Hello Friends, A friend from Wisconsin just asked if sled dogs liked the cold weather. The answer is YES, the weather is pawsome! We have adaptations to help us survive cold weather such as two layers of fur (guard hair and underfur), a special kind of fat in our toe pads so our feet don’t …
Hello friends, Last week I used my paws to write about how the race has evolved since the first Iditarod in 1973. These changes include the rules that are updated on a yearly basis. The race rules are used to keep the race fair, keep the mushers safe, and especially to keep my canine friends …
Hello Friends, A student recently asked how this crazy race got started. In 1948 Joe Redington, Sr. moved his family from the lower 48 to the great state of Alaska. He fell in love with the land and the culture, including the running of sled dogs. He had a keen sense of adventure as he …
Hello friends, I think we can all agree that 2020 was kind of RUFF. Looking forward to 2021 and the 49th running of the Iditarod (in the 49th state) is exciting for all of us here at Iditarod Headquarters. However, it won’t be a “normal” race. From a dog’s perspective, this year’s route is the …
Hello friends, The Elim 11 all arrived in Nome on Sunday morning beginning around 7:30 Alaska time. The final tail wag under the Burled Arch belonged to the team of Kaci Murringer who captured the Red Lantern Award – the award for the last finisher of the Iditarod. 57 teams started the 2020 Iditarod and …
Hello friends, This has been one crazy Iditarod! 3 mushers were rescued by helicopter due to deep overflow on the trail. Read about that here. All canines and humans are safe and healthy. The final 11 teams still racing turned back to Elim on Friday after they encountered poor trail conditions. They decided to wait …
Hello friends, With my friends Piper and Phoenix in the lead, the team of Mille Porslid captured Rookie of the Year. What’s a rookie? That is a musher who has never run the Iditarod. While Mille has never been in The Last Great Race, she has plenty of dogsledding experience. When interviewed after crossing under …
Hello friends, Schools around Alaska and the Lower 48 are closed due to the Coronavirus. This is a health safety issue that can’t be helped. Here at Iditarod we worried about our volunteers on the trail as well as the people in the villages. Checkpoints were adjusted to reroute teams around the villages and the …
Hello friends, During these risky times, the Iditarod has had to make some difficult decisions. The race will go on, but checkpoints have been moved to protect the villages. Teams will still get straw, Heet, and their drop bags as these are essential supplies for canines and humans alike. This is certainly a disappointment for …
