Iditarod
Twenty-one teams have finished Iditarod XLVI. Having been in several checkpoints along the trail, a pattern of “bunches” has developed, a bunch of twenty near the front. McGrath experienced a very dense influx of mushers near the front as did Nome and everywhere between. I’m now in Nome and will pick up with the mushers …
While Joar Leifseth Ulsom was on his way to Nome from White Mountain, Shayne Traska was feeding her dogs on the slough in Unalakleet. Shayne and Joar, pictured above, were the lucky mushers to win free entry fees for the 20918 Iditarod. As they signed up to race at the Volunteer Picnic at Iditarod Headquarters …
Congratulations to Joar Leifseth Ulson and his leaders Russeren & Olive as champions of Iditarod XLVI. Joar and his powerful high spirited team made the Burled Arch in 9 days and 12 hours March 14 at 03:00. This was a race unlike others in recent history. The trail has been challenging for the leaders all …
Aaron Peck changed out sleds before departing Unalakleet on Tuesday afternoon. He’d shipped a smaller sled ahead for the 216-mile run along the coast to Nome. He changed out runner plastic as many of the mushers were doing before departing Unalakleet. Last Night Cody Strathe changed from red to green because the green had a …
For a while today the youngest and the oldest mushers of Iditarod XLVI were in Unalakleet. Jim Lanier who is 77 was parked on the slough at the same time as 18 year-old Andrew Nolan. Lanier and Nolan are running near the middle of the pack. Lanier has run in five decades of Iditarod. Nolan …
As the first musher to White Mountain, Joar Leifseth Ulsom, wins the inaugural Northrim Bank Achieve More Award. Joar arrived in White Mountain at 07:52 with 12 dogs in harness. Jed Ballard, Chief Financial Officer of Northrim Bank, presented the award to Ulsom, which included a $2,500 check and a one-of-a-kind print by Anchorage artist …
For the three leading teams that departed Shaktoolik during the wee hours of the morning, the run to Koyuk has been a challenge. Leading the pack was Nic Petit but Joar Leifseth Ulsom overtook him. Taking a wrong turn on the run to Koyuk, Petit lost the trail. Joar passed him by and arrived in …
There is a distance of roughly 300 miles from leader to red lantern in Iditarod XLVI. The Back of the Pack has departed Anvik to run north and slightly east on the Yukon River. The front of the pack, having departed Shaktoolik, is on Norton Sound heading pretty much north to the village of Koyuk. …
In Kaltag, the Yukon River takes a sweeping turn away from the Iditarod trail and mushers enter a new phase of the race. From here they continue overland through the Kaltag Portage, an 82-mile corridor through the Whaleback mountains that leads to the Bering Sea Coast. As mushers approach Unalakleet, the dense mountains that …
The checkpoint was filled with spectators as the mushers came off the Kaltag Trail. Nic Petit, shared the checkpoint briefly with Joar Leifseth Ulsom and Mitch Seavey. After a 5.5 hour rest, Petit headed to Shaktoolik. Joar Rested just an hour and forty-two minutes and followed Nic. Mitch rested just over three hours before leaving …
