Alcan Kennels is proud of the Team 2005 musher Gregg Hickman!

Gregg at the Start in Anchorage	Gregg giving the "thumbs up" leaving Willow
Gregg leaving Finger Lake	Gregg between Takotna and Ophir at dawn
Gregg just outside of Unalakleet

The Iditarod is a tough and grueling race to begin with, but adding the bad trail conditions and warm weather this year, it made for a different kind of race for the Mushers on the trail. Gregg had done an incredible job with the Alcan Kids, and his knowledge of the team members as individuals has helped him to create a powerful and strong team that works as well together as they do for their Musher. Gregg is a great Musher for many reasons, a few of which are his superb canine care practices, his ability to remain calm in adverse situations, as well as his incredible sense of humor which never seems to falter. In his telephone call to fellow Alcan member Jim, he spoke of MoVaughn... a canine that has more energy than a stick of TNT. Gregg told of MoVaughn pulling the entire team for over 100 miles... because he was trying his hardest to catch Orca, a beautiful pointer cross that had come into season and was in front of MoVaughn. Gregg did not want to drop him, but he felt so sorry for MoVaughn that he felt it best. The little guy had just overdone things. Further up the trail, in Unalakleet, Orca decided that it was time to get married, and she and Sackett had their nuptials on Norton Sound. At least MoVaughn was tucked nicely in Anchorage, and did not have his heart broken after all his efforts to win Orca's paw in marriage. Further reports from the trail noted many problems with wet feet, Musher and canine alike. Several teams have had to drop dogs due to foot problems, Team Alcan being one of them. As of this writing, Gregg has made it to Nome and should be resting... We congratulate him on an incredible run, not only for his Mushing skills and Team knowledge, but as the fourth rookie to finish the 2005 Iditarod in great time and spirit.

The final Finishers are as follows: Buster Sackett Tinker Cricket Polar Orca Whiskey Eider Ruddy

Those that did not finish: Libby (dropped - high heart rate) Sylas (dropped - high temp) Timex (dropped - bad feet) MoVaughn (dropped - tuckered from chasing Orca) Mac (dropped - runny nose) Leeda (dropped - foot infection) Jughead (dropped - tired)

Buster	Cricket	Eider	Mac
Leeda	Whiskey	Orca	Libby
Sackett	Polar	Ruddy	Sylas
Timex	Tinker	MoVaughn (Mr. Vaughn)	Jughead