A short distance from the checkpoint is the hub for dropped dogs. Dogs dropped at smaller checkpoints are flown to this hub via bush plane. From here the dropped dogs are loaded onto a larger plane and flown to Anchorage. Currently there are about 130 canine athletes waiting to show their boarding pass for the flight back to the starting side of the Alaska Range. McGrath dog drop receives dogs from the checkpoints of Rohn, Nikolai, McGrath, Takotna, Ophir, Iditarod, Shageluk and Anvik. As the race progresses, all the dogs at McGrath will fly out and the hub will close. A new dog drop hub will open in Unalakleet.

Born to Run,

Sanka