When folks began to realize that mushers would be travelling SOUTH from Kaltag 1 to Anvik 1 and NORTH from Grayling 2 to Kaltag 2 along the same trail on the Yukon River, they wondered, how will the passes go. Will be two-way traffic on a one lane road? Well, to some extent it is but for the most part, the trail is wider than the width of one sled. They also have a widely accepted rule that the north bound have the trail when meeting a south bound team. So, if the trail is narrow, when two teams meet, the south bound team will go to the side and give the trail to the team heading north.
Insider Jodi Bailey also reminds us that these are experienced dog teams. With all of their qualifiers, previous race experience and thousands of training miles for each year of racing, not to mention Iditarod experience these teams have passed both coming and going. They’re good at this.
Insider posted a video of Jessie Holmes and Matthew Failor meeting on the trail. It’s a beautiful pass with Failor veering right, giving the trail to Holmes. In 2003, the only other year there’s been two-way traffic on the Yukon River between Kaltag and Anvik, someone captured a photo of Charlie Boulding and Rick Swenson meeting and passing on the river. The photo hangs in the Anvik City Hall. The trail was wide enough for two teams. Charlie and Rick completed a high five as they glided past each other. Holmes and Failor were the first pass on the 2025 two-way trail.
Holmes met a large number of back of the pack mushers after leaving Grayling 2. Jessie and Quince Mountain who is at the back end of the race will meet up soon. For Quince going south, it’s about mile 520 outside of Eagle Island 1. For Holmes its about mile 766, just twenty-miles below Kaltag.
At 14:35 on Sunday, Jessie Holmes was the first musher to return to Grayling from Shageluk. Holmes received the Alaska Air Transit Spirit of Alaska Award. Normally the award is presented in McGrath and consists of a beaver fur hat created by Rosalie Egress and handmade beaver mitts fashioned by Lorette Maillelle who are residents of McGrath. Loretta grew up in Grayling. He elder father, Joseph Maillelle, Sr. of Grayling had the honor of presenting the award to Holmes. The elder Maillelle checked the first team into Grayling over 50 years ago on the first running of the southern route.
Quince Mountain completed his 24-hour rest and so Kaltag has no mushers but the trail crew and volunteers are prepping for the return of the teams – round two of Iditarod 2025. It would seem that Jessie Holmes will camp before reaching Kaltag and he has to take his 8 hour Yukon River rest in a checkpoint before leaving the river. With that, Paige Drobny and Matt Hall will likely gain some miles on the Holmes as both have completed their 8 hr rest. Mitch Seavey isn’t far behind Matt Hall. Seavey also needs to complete his Yukon River rest.
The next award to be presented is the Bristol Bay Native Corporation Fish First Award. In 2025, the award will be presented in Kaltag North. From there the teams head over the Nulato Hills, past Tripod Flats and Old Women Cabin and on to Unalakleet. This is when the racing will begin. We’ll see somewhat longer runs and slightly shorter rests. Things will get exciting!
