IT'S IDITAROD TIME....trouble already

www.adn.com/2025/02/17/iditarod-forced-t...-start-to-fairbanks/

the race onto land. (Loren Holmes / ADN)

The Iditarod Trail Committee said Monday it will relocate the race’s restart to Fairbanks because of abysmal snow conditions across a long middle portion of the trail. The decision follows an outcry from mushers over the weekend about the hazards posed to their safety if the race stuck to its traditional southern route.

“Unfortunately, due to the absence of snowfall since the January 31st decision to take the Southern Route, the on-the-ground data that our Trail Breakers provided today after their assessment has deemed this portion of trail unpassable,” the ITC wrote.

iditarod.com/2025/02/27/iditarod-2025-official-start-order/

Monday’s decision is a reversal for race organizers. Last month, officials said that after assessing winter conditions along the 1,000-mile course they would stick with the traditional route other than a modest adjustment to the first section of the trail



LOTS OF CONFUSION AND MORE WORK.....THINGS WERE ALL READY IN PLACE FOR THE ANNOUNCED TRADITIONAL ROUTE....

A LITTLE BIT OF TRIVIA
Susan Butcher Day is celebrated on the first Saturday of March each year. It's a day to recognize the life and achievements of Susan Butcher, an Alaskan dog musher who won the Iditarod four times. The day also marks the traditional start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

How was Susan Butcher Day established?
In 2008, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin signed a bill establishing Susan Butcher Day.
The day was created to honor Butcher and to inspire Alaskans and people around the world.

Who was Susan Butcher?
* Butcher was the second woman to win the Iditarod. She finished first in the Iditarod four times.
* She was inducted into the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame and the Iditarod Hall of Fame.
* She was named a two-time Professional Sportswoman of the Year.
* She was listed among 100 Greatest Athletes in the World by Sports Illustrated.
* She died in 2006 from leukemia at the age of 51.

Met Susan Butcher in 1997. Time flies! At her kennels and home in Fairbanks along the river.

The Ceremonial start of the 53rd running of the Iditarod will begin around noon our time in Anchorage. :multi:

The first musher will be Emily Robinson, a 17 year old who just won the Jr. Iditarod for the fourth time!

This year's "Honorary Musher" is Dr. Stuart Nelson, who worked with the event for 38 years and served as its chief veterinarian for nearly three decades. Nelson passed away in September in Idaho, where he lived.

Here is a better map of this year's route:

Image

Because of the changes in the race route, the total distance this year is 1,128 miles! This will not only make it the longest Iditarod run so far, but also the longest sled dog race in history worldwide.
The "normal" mileage for the Iditarod is 1049 miles. just wow...going to be a "rad" race.

Here are the teams that are currently in the lead.

On their way to Tanana (the 3rd checkpoint, mile 202)
Most are resting their dogs because the day is getting too hot to run them (~31 deg)

1 Michelle Phillips MILE 155
2 Matt Hall MILE 154
3 Jessie Holmes MILE 154
4 Riley Dyche MILE 154
5 Paige Drobny MILE 154
6 Travis Beals MILE 151
7 Bailey Vitello MILE 150
8 Jeff Deeter MILE 149
9 Gabe Dunham MILE 148
10 Mille Porsild MILE 147
11 Ryan Redington MILE 146
12 Mitch Seavey MILE 145

Here are our top 10 as of 6:05am AKST

They have each left Tanana (mile 202) and are making the 117 mile run to the next checkpoint at Ruby (mile 319). This is the longest single run in the race this year. Most mushers will rest 1 or more times along this stretch.

1 Matt Hall MILE 240
2 Paige Drobny MILE 240
3 Bailey Vitello MILE 225
4 Ryan Redington MILE 224
5 Jason Mackey MILE 224
6 Michelle Phillips MILE 224
7 Jessie Holmes MILE 221
8 Riley Dyche MILE 221
9 Mille Porsild MILE 219
10 Mitch Seavey MILE 212

IF TEMPS R TOO WARM DURING THE DAY(DOG'S HEALTH IS ALWAYS FIRST)....THEY WILL RUN AT NITE.....IT APPEARS THAT IS THE PLAN

FOR lots more info and details sign up...... it;s free

sign up for a free Iditarod newsletter at

adn.com/newsletter

They have good Iditarod stories and great photos.

Here's our top 10 as of 5:33am AKST

Mushing towards Galena (Mile 369)

1 Paige Drobny MILE 356
2 Matt Hall MILE 338
3 Jessie Holmes MILE 333
4 Michelle Phillips MILE 331
5 Ryan Redington MILE 325

In Ruby (Mile 319)

6 Mille Porsild
7 Riley Dyche
8 Travis Beals
9 Gabe Dunham
10 Bailey Vitello

Our first scratch since the start of the race is Brenda Mackey.

Feast on the Yukon Award
Presented since 1983, this award is typically given to the musher to arrive in Ruby in even years on the Northern Route and the first musher to arrive to the Yukon River in odd years on the Southern Route. This year, the award will be given to the first musher to reach the Galena checkpoint. The winning musher will receive a gourmet dinner prepared by Top Chefs from Locally Grown Restaurants, which owns the popular Anchorage eateries Spenard Roadhouse, Snow City Cafe, Crush Wine Bistro and South Restaurant and Coffeehouse.

more info to come......

AND HERE'S DINNER....




Paige Drobny was the first into Galen! She has declared her 24 hr rest. She has won the FEAST!! :applause: :applause: :applause:


Matthew Failor and Jeff Deeter declared and completed their 24 hr rest back in Tanana.

Mandatory rest stops.
These must be declared and taken at an official check point.

Each musher must take a 24hr rest somewhere along the route before hitting the coast.

Also each musher must take an 8hr rest somewhere along the Yukon River.

There is also a mandatory 24 hr rest at White Mountain.

Paige Drobny was the first into Galen! She has declared her 24 hr rest. She has won the FEAST!! :applause: :applause: :applause:


Matthew Failor and Jeff Deeter declared and completed their 24 hr rest back in Tanana.

Mandatory rest stops.
These must be declared and taken at an official check point.

Each musher must take a 24hr rest somewhere along the route before hitting the coast.

Also each musher must take an 8hr rest somewhere along the Yukon River.

There is also a mandatory 24 hr rest at White Mountain.

The GPS map has a flag for each musher. When it is green they are mushing. When the flag turns orange they have stopped to take a rest, or make an adjustment with the dogs, or equipment, etc.

During the live streams you get to watch the mushers arrive at the checkpoints. And then there are lots of interview videos with mushers, during their checkpoint rest stops.

Choose to watch it on Youtube (not this thumb nail) so you can switch to full screen mode (and turn down the sound.)