Tails from the Trail

Tonight was the mushers meet and greet and banquet.  It was an exciting night for both the mushers and their fans.  The first hour was a meet and greet where fans were able to meet all the mushers and have them sign autographs and take pictures with them.  I was able to talk to and wish luck to so many.  I was especially excited to talk with rookie Gabe Dunham.  I will be joining her in Anchorage on Saturday as her Iditarider. 

The 2020 Iditarod Honorary Musher is Gail Philips.  She will be the first to leave the starting line in Anchorage this Saturday.  This honor is given each year to someone who has made a significant contribution to the Iditarod legacy.  Gail served on the board of directors for the Iditarod from 1975-1979.  She also was a race coordinator from 1977-1979.  Gail continues to be involved in the Iditarod as a board member of the Iditarod Trail Race Foundation.  Gail is also one of the 11 writers to publish the book “Iditarod-First Ten Years”  Her continued service and contributions to the Iditarod are long-lasting.   

The drawing of the bib numbers is divided into two groups. The first group to pick their bib numbers are the mushers who registered for the Iditarod at the Musher’s sign-up and Volunteer Picnic on June 29, 2019, by 2:30 pm. The second group is the mushers who registered any day or time after June 29, 2019, at 2:30 pm. Each musher is called to the stage to draw their number out of a traditional Mukluk boot.

Martin Massicotte

The first musher to head to Nome, wearing bib number 2, will be Martin Massicotte. This will be Martin’s first Iditarod.  He has previously run the Yukon Quest, the Can-Am Crown 250, and the Hudson Bay Quest.  Veteran musher Paige Drobny will be wearing bib number 58, being the last musher to leave Willow for Nome.  This will be Paige’s 6th Iditarod.  She placed 7th in the 2019 Iditarod.

A Tribute to Perseverance

Who was the first musher to cross under the new Burled Arch in 1975? It was the 1975 champion of the Iditarod Emmitt Peters. He finished the race in 14 days 14 hours 43 minutes and 45 seconds.  This was significantly faster, nearly 6 days than the 1974 and 1973 finishers.  Emmitt was the last rookie to win the Iditarod.  After winning, he continued to race for 14 more years, running his final race in 2000.

Teachers

Now that the mushers have their bib numbers you can integrate elapsed time with the Iditarod. Use this link to find out the order in which the mushers will leave.

If  Martin Massicotte leaves Anchorage at 10:00, and the mushers leave at two-minute intervals.  What time will Paige Drobny leave?

If the race starts at 10:00 and Lance Mackey is wearing bib number 12, what time will he leave Anchorage?

How many minutes will Kristy Berington be on the trail before Anna Berington?