Rock and Ice Ultra

---

Togetherness

Rob Howard / 19.03.2007

After the arrival of first and second place there was time for the cultural evening to begin and food which had been sizzling on the BBQ to be served.

The evening opened with an introduction and a prayer in the Dogrib language to accompaniment of drums, appropriately a celebration of life and the story of life’s journey. This was followed by faster dance song, with the quicker drum beats encouraging a few of the watchers to get up and jig, the K-Rock winner Philip Mees among them. He obviously still has some energy!

There was a blessing for the food, an offering to the creator and tribal ancestors, and a speech tby the Territory commissioner, Tony Whitford who raised a laugh when he said, “I understand what our ancestors did for a living you are now doing for fun … and paying to do it!�

Then it was time to tuck into the chunks of moose heart, brisket and ribs (the hunters who gave it were there), and some trout provided by a nearby house boat. (Thanks Nancy).

While the meal was being served there was time to pop out into the cold to see more finishers cross the line, and the next finishers were buddied up to have some company on trail.

The first pair to arrive were the leading foot and ski racers in the Diamond 300, Dave Mackey and Mike Scherman, racing in at a strong speed despite the sleds behind them and finishing at 18.51. Both looked in good shape, and a bit bemused by the number of supporters, media and the cheers, as for them this is not the finish, just the half way point! “I’ve never had a half-way greeting like that before,� said Mackey. He had found the trail a bit easier today, but like everyone else had suffered in the cold last night.See All Event Posts