Unalakleet is a village of about 700 people located on the Bering Sea.  It marks one end of the portage trail that leads to the Yukon River used for trading in the 1800s by the Russians, the local natives and interior natives.  

Wind Chargers supplement electricity production for Unalakleet

Unalakleet is known for its wind.  As a matter of fact, the village elected to erect six wind chargers to supplement the production of electricity.  At one time I was told the wind chargers saved 80,000 gallons of diesel fuel per year.  The wind chargers stand high on a hill almost like sentries standing guard over the community.

The checkpoint is located in the back of the post office building.  There’s a large “social” area and rooms for mushers to sleep in.  The community provides food and most often former Mayer and musher Middy Johnson will take his turn at flipping sour dough pancakes.

Sleds shipped to Unalakleet (photo by Martha Dobson)

A few mushers have shipped sleds to UNK for their coastal run.  With only 300 miles left, they want lighter, smaller and more agile sleds than they’ve been using in the interior.  Take a look at some of the sleds that are waiting for trade out.  It’s easy to guess who the brand new sled with the brand new pink sled bag belongs to.  How about the one constructed of Easton Ultra Light hockey sticks?  One can also get a good look at the brake mechanism and the drag pad.  The brake is used for stopping and the drag pad, usually a piece of snowmachine track, is used for slowing.  Some drag pads have numerous spikes screwed into the pad while other pads or less aggressive.  In 2014, Lisbet Norris had a drag pad with 17 nasty spikes which slowed her team very successfully as they navigated the icy rocky Dalzell Gorge.

Brake & Drag Pad

A not to be missed eatery in Unalakleet is Peace on Earth Pizza.  The menu includes sandwiches, salads and pizza.  One can also get Häagen-Dazs Ice Cream Bars there.  The other great service they provide is wireless internet.  More than one of my Eye on the Trail posts have reached you via their internet router.  Once the race comes to town and race fans follow, it’s nearly impossible to find a set at any time of the day or night at Peace on Earth.  Taking advantage of the quiet before the storm, a number of Iditarod volunteers spent a little quiet time at Peace on Earth this afternoon.  I highly recommend their veggie pizza with Canadian bacon.   

Peace on Earth Pizza in Unalakleet