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Joseph Redington Jr. Named 2018 Honorary Musher

On Oct. 6, 2017, the Iditarod Trail Committee board of directors unanimously selected Joseph (Joee) Redington Jr. as the 2018 Honorary Musher. Joee passed away in Fairbanks on Aug. 14, 2017, at the age of 74. He was the oldest son of Joe Redington Sr., the “Father of the Iditarod.” Board President Andy Baker contacted …

Eye on the Trail: Telephoto Story – I LOVE MY JOB!

Take a look at this dog team leaving the JR Iditarod start in 2017. Katie Dietz and a very excited City Slicker team charge out of the chute toward Yentna Station Roadhouse. The dogs are filled with energy, clearly showing their love for running and pulling. Authorities on working dogs tell us that dogs doing …

Eye on the Trail: Musher Symposium in Michigan UP

As the foliage of the deciduous trees changes color, as the days become shorter and as the temperatures drop, clearly fall is in the air. Ed and Tasha Stielstra of Nature’s Kennel in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan provide another sure sign of fall, the Annual Mid-west Sled Dog Symposium and Iditarod Teacher’s Conference. This …

Eye on the Trail: Telephoto Story – The Cooker

Mushers are required to carry certain pieces of equipment during the race.  During the Summer Iditarod Teacher’s Camp held at Vern Halter’s Dream a Dream Dog Homestead, we staged the required gear.  In the photo you’ll see dog food, sleeping bag, trail mail, snow shoes, axe, booties, Heet, vet book, cooker and cooking pot.  A …

Eye on the Trail: Telephoto Story – Good Vibes from Kids

I’m forever impressed by all the work that goes into hosting a checkpoint.  It’s an endeavor that brings the community, both young and old and everyone in-between together.  People cook and provide delicious food for the mushers and volunteers, there’s organizing the musher parking, readying places for the mushers and volunteers to sleep and of …

Tanis Anderson, Glennallen, AK, Summer Raffle Truck Winner

Tanis Anderson, from Glennallen AK, bought two Summer Raffle tickets on August 10, 2017. Tanis had a chance to take a look at her new truck options at the Anchorage, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram … because one of those two tickets was a winner!  Tanis Anderson and Kristine Horst, Customer Relations Manager at ACDJR.

Eye on the Trail: Telephoto Story – Better By 12 Days

This photo of a team coming into Nenana in 2017 caught my eye for a couple of reasons. First, it shows how concentrated traffic is coming into the first checkpoint of the race. Only 4 minutes earlier, DeeDee Jonrowe passed by and now there were four teams on the horizon – a photographer’s paradise even …

Eye on the Trail: Telephoto Story – Look Behind You

DeeDee Jonrowe, running her 35th Iditarod in 2017, is approaching the checkpoint of Nenana at about 18:35.  The sun is dropping below the trees and the shadows are getting long.  Teams have been coming into the checkpoint one right after the other.  My attention, as well as my camera have been focused on the teams …

Eye on the Trail: Telephoto Story – Schultz & Van Zyle Collaborate

What do you get when Jeff Schultz and Jon Van Zyle collaborate to create a piece of Iditarod Art? The result is guaranteed to be more stunning than any Iditarod fan could imagine! The photographer and artist have recently announced their joint effort. Schultz has photographed the Iditarod since the early 80’s and holds the …

Eye on the Trail: Telephoto Story – Tanana Night Sky

Mushers often share vivd descriptions of the night sky they experience while running between checkpoints.  How would the dogs describe what they see of Mother Natures night time art?  Between sunset on March 8th of Iditarod XLV and sunrise of March 9th, she decorated Tanana’s night sky.  It was minus 28 degrees without even a …