4 am—Finger Lake—Nicholas Petit first in by Joe Runyan, 1989 Iditarod Champ Nicholas Petit leads a tight pack of front runners into Finger Lake at about 4am (please check the wonderful resources for exact times and gps location at the Insider). Temperatures hang around -11F with a slight breeze putting an accent on the cold. …
Sunday ——–Late Evening—-Waiting for Mushers to Arrive in Finger Lake We launch at 5PM, Willow airport, for Finger Lake Checkpoint. Bruce Lee, Insider commentator is sitting front seat, and we immediately request an overfly of the the Skwetna River to intercept mushers. On schedule, we view the front pack travelling at a trot within a …
Race Crowd Swell in early Afternoon As the 2PM start time nears, the crowds swell to the border fences on the starting chute. Luckily I had a press pass to get through the security gates into the mushers parking lot. Sun was intense, and I found myself absolutely sweltering in parka and insulated pants. All …
Start of the Race—-Early morning arrivals anticipate 2PM start Technically, the exit of Iditarod mushers from Willow Alaska is known as the Restart. But, to race aficionados it really is the start of the race. The clock starts, the rules are clear that no more help or assistance for the musher is allowed. From Willow …
Ceremonial Start—Saturday AM, Downtown Abchorage, Part II The quiet of the early morning is replaced by madness, barking dogs, caucophony, human pedestrian congestion, and action. I think the entire Iditarod community of mushers and handlers and media just want to end the posturing and unloose the dogs. Friends, spouses, girl friends, boy friends, joke that …
7AM—Downtown Anchorage—the Ceremonial Start In order to get a parking spot within reasonable walking distance for the 10AM starting chute on 4th avenue, we arrive at 7:00 AM. Check out the photo of the empty street, slathered with hundreds of dump truck loads of snow. The city of Anchorage dips into their dump piles …
Last Minute Preparations for the Ceremonial Start on Saturday Morning Friday night and I thought it appropriate to catch humans in their final moments before calling it a day. The mushers prepare for the real launch of the race on 4th Avenue , downtown Anchorage. While the ceremonial start is mandatory, it’s largely regarded …
Friday in the Dog Lot—Lull before the Start This Friday March 2 is the rest day, the lull before the start of frenzied activity on 4th Avenue, Anchorage when the Restart officially begins the annual migration of Iditarod mushers to the finish in Nome. Circulating in the parking lot of the Millenium, now home to …
The Mandatory Musher Meeting—Don’t Miss It 9AM—Musher Meeting With the ebb and flow of traffic like a train station, all seemed chaos at the Millenium Hotel headquarters of Iditarod this morning. Gradually, however, one could discern a more concentrated stream of humanity walking out of the breakfast lounge or through the revolving front doors winding …
Team Baker Announces the Iditarod Season with an Appreciation for Supporter and Friends The Iditarod Season was formally launched Team Baker, a tightknit network of friends organized by John’s brothers and sisters. A huge gala with food, featured speakers, off the wall humor, invited Iditarod volunteers, sponsors, mushers and friends is staged annually at …
