CAMP DENALI, Alaska, - Two Alaska Army National Guardsmen will compete in the 2010 Alaska National Guard Iron Dog, the world's longest and toughest snowmobile race, beginning today.
Warrant Officer Rick Fleming, and Staff Sgt. Elaine Jackson will represent the Guard on the trail from Big Lake to Nome in the trail class portion of the race.
"Our goal is to be the first trail class team to reach Nome and for Jackson to be the first woman to reach Nome since 2001," said Fleming.
In 2007, Fleming reached Nome first with a different teammate and hopes to succeed again. He has competed in the Iron Dog two times and has 10 years of riding experience.
This will be the first time Jackson has competed, but don't count her out for lack of experience in the Iron Dog.
"I grew up riding snowmachines and dirt bikes," said Jackson. "I took a break while serving on active duty in the Army, mainly because I was stationed in warmer locations, but got back into it when I moved to Alaska in 2002 and joined the Guard in 2007."
Even with her experience, Jackson credits her partner for helping her become a better rider and mechanic.
"Mr. Fleming has been a great mentor for me," said Jackson. "His extensive knowledge on trail conditions, general mechanics and past Iron Dog experiences has really helped me improve my skills."
Fleming and Jackson, who have been riding together for two years, have more than 900 miles and countless hours on snowmachines this season preparing for the 2010 Iron Dog, which is going to follow the historic Iditarod trail.
Their event, the Iron Dog's trail class, begins Feb. 19 in Big Lake, Alaska. The highly contested Iron Dog pro class, begins two days later on Feb. 21 and follows the same route to Nome but continues on and finishes in downtown Fairbanks on Feb. 27.
Each team includes two racers, two snowmachines and requires teamwork while traveling across 2,000 miles of Alaska's most rugged terrain.
With Fleming's prior experience and knowledge, he'll be the "lead dog," riding in the lead position with Jackson following, but not too closely.
"Jackson will need to run back a little bit to stay out of the snow dust cloud," said Fleming. "You also never know what hazards might be out there, so it's a good idea to keep your distance, but not too far back.
Every couple minutes I'm looking over my shoulder to make sure she's still there."
It's smart not to follow too close because speeds can reach 100-miles an hour, and riders have to watch out for moose, sleddog teams, and be aware of flat light and low visibility conditions, he said.
"When we go across lakes in perfect conditions, we're moving pretty fast, but safety is still the ultimate concern," Fleming said. "Alaska can be an unforgiving place, so we need to make sure we're watching out for one another out here."
All riders are required to carry specific survival gear, wear proper protective equipment and have their snowmachines checked prior to the competition. There are also checkpoints along the trail, which travels through 25 communities, where riders get gas, snacks or stay the night.
"Some parts of the trail can be pretty miserable, but it's great to represent the Guard while riding a snowmachine in the last frontier," said Fleming.
The Alaska National Guard is the lead sponsor for the 2010 Iron Dog. It became a presenting partner last October to support a uniquely Alaska event and bolster the Alaska National Guard throughout Alaska and the nation.