Iditarod 38 Late Winter in Alaska

It’s March again which means it is time again for “The Last Great Race” . . . The Iditarod, pitting men, women and their dogs against the extreme and many times harsh elements and terrain of the Alaskan wilderness.  Over a thousand mile distance to work out the rhythm of the dogs and one’s inner self in a place that sometimes defies description.

From humble beginnings to a world class sporting event.  

The Iditarod trail began as a sled dog trail to carry mail and supplies to and from coastal mining towns.  In 1925, a group of sled dog tag teams used the trail to deliver anti-diphtheria vaccine from a hospital in Anchorage to the then-isolated community of Nome.  Historian Dorothy Page and musher Joe Redington Sr. in 1967 organized a shorter race to commemorate the use of the trail.  The first long race from Anchorage to Nome was in 1973.

What some have called the "ultimate marathon" but the distance is only part of what differentiates the Iditarod from other racing events.  This grueling race covers frozen lakes, tundra, trails, forests, mountains, rivers, and other treacherous stretches of terrain.  Don't underestimate the endurance and physical ability this race requires.  Yes, the dogs may be doing the majority of the running, but one lapse in navigation, concentration, or guidance, and the Iditarod Trail Dog Sled Race can turn deadly.

There are stretches that foil even the most seasoned musher.  Frozen "steps" must be traversed to get to the checkpoint at Rainy Pass.  Stumps and logs make the Farwell Burn area a veritable obstacle course.  A sign at the top of the Dalzell Gorge urges mushers to "Watch Your Ass" as they descend a steep icy slope leading down to a narrow creek.  

Seventy-one mushers and their powerful sled dog teams got a festive send-off in downtown Anchorage Saturday morning just after a light snowfall fell overnight.  The 10-mile ceremonial run launched the fabled Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race and among them was a rookie musher drawing attention, Newton Marshall, the first Iditarod competitor from Jamaica.  Fans, many wearing “Rootin’ for Newton” buttons, and camera crews crowded around him at the downtown Anchorage start.

Marshall used to train in Jamaica on a wheeled sled pulled by stray dogs from the local shelter.  He now trains in Alaska with world-class sled dogs.

During a cruise several years ago we visited his training facility while on a zip line tour.  Marshall competed in the 1,000-mile Yukon Quest in 2009, becoming the first Jamaican to finish that race.  This year he is training with Lance Mackey driving some of his second team dogs.  Singer Jimmy Buffett is among Marshall’s strongest supporters. “He’s absolutely a hero to kids in Jamaica,” Buffett said.  Buffett’s Margaritaville restaurants are key sponsors for Marshall’s dog-sled team, and the famed songwriter says he did not hesitate to back Marshall after learning of his story.  Good Luck Newton!

The restart yesterday got underway after another festive crowd gathered in Willow to send off the mushers into Alaska’s outback wilderness.  The starting conditions are typical for this time of year as snow and wind could be found along the trail.

From the Iditarod website, Bruce Lee reports . . .

Evening update – 3-07-10

“As we flew along the trail today heading here we observed that the trail was well marked with a lot of fresh snow.  There has been a wind storm along with the snow and we expect slower traveling conditions than average through the Alaska Range.”

Afternoon report – 3-08-10

“It’s snowing hard enough that the aircraft is grounded here at Finger Lake but the teams are still moving up the trail.  Most mushers reported soft trail conditions that slowed their planned travel time here and threw a few mushers off their game plan.  Some rested at Finger Lake when their original plan was to go further up the trail before resting.  For the mushers towards the back of the field, the trail conditions seem no worse or better than the lead pack’s.

We’re beginning to see different musher strategies come into play as they leap frog each other from rest stops.  Generally the weather is playing a small part in the competition right now with musher having to re-adjust their run / rest cycles according to the softer trail conditions.”

Tonight as I write this the current leader, Gebhardt has passed Roan and has covered 173 miles so far.  Within a ten mile stretch of the leader are twenty others in various modes making their way towards the front position.

As the race progresses these next seven to fourteen days until the last of the teams reach Nome our hope is for everyone to have a safe journey and the experience of a lifetime.

Good Luck to all and we await another outstanding Iditarod race.

Ice