The Iditarod!!!

 The Iditarod...known as "The Last Great Race on Earth."  The toughest race on earth.  As you have probably figured out from all the Balto references the last few blogs...I was soooooo excited that I would be in Anchorage for the ceremonial start of the 2015 Iditarod.  The Iditarod trail has been in use for hundreds of years by the Athabaskan and Inupiak peoples, and in the 1800's by Russian trappers (which makes sense since Alaska was Russian territory until 1867), and then in the 1880's -1920's by gold miners from all over.  The serum run from to Nome in 1925, starring Balto and Togo as aforementioned, is the most famous event in the trail's history.  The story garnered worldwide media attention as people followed the crisis live through daily newspapers. 

 

It Iditarod began as a competition in 1973.  The original route was Anchorage to Gnome, but over the years the official start has pushed further north, but the ceremonial start remains in Anchorage.  The ceremonial start is one of the few parts of the 1,100+ mile route sees crowds, so it can be an exciting day for the dogs and the mushers.  I can confirm that the dogs did indeed seem excited -- not agitated excited, but hey look at all the people that love me excited.  Here is photographic proof of a few dogs that seem to be enjoying their little trek through town.

 

pretty happy looking Iditarod dogs

 The best race time on record is 8 days, 13 hours, 14 minutes, and 9 seconds, set last year by Dallas Seavey (lead dogs Beetle and Reef).  The second best time of record was last year's second place holder.  When the race started in the 70's, 20 days was the average.  I asked what the difference is.  It may be the dog breeding, but I wonder if the "eco-challenge" style approach adds to it.  In the 8 days, the musher (the musher is the human component of the team) is only required to stop for one 24 hour break, and 2 8 hour breaks in set portions of the trail.  So a determined racer and go for days. 

 

 

That said, there are 26 checkpoints the racers must stop at.  The mushers can pick up their "drop bags" at these points -- those are their pre-selected supplies of food, flashlights, even sled changes, and of course, replacement dog booties...yes the dogs wear shoes these days.  Prior to racing, all of the dogs are checked, like their human elite athlete counterparts, for any drugs, but also to be sure there is no sign of illness, strain, inflammation, or condition which could make them sick on the long road ahead.  They even get doggie ECG's.  In the event of an injury, or even exhaustion, the affected dog can be carried in the sled to designated doggie drop off points, where they are cared by Iditarod volunteers until the musher or a family member can pick them up.

 

The conditions can be extreme...blizzards, whiteouts, ridiculously cold temperatures.  I sort of expected shaggier, bulkier dogs...but sled dogs are actually smaller than I expected.  I was glad they have booties and sometime coats, although it was way too warm in Anchorage to require more than their own fur on Ceremonial Start day.

 

Here is Mitch Seavey, winner of the 2004 and 2013 Iditarod's!  9 days and 7 hours and 39 minutes was his time!  His lead dogs in 2013 were Tanner and Taurus...I suspect they are still leading this pack below!

 

Another team of happy looking dogs mushing through the slush.  This is Liner Fielding's team, a Vermont native who moved to Alaska for the love of the Iditarod.

Deedee Jonrowe's team stood out in their pink booties and pink harnesses.  Deedee's family moved here from Germany when her father was stationed at the nearby base...this is her 33rd Iditarod and she describes her dogs as her life's passion and the ability to travel with them through God's most beautiful country a privilege.  I think we have another set of happy Iditarod dogs here.

 

In the all red booties, we have Kristy Berington's team.  Kirsty and her twin sister Anna are both mushing a team to Nome for their fourth race.

 



The teams seemed mostly well co-ordinated, but in 150 dogs, there is bound to be at least one "left shark."  The fourth outside dog shown in the picture below is marching to his own little doggie drum and loving it.

There was just something about this teams eyes that made me laugh...I lovingly call them the crazy dog team...the eyes and floppy tongues say it all!

"I heard there was BACON in Gnome."  "That's 1000 miles away right?"

"Who cares, it's BACON."  "Right!  Bacon! Bacon! Bacon!  Let's go!!!"

Many years ago, a special 8 year old sent me this in the mail...Balto under the northern lights on the Iditarod trail.  I wish Jaycena could have been here today.