[Chena]

I was shocked and saddened to hear that Susan Butcher lost her battle today. May God comfort her family and friends, and her beloved dogs. She'll never be forgotten.

[Chena]

[null and void]

Damm. God? We're sending you another good one.

[butternut_squash_bisque]

RIP, Susan.

[redhead]

...Awwww...That's sad. She was an icon.

[originalbuckeye]

I had no idea that she was ill. Prayers for her family.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

RIP Susan Butcher. It was because of her that I first heard about the Iditarod. Her efforts and winnings put that race on the map! She was a true pioneer - first to take a sled/dogs to the top of Mount McKinley, as well.

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

After Susan Butcher won the Iditarod, a very popular tee-shirt throughout the north (Yukon as well as Alaska) said: "Alaska: Where men are men, and women win the Idatarod".

[BruceysMom]

I envied and admired her life. I grieve her death. Prayers for those left behind, both four and two legged.

[Bear_Slayer]

ALASKA

Where the men are men . . . and the women win the Iditarod!

[Larry Lucido]

Shoot, we were just up there last week on the riverboat cruise. I know it couldn't have been Susan who was giving the demonstration on the sled dogs, but it sure looked like her. My wife will be sad to hear this.

[Liberty Valance]

Dang. I'm sorry to hear of her passing.
What a Lady!

[Radix]

Not only was I unaware that she was sick, I never even heard of her before.

I read fast though.

She sounds as if she was a woman after my own heart.

I also have been reading about the Iditerod over the last few years.

It seems that there was an outbreak of Diphtheria, and Alaskan communities were in many cases rather isolated during the Winter months just a few decades ago before the Alaskan bush pilot phenomenon became manifest. Way before actually.

The Iditerod celebrates the great effort of heroes who engaged themselves on a jaunt which required terrific sacrifice, great stamina, and little reward.

What a wonderful tribute it truly is to those heroes.

Too bad for us all that this woman has met our Maker so prematurely. I will grieve, at least for a time.

[Fairview]

A very inspiring lad, and a noble spirit.
Are we really having an epidemic of breast cancer? So many good ones seem to be taken in this way.

[hosepipe]

Iditarod.... few men can complete this journey let alone win it.. If you've never been there, you have no idea.. the challenge..

[Smokin' Joe]

Prayers up for her and her family and friends.

[Liberty Valance]

[fieldmarshaldj]

Rest in peace.

[dawn53]

Her husband's been keeping a blog, and it's been heartbreaking to read about the complications (GVH) and then the return of the leukemia. She's been so very ill, but she was a fighter to the end.

If you want to read her husband's blog, here's the link
(enter "butcher" and "butcher 1" for access)

http://www.thestatus.com/index.cfm?fa=patient_login&sid=0

[Joe Boucher]

Always pulled for her, competing against a whole passel of men she was able to come out ahead.

[thackney]

In recognition of the spirit it takes to compete, let alone win, the Iditarod, folks should consider some of the rules.

Rule 16 -- Mandatory Items: A musher must have with him/her at all times the following items:
• Proper cold weather sleeping bag weighing a minimum of 5 lbs.
• Ax, head to weigh a minimum of 1-3/4 lbs., handle to be at least 22” long.
• One pair of snowshoes with bindings, each snowshoe to be at least 252 square inches in size.
• Any promotional material provided by the ITC.
• Eight booties for each dog in the sled or in use.
• One operational cooker and pot capable of boiling at least three (3) gallons of water at one time.
• Veterinarian notebook, to be presented to the veterinarian at each checkpoint.
• An adequate amount of fuel to bring three (3) gallons of water to a boil.
• Cable gang line or cable tie out capable of securing dog team.

When leaving a checkpoint adequate emergency dog food must be on the sled. (This will be carried in addition to what you carry for routine feeding and snacking.)

Rule 21 -- Motorized Vehicles: A musher may not be accompanied by or accept assistance from any motorized vehicle that gives help to the musher, including aircraft and snow machines, except when recovering a loose dog or driverless team.

Rule 33 -- Killing of Game Animals: In the event that an edible big game animal, i.e., moose, caribou, buffalo, is killed in defense of life or property, the musher must gut the animal and report the incident to a race official at the next checkpoint. Following teams must help gut the animal when possible. No teams may pass until the animal has been gutted and the musher killing the animal has proceeded. Any other animal killed in defense of life or property must be reported to a race official, but need not be gutted.

Rule 35 Navigation: Mushers are restricted to the use of traditional forms of navigation. This includes time, distance as known or measured on a map, speed as is computed with simple arithmetic and direction as indicted by magnetic compass. Electronic or mechanical devices that measure speed and direction are prohibited, i.e. Loran, night vision goggles and GPS’.

Rule 48 -- Shipping Amounts: An adequate amount of food is required to be shipped to the following checkpoints (minimum of 60 pounds combined weight of food and gear):
Skwentna, Rainy Pass, Rohn, Nikolai, McGrath, Takotna, Ophir, Iditarod, Shageluk, Anvik, Graying, Eagle Island, Kaltag, Unalakleet, Shaktoolik, Koyuk, Elim, White Mountain, Nome

2007 Iditarod Rules
http://www.iditarod.com/pdfs/2007/2007Rules.pdf