“Away up in Alaska, the state that stands alone,

there’s a dog race run from Anchorage into Nome”.

Hobo Jim  Iditarod Trail Song

This song has been the foundation for so many classrooms these last few months as we have been teaching our students about the Iditarod!   Today that song came to life as the 50th Iditarod Sled Dog Race kicked off its ceremonial start in Anchorage.

This race changes lives.  It often starts when a student in school learns about the Iditarod from a teacher and years later, they are mushing in the Iditarod.  Or a child is born into a mushing, dog kennel owning family and this is the only way of life they know.  Or a young adult comes to Alaska to dog handle for a musher for a summer, and never leaves. This race is about transformation.  Enjoy some of my noticings as I watched first hand the ceremonial start of the 50th Iditarod Sled Dog Race unfold.

Snow coming in by truck the night before the race.	Piles of snow on Fourth Street.
TOTT Finalists having fun on the snow piles!	The next morning, snow ready for dog teams.

The streets of Anchorage were transformed last night to this morning.  Dump trucks of snow created a busy and fascinating atmosphere on Fourth Avenue Friday night when piles of snow were dumped about every 30 feet to lay the foundation for the race trail for Saturday morning.  But mother nature helped out the trail-creators and provided Anchorage with a beautiful, snow globe like snow Saturday morning.  Brian Hickox, Teacher on the Trail 2019, wrote a post about the ceremonial start for Iditarod 47.  Here are some of Brian’s explanations about how the streets of Anchorage are transformed the night before the race.

“On the night before the ceremonial start, up to 150 dump truck loads of snow are deposited on the streets of Anchorage. Additional large machines are used to help spread out the snow and groom it. For the ceremonial start, the Iditarod uses recycled snow that is clean and safe for the dogs and the mushers. The snow is stockpiled at an offsite location and is typically also used for the Fur Rondy events that similarly take place downtown. The process of dumping the snow begins around 8 P.M. and usually ends anywhere between 12 A.M. and 3 A.M. In regard to the depth of the snow, there have been years where almost one foot of snow has been dumped and groomed along the streets. While watching the Ceremonial Start, one may easily overlook and forget that the snow the teams travel on actually wasn’t there 24 hours prior.”

Read all of Brian’s post  Prepping the Ceremonial Start. 

Dogs are transformed because they get to go, go, go and run to Nome!  Hard working dog handlers are getting these excited sled dogs to the starting line and crowds are cheering them on as they race by.  These sled dogs are happy dogs with their big smiles and floppy tongues leading the way and giving their musher and Idita-Rider the ride of their life.  There is nothing like seeing a smiling dog team running down the trail.

As the snow continued to fall during the race my thinking was transformed about the arctic lifestyle and that arctic life in Alaska is not always conducive for cars or planes or even people!  But the sled dog treats it like it’s the BEST DAY EVER to run in the cold and snow!  People are bundled on the streets of Anchorage trying to stay warm and dry, but the sled dog is cozy running with his buddies because of his two layers of coat that keeps him warm and dry.   Traffic on Fifth Avenue has cars sliding through intersections as the snow kept coming down and some mushers even had their sleds turn onto their side as they made the turn (or not make the turn)  at the end of Fourth Avenue. But those sled dogs kept on their feet with speed and agility and wondered why they had to stop running while the musher righted their sled before continuing down the street.

As each musher was announced at the starting line and given their two minute countdown, rookie musher Amanda Otto was quoted as saying, “I get to tackle the trail with the best teammates in the world.”   There are eleven Rookies in this years race and their journey down the Iditarod Trail will transform their lives as they put their skill and endurance to the test within the great Alaskan landscape.    

The Iditarod Sled Dog Race is transformational for attendees too.  Hearing the crowd cheer on mushers they have followed all their lives, or who have zoomed with a class of students, or is carrying a classes Trail Mail warms the heart of fans of the race.  Iditarod is a family that stretches across the world and into classrooms and homes.  It truly touches hearts and inspires people to reach for the stars and dream BIG. 

A trail of dreams.

The restart is tomorrow.  Having one more day to see joyous dogs and eager mushers is a great way to spend a Sunday.  

Teachers:  We always want our students to glow and grow so they can realize their own transformation during a school year.  Have students reflect on how they have transformed so far this school year and have them share it during parent/teacher conferences or in a quick note home.

They could reflect on:

• Academic Goals
• Social/Emotional Goals
• Hobby/Interest/Sports Goals
• Home Goals