Copper Basin: Musher Meeting-Contributed by Susie

Just an update for all who may be interested. Hans and Newton are in Glen Allen eating dinner right now, the night before the Copper Basin 300. It's -48F there. The musher meeting was this afternoon and guess who drew bib #1? ... Newton! He pulled the number out of the hat at the front of the room, looked at it and said, "Oh shit." Before he even said what number he pulled the whole room was laughing, including him. Hans said it was really funny. Anyway, obviously they are hoping for better weather tommorrow. It's kind of bad when you are HOPING for nothing colder than 40 below. Hans has his brand new Northern Outfitter clothes on, he was hand sewing the ruff on the night before he left. (Yes, I offered but was not allowed to touch it!) Hans and Newton are talking with Sebastian Schnuelle, Lance Mackey and a bunch of other hard core mushers about the race. There are 35 sign ups and almost all are very accomplished and experienced mushers. Hans said people are interested in Newton because he's a relative newcomer, but mainly because he is a Jamaican in "interior" Alaska, in January, at minus 48, ready to run what is arguably the toughest 300 mile dog sled race in the world. (NOBODY in their right mind goes to interior Alaska in January! They don't call it, 'The interior of' Alaska, it's just 'interior Alaska' or 'the interior', and the direct translation is: COLD!) I could hear lots of voices in the background while I was talking to Newton and Hans. Lots of buzz. I told Newton not to go out there and kill himself. If it gets too bad, tell somebody. Newton said, "I'm going to finish this race.", and sounded very serious and calm about it. Hans got back on the phone and was laughing saying he can't wait to see Newton take off across the lake tommorrow in the ice fog at -40, first guy out, nobody to follow. He says he can't wait to see the look on Newton's face. Nice guy, eh? Hans is bib 4, only 8 minutes behind Newton by the way. That's it for now, Susie