Tradition: custom, practice, ritual or habit. Iditarod is full of traditions. Each checkpoint has its own special observances. Mushers and volunteers have their own unique habits. Winterlake Lodge located on Finger Lake, Iditarod’s third checkpoint at mile 123, is no exception when it comes to Iditarod tradition.

The Dixons – Carl, Kirsten, Carley and Mandy

The Dixon family, owners and hosts extraordinaire of Winterlake Lodge host an Ice Cream Social on the night the race begins. It’s a very festive affair. Iditarod volunteers, lodge guests and the Dixon family look forward to the annual event. For them, it just wouldn’t be Iditarod without the ice cream and social time hosted in the Lodge while teams are making their way from Yentna Station to Skwentna.

The Ice Cream Social tradition began after Carl and Kirsten Dixon purchased the Hayes River Hunting Camp and re-named it Winterlake Lodge. They wanted to celebrate the start of Iditarod. Their lodge is full of guests, many from out of state who haven’t experienced the Iditarod or bush Alaska. Iditarod personnel are set up in wall tents on the lake in front of the lodge ready to welcome the teams who’ll begin arriving early on Monday from Skwentna. Is there a better way to celebrate than to meet over ice cream to share stories? Between the Dixons, the lodge staff, veteran Iditarod volunteers and lodge quests, there’s no lack of conversation or stories.

Teams parked on Finger Lake infront of Winterlake Lodge

Years back before the Dixons purchased the lodge, the Iditarod check point was located on the far side of Finger Lake. There wasn’t much interaction between the owners of the hunting camp and the Iditarod volunteers or mushers. The Dixons changed all of that. The checkpoint was relocated on the lake directly in front of the Lodge. The trail was also relocated. Way back when, the teams departed Finger Lake on the same trail used by the Iron Dog racers. Now they depart the checkpoint where the Winterlake Lodge dock is located and follow a trail that runs between some of the lodge cabins and then into the woods behind the lodge. As it leaves lodge property, a sign with lettering made of birch branches marks the trail as it heads to Red Lake.

Sign Marking the trail as it departs toward the Happy River Steps

All together there are about sixty folks who enjoy the social, the cuisine and the ambience of the lodge. The Iditarod Vets describe their job and the Race Judge talks about the history of the race. The comms people explain how they send incoming and outgoing data to Anchorage and how it ends up being reported for race fans to see at Iditarod.com. The checkers explain their role and a bit about the mandatory musher equipment. In the background, mushers profiles are posted on a hand hewn log wall of the lodge.

Then it’s time to enjoy the main course of the event – DESSERT created by Mandy Dixon. Mandy, a graduate from the Culinary Institute of America – Nappa Valley has been a professional chef specializing in pastries for seven years. She’s been at Winterlake Lodge since the age of twelve no doubt learning from her mother, world famous chef, Kirsten Dixon.

Strawberry ice-cream created by Mandy Dixon

Guests of the evening enjoy homemade ice creams, root beer floats, gingerbread dog mushers, dog print meringues, sled dog shaped Oreo cookies along with other assorted cookies, brownies, cakes, brittles and a variety of sauces for the ice cream. Ice cream flavors include strawberry, chocolate-blueberry, vanilla with chocolate biscotti, salted caramel and mint. If you’d like to have your ice cream in a handmade waffle cone, you’ll find the cones propped up in the webbing of a snowshoe. “Festive” would be a tragic understatement in describing this incredible traditional event.

While the folks on the river at Skwentna are intensely busy on Sunday night welcoming mushers, parking the teams and reporting musher in times and out times, Winterlake Lodge is hosting their renowned Iditarod celebration. It’s their calm before the storm. In only a few hours, the first mushers will circle the edge of Finger Lake and arrive at the checkpoint. From very early on Monday morning it’ll be rush hour for several hours at Mile 123 of the Iditarod Trial. Teams will arrive one right after the other and actually wait in line to check in then park and rest before heading on to the infamous Happy River Steps.