Hello friends,

It’s official!  The 2017 Iditarod will begin in Fairbanks. How does this work? On the first Saturday in March there is something called the Ceremonial Start. This takes place on 4th Avenue in downtown Anchorage.  It’s howling fun.

Rounding the corner with smiles on our faces.

People called “Iditariders” get to have the ride of a lifetime in sleds with dogs and mushers as we run down 4th Avenue – make a flying 90° turn and run through the trail system around the city. There are people from all around the world, young and old, who come to pet us and talk to our mushers. The good news is that even though the official start is in Fairbanks, we will still have our Anchorage Ceremonial Start.

After the Ceremonial Start, we would typically ride in a truck with our mushers 70 miles to Willow Lake in Willow, AK for Sunday’s official start. This year we have a longer ride because we have to go to Fairbanks – 359 miles! The officials at Iditarod HQ realize that our legs need to be stretched several times along the way so they are giving us until Monday, March 6 before we officially start.

While some of my friends are doggone disappointed they won’t get to see some of their favorite checkpoints through the mountains, they realize this year’s change is for the safety of dogs and mushers.

                   Tail wags,

         Zuma