SIXTEEN!!! Yes, sixteen mushers are on the trail heading to Yentna Station. That’s the largest Jr. Iditarod field since 2009. How incredible that while Iditarod numbers are dwindling, Jr. Iditarod numbers are growing. The race began at 10:00 Saturday February 25th on Knik Lake when Bib #1, Honorary Musher Lance Mackey was called to the …
Jr. Iditarod and Iditarod have named Lance Mackey as the 2023 Honorary Musher. Mackey participated in the Jr. Iditarod from 1985-1988. He is the winner of eight 1,000 mile races – 4 Yukon Quests and 4 Iditarods. If there were a musher Mt. Rushmore carved into the towering rock walls that guide the Yukon River, …
It’s the day before Jr. Iditarod. Out on the trail, at Iditarod Headquarters and at kennels it’s evident that race organizers and racers are hard at work going down the list of tasks reserved for the day before the event. Very much the opposite of what happens on the night before Christmas when all through …
Four mushers return to the Junior Iditarod for the third year. That doesn’t mean they’ve had three runs to Yentna Station Roadhouse. In 2021 these teens ran the route from Knik Lake out to Yentna Station and then finished in Willow, a distance of 150 miles. Overflow in the Willow area in 2022 prompted the …
With the 2022 Jr. Iditarod being run as a stage race on the Denali Highway, veterans of that race will be more experienced as mushers for the 2023 race but the trail between Knik and Yentna will be a new experience. Five teens come to the 2023 race with a year of Jr. Iditarod experience …
Kids come to mushing through many different trails. Sometimes it’s a family affair and other times it’s purely coincidence. Whatever brought them to dogs, these are dedicated conscientious young people who have worked extremely hard at becoming good at driving sleds, camping in the winter and caring for their beloved athletes. Meet the seven rookies …
Just like the first Saturday of March signifies the start of Iditarod, the first Saturday of February signifies the start of the Yukon Quest. In the past, Iditarod and the Quest were both 1,000 miles long. Over the years, Eye on the Trail has written an annual story applauding the efforts of the teams running …
Congratulations to these 3 educators! The Iditarod Education Department has selected them to be the finalists for the 2024 Iditarod Teacher on the Trail™️. Each year, teachers from around the world apply for this honor starting with a portfolio submission, due December 1. This portfolio takes months to compile because it includes showcase lessons, experiences …
Iditarod Winter Educators Conference “Engage! Inspire! Succeed!” At the Lakefront Hotel February 28 – March 3, 2023 in Anchorage, Alaska Hold on to your sled because this conference is going to be a fascinating ride! The theme of “Engage! Inspire! Succeed!” tells it all. Teachers that wrap the Iditarod around and through their required curriculum …
