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Article by Rob Stapleton Excerpt from the book Iditarod: The First 10 Years, an anthology compiled by The Old Iditarod Gang. While the dogs are the athletes of the Iditarod, aircraft and the people who pilot them are the workhorses of the 1,049-mile race. With no road access available past the Anchorage ceremonial start …
Every year, hundreds of volunteers take on various roles and effectively make the Iditarod work. Some estimate that more than 1,500 people volunteer per a race. Volunteer positions include dog handlers, security, veterinarians, trailbreakers, communications (“comms”), cooks, logistics, and more. Arguably speaking, one of the most important group of volunteers is the Iditarod Air Force, …
Hello friends, I have a question from my new human friend Charlie. He asked, …
Forget Alaska-based aviation reality television shows––the Iditarod Air Force pilots are the real deal. With twenty-eight pilots comprising 300,000-plus cumulative flight hours––over 200,000 of which are in Alaska––there is no better group of pilots to call upon to grapple the logistical soup that is Iditarod. These volunteer pilots fly straw bales, drop bags, checkpoint volunteers, …
reposted from Annie Kelley McGuire 2017 Iditarod Teacher on the Trail with revisions Gary Paulsen, an Iditarod finisher, is one of my favorite authors for my 4th grade students. Paulsen’s style of writing is engaging and keeps the readers on their toes. Currently my language arts class is reading Hatchet, a story of a thirteen …
Gary Paulsen, an Iditarod finisher, is one of my favorite authors for my 4th grade students. Paulsen’s style of writing is engaging and keeps the readers on their toes. Currently my language arts class is reading Hatchet, a story of a thirteen year old boy who survives a plane crash in the Canadian wilderness. I …
On Tuesday, March 5th an Iditarod Air Force pilot carrying one passenger had an issue during takeoff that resulted in the plane landing inverted at the Checkpoint of Iditarod. Both the pilot and the passenger walked away from the plane unharmed. The FAA has been notified and the NTSB has released the plane. Any inquiries …
The Iditarod Air Force is made up of pilots, both men and women, who are willing to donate their time, talents and ski equipped bush planes to support The Last Great Race. Call their collective efforts a lifeline, network or support system, but basically it would be impossible for the 1049-mile race to exist without …
When some people think of me being the Teacher on the Trail, they think of me on a dog sled racing along. Now I have an adventurous spirit – but not that adventurous. I will actually be flying to different checkpoints along the trail with the Iditarod Air Force, a group of pilot volunteers who …
March 11, 2023 Rookie musher Gregg Vitello scratches at Iditarod checkpoint Anchorage, Alaska – Rookie musher Gregg Vitello (bib #29), of Milan, New Hampshire, scratched at 3:34 p.m. today at the Iditarod checkpoint which was in best interest of his team. Greg contacted Race Marshal Mark Nordman through a third party and …
