People, Places, or Dogs

Eye on the Trail: Telephoto Story – Jed Stephensen

Siri Raitto has captured another classic full team profile, this one is of Jed Stephensen Leaving McGrath.

Eye on the Trail: Telephoto Story – Thursday

Three sled dogs share an Island of Straw at McGrath Checkpoint.   Rookie Bridgett Watkins arrives in Takotna where she’ll take her 24-hour layover.   Snow depth in Takotna measured by the height of a vehicle of unknown make and model.

Eye on the Trail: Telephoto Story – Wednesday

David Poyzer of the Insider crew has provided us with some stunning photos from Rainy Pass and Rohn.  Enjoy these and his other photos in the Iditarod Photo Gallery. Twenty four planes are sitting on Puntilla Lake, some for spectators and some IAF planes to transport Iditarod personnel.   This is one for the Stephensen …

Eye on the Trail: Telephoto Story – Tuesday

Ah, the comforts of straw and a double layered coat!  It’s a perfect sled dog morning! One of the Berington twins enjoys a seal-a-meal breakfast at Finger Lake.

Eye on the Trail: Telephoto Story – Monday

Ryan Redington has crossed Willow Lake and climbs the bank to enjoy wooded trails ahead.  Imagine what this sounds like.   Brent Sass with Pink and Slater in lead along the wooded trails beyond Willow Lake.  Imagine what this sounds like.    We track mushers thanks to low tech dog booties and large safety pins. …

Eye on the Trail: Sled Dogs – How Do They Do What They Do?

A standard marathon is 26.2 miles in length.  Iditarod’s Southern Route is 998 miles long.  That is pretty close to the length of 39 marathons.  If you’ve ever met a marathoner at the finish line, the runner is spent.  Even if you give your runner something to drink, a chunk of banana and an orange …

Eye on the Trail: Iditarod Nation Honors Lance

Lance Mackey, often referred to as the peoples champion, will be honored by the Iditarod Nation during the 11 mile Ceremonial run from 4th Avenue to Campbell Airstrip.  A member of his family, wearing bib #1, will occupy the sled of Jr. Iditarod Champion, Emily Robinson gliding through the streets of Anchorage lined with  thousands …

Eye on the Trail: Race Week

Race week is hectic or perhaps even chaotic but it’s organized and it’s exciting to be a part of.  There is plenty to keep race fans busy during the week and it might include taking a turn on a Ferris wheel. For me, Iditarod begins on the last Saturday of February.  Wait, wait you say!  …

Eye on the Trail: Rookie Review Part 3

The final three rookie mushers you’ll meet in this segment have all called the lower 48 home.  Jennifer LaBar grew up in Tennesse while Greg and Bailey Vitello currently reside in Milan, New Hampshire.  LaBar has since moved to Healy, Alaska. Jennifer LaBar has hiked 1,000 miles on the Appalachian Trail and is now ready …

Eye on the Trail: Rookie Review Part 2

The three Iditarod rookies introduced in this segment of Rookie Review include Jed Stephensen who lives in Idaho, Eddie Burke Jr. who grew up in anchorage and Hunter Keefe from Michigan.  all live in the lower 48.  Jed Stephensen who lives with his wife and twin sons in Sandpoint, Idaho, grew up in Germany where …