Why is the Red Lantern so important? The Lynden “Committed Through the Last Mile” Red Lantern Award recognizes the musher to make the last run from Safety to Nome. It symbolizes perseverance and commitment to finishing, even though there are challenges. This morning at 2:22 am, I greeted Jeff Reid as he and his dogs …
Dear Friends, The 2024 Iditarod has officially ended with Jeff Reid coming in last, extinguishing the Widow’s Lantern and earning the Red Lantern Award for perseverance. 29 teams finished the grueling race across Alaska. What about the nine teams who scratched, or had to quit, for various reasons? What are Sean Williams, Calvin Daugherty, Aaron …
Imagine a thick quilt, covered in many squares, patches and fabrics, with layers of warm fiber nestled through, sewn together with thread. On this trip I’ve met so many people who are the threads holding the history of a place together. Their stories weave in and out of the fabric of time. Change happens, and …
Happy Pi Day! It was another beautiful day in Nome Alaska, and I am celebrating Pi Day by sharing all the ways that Iditarod is associated with pie. I mean pi. Well, actually, I mean both! Pi is the ratio of the circumference of any circle divided by the diameter of that circle. Pi is …
Dear Friends, If you like math, here is a problem to solve. As of Thursday evening, 24 mushers with an average of 11 dogs each have crossed the finish line in Nome. How many of us sled dogs have come into the town? Nome is not a big city. Where do we sled dogs go? …
Here you go! Print these certificates and fill them out for your students that finish your IditaRead program this year. And please send us pictures of your IdtaRead bulletin boards, digital displays, etc. We love to share the success stories. (Please send photos with indication if whether they can be shared on social media or …
The Iditarod is an amazing role model for building relationships. It’s one of the few cultures I’ve been in where friendships form instantly, dogs melt your heart on an hourly basis, and the wide open landscapes of ice, snow, and mountains take your breath away and make you want to linger for a day or …
Dear Friends, It has been so exciting seeing the mushers arriving in Nome, tired but happy and triumphant! Little by little more teams are arriving. The mushers have given credit to their sled dogs for working as a team to get across Alaska. If you are able to see the GPS tracker, you see two …
Today Dallas Seavey won the 2024 Iditarod, earning a record-breaking six championships. He crossed the finish line under the Burled Arch at 5:16 pm Alaska time with ten dogs. Dallas honored his lead dogs Aero and Timon, saying, “they brought the team home for everyone.” It was amazing to be right on Front Street in …
Dear Friends, Throughout the history of the Iditarod, there have been family connections between mushers. In 2017, Dallas Seavey and his dad ended up finishing second and first, with Dallas coming into Nome about 2 1/2 hours after his father, Mitch. Brothers have raced together; husbands and wives have been competitors. This year, for the …
