Sorlie's still basking in Iditarod's glow

Robert Sorlie of Norway is back in Alaska, and although the days are longer and the landscape much greener than in March when he won the Iditarod, he says little else has changed.

Fed up with inefficiency, King redesigns harness

Mushers often reach the White Mountain checkpoint 77 miles from the end of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race with half of the 16 dogs they started with. Race winner Robert Sorlie had eight this year, runner-up Ramy Brooks brought in seven; they and other mushers drop animals because of injuries, ailments or lackluster performance.

It's 'Hipp hipp, hurra!' for Sorlie

More than 100 flags of red, white and blue -- not American but Norwegian -- fluttered madly as Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race winner Robert Sorlie took the head table at a dinner in his honor Tuesday night at the Viking Hall in South Anchorage.

Bybee wins red lantern

Nome -- Russ Bybee was awarded the red lantern Tuesday for being the last musher to cross the finish line in the 2003 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

Musher chow gets closer look

Ruby -- Martin Buser dines on tenderloin steak and butter-drenched shrimp along lonely stretches of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

Warnke's leap is rewarded

Much-traveled dog driver Clint Warnke has been named the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race's "most improved musher," but there's no telling what the future holds for the 32-year-old now living in Bonney Lake, Wash.

Iditarod dog dies between White Mountain and Safety

Nome -- Officials in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race have reported the first dog death in this year's race.

Concentrated study

Nome -- Even when they're brain-dead from sleep deprivation, mushers can be smarter than you might think.

Jonrowe, Boulding honored as most inspirational mushers

Nome -- Iditarod mushers DeeDee Jonrowe and Charlie Boulding, both recovering from cancer, share this year's award for the Most Inspirational Musher in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

Done having fun

Nome -- Linwood Fiedler of Willow says he's reached the end of the trail as an Iditarod musher.

No frills thrill

Nome -- One of Ken Anderson's lead dogs is a pint-sized pooch who spent her early life lounging on a couch. Another doesn't know her gee from her haw. Anderson's budget is so bare-boned his Iditarider, after seeing other mushers and their entourages decked out in fancy matching outfits, wondered aloud why Team Anderson didn't at least have matching hats.

Tough, young Hendricks named Iditarod rookie of the year

Nome -- A focused and freckle-faced Jessica Hendricks -- a 20-year-old from Copper Center who has been running dogs for more than half her life -- was crowned Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race rookie of the year Friday.

'I made it'

Nome -- Fresh off her 20th running of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, DeeDee Jonrowe unwound Friday morning by laughing and talking with longtime friend Kathy Chapoton about the ups and downs life has dealt her in more than two decades of racing.

First and second thoughts

Nome -- Robert Sorlie and Ramy Brooks quickly shifted into off-season mode after their 1-2 finish early Thursday morning in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

From rookie to champion: Sorlie wins Iditarod

Nome -- On only his second attempt at the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, Norway's Robert Sorlie this morning became the first foreigner to win The Last Great Race.

Norway celebrates its own Iditarod champion

With an Iditarod victory in his second race, Robert Sorlie is Norway's best dog musher, who has instantly become the best-known European musher in history.

Sorlie, followed by Brooks, heads to Iditarod finish line

White Mountain -- Robert Sorlie flashed a half smile before tackling the final stretch of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race Wednesday afternoon, leaving behind closest rival Ramy Brooks.

Sorlie confident as he heads to Iditarod finish line

White Mountain -- Robert Sorlie promised his wife he wouldn't return to Alaska next year for his third Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, but when he left this penultimate checkpoint Wednesday afternoon it looked like he would retire as champion.

Sorlie becomes Iditarod's first European champion

Robert Sorlie of Norway won the 2003 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race early Thursday morning, finishing the trip from Fairbanks to Nome in 9 days, 15 hours, 47 minutes and 36 seconds.

Dogged pursuit

Unalakleet -- The moon, stars and northern lights filled the cold northern sky when the five front-running mushers in this year's Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race left this icy checkpoint early Tuesday morning.

Brooks grabs Iditarod lead with quick trip through Koyuk

Koyuk -- Ramy Brooks grabbed the lead Tuesday in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race after battling strong headwinds on the way to Koyuk on the Alaskan coast.