The Don Bowers Memorial Sled Dog Race is a tribute to a long-time musher who spent years taking teams up and down the wilds north of Willow and Talkeetna. A field of 14 sled dog teams hit the trail this past weekend to celebrate dog-powered adventures on snow.

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14 sled dog teams left Willow today, starting at noon, and set out on a race across rivers, frozen wetlands, and forests of a frozen January landscape. The Don Bowers Memorial Sled Dog Race is a tribute to a long-time musher who spent years taking teams up and down the wilds north of Willow and Talkeetna, and this weekend’s race continues to celebrate dog-powered adventures on snow.

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Jennifer Probert competing in the 10 Dog Class

The two-days of dog-sled races at the Montana Creek Dogmusher’s Association’s Su-Valley Championships were cut a day short after high winds obliterated the trail on Saturday morning. Trail groomers worked around the clock to get the trail back in shape to race on Sunday, and all competitors were able to get one last day of racing in to close the Montana Creek season.

With temperatures around zero degrees for most of the day, the temperatures were just right for a sprint race. Kim Wells from Anchorage took first place in both the 4dog and 6dog class, while Rebecca Knight snatched first place from Becky Voris by a mere 1second.

10dog class saw Dori Hollingsworth take first place over Egil Ellis, and Salcha sprinter Arleigh Reynolds finished in front, winning the open class by 1minute and 51seconds over Nathan Sterling who took 2^nd  and then Egil Ellis took 3^rd.

Arleigh Reynolds says the Su valley Championships are the first step towards ending up where he wants to be in a season with two big races coming up in February: the Exxon Mobile Open, and the Fur Rendezvous.

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Montana Creek Mushing Championships were held on Saturday and Sunday, and for the Alaska Sprint-race circuit, it was an early test for teams and drivers. Well-known mushers were checking their teams’ early season form over two-days of racing, and there were some big names up front.

Egil Ellis overcame a 21-second deficit to snatch first place from Alreigh Reynolds, on Sunday. Bill Kornmueller took third place ahead of Nathan Sterling and Greg Selentin. Ellis says the recent snows and soft trail made for an exciting race. (more…)

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Past Iditarod musher Mark Wildermuth gives us the seventh of the daily Iditarod updates that he will provide throughout the course of the 2011 Iditarod Sled Dog Race. This coverage originally aired on KTNA, Talkeetna on Sunday, March 13th at 6:25pm. You can tune in weekday evenings at 6:25 to listen to the Iditarod Report live via radio or by streaming here on ktna.org.

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Past Iditarod musher Mark Wildermuth gives us the sixth of the daily Iditarod updates that he will provide throughout the course of the 2011 Iditarod Sled Dog Race. Today’s Iditarod Report was recorded at 6:30pm A.S.T. on Saturday, March 12th. KTNA does not air a news broadcast on Saturdays, therefore there was no on air Iditarod Report today. The Iditarod Report will return to its on-air slot on Sunday night. You can tune in weekday evenings at 6:25 to listen to the Iditarod Report live via radio or by streaming here on ktna.org.

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Past Iditarod musher Mark Wildermuth gives us the fifth of the daily Iditarod updates that he will provide throughout the course of the 2011 Iditarod Sled Dog Race. This coverage originally aired on KTNA, Talkeetna on Friday, March 11th at 6:25pm. You can tune in weekday evenings at 6:25 to listen to the Iditarod Report live via radio or by streaming here on ktna.org.

There will be an Iditarod Report for Saturday, March 12th here on ktna.org.

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KTNA’s Mornng News, Weather, and Announcements for January 27, hosted by Will Peterson.  Local Headlines:  Local Reaction to Military Expansion Plans, DOT reconsiders Parks Project, Ellis wins Su-Valley Sprint Championship.  (16 min)

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The week before Christmas a small dog team was found on the railroad tracks by the Talkeetna Spur Road, making for a heartbreaking Christmas tale.   The 5 dogs were found in a tangle and were malnourished, but seemed well trained.

A KTNA listener heard the plight of the 3 adult dogs and 2 puppies and said he would take them under his roof. (more…)