I’ve been following Iditarod since 2003, when Robert Sørlie was the first European to win the race. From 2007 I was the press-contact for Team Norway and also their web-editor. To me Iditarod has been the race to follow. Back in 2007 I promised myself that if Robert Sørlie was ever going to race again; I’ll be there.

In the meantime I’ve got my own blog – about mushing long distance – so therefore it was just great getting to know that Robert would race again this year.

After a lot of hard work we finally reached Anchorage and Millennium Hotel. The show-start was amazing. With 6 Norwegians (including Lisbet Skogen Norris) and one Swedish musher on the starting line, we were excited. Nice weather, good mood and a lot of beautiful people, it couldn’t be any better.

The re-start in Willow was just as wonderful. Great weather, so many excited people and a bunch of great mushers ready for hitting the trail. We just loved it.

We had planned to hit the trail in Takotna. What a place. So many nice people, they were doing everything to make us feel comfortable in this little village. We were there for 48 hours before heading to Ruby and Yukon. Ruby was the prettiest place. Yukon was overwhelming and the weather was still beautiful.

After Ruby we got to Galena and then Kaltag. The race was faster than ever and we had to re-arrange our flight in Kaltag, heading for Unalakleet to reach the front. The coast was heavy, with now snow, glare ice and we were happy we were not racing. Unalakleet was another nice place to stay. The people at the checkpoint were very friendly and hospitable.

The weather-forecast was not that good and we were afraid of being stuck in a checkpoint. We had been planning to go to Kouyk, but re-arranged for Nome. There is no place like Nome. No matter what. Just to be able to be there – under The Burled Arch – was unbelievable. It was great to see the Champ, Dallas Seavey, at the Finish line. But to welcome the Norwegians – wow. Joar Leifseth Ulsom in 4. place, Robert Sørlie in 21.place, Ralph Johannessen in 22. place. They had their issues during the race, but they did never give up. Mats Petterson, Tommy Jordbrudal, Yvonne Dåbakk and Lisbet Skogen Norris, all of them finally reached Nome.

Iditarod 2014 has been a wonderful journey and I just want to say thank you very much to ITC, the volunteers, the checkpoints up trail and everybody who has been a part of the race. The Last Great Race on Earth is such an adventure – for all of us!

View Anki’s photo scrapbook and website at this link.