Updated: February 13 
Published February 13 
Thousands of pounds of dog food and supplies will soon be on their way to Iditarod checkpoints as mushers prepare their drop bags ahead of this year’s race.
Among the mushers delivering their drops bags to Air Land Transport in Anchorage on Wednesday were twins Anna Berington and Kristy Berington, veterans of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.
“Anna and I were doing drop bags last night in the middle of the night,” Kristy Berington said. "It was probably about 2 or 3 in the morning, the stars were out, there was a small amount of fog in the air, it was sticking to the trees, our dogs started howling and I started to get that magic feeling when you’re out on the trail.
"Right in that moment I was so excited, like, oh my gosh. I can’t wait to get out on the trail with my dogs and with my sister and just enjoying the dogs and our relationship and seeing Alaska.
"I think Lance Mackey said it best: ‘(The) closest you’re going to get to a magic carpet ride is being on a dog team.' "
Kristy Berington will be hitting the trail in her 10th Iditarod, and Anna Berington is running her eighth.
Drop bags contain food for the mushers and their dogs, along with various supplies like dog booties. The bags will be delivered to specific checkpoints along the trail before the race, which begins with a ceremonial start in Anchorage on Saturday, March 2, and the restart in Willow on Sunday, March 3.
