Bethel’s first sled-dog race of the season kicked off this past weekend. The race was put on by the Bethel Sprint Club.
On Saturday afternoon, dozens of dogs waited anxiously, and not at all quietly, for their chance to run in Bethel’s first race of the year. Some excited dogs attempted Houdini-like escapes from harnesses by jumping into the air.
At the starting line, Sammy Jackson II of Akiak is staring upriver, following the trail to the horizon with his eyes. This race is a time trial, so mushers go one at a time and Jackson II is the first one up.
“I’m kinda nervous. My first race since '96 and I’m kinda nervous," Jackson II said.
Jackson II, his father, and his brothers all mush dogs, but Jackson II stepped in because none of them were free for today’s race.
The time keeper counts down: “6..5..4..3..2..1!” Jackson II pulls away to the sound of metal sliding on hard packed snow.
Though Jackson II hasn’t raced in 20 years, he glides quickly from the start and is almost out of sight by the time the next musher takes his mark.
The race takes place over the course of two days. Teams run the course twice, and their final score is their combined time.
The course is relatively short. Teams run upriver from Bethel to the mouth of the Gweek, circle an island, and sprint back. The total distance is about 14 miles.
On Sunday, the second day of the race, the sky is cloudless and the air is still - perfect conditions.
The mushers line up again, and set off even faster than the day before. Because it’s a time trial, there is no big finish. No one even knows they’ve won until everyone has crossed the finish line and the times are tallied.
When the times are added up, Greg Larson of Napaskiak is the winner, completing the course in 2:25:10. He sits in his truck with his family, calm and smiling.
“Took good care of the dogs and they just take care of me," Larson said.
For the past few years mushers have been dealing with warm snowless winters, but Larson says not this time.
“Definitely better than last year. Last year it was really tough on the dogs, their feet, but this year is way better than last year," Larson said.
Second place went to Larson’s brother Robert, and third to Jim George from Akiachak.
As for Sammy Jackson II from Akiak, not only did he finish the race, but he came in tenth. Not bad for a musher that took a two decade break.