Unalakleet — 7 below zero here this morning. I was happy to have a nice early breakfast with my friends the Ekenweilers. As usual, they loaned me their snowmachine and I went out before the sunrise and throughout the sun rising to shoot some nice stuff I think. I am SO grateful for their generosity, because without it, I could not get the shots I get. Sure was chilly though. After 30 above, and to 7 below, I had my big parka on to keep warm. It’s always more of an ordeal to shoot with all that gear, but seeing the results makes it work. More than once I was saying, “what am I doing here” as my hands were getting to the point of not feeling. It’s warming up now and hope to move down the trail later on.

Bob Bundtzen boots his dogs at dawn as he prepares to leave the Unalakleet checkpoint on Monday March 11, 2013.
Iditarod Sled Dog Race 2013
Photo by Jeff Schultz copyright 2013 DO NOT REPRODUCE WITHOUT PERMISSION