Iron Dog Expedition team arrives successfully in Nome
The Farley family team hit the Iron Dog Trail last week, starting in Big Lake February 17 and arriving in Nome at 2:32 a.m. February 21.
Just over 16, Kevin was the youngest Iron Dog participant this year. Along with his father Howard Jr., “Chugie” and uncle Harvey they made up an expedition class team, taking on over 1,000 miles to Nome.
Howard and Harvey are veterans to the race, having competed together in the Pro Class in 2008 and 2010.
This year they showed Kevin, who finished all his homework before the race, the trail they know so well. The young sled driver caught the snowmachine racing bug and is looking to participate in three upcoming competitive races this season.
“I just like going fast and having fun with my dad and uncle,” Kevin told the Nugget. He’s planning to race in the Nome-Golovin race in March, Archie Ferguson/Willie Goodwin Sr. Memorial Race in Kotzebue, and the Cannonball in Nome.
“We’re looking at possibly doing the Pro Class race next year,” Chugie Farley said, “If his grades are up and he’s a good boy and does what he’s told.”
Though they finished the expedition class in once piece, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. The bumpy terrain of the trail brought challenges for Harvey’s rig, which didn’t have tracks that matched the holes made by the Pro Class before them, making it physically tough sustaining the long rides.
Kevin’s center shock went out right before Galena, Chugie’s wife Jessica was able to get one to the team before they continued their journey.
Going into Unalakleet, some of Chugie’s rear suspension pieces broke and Jessica swooped in again to save the day, getting them the parts they needed.
But even the most challenging parts of the trip made for a teachable moment, like when Kevin’s machine cut out when water skipping, and he had to ditch it.
“I was able to show him the right way of getting it back up on the bank and drying it out and getting it across the rest of the overflow. So some things you just fall into and learn and that sticks with you for a long time,” Chugie said.
Harvey cited the great weather at the beginning of the trip, allowing them to see the beauty of Alaska. “Since my dad and my mom passed away several months before, just being on the same trail that my dad was on 51 years ago felt pretty cool,” Harvey said.
Chugie and Harvey’s dad and Kevin’s grandfather, Howard Farley Sr., husband to Julie, was one of the founding fathers of the Iditarod, an iconic figure in the world of mushing.
The last day of the trip their team was up for almost 24 hours traveling over 400 miles from Galena to Nome. Their intention was to stop for the night in Unalakleet but anticipating a bad storm the next morning, the team stayed the course.
As they traversed the coast, friends from the checkpoints came out to greet them and notify people at the next stop the Farleys were on their way. “We really felt like superstars traveling the coast, even though we’re an expedition team. It was really a great feeling knowing people were out there who cared about us and helped us get back to Nome,” Chugie said.