Iditarod
As quickly as it boomed, the town of Iditarod––where many mushers are now headed––vanished. In the span of a few years, what began as a tent camp flourished into a bustling town in the gold rush, sharply died off as gold deposits diminished, and eventually faded all together with the onset of the first …
In McGrath things are winding down. If all goes as anticipated, the final teams well be on their way to Takotna by noon on Friday. The teams that are currently in Iditarod will be moving forward to the Yukon River. The Lakefront Anchorage sponsors the First to the Yukon Award. Chefs will be awaiting the …
Perhaps it’s by necessity but mushers seem to be very ingenious people who are good at designing and building things. In the checkpoint are two such mushers who have interesting stories. Al Eischens and his wife Tanjela operate Cable 17. It’s a sewing and embroidery company named after a dog, Cable, and the fact with …
At 20:28 last evening, Joar Leifseth Ulsom made the half-way checkpoint of Iditarod (mile 432). Tara Wheatland of GCI was there to present the GCI Dorothy G. Page Half-way Award. GCI has sponsored this award since 1994. The award honors the late “Mother of the Iditarod,” Dorothy G. Page. The winner receives a trophy …
Two former JR Iditarod champions are resting in McGrath. Andrew Nolan claimed the JR Iditarod crown in 2017. Noah Pereira became the first non-Alaskan to win the JR Iditarod in 2013. Other JR Iditarod champions that are on the Iditarod trail in 2018 include Ryan Redington (1999 & 2000) and Ramey Smyth (1992 & 1993). …
Monica Zappa arrived in McGrath mid afternoon on Wednesday. Monica came in behind the leadership of tried and true Blue Steel. She’ll stay for a short time then move on to Takotna. Zappa echoed the other mushers in reporting the trail coming all the way from Rohn has been soft. Some have described the trail …
Thirty-two mushers have passed through McGrath over night. Early mushers included Mitch Seavey, Joar Leifseth Ulsom, Nicolas Petit, Ryan Redington, Ray Redington Jr. and Aaron Burmeister. Seavey won the PenAir Spirit of Alaska Award. Strategies are revealed at this point of the race. Seavey went on to Takotna for his 24-hour rest. Joar surprised everyone …
The Dalzell Gorge cascades down from the Alaska Range into a narrow river valley, which the Tatina river still carves at a geological pace. Down-valley, the river passes Egypt Mountain, an iconic cornerstone at the north end of the Alaska Range where the valley dramatically opens up into the wide expanse of the Alaskan …
McGrath checkpoint welcomed Mitch Seavey as the winner of the Pen Air Spirit of Alaska Award. Seavey, wearing Bib 13, departed Nikolai at 12:49 followed very closely by Joar Leifseth Ulsom, Ryan Redington, Nicolas Petit, Aaron Burmeister, Wade Marrs and Ray Redington Jr. McGrath will be a busy place this evening, overnight and all through …
Mushers shipped sleds to McGrath. They are sitting at the checkpoint waiting to be called into action. It’s like a fashion show for sleds. Some are Prairie Built, some are Dog Paddle Designs and some made by the mushers themselves out of Ultra-lite but Ultra-strong hockey sticks. It’s been snowing the sled have a settled …
