Working the river as the race came through Skwentna was quite a magical experience. There’s the energy of the musher’s and dog teams, there was the crystal clear night sky with billions of stars, there was the crisp zero degree air (no wind), there was the crunch of snow with every step taken and then for the frosting on the cake – there were low to medium grade northern lights. I contemplated trying a picture but… it’s just etched forever on the sensitive emulsion sheet of my mind – I’ll credit that line to a book called “On the Loose.”

It was a very significant year at Skwentna for Joe and Norma Delia who have hosted the checkpoint for as long as the race has been in existence. Joe homesteaded the place in 1948 and has been the postmaster since then. He’s legendary as a woodsman, hunter and trapper. The Delias are well into their golden years and plan to move to the road system leaving the Skwentna River, the post office behind and Iditarod behind. The Skwentna Checkpoint as it’s been known for 39 years, closed for ever on Monday morning at 10:50 when the last team headed to Finger Lake.

Born to Run,

Sanka