Our favorite photos from a snowy Iditarod ceremonial start

Forty-nine mushers went on a leisurely tour through Anchorage before heading north for the race’s restart in Willow.

By Anchorage Daily News
Updated: March 7, 2022 Published: March 6, 2022

Forty-nine mushers went on a leisurely tour through Anchorage before heading north for the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race restart in Willow. Here are some of our favorite photos from Saturday’s ceremonial start.

A dog in Jeff King's team, which he is running for withdrawn musher Nic Petit, shows excitement to run. Forty-nine mushers and teams took part in the ceremonial start of Iditarod 50 in Anchorage on Saturday, March 5, 2022. (Marc Lester / ADN)

People gather along Fourth Avenue to watch the ceremonial start of the Iditarod in downtown Anchorage on Saturday, March 5, 2022. (Emily Mesner / ADN)

Ramey Smyth of Willow removes his sleds from the top of his truck on Fourth Avenue. (Marc Lester / ADN)

Musher Jessie Holmes’ dogs start running down Fourth Avenue. (Emily Mesner / ADN)

Fairbanks musher Deke Naaktgeboren travels down Fourth Avenue with his dog team. (Emily Mesner / ADN)

Rookie musher Amanda Otto shows lipstick marks from a kiss on the cheek from a friend before her ceremonial run through Anchorage. (Marc Lester / ADN)

Denali National Park Kennels Manager David Tomeo shrugs to a crowd gathered on Fourth Avenue as his dog team pauses during the ceremonial start of the Iditarod. Tomeo and his sled dogs were the first team to cross the starting line of the Iditarod this year and are celebrating 100 years of Denali National Park sled dogs. (Emily Mesner / ADN)

Yuka Honda pets her wheel dog, Chaiser, in her truck. (Marc Lester / ADN)

Cantwell musher Paige Drobny waves to the crowd gathered on Fourth Avenue as she crosses the ceremonial starting line of the Iditarod. (Emily Mesner / ADN)

Snow covers the fur of Riley Dyche’s sled dog Sister before the ceremonial start. (Emily Mesner / ADN)

Big Lake musher Martin Buser adjusts his hood as he crosses the starting line. (Emily Mesner / ADN)

Fairbanks musher Joshua McNeal’s dog team barks and jumps as their countdown begins. (Emily Mesner / ADN)

Canadian musher Martin Massicotte gives a thumbs-up to the crowd gathered on Fourth Avenue in downtown Anchorage. (Emily Mesner / ADN)

An Iditarod trail guard tumbles in the snow as she tries to help after the driver of Aaron Burmeister's second sled falls on Cordova corner during the ceremonial start of the 2022 Iditarod on Saturday. (Bob Hallinen Photo)

Aaron Peck waves to spectators while driving his team down Cordova Street. (Anne Raup / ADN)

A dog team crosses Fifth Avenue during the ceremonial start. (Anne Raup / ADN)

Jenny Laub waves to a musher as they pass on Cordova Street. (Anne Raup / ADN)

Mushers pass a crowd of people along the Chester Creek Trail near the Seward Highway. (Marc Lester / ADN)

Janice Crawford joins the party along the Chester Creek Trail. (Marc Lester / ADN)

Brent Sass, of Eureka, passes race fans on the Chester Creek Trail. (Marc Lester / ADN)

Fairbanks musher Joshua McNeal crosses a bridge over Tudor Road. (Marc Lester / ADN)

Julie Sweetin announces approaching mushers at a gathering along the Chester Creek Trail. (Marc Lester / ADN)

Harley, a puppy held by Hannah LaRue, watches a team pass on the Chester Creek Trail. (Marc Lester / ADN)

Lead dogs with rookie musher Joe Taylor emerge from a tunnel on the Chester Creek Trail. (Marc Lester / ADN)

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