Terrie Hanke
Snow fell over night making the start of the JR Iditarod on Knik Lake a magical snowy winter wonderland. The temperatures were pleasant and the winds were light as the mushers prepared for the start. No matter how much preparation is done in advance of the race, there’s still plenty to do between parking the …
The stage is set for the forty-first JR Iditarod. Earlier today mushers brought their dogs in for vet check. This evening they gathered for bib draw, pizza, cake and race rule information. Eleven mushers will take to the trail on Saturday morning. Bib number 1 is reserved for the honorary mushers – Bernie and Jeanette …
Former JR Iditarod Champion, Cim Smyth, is the 2018 Race Marshall. During Cim’s four year Jr. Iditarod career that began in 1991, he placed 7th, 2nd twice and claimed gold on his final run in 1994. As a matter of fact, the JR Iditarod was dominated by the Smyth boys for three years running. Older brother, …
The field for the JR. Iditarod has grown to eleven mushers. The teens, aging from 14 – 17 years in age, are anxious and excited to run the 150 miles from Knik Lake out to the Yentna Station Road House and then finishing at the Willow Community Center. The race is billed as the race …
Teens ranging in age from 14 to 17 are anxious and excited to run the 150 miles from Knik Lake out to the Yentna Station Roadhouse then to the finish line at the Willow Community Center. When the teens reach Yentna Station located on the big bend of the Yentna River, they’ll camp with their …
No doubt many long distance mushing fans quenched their insatiable thirst for stories from the trail and at the same time honed their musher tracking skills by following the Yukon Quest in February as they await the start of Iditarod XLVI on March 3rd. The Iditarod and Quest are the longest sled dog races on …
Take a look at this dog team leaving the JR Iditarod start in 2017. Katie Dietz and a very excited City Slicker team charge out of the chute toward Yentna Station Roadhouse. The dogs are filled with energy, clearly showing their love for running and pulling. Authorities on working dogs tell us that dogs doing …
As the foliage of the deciduous trees changes color, as the days become shorter and as the temperatures drop, clearly fall is in the air. Ed and Tasha Stielstra of Nature’s Kennel in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan provide another sure sign of fall, the Annual Mid-west Sled Dog Symposium and Iditarod Teacher’s Conference. This …
Mushers are required to carry certain pieces of equipment during the race. During the Summer Iditarod Teacher’s Camp held at Vern Halter’s Dream a Dream Dog Homestead, we staged the required gear. In the photo you’ll see dog food, sleeping bag, trail mail, snow shoes, axe, booties, Heet, vet book, cooker and cooking pot. A …
I’m forever impressed by all the work that goes into hosting a checkpoint. It’s an endeavor that brings the community, both young and old and everyone in-between together. People cook and provide delicious food for the mushers and volunteers, there’s organizing the musher parking, readying places for the mushers and volunteers to sleep and of …
