1. What is the Iditarod? The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Raceis an
annual sled dog team race acrossAlaska. Mushers and a team of
powerful dogs travel 1,049 miles fromAnchorage to Nome.
2. The first Iditarod race to Nome started March 3, 1973. Dick
Wilmarth the 1st Iditarod Winner
3. Who Let The Dogs Out?The teams average 16 dogs, which means
over 1,000 dogs leave Anchorage for Nome.
4. Mush On!Each team of dogs is led by a MUSHER who is the
driver of the dogsleds. Each musher endures extreme weather
conditions and travels over 1,000 miles in 9-15 days with little
sleep. They are responsible for caring for and feeding all of the
dogs.
5. Checkpoints There are 26 checkpoints, or stops on the
northernroute, the first in Anchorage and the last in Nome. On the
southern route, there are 27 checkpoints.
6. This is the 2012northern route 2013 This is the southern
route
7. DISTANCE 1,049 miles has been a symbolic figure from
theinception of the race to signify the 1,000 miles or more of race
trail and the number 49 depicts Alaska as the 49th state. Note: As
of 2012 the Northern Route distance is approximately 975 miles. In
prior years the distance was always over 1,000 miles.Three things
factor into this adjustment: change in the Ceremonial Start
(Anchorage to Campbell Airstrip) change of the Restart location
(Wasilla to Willow) The actual year to year trail conditions can
affect trail routing and the actual mileage will vary somewhat from
year to year.
8. What does the Iditarod Symbolize?In 1925, the people of
Nome, Alaska, were very sick. If they didnt get the medicine they
needed, theywould die. The medicine was in another town 650miles
away and the only way to get it to Nome was by dogsled. Several
teams took turns carrying the medicine along the dangerous trail.
The medicinefinally made it to Nome , and many lives were saved.
Today the Iditarod Trail follows part of that famous path
Balto
9. To the Finish Line!!!!Not every dog finishes the race.
Sometimes a musheror veterinarian decides that the dog is not
strongenough to finish the race. The dog is then DROPPEDfrom the
race and cared for at a nearby checkpoint.Not every musher finishes
the race. If the difficult racebecomes too strenuous or musher may
choose to ormay be forced to SCRATCH or drop out of the race.
10. Red LanternA red lantern is awarded to the last musher to
finish the Iditarod. They are praised for their perseverance
(determination to finish something) The longest time for a Red
Lantern was 32 days, 15 hours, nine minutes and one second by John
Schultz in 1973. The quickest Red Lantern musher Celeste Davis with
a time of 13d 05h 06m 40s.
11. 2013 Iditarod Here We Come!!! Race Start Anchorage
Saturday, March 2 10:00am Race Restart Willow Sunday, March 3
2:00pm