Anxiously waiting for the dogs and mushers at mile 67 of the Iditarod trail the kids kept warm by the fires. Just south of Skwentna the lead teams came through strong. A bright flash while capturing some detail completely fails to capture the experience.
The overcast sky darkens and the forest becomes a blackened mass.
Even the bright white snow turns to darkness.
A series of pale white lights appears in the distance. Moving slowly they align one after another.
The lights grow stronger and closer while shadowy figures emerge.
The silence of the cold is broken by the sounds of breathing, panting, feet trampling snow and runners across the frozen river.
A cloud of frozen breath engulfs the scene. And the dogs sneak a peek at the the kids watching them pass.
Excitement builds as the mushers and dogs race by. The tiny booties snug on canine feet.
A blur of action amid an entrancing light.
Fur, muscle, power, speed and will.
A single minded obsession – a team bent on together making first place.
A blinding flash disrupts the focus. The scene is exposed for a moment. The racers endure a series of brain piercing bolts that only the trail can heal.
Off to victory or oblivion. The silence of darkness. The loneliness of night. Refreshing.
About Mike Baker
