Many people are  often curious about how mushers can have enough supplies for themselves and their dogs as they travel along the Iditarod Trail and make their way to Nome. At almost every checkpoint that a musher arrives at, he/she has a drop bag, or several drop bags, waiting there.

For most mushers, planning what should go into the drop bags occurs months prior to the start of the race. Mushers can pack up to three drop bags per each checkpoint which accepts deliveries, and the bags cannot individually exceed 50 pounds; food and/or gear is not shipped to Yentna nor Finger Lake. Mushers’ drop bags must be packed and finalized several weeks before the race. This enables a group of volunteers to help sort the bags based on their checkpoint destination.

So, what goes in the drop bags? Mushers will pack dog food, dog snacks, as well as personal items: their own food, articles of clothing, batteries, gear, etc.

When I arrived in Nikolai today, the checkpoint was still in the process of being organized. It is important to note that Iditarod volunteers and representatives are not the only people who prepare and help facilitate this race. The people who live in the villages are very much involved with the Iditarod and enjoy seeing the mushers and their teams. 

Every drop bag has the name of a particular checkpoint on it (this helps with the organization and delivery process that takes place before the start of the race). Additionally, each musher writes his/her name on each drop bag. While the bags are sorted at the checkpoints, a list is used as a reference to make sure that every bag a musher intended to deliver was actually delivered. Bags are placed in alphabetical order by the mushers’ last name. This allows the mushers to quickly locate the bags when they reach a checkpoint.

Did you notice that some of the mushers used particularly bright colors, brights tapes, and large stenciling on their bags? Not only will it be easier to find those bags, but it will simultaneously save time.

***Teachers*** Have your students design their own personalized drop bag. Or, if your entire school is on board, have each class design a classroom drop bag and display them throughout the school.