Hi Boys and Girls,

Have you ever thought about being a musher and running a team?  Maybe running a team while you’re in High School?  There are 11 young mushers this year who are doing just that. The Junior Iditarod was run this past weekend. 

Anna Stephan leaves the start of the 2018 Junior Iditarod Sled Dog Race on Knik Lake in Southcentral, Alaska. Saturday February 24, 2018
Photo by Jeff Schultz/SchultzPhoto.com (C) 2018 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

The Junior Iditarod was the first long distance race for young mushers and was first run in 1977.  The purpose of the Jr. race was to prepare young mushers for longer races like the Iditarod.  It is held the weekend before the Iditarod. The race is 150 miles long with 8 checkpoints.  There is a 10 hour mandatory rest at Yetna Station where the mushers must camp overnight, care for their dogs, and then return the next day.  They have food drops, a prerace meeting, vet check, musher meeting, and finisher banquet just like in the Iditarod.

This year 11 young mushers started and finished the Jr Iditarod. Seven of the mushers

Handlers walk Charmayne Morrison’s team to the startline of the 2018 Junior Iditarod Sled Dog Race on Knik Lake in Southcentral, Alaska. Saturday February 24, 2018
Photo by Jeff Schultz/SchultzPhoto.com (C) 2018 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

were from Alaska, one was from New Hampshire, one from Washington, one from Wisconsin, and one from Montana.  Also, six of the mushers were rookies (first time running the race).  These young mushers have trained very hard to be able to race in the Junior.  This is a very exciting adventure for all of them.

Lara Anne Renner ‘s lead dogs lunge out of the chute during the start of the 2018 Junior Iditarod Sled Dog Race on Knik Lake in Southcentral, Alaska. Saturday February 24, 2018
Photo by Jeff Schultz/SchultzPhoto.com (C) 2018 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Is this something you would like to do?  Maybe you have another interest or goal that you would like to accomplish. Think about it.  Think of something that you would like to do and make a plan to reach your goal. 

Check back a little later.  I will be posting an article about the Jr. Iditarod finish.  Can’t wait to see who won!

See you on the trail,

Gypsy