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Sport

Houston High School softball opening night

May 2, 2012 by robertforto 2 Comments

Nicole #20

It was a blustery, but absolutely beautiful May Day. It was the start of the softball season for my daughter, Nicole.

Nicole is a freshman at Houston High School in Alaska. A small school of just about 400 kids and home of the Hawks. A big change from where she was just last semester in Littleton, Colorado at Dakota Ridge, a school teaming with thousands of kids roaming the halls.

Nicole has played softball since she was a little girl. Getting her start in T-Ball leagues at the YMCA I can remember those games like it was yesterday.

My little girl is growing up and becoming a pretty dang good little softball player. I can only wish that it was those evenings playing catch in the park and the dad-daughter talks on the way home from practices when she played her first fast-pitch season in seventh grade with the Spartans.

Last night she made me so proud.

She is playing catcher on the J.V. squad and back-up catcher for varisty–as a Freshman!

As the game got underway at 7:45 on a very cold evening, just 34 degrees. Her mom, her brother Tyler and I, shivered in the little bleachers gearing up to cheer her on.

Smash the ball, Flea! It is a name we have called her since she was little. We are dog trainers, ya know.

She was batting sixth. Not bad. Middle of the order. She got up to bat in the first inning and hit a line drive to the pitcher. She dropped the ball and Nicole made it to first but more importantly, got an R.B.I.

The Hawks quickly accumulated two more outs leaving Nicole on third and rushing to the dugout to put on her gear.

As she walked to the plate, in gear that was way to big, I am sure you could see my smile all the way to the outfield fence. It was time for Flea to show us what she has been learning the last month or so of practices, many of them indoors at the local Lion’s Club because of all the snow on the ground.

The inning lasted forever, not the best pitching from these young high schoolers. But hey, it was the first game of the season and I am sure the butterflies migrated in droves to the Great White North.

Nicole playing catcher for Houston High School

At the top of the second the Hawks were leading by a few runs. The batting order brought Nicole up again with one out and a full count. She swung and hit a line dive past the first baseman.

She made it to first and held steady waiting for the next batter. On a wild pitch, she stole second and on the next pitch made it to third.

Moments later Nicole was running towards home and slid into the plate like a major-leaguer. It was awesome!

The bottom of the second proved to be tough work for Nicole and the pitching staff and Colony High scored several quick runs to take the lead 11-9.

It was getting late and much colder for us in the stands. With the sun still very visible in the sky, the game was called for time at 9:21 pm.

What a way to spend an Alaskan spring evening.

Way to go Flea, you smashed that ball. We are so proud of you! 

___________________

Robert Forto is mushin’ down a dream in the wilds of Alaska. He and is wife are raising two teenagers at Forto’s Fort. 

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Filed Under: Daily Post, Fortos Fort Tagged With: alaska, baseball, Houston High School, Michele Forto, nicole forto, robert forto, Softball, Sport

Iditarod 40: The Trail. Elim to Golovin

March 11, 2012 by robertforto Leave a Comment

Iditarod 40: The Trail. Elim to Golovin   28 Miles

The trail leaves Elim, following the ice along the coast for 10-11 miles to a cabin just north-northeast of the limestone cliffs, and here it turns right (inland) and crosses the Kwiktalik Mountains. This range is a low series of hills (1,000 to 1,500 ft.) with moderate grades. Vegetation ranges from small spruce to barren ground. Some of the grades are long (1 mile) but none are excessively steep. The barren sections are often windblown and icy. The last descent to Golovin Bay is long and sometimes runs side hill. At the Shelter Cabin on the coast, the trail turns sharply right and crosses the ice to Golovin. The village is located on a spit and is easily seen. (Counting the cabin below Elim where the trail leaves the ice, there are three shelter cabins on the trail, one of them being nine miles from the coast where the trail intersects McKinley Creek.)

Golovin (GULL-uh-vin) — (GOL) Lat 64.32 Long 163.50 — Population 171 – Not an official checkpoint, but a community with a large welcome. Golovin has one store. From here the trail heads across Golovin Bay, then overland to the next checkpoint.

 

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Filed Under: Alaska, Daily Post, Iditarod 40 Tagged With: Elim, Golovin, Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, Kuskokwim River, Recreation, Sled dog racing, Sport, Trail

Iditarod 40: Mush! The Movie

March 10, 2012 by robertforto Leave a Comment

MUSH, a documentary written and directed by Alex Stein, is the first look behind the scenes at the “fine madness of the Iditarod.”

While nearly everything in the world seems to be getting smaller, the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race remains larger than life.

