Alaska News

Legendary Iron Dog names near the front of weather-cursed race across Alaska

After more than a day on a trail either sopping wet or bare and littered with rocks, branches and buffalo poop, two Iron Dog racers with names rooted in the foundation of this rugged 2,000-mile snowmachine ride across Alaska were vying for the lead.

One was 55-year-old legend Scott Davis, an eight-time champion who first punched the throttle in an Iron Dog race 31 years ago. Davis and riding partner Aaron Bartel of Anchorage left the Ruby checkpoint along the Yukon River at 5:13 p.m., the first duo to head for the next checkpoint of Galena.

The second team into Ruby included 31-year-old Scott Faeo, son of John Faeo, who is tied with Davis for the most victories in Iron Dog history, eight. Faeo is paired with Eric Quam of Palmer, the 2008 champion.

"We were breaking snow through (Rainy) Pass, about 6 inches to a foot of snow that we had to break," Bartel told KTUU. "We get through that and 10 miles later we're on ice and 20 miles after that and we're on dirt. I've never seen anything like that in one ride on a snowmobile. We got to see everything."

In bare sections, some teams chipped off ice from rivers and lakes when they could to help cool off their sleds. No speed records were set. The lead racers were averaging 35-40 mph between checkpoints, according to the Iron Dog website. Back of the pack drivers were down to less than 15 mph in some stretches.

Still, most teams survived. Only five duos had scratched by 6 p.m. Monday, and of those teams only Tyson Johnson and partner Tyler Aklestad were considered contenders. That left 32 teams still moving northwest.

"Just keep going, that's the main thing," Faeo told KTUU. "Never stop, always roll."

ADVERTISEMENT

Barring disaster, the leaders should reach the Norton Sound coast on Tuesday. National Weather Service forecasters called for scattered snow showers in Unalakleet between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., allowing that the chance of precipitation was just 30 percent. However, Tuesday's high temperature should stay slightly below freezing on the coast.

The miserable trail conditions prompted some race watchers to roll out vivid language to describe the conditions. Among the commenters was former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, whose husband Todd was in 11th place with teammate Tyler Huntington early Monday night. Palin offered this description on her Facebook page:

"Racers brave blizzards in pitch blackness atop frozen rivers to do their barehanded repairs of shocks, tracks, engines or anything else that gets thrashed in this crazy-tough endurance competition," she wrote. "They skip open Arctic waters between Native villages; they dodge wild animals throughout the 2,000-mile extreme adventure that ends next Sunday in Fairbanks.

"These athletes live life vibrantly – and girly men don't race the Iron Dog."

Women do, however. The team of 28-year-old Rachel Kidwell, a former UAA volleyball player, and 27-year-old Ashley Wood powered out of McGrath Monday night in 24th place.

Despite what Palin wrote, the race is due to end midday Saturday on the Chena River in Fairbanks. Racers are typically held up Friday night to ensure a mid-day Saturday finish in the Golden Heart City.

Mike Campbell

Mike Campbell was a longtime editor for Alaska Dispatch News, and before that, the Anchorage Daily News.

ADVERTISEMENT