Iditarod 40: How to they keep track of 1000 dogs?
In this year’s Iditarod sled dog race there are 66 mushers and over one thousand dogs that will spread across 975 miles of trail in some of the most remote conditions in North America. One question that I am always asked is: How to they keep track of all these dogs? Starting as soon as […]
Iditarod 40: The Trail. Nikolai to McGrath
Iditarod 40: The Trail. Nikolai to McGrath 48 Miles From Nikolai, the trail runs west to McGrath. The terrain is mostly flat. The trail passes through open swamps, small stands of spruce and alder and runs on the river itself. There are no grades to consider. This section is well traveled and should […]
Iditarod 40: The infamous Happy River Steps
The 2012 Iditarod is only about 18 hours old and some of the front runners, Hugh Neff, Lance Mackey, Paul Gebhardt, Aily Zirkle, and Ryan Redington are making very good time with most of them heading into Rainy Pass. Right around this area is a part of the trail that is a much of legend […]
Iditarod 40: A race of checkpoints
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 […]
Iditarod 40: Mushing’s Golden Girls
In a race that is usually filled with grizzled veterans, middle age men, frost-bitten faces and scraggly beards it is refreshing to see women compete in the race as well. Women in this sport have always been a power-house with several well-known females winning the race or coming close. Names like fan favorite 4-time champ […]