Life is the sum of all your choices. ~Albert Camus
Well said Camus, well said. And while I am on the topic of my favorite Camus quotes, he is also the author of this gem, “In the depth of winter, I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer.”

But Camus is not really the hot topic at hand, Choice is the topic. And the big choice to be made is which 16 will make the team and travel with me to Nome. The process is in its final stage, but has been ongoing all winter. Fellow long distance musher Zack Steer wrote a great piece explaining the strategic thought process that goes into choosing your race team for Iditarod: How do mushers decide which 16 dogs make the cut?

Today I was at the Iditarod headquarters working with the awesome Vet Techs who do the blood draws and EKG’s. I elected to bring 20 race dogs to Anchorage, so although technically I could have had more tested, but I am focusing on this group of 20, that being the number allowed for the final vet check. The EKG’s and blood work is an important tool in helping mushers make informed decisions about the health of the athletes in their team. This service is donated by Providence Hospital in Anchorage, and I am very grateful for it. The results can confirm the health of your team, but they can also alert you to possible problems that are not obviously apparent.

Tomorrow is the thorough Vet Check with the Iditarod Vets. Here is our chance to get additional professional insight and advise. All of this allows us to make the best informed choices we can.

Of course ultimately the choice is one we will have to make. Dan and I have trained these dogs, and know them better the anyone. But it is not a choice that will be made lightly. I am already agonizing over it…

So although I am not yet ready to put out a list of the final 16, I can share with you the names and some tidbits about the 20 who traveled to Anchorage with Dan and I, and are all in serious consideration for the race team: * indicated veteran of the Yukon Quest or Iditarod

• Loben* – a sweet little female leader. She was on my team for the Copper Basin, Yukon Quest, Iditarod, and Yukon Flats races in 2011. I am pretty emotionally attached to this little girl.
• Skittle* – another female lead dog, with a great attitude and sweet personality.
• Dust* – a super swing dog, nicknamed ‘Dust in the wind’, she is full of spunk.
• Orchid* – has kind eyes, and a tail that never stops wagging. She is a young leader and Loben is her aunt.
• Pledge* – hard working female team dog, with the most adorable ears that fold up in a odd angular way giving her the appearance of the Flying Nun (except Pledge is a black dog).
• Sparrow – a young female who had her race debut on my Tustumena 200 team. And really rose to the occasion, even taking a turn in lead.
• Grumpy – who really isn’t. Another young female who is really turning into a speed demon leader, she loves to run with Orchid.
• CC* –  is a spit fire, she is a killer wheel dog. She is also the sweetest looking little girl, but don’t let that fool you, she is tough as nails.
• Ribdon* – Sparrows brother. He has become one of the most promising young leaders we have in the team.
• Purge* – known for his ‘smile‘ a lovely toothy grin he flashes when he thinks we are running or feeding. Also a solid leader.
• Windex* – voted most likely to give you a fat lip (for bouncing up into your face to get attention) , he is a bundle of energy with beautiful blue eyes.
• Freezer* – one of the most solid swing dogs we have.
• Vickers* – a big powerful male, with a heart of gold.
• Elias* – big and sweet, and the kind of dog who never quits.
• Ahtna* – very calm and reliable.
• Lubbock* – a big goofball, with energy to spare, who loves to give kisses. But he is also a bit shy around crowds, so he will get spared the huge crowds in Anchorage. (Remember you only run 12 of the 20 you vet check on Sat at the ceremonial start, and then pick your 16 for the real start on Sunday. So he can skip the crowds and still run the race.)
• Dopey* – young and energetic.
• Chess* – one of the oldest dogs in the team, he is the blind leader featured in my previous blog post about handling challenge.
• Sister* – is Freezers sister, and together the make a great working pair.
• Doc* – Brother to Dopey and Grumpy, he shares their enthusiasm for pulling and speed.