The race is on! Pike’s Waterfront Lodge was buzzing early in the morning as spectators came to watch the official re-start of Iditarod 2025. It was a beautiful blue bird sky and 11°, but the morning quickly warmed up. The staging area, where the dog trucks park and mushers can get their teams hooked up and fully ready, was a little further from the starting line than when the re-start is in Willow, which was noticeable when the handlers were out of breath when they got the teams to the starting line.
Fun fact- in the staging area, the mushers receive their GPS trackers, which are placed in a dog bootie, then attached to each sled. There are SO many ways to use the information from the GPS trackers in your classroom. In my classroom, I have a Clear Touch with the GPS tracker pulled up during the race. Students often re-fresh, change out the layers (terrain is a favorite), look at the information on each checkpoint, number of dogs per team, average speed, and miles to the finish. Use the tools and let your students explore!
First out on the trail was Jason Mackey and last out on the trail was Emily Ford. During the Ceremonial Start, mushers left at 3 minute intervals, but at the re-start the mushers left at 2 minute intervals. I will post more later about how the time will even out during the mandatory 24 hour layovers. Shortly after all teams left the starting line, I left for the first checkpoint with the photographers and the race judge for Nenana. This was my first time on a small airplane and it was incredible seeing the teams from the air!
It was fun talking with the people of Nenana! A 3rd grader was really excited to tell me about how they made cupcakes for volunteers and mushers at school earlier that day. There were letters and pictures from the students on tables inside the checkpoint building for the mushers and many kids decorated posters to cheer on the teams. Locals made food for the volunteers including moose stew, spaghetti, soup, cookies, and more. If the Iditarod were to pass through your town, what would your students consider important to do or make for the mushers and volunteers?
By a little after 10pm AKST, all but one team had either arrived and stayed at Nenana or passed through. The mushers who chose to stay at the checkpoint laid out straw for their dogs, gave them food and water, and many chose to take a nap before continuing on to Manley (mile 137). Get your students talking– what would be the strategy in resting before/after a checkpoint vs staying at the checkpoint?
More to come tomorrow! Questions? Send me a message! emailtheteacher@iditarod.com
