27-Time Iditarod Veteran Ramey Smyth to Build the New Nome Arch

    “I was honored to be contacted regarding the rebuilding of the Historic Iditarod Arch that is emblematic of teamwork between supporters, mushers, dogs, villages, and all Alaskans. The arch symbolizes teamwork, dreams, sacrifices, challenges on a trail of hardships, storms, sweat, and tears,” Ramey told Mushing Magazine earlier today. We are excited to …

2024 Iditarod Winter Raffle Winners Announced

  The 2024 Iditarod Winter Raffle drawing took place at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 7, 2024 at the Great Alaska Sportsman Show in Anchorage, Alaska. Fifty-five (55) lucky raffle ticket holders now share $200,000 in cash prizes which consist of forty-nine (49) $1,000 prizes, five (5) $10,000 prizes and one (1) $101,000 grand prize. …

Introducing the 2025 Iditarod Teacher on the Trail™️

Join the Iditarod Education Department in welcoming our 2025 Iditarod Teacher on the TrailTM, Maggie Hamilton, to the elite group of educators to earn this honor.  After completing an involved and thorough application, and the selection process as a finalist in Alaska prior to this year’s race, Maggie accepted this year-long job. All finalists have …

Iditarod 52 – Special Award Recipients & Prize Purse Payouts

The 2024 special awards given to mushers during and after Iditarod 52  were presented at the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race awards banquet in Nome, Alaska on the evening of Sunday,  March 17, 2024.  These special awards are listed below:   Alaska Air Transit Spirit of Alaska Award  The Alaska Air Transit Spirit of Alaska …

Eye on the Trail: Recipients of 2024 Special Awards

Alaska Air Transit Spirit of Iditarod Award – Mille Porsild Beaver fur musher’s mitts with beadwork on moose hide (handmade by Loretta Maillelle), a beaver fur hat (handmade by Oline Petruska) as well as a Pendelton wool blanket from Alaska Air Transit is presented to the first musher who reaches the Nikolai checkpoint.   GCI …

Eye on the Trail: Awards – The Rest of the Story

Between the Musher Banquet in Anchorage where start order was determined and the Finisher’s Banquet in Nome where stories were shared and mushers were honored, many miles have passed under the sled runners.  While the line on the map is the same for every musher, the journey is entirely unique.  It was one of the …

Eye on the Trail: Siri Pics – Jason, Bailey, Gabe, Jessica & Mats

  Siri Raitto has shared photos of Jason Mackey, Bailey Vitello, Gabe Dunham, Jessica Klejka and Mats Pettersson arriving at the famed Burled Arch in Nome.  What do you notice in each of these images?  More of Siri’s images are available in the Iditarod Photo Gallery.  Enjoy these photos.    

Eye on the Trail: Siri Pics – Anna, Will, Lara & Anna

  Siri Raitto has been extremely busy capturing pictures of the race as the teams progressed from Anchorage to Nome.   Siri’s photos capture the personalities of the dogs.  Two of Anna’s team dogs have an eye on Siri. Siri’s images show the immense landscape mushers have experienced. Siri’s photos capture the emotions of the …

Eye on the Trail: Nome Traditions

The Widow’s Lamp, Red Lantern and Burled Arch are symbols of great significance seen every year in Nome. What’s the historical significance, what do they symbolize and how did these icons come to be?  With all the mushers off the trail and awaiting the Sunday afternoon Finisher’s Banquet, it’s a perfect time to find out. …

Eye on the Trail: Final Five

Benjamin Good’s first dog powered experience,  skijoring with a couple of Aaron Burmeister’s dogs, resulted in cold feet.  He solved that issue by getting a couple more dogs and a sled so he could where warmer boots.  Good said at the arch early this morning, “While doing dogs and racing, it dawned on me that …