When the start of the Iditarod was moved to Fairbanks for 2015, folks who live in the area and wouldn’t normally make the Re-start in Willow would have a chance to witness the mushers take to the trail.  One such musher was Mary Shields.  She’s an iconic figure in Iditarod History.

Mary Shields welcomes fans, mushers and athletes to the Re-start of Iditarod 43 in Fairbanks

In 1974, Shields and Lolly Medley were the first women to sign up for and participate in the Iditarod.  Mary crossed the finish line in Nome 29 minutes ahead of Medley to become the first woman to finish Iditarod.  It took Shields and Medley 28 days to finish the iditarod.  

As a college student, Shields came to Alaska in 1965.  She worked for Campfire Girls and then her life went to the dogs, sled dogs that is.  Racing might not have been her first interest with sled dogs, but certainly camping with her dogs was something she loved.  

Mary opens her kennel and home for tours.  She introduces her visitors to her dogs and talks about her extensive long distance mushing experiences in Alaska and Siberia.  Mary lives in a beautiful log cabin with a sod roof many miles from Fairbanks. She bakes a pan of brownies and serves them with lemonade to tourists as they sit and enjoy a video presentation.  Shields is a remarkable woman who has inspired countless other women to take up the sport.

Just prior to Rob Cooke leaving the Re-start in Fairbanks, Mary Shields took the public address microphone and spoke to all the race fans and athletes.  Shields bid everyone good morning then reminded the dogs to stay calm and drink their water.  Shields told the fans of how important they are to the mushers, “It’s pretty easy to slip down the starting chute, but somewhere in the next 979 miles each of these mushers will find a serious, dangerous challenge to there; maybe knee deep overflow or a stubborn moose holding down the trail or winds in the face as they try to slip over a pass.  In those moments the mushers will remember you cheering faces, your encouragement and in that way you will help them move on down the trail.”  To the musher Shields said, “This is a message from a musher who just like you, was waiting to take off on the second Iditarod, forty-one years ago.  Every musher around the world wishes they could be in your shoes.  Every time you harness your dogs, put your parka on remember every minutes of it.  The years pass and you’ll wonder where all the time went.  Take good care of yourself and remember every minute.”  

Then Mary gave the musher wearing bib #2, Rob Cooke his count down, “5 – 4 – 3 – 2 – 1 – GO!”  The race had begun. 

Mary has written “Sled Dog Tails” and has a video, “Seasons of the Sled Dog.”  Both of these treasures are available for purchase.