IDITAROD WEEK: 3rd Annual Bering Sea Brew Festival

I'm not much of a beer drinker.  But give me an opportunity to celebrate the Iditarod, Alaskan-style, and I'm game.​  This under-the-radar event, the Bering Sea Brew Fest, takes place way out on the frozen Bering Sea.  I can't imagine a more Alaskan location to day drink and hobnob with other eager Iditarod fans.

Fest-goers congregated near an under-the-ice mining tent.

Standing west of Nome, with the frozen solid Bering Sea in the background.​

We were greeted with warm smiles and raised glasses.​

A bundled up Kevin Burton, head brewer at Anchorage's Glacier Brewhouse, poured us some beers.  Talented fella!

Raspberry wheat from Glacier Brewhouse.  Yummo!​

Autographing the brewfest banner.​

​Semi-frozen raspberry wheat beer.  The key is to drink fast before it freezes!

Iditarod Musher James Volek at the Finish Line

​I first met James Volek in the summer of 2012 in downtown Juneau.  He caught my eye because he was wearing a snazzy suit and loafers, and I thought to myself, "What is this jewelry salesman doing in a rogue place like the Viking Bar?"  I had to know more. 

C: "So... what do you do for a living?"

J: "I pick up dog poop."​

C: "Pardon?"​

J: "I pick up poop and mush dogs on the glacier."​

​This was intriguing to me.  I had just returned from an epic dog sled tour with Sebastian Schnuelle's Blue Kennels.  I was obsessed with the dog mushing sport, having served four months earlier as an official Iditarod volunteer in Nome.  Not only did I have Iditarod Fever; it was in my blood.

The topic of "Iditarod" naturally came up in our bar room conversation.  James - in his humble yet assured way - said, "Yeah, I'll be in it next year."  I was in awe.  It's not every day you randomly meet a brilliant athlete from a sport of which you are so fond.  I didn't quite believe this suit-clad fella when he admitted he would be an Iditarod contender.  I doubted James' statement until he showed me the two tattered Post-It notes in his wallet, each scribbled with the names of Iditarod checkpoints and the number of miles in between. Then it occurred to me: this Dude is the real deal.

When I saw those Post-It notes, I just knew.  One day, Mountain Man James would finish the Last Great Race on Earth.  And his long-awaited and much deserved moment came when he crossed the Iditarod Finish Line in Nome in the wee-hours of March 17, 2013.  I was so blessed to see my friend's ambitious goal come to fruition.  Congrats, James!  We are all so proud of you!

All smiles.​

James and his legit fur ruff.​

Signing the Final Checkers Report, making the finish official.​

James with his very proud Mom and Aunt.

James with his mentor, four-time Iditarod champion, Martin Buser.

This, folks, is how you properly welcome a friend across the finish line!  I pulled out the St. Pauli Girl dress and topped it off, Alaska-style, with ermine earrings.  

The Awesome Aliy Zirkle - 2013 Iditarod Second Place Finisher!

Aliy Zirkle is my favorite.  She's genuine, upbeat, and sweet as pie.  She's got a huge grin that lights up the Iditarod trail.  And she's one heckuva musher.  Aliy came across the Iditarod finish line less than one hour after Mitch Seavey, and I was right there to see it firsthand.  Delightful! 

With Aliy at the post-race Musher Signing in Nome.​  What an awesome athlete!