

Left by Joel on March 30th, 2008

This type of incident is getting to be an issue that I hope gets resolved with intellect vs. emotion.
The fact that people use the snow machine for transportation should make it no different than driving under the influence. As an offender I believe there is a reason for the law and if you break it you must pay the consequences. (I have learned my lesson)
I pray that Lance and his team will recover from this incident and that we celebrate the great accomplishments of all of the participants and volunteers of this event.
I would also like to thank Josh for the chance to be a small part of the race as a fan from Iowa.
Great job and
Keep on Mushing

Left by Kelly M. on March 30th, 2008

Thoughts and prayers going out to Lance, his family, his team, and most of all Zorro.

What a horror!

What about setting up a fund so fans like myself can contribute to Zorro’s medical bills?

Left by Susan Hall on March 30th, 2008

Hi Josh,
I so appreciate your blog. Without it us fans would be so in the dark, especially regarding this race that is traveling in such remote locations. I love dog mushing, and just returned back to Reno, NV from my stay in Nome for the Iditarod. What a blast! Anyway, so sorry to hear about Lance’s dog and the snow machine incident. Something has really got to be done to prevent these types of tragedys. Anyway, please continue to keep us posted. I will definitely bookmark you for future coverage. Take care in your travels and reporting.
Teru

Left by Teru Langsdale on March 30th, 2008

There’s still 5 mushers on the trail; I hope you won’t go before they get in! I have LOVED your blog; it is one of only 2 places to get real info. While you’re there, can you tell us any more abouot the 5 still out there? Who are they when not on the trail, that sort of thing :-)

Left by jane eagle on March 30th, 2008

Josh,
A spinal cord injury may be life threatening to a dog, if Zorro never walks again, if his paralysis means he is is wheelchair bound the rest of his life. That he cannot move his lower half or control his bladder and bowel ever again. This would not be quality of life for a sled sog like Zorro.
This is very, very serious and sobering.

Left by Dianne on March 30th, 2008

I would suggest they adopt a system called “zorro’s Rules” 1) Respect every race to give the mushers right of way on any given race. 2)The road house and all bars liquor,promote safe driving,and pin a copy on the wall of this rule,the BARTENDERS should verbally remind their customers to keep the musher trail open specifically for these purposes,and remind the customers when a mushers is pulling through that area.3) make a chute in a special area of these road houses with reflected willows,and let those people whom are given community service do this(judgements from the court).(add on to this)Give a copy to the abc. board,TAM Card operations,and who-ever is responsible from the state of alaska side for these renewable BAR and LIQUOR liscenses.if so let the legislature adopt these special rules.

Left by marlene moto-karl at deering alaska/45 minute sno-go trail to candle from here. on March 30th, 2008

Thank you so much for your coverage of the All Alaska Sweepstakes. It really helps to get some bits of story along with the raw data from the standings chart.

I will certainly be checking in on your Iditarod blog next year.

My children and I have been following the Iditarod online for nine years now. We have a huge map of Alaska that my husband painted for us on an artist’s canvas. We make up a pin with a paper flag, bearinig the mushers name and bib number, for every team. Using the internet standings chart, we update the map a couple of times every day moving the pins as the teams progress. It gives us a real feel for how spread out the race is, the pacing of various teams, and the races within the race. It’s just lots of fun and helps connect the kids to our Alaskan history even though we moved outside when our eldest was too young to remember.

This year we started early and followed first the Yukon Quest, then the Iditarod and now the AAS. Your help with the AAS has been invaluable.

I hope Nome will continue to host a race of this class even if it isn’t the sweepstakes every year. If you’ll cover it, we’ll follow it.

Blessings to everyone involved!

Left by Josie on March 30th, 2008

i would suggest you bring this up during your mushers banquet april 1st,because theres 1 more big race,at kotzebue coming up,caleed the Kobuk 440.

Left by marlene moto-karl at deering alaska/45 minute sno-go trail to candle from here. on March 30th, 2008

CALLED the Kobuk440

Left by marlene moto-karl at deering alaska/45 minute sno-go trail to candle from here. on March 30th, 2008

The City and State makes lots of money in the end from these kinda big gatherings,from their local taxes from any business liscense during these Special gatherings.

