My Trip To the Grayling Checkpoint

I'm back from the Grayling adventure and what a trip. First the planes, you go from a 14 seater which is warm to a 5 seater which is freezing. And moves with the wind, but you fly low to the ground and can see everything. As we approached Grayling we flew over the trail and there was Ray Redington headed for the checkpoint. After you stop at the airport (it's a field, there's nothing there) I was whisked onto the back of a snowmobile and had a wild and wonderful ride through the woods, pass the checkpoint, through the small beautiful town to the house I was going to be staying at. Jan and Walt Tremer were there and told me about the night before when there were 17 people for dinner, mostly Iditarod folks. I was whisked back to the check point and saw Dee Dee leaving, spoke to Stu Nelson, the head vet, saw Martin Buser and Rick Swenson. Delivered my musher gram to Bruce Linton in person, met some of the vets, met Wade Marrs, John the comms, Molly the comms, many checkers and helpers in the checkpoint. Other dog teams were still around and I was told mushers were sleeping at the nearby school. I also met Michael Suprament and delivered the message from Maureen Morgan and took photos of him. He seemed just fine.

After being whisked back to where I was staying, which was about 1/2 mile from the checkpoint, I joined everyone for a wonderful dinner. Walt and Jan went back to the checkpoint to see Harry Alexie come through, I opted for some sleep at that point. The next day I spent all day at the checkpoint, which is really friendly. Served some people breakfast including Eric Rogers, and gave him the mushergram from wife Marti. Swept the place a bit and tried to clean up litter, as everyone else was quite busy doing their various jobs. Besides it was fun.

Eventually Rachel and Tim were due soon and I was standing on the road waiting to take photos of them both, next to another photographer. Didn't find out until later it was the famous Jeff Shultz. He had flown in, took some shots and flew away, I guess to the next checkpoint. Both Rachel and Tim looked great and their dogs seemed happy. I watched them bed the dogs down, feed them, the two teams next to each other On the side of the checkpoint, out of the wind, which was starting to pick up. Heard later about several teams that had left and had to turn back because the wind was so strong. Laura D. whom I saw some with all her dogs - was looking good. So I was surprised when I heard she scratched at Grayling.

The house I was staying in was amazing, owned by Shirley Clark, who is a force of nature. She is the mayor, partially runs the town store, rents out two rooms of her house and supplies great meals. She is a good cook and baker. Whipped up cinnamon rolls in front of my eyes and then took the left over meat and potatoes and vegtables from last night's dinner, and made pot pies from them with biscout dough on top. Yummy!!!!

Shirely makes fur hats, slippers, headbands, gloves, she can do anything. My innersoles were ripped and in two seconds, new felt soles were put inside my boots. A great place to stay. While we were settling down after dinner to watch TV, the phone rang and it was the woman pilot of the ultralight plane, whi couldn't leave because the wind had picked up and it was too cold. It's an OPEN plane! Anyhow, a snowmobile was sent to the airport to pick her up, she tied down the plane as best she could and moved into the house. Walt and Jan had left that morning so their room was free. Turned out she was Vicky Talbot from Palmer who had run the race in 2000 and was flying all the checkpoints on her way to Nome.

The morning I left it was bitterly cold (-20) and the wind was really blowing. The small plane was really cold and I couldn't feel my toes and hands by the time we got to Aniac. However the next plane, the 14 seater, was warm and I thawed out on the way to Anchorage. Got in at 1:30 PM and managed to drop my backpack at my hotel and get to the phone room on time to do the 2 to 6 PM shift.

I worked again early this morning and shall do more work today, in sales and computers. So much fun!

Hate to leave tomorrow and return to Los Angeles.
So glad I got to visit a checkpoint like Grayling.

About the Author
A highly experienced consultant for television and films, June Shelley recently served as Head of Sales & Marketing for RKO Pictures. She has negotiated worldwide sales of completed films and television projects from the RKO library. Shelley, who debuted as a child actress, has had a lengthy and colorful background across the entire scope of the entertainment industry.