And that’s probably why more people have summited Mt. Everest in the last two years than have ever finished Iditarod.

MUSH goes beyond coverage of the race as a sporting event and takes you behind the scenes of the “Last Great Race on Earth” — offering a rare glimpse at a uniquely Alaskan Phenomenon.  The movie examines the tremendous energy and effort (largely courtesy of thousands of volunteers from all over the world) it takes to make Iditarod possible and offers a lighthearted look at the memorable traditions and inspiring personalities who return year after year to Iditarod.

80 minutes
Starring a cast of thousands (of dogs, mushers, race officials, vets, volunteers, and others)
www.mushthemovie.com

(The movie is still on the film festival circuit, but will be available in several months.)

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Filed Under: Alaska, Daily Post, Iditarod 40 Tagged With: alaska, Alex Stein, Iditarod, Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, lance mackey, MUSH, Sport

Iditarod 40: The Trail. Ophir to Cripple

March 8, 2012 by robertforto Leave a Comment

Iditarod 40: The Trail. Ophir to Cripple     73 Miles

Out of the Ophir checkpoint the trail follows a cat trail along the Innoko River into the old village site about a mile further along. It crosses the river again six miles out of the checkpoint. From the crossing, the trail heads northeast. The terrain is flat with sparse scrub spruce with a few rolling hills as it approaches Cripple.

Cripple (krip-uhl) — Lat. 63.41 N Long 156.20W – Population 0 — Part of the famous Iditarod Mining District, which saw $35 million in gold taken out of the area between 1908 and 1925. Not bad when you figure that gold was only worth $20 an ounce in those days. This checkpoint marks the “official” halfway point in the race on the northern route.

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Filed Under: Alaska, Daily Post, Iditarod 40 Tagged With: alaska, Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, Innoko River, Kuskokwim River, Ophir, Sled dog racing, Sport, Trail

Iditarod 40: A race of checkpoints

March 2, 2012 by robertforto Leave a Comment

Hugh Neff

Ask just about any musher in the Iditarod how they track the race and they will say from checkpoint to checkpoint.

A couple weeks ago I met a 2010 Iditarod rookie and she pulled out a laminated card with a chart listing miles to and from each checkpoint. She said this is how she knew what she was up against. When things got rough she would know its only “X” number of miles to the next checkpoint where she could rest her dogs (and possibly herself), grab a meal, re-evaluate and move on down the trail.

Then you talk to veterans like 2012 Yukon Quest champion Hugh Neff, who is competing in his ninth Iditarod this year, and he will tell you that he knows the trail well enough now that he doesn’t worry about what checkpoint is coming up but who might be staying in one for their mandatory rests.

The following is a chart of distances between checkpoints on the Northern Route which is ran this year and on even years.

CHECKPOINTS

Anchorage to Campbell Airstrip    11 miles

Willow to Yentna Station    42 miles

Yentna to Skwentna    30 miles

Skwentna to Finger Lake    40 miles

Finger Lake to Rainy Pass    30 miles

Rainy Pass to Rohn    35 miles

Rohn to Nikolai    75 miles

Nikolai to McGrath    48 miles

McGrath to Takotna    18 miles

Takotna to Ophir    23 miles

Ophir to Cripple    73 miles

Cripple to Ruby    70 miles

Ruby to Galena    50 miles

Galena to Nulato    37 miles

Nulato to Kaltag    47 miles

Kaltag to Unalakleet    85 miles

Unalakleet to Shaktoolik    40 miles

Shaktoolik to Koyuk    50 miles

Koyuk to Elim    48 miles

Elim to Golovin    28 miles

Golovin to White Mountain    18 miles

White Mountain to Safety    55 miles

Safety to Nome    22 miles

Note: As of 2012 the Northern Route distance is approximately 975 miles. In prior years the distance was always over 1,000 miles. Three things factor into this adjustment:

  • The change in the Ceremonial Start (running from downtown Anchorage to Campbell Airstrip instead of Eagle River);
  • The change of the Restart location from Wasilla to Willow (loss of the Wasilla-Knik-Susitna River and some Yentna River mileage), and;
  • The actual year to year trail conditions can affect trail routing and the actual mileage will vary somewhat from year to year.

    “1,049 miles®” has been a symbolic figure from the inception of the race to signify the 1,000 miles or more of race trail and the number 49 depicts Alaska as the 49th state.

I will be covering the Iditarod everyday on my website and on the radio. Please listen in. Please like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and check in with me on Foursquare.

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Filed Under: Alaska, Daily Post, Iditarod 40 Tagged With: alaska, Finger Lake, Hugh Neff, Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, MUSH, Sport, Willow, yukon quest

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