Our Iditarod Itinerary

Alaska Iditarod Itinerary for Tonya and Marty Wessman

Sunday – 24^{th –} Leave for Pasco at 5:30 a.m. Fly to Seattle at 7:45 a.m., flight 2101, Alaska Airlines, depart at 10:10, flight 87, arriving in Anchorage at 12:43 p.m. Pick up car. Check in to Clarion Suites Anchorage (1-907-274-1000)

Monday – 25^{th -} Possible choices for today – visit Alaska Heritage Museum (301 W. Northern Lights Blvd. (265-2834), find and photograph the Tom Thumb School (my mom used to teach there), Anchorage downtown walking tour, road trip to Whittier. This last option is the best if we have good weather.

Tuesday – 26^{th -} 7:30-8:00 a.m. Conference Registration, 8:15-12:00, 12:00 Lunch on our own, 1:00-2:30 – meetings, 3:00 – visit the Van Zyle kennel and art gallery, 7:00 -8:00 – museum visit.

Wednesday – 27^th- 7:15 – Leave for Group field trip – Iditarod Headquarters Vet Check with mushers and their dogs. Visit Martin Buser’s Kennel, listen to Martin talk about his experiences. Return around 5:00 (lunch will be provided).

Thursday – 28^{th -} 8:00 Conference Sessions – Technology Integration, Thematic Instruction: Iditarod, Teacher on the Trail, Author Presentations – Beverly Stevens, Lisa Fredrick. 12:00 Lunch on our own, 1:15 – Speaker – Behind the Scenes – A Race Volunteer’s Story, 2:30 – Character Education and the Iditarod, 3:30 – Classroom Applications , 5:30 - Wells Fargo Mushers’ Banquet Sullivan Sports Arena, Anchorage

Friday – 29^{th -} 7:45 – Conference Sessions – Putting it all in your sled, Tips and Tools for an Educator’s Journey, 9:00 – Special Speaker David Monson, Susan Butcher’s husband presents a tribute to his wife. 10:00 – Training Session for Dog Handler’s Certificate, 11:30-1:00 Lunch and Author Book Signing. 1:00 Speaker Libby Riddles, author and first woman to win the Iditarod, 2:30 – Speaker Dr. Stuart Nelson – Iditarod’s Chief Veterinarian – slide show presentation of first-hand experiences, 3:30 – Wrap-up session for teachers.

Sabbath – 1^{st -} Possible choices today - 10:00 Ceremonial start – 4^th Ave/D Street, 11:00 church at SDA church on 10^t Ave., visit Bobby’s grave (Tonya’s brother), hiking in Westchester Lagoon or Kinkaid Park for wildlife viewing

Sunday – 2^{nd -} Leave by 11:00 for Willow. (2 hr. drive) Restart begins at 2:00. We will be volunteering as dog handlers. There are over 100 mushers, so we are told that volunteers will each help with several teams.

Monday – 3^{rd -} Leave Anchorage at 7:00 a.m., flight 94, arrive in Seattle at 11:16 a.m., depart at 12:40, flight 2100, arriving in Pasco at 1:35 p.m.

More to do – Sign up for Northern Lights wake-up call, attend Fur Rondy events