News

Eye on the Trail: Telephoto Story – Cindy Abbott

Cindy Abbott, Iditarod’s 2015 Red Lantern Recipient, spoke to the teachers about her experiences on the trail.  Abbott also shared basic race information to give the teacher’s a better understanding of the Iditarod as they use the Last Great Race as a theme for education in their classrooms.  Abbott is the only woman to have …

Eye on the Trail: Nome Awards Banquet

Folks in Nome headed to the Nome Recreation Center for the Iditarod Finisher’s Banquet on a calm, sunny, warm afternoon.  All the mushers were off the trail.  The Widow’s Lamp was extinguished.  The banquet would put Iditarod XLIV in the history books. Chefs from the Lakefront Alaska Hotel of Anchorage prepared a meal that was …

Eye on the Trail: So much to do, So little time in Nome

It won’t be long and the festivities of the Finisher’s Banquet will get underway.  The banquet is held in the Nome Recreation Center which for the past week has been the site of the world’s largest basketball tournament.  Over night it’s been transformed into a banquet facility. The City of Nome is one hopping place …

Eye on the Trail: Helwig Earns Red Lantern

Rookie Mary Helwig made Nome at 2351.  Seems that it’s never too late or too early for a celebration at the burled arch at the end of the Iditarod Trail.  There were people shoulder to shoulder lining both sides of the chute for it’s full length waiting to say welcome to Mary Helwig and farewell …

Eye on the Trail: Finale for Gallea

At the Finisher’s Banquet in Nome last year, Cindy Gallea announced it would be her last Iditarod.  Needless to say I was surprised to see her at the Wednesday pre-race vet check.  Having said, “Last race,” Cindy also said, “It’s difficult to let go of something that is deep in my soul and that gives …

Eye on the Trail: Franklin and Bacon Make Nome

They’ve become good friends over the miles as they traveled in what looked like a little train.  They share the special bond of Iditarod.  Kim Franklin and Kristin Bacon came into Nome one behind the other like a little train and parked under the burled arch side by side.  There was a large crowd and …

Eye on the Trail: Stokey and Cooke in Nome

Claiming 66th place in Iditarod XLIV is Sarah Stokey.  Sarah and her fiancee, Travis Beals, operate Turning Heads Kennel near Seward, Alaska.  Sarah and Travis became engaged when Travis completed his rookie run in 2013.  He proposed and she accepted under the burled arch. Sarah was running the kennel’s puppy team.  Her goal was to …

Eye on the Trail: Lunch Trio in Nome

Early afternoon on Friday brought three more mushers to the finish line in Nome.  Larry Daugherty was the first to make the climb to Front Street followed by Patrick Beall and Lisbet Norris. The first word Larry Daugherty heard after he set his snow hook under the burled arch was DADDY!  His wife and children …

Eye on the Trail: Failor and Anderson at the arch

Matt Failor, born and raised in Ohio, finished Iditarod in 61st place with a time of 11days, 18 hours and 54 minutes.  He made his rookie run to Nome in 2012 and has been a constant in the race ever since.  Matt recorded his personal best time and place in 2014.  Running the course in …

Eye on the Trail: Graduation Ceremony in Nome

If I could be in grade school again, Trent Herbst is the teacher I’d select.  His class room is based on experiential hands on learning.  He uses Iditarod for connecting math and science to real life applications.  Over the years, Trent’s students have built his sled, constructed his snow shoes, calculated caloric needs for his …