Sarah Sperry

It’s about 50-below and I’m kneeling in the snow waiting for a musher to re-start the race. The auto focus on my camera can’t seem to lock onto my subject in the darkness. The problem is, neither can I. I have to shine a headlamp onto the sign that marks the re-start just so I have something to focus my camera on. Now, all I can do is wait. Wait for the musher to get his dog team running. Wait for the handlers to start cleaning the mess left behind. And dream of the warmth and comfort of my own bed, which is now over 150 miles away.

What am I doing out here anyway? I wasn’t bred for this type of situation. Hell, I’m not even prepared for it! Granted, I’ve stolen my husband’s cold weather gear - everything from his overalls to his long underwear – all of which is about five sizes too big on me. Still, I’m a California girl! I’m used to wearing a tank top and sandals. It doesn’t matter how many layers I put on, it will never be enough to keep me warm.

OK. Focus! Here he comes! I can see my flash light up a small patch of sky surrounding me. Did I get the picture? Better snap off a few more frames just in case. But, before I know it, he’s back out on the trail, headed for Fairbanks. As for me, I’m headed to the firehouse. Maybe I’ll be able to feel my fingers again soon.

Inside the firehouse, a handful of people have the same idea – sleep. After all, it is two o’clock in the morning. But, our group still has a job to do. We have to document this crazy scene in every way we can. I raise my camera to take a picture of someone wrapped up in a sleeping bag on top of a fire truck. But, my lenses are fogged up. I have no choice but to wait until my camera adjusts to the change in temperature indoors. Hopefully, they’ll still be sleeping then.

In the meantime, I hang around while the rest of the group starts interviewing anyone and everyone they can. To my surprise, almost all of the volunteers and mushers we encounter are more than willing to talk with us. And, everyone has a great story to tell! It’s these stories, simply meeting these extraordinary people, that make this trip worth taking. After all, it has proved to be a greater challenge than expected to come up with good photos in the dead of night.