6 takeaways from an Iditarod unlike any other
Bethel musher Victoria Hardwick won her second Red Lantern Award as the race’s final finisher to mark the end of the 49th annual race.
Bethel musher Victoria Hardwick won her second Red Lantern Award as the race’s final finisher to mark the end of the 49th annual race.
On their return trip on the out-and-back course, Ryan Redington struggled up the Happy River Steps and Joar Leifseth Ulsom crossed the Farewell Burn in sunshine and loved it.
Here’s a collection of memorable images from a unique race.
This year’s competitors have few opportunities to thaw and dry out, and veteran musher Martin Buser was facing his own challenge: unresponsive fingers that turned white and swelled.
“That was the worst-case scenario, that it could happen to a musher,” 2018 champion Joar Leifseth Ulsom said. “We’re all at risk for it, so it can happen to any of us.”
Burmeister, Brent Sass, Dallas Seavey and Ryan Redington all reached Nikolai early Saturday morning.
There’s almost no margin of error in places with steep climbs and tight turns on wooded hills. “You just gotta hope you don’t smack into a team,” says Alberta musher Aaron Peck.
For the first time, the race goes out and back, letting competitors know what they’re in for as they head toward the finish. Several said they’re not looking forward to it.
Deep snow and limited trail-breaking resources prompted the change.
Dallas Seavey had the checkpoint to himself for 90 minutes, and he spent much of it working methodically through an elaborate set of chores.
Zirkle, a perennial race favorite, was treated at an Anchorage hospital and released.
With limited amenities at checkpoints, some are hauling sleeping options in their sleds, and a rookie from Fairbanks has a homemade battery-charging bay attached to his handlebars.