Piles of snow await spreading on 4th Avenue in Anchorage

On the eve of Iditarod, 4th Avenue in Anchorage is being transformed from a regular city street to a trail covered in clean snow for mushing.  One right after the other, trucks dump loads at intervals along the avenue.  Graders follow to smooth the snow into a three inch trial.  A thicker trail creates problems for parking the dog trucks and a thinner trail proves challenging for the sled drivers in braking.  Mushers will begin arriving early in the morning to get situated for the 10:00 Ceremonial Start of Iditarod XLVII.  Idita-riders will enjoy an eleven mile run to Campbell Airstrip.  Thousands of spectators will line the street and the trail out to the BLM.  It’s a spectator’s paradise for mushing fans.  God Speed to all!

Graders create a trail 3 inches deep on 4th Avenue and the side streets.