Kurt Barnum of Idaho was the 44th musher to guide his dogs under the Burled Arch in Nome. Barnum is a forester by profession and a dog servant by avocation. He especially likes raising his own dogs from puppies. Each one has different character traits and Kurt finds the to be “simply amazing.”

Gentle Giant G.B.Jones finished the race in just under 13 days and 11 hours. Jones is a very capable outdoorsman who served in the Army as a Ranger. He appreciates the unspoiled wilderness of the trail and values the opportunity to prepare and go to Nome by dog team. G.B. is the author of Winning the Iditarod, the G.B. Jones Story.

Heather Siirtola of Talkeetna, Alaska reached Nome on Sunday morning after being on the trail for 13 days and nineteen hours. She handled dogs for Jerry Sousa then after three years she acquired her own out of Sousa’s dogs. Siirtola values the lifestyle of running dogs and all the challenges that come with it. She says her dogs are her best friends and she likes nothing better than to spend time on the trial with those friends.

Ellen Halverson turned 50 this year and chose to celebrate a half-century on this earth by running Iditarod. In her biography printed in the race program, Halverson says, “The race is about perseverance, problem solving, putting one foot in front of the other, facing fears and doubts and finding your way. The Iditarod is an experience that is both wonderful and very difficult.” Ellen is the only musher in Iditarod history to win the Red Lantern Award twice. The award presented by Wells Fargo is a symbol of perseverance. As the last musher to cross the finish line in Nome, Ellen extinguished the Widow’s Lamp to signify that all teams are safely off the trail.