Left by marlene moto-karl at deering alaska/45 minute sno-go trail to candle from here. on March 30th, 2008

Marlene…I agree with you, Zorro’s rules are a great idea (lets hope and pray he is the last dog to be injured in such an accident)…I just left a lengthy comment on the last story/blog…I’ll say it again, more reflective clothing for the team is a must, harnesses, etc…while costly, it seems it would be a precautionary measure that might help.(reflective willows is a GREAT idea!!) We must all realize these encounters are man-made, and can be avoided….rules need to be put into place so it is clear…then those who are in the race area, know there are consequences, a flat monetary fee (to the race committee), then established fees for loss of dogs/gear, etc… All the race committees need to collaborate on these rules so it is very clear for all. I was thinking the footage the discovery channel just shot of Mackeys Team during the Iditarod is priceless, to Lance(and family), and to all of us, “arm chair mushers” who love this sport…

Left by JuliL on March 30th, 2008

Josh,
A spinal cord injury may be life threatening to a dog, if Zorro never walks again, if his paralysis means he is wheelchair bound the rest of his life. That he cannot move his lower half or control his bladder and bowel ever again. This would not be quality of life for a sled dog like Zorro.
This is very, very serious and sobering.

Left by Dianne on March 30th, 2008

I’m certain that this incident should be in the ALASKA STATE TROOPERS hands,for investigation,starting with any witnesses at the road house,they should know who has left there around that time,because the police have jurisdiction within the city limits,knowing our respectful law enforcement,i’m sure they’ll eventually find out soon what happened.

Left by Marlene moto-Karl at deering Alaska/45 minute snogo trail to candle from here. on March 30th, 2008

I left a reply on the other web site. I just read that Mackey is not going to press charges or release the identity of the snowmachiners for they were remorseful and he didn’t want futher condemnation of the men from the public. God love you.

Wow, all i can say is he truly is a better person than i am.
Just wondering, what if one of Mackeys dogs maled and mamed one of those drivers. Would they say O.K they didn’t mean to or would they say “Boy, he just won all that money from the Iditarod and he’s going to pay.

The Zorro Rule is an acceptional suggestion, and how fitting to make the race safer in the future. I don’t live in Alaska so i don’t have a voice, so I hope someone will take the Zorro Rule and make it happen.

Left by Lower 48 on March 31st, 2008

Dianne you are so right.

i work in the medical community and this will be a very serious problem if Zorro is unable to walk again.

i have heard of dogs with hemi-paresis that have been fitted with a wheeled apparatus that support the hind legs. Zorro is not a young dog and adapting to this might not be easy. But I am getting too far ahead in this and just pray he will be able to walk again.

Left by Lower 48 on March 31st, 2008

I too was appalled by the snowmobile accident with Mackey’s team. . . but I have to wonder a couple of things: why didn’t Lance with 5 injured dogs return to Safety and get help, why didn’t he ask the snowmobilers to go back and get help rather than mushing another 18 miles into Nome with traumatized dogs; why didn’t he immediately have all of his dogs, especially Zorro, checked out when he got to Nome given the high speed nature of the impact?

Left by mc on April 1st, 2008

Just found up dates on Zorro, on the Seattle Times, and Seattle PI web sites…thought some of you would like to know!!

Left by JuliL on April 1st, 2008

If there are different color reflectors,can let the mushers use multiple colorsor, create reflectors like the alaska state troopers safety bear reflectors,on our way to candle,i told my husband”watch out for that sno-go ahead”here they were just trail stake reflectors.also several years ago kotzebue people gave us an australian shepard pup,it got runned over by a sno-machine,people suspect it might be hopeless to keep it cause it was uable to get up and walk,my husband nursed him back himself,we also called a vet in nome for advise,our poor”taku”died several years later,while giving her 1st birth,i suspect it was from her old wounds,but now we fortunate enough to have vetenairy fly in to kotzebue every several months.also am very happy to hear that ZORRO is stablizing,we “LOVE YOU ZORRO,”and all the mushing communities,”May God richley bless you all”.

Left by Marlene moto-Karl at deering Alaska/45 minute snogo trail to candle from here. on April 1st, 2008

If there are different color reflectors,can let the mushers use multiple colors or, create reflectors like the alaska state troopers safety bear reflectors,on our way to candle,i told my husband”watch out for that sno-go ahead”here they were just trail stake reflectors.also several years ago kotzebue people gave us an australian shepard pup,it got runned over by a sno-machine,people suspect it might be hopeless to keep it cause it was uable to get up and walk,my husband nursed him back himself,we also called a vet in nome for advise,our poor”taku”died several years later,while giving her 1st birth,i suspect it was from her old wounds,but now we fortunate enough to have vetenairy fly in to kotzebue every several months.also am very happy to hear that ZORRO is stablizing,we “LOVE YOU ZORRO,”and all the mushing communities,”May God richley bless you all”.

Left by Marlene moto-Karl at deering Alaska/45 minute snogo trail to candle from here. on April 1st, 2008

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