Lex Treinen, Alaska Public Media - Anchorage
Lex Treinen is covering the state Legislature for Alaska Public Media. Reach him at ltreinen@gmail.com.
Here’s what 5 Iditarod mushers are listening to on the trail
From country music to motivational books to nothing at all.
Viper, the precocious leader and voracious eater
Mike Williams Jr. said he put Viper in lead on a whim earlier this year. The 2-year-old has been leading the charge ever since.
When this Iditarod rookie lost his dog team, his top competitor helped him out
Eddie Burke Jr. said he dozed off on his sled along the Yukon River and lost his team 18 miles from the nearest checkpoint. His closest competitor for rookie of the year gave him a lift.
Ryan Redington in command of Iditarod as ‘childhood dream’ comes alive on Bering Sea coast
Ryan Redington arrived in Unalakleet early Sunday after a monster run from Kaltag to the coast, putting more distance between him and his rivals.
Elway, the super intelligent star quarterback
Riley Dyche described 5-year-old Elway as fearless, smart and strong.
‘Best in the world’: Tight race shapes up for lead as top Iditarod teams head for the coast
With defending champ Brent Sass out, the top of the Iditarod field is scrambled, leaving four main teams at the top.
Blunt, who gets better when the going gets tough
Eddie Burke Jr.’s 5-year-old leader already has an impressive racing resume, but it’s only his first Iditarod.
On Yukon River, Iditarod teams recuperate from early bruises and strategize big moves
The trail on the Yukon River is reportedly hard and fast making for relatively easy running. But it makes plotting a surge up the standings tricky.
Covid (the dog), the secret weapon
Jason Mackey got his lead dog Covid from his brother Lance, who died in September.
At the Takotna checkpoint, Iditarod mushers indulge in sleep and pies
The only things that disrupted the peace: mushers snoring.
Favorite trail snack? 5 Iditarod mushers weigh in
From sweet and sour chicken to dried mangoes, there’s a variety of food in mushers’ vacuum-sealed bags.
Iditarod tests out tracking collars for dogs sent home from the trail
After an incident last year in which a dog escaped, officials are trying to attach tracking collars to all dogs left behind at checkpoints.
Iditarod rookie Gregg Vitello has had a heck of a ride
Gregg Vitello was the last musher into Nikolai. He's had his fair share of troubles on the trail.
Photos: After mud and moguls, Iditarod teams recover in Nikolai
Mushers slept. Dogs slept. And sled repairs got underway.
After years of COVID restrictions, Nikolai meets Iditarod with cautious optimism
The Iditarod this year looks almost exactly as it did pre-pandemic.
How bad are the Iditarod trail moguls? Depends who you ask.
Iditarod officials had warned mushers that the trail into Nikolai would have the worst moguls in race history.
Triathletes, boxers and skiers: How different sports help these Iditarod mushers compete
This year’s mushers include a former all-conference football player, an Ironman triathlete and a member of a national championship ski team.
Iditarod mushers cope with warm temperatures as they arrive at Alaska Range
Mushers shrugged off jackets and dogs sunbathed in the snow as temperatures hovered around 40 degrees — hot by Alaska winter standards.
Photos: Iditarod mushers shrug off jackets and sled dogs sunbathe
The Rainy Pass checkpoint is about 150 miles into the race and, tucked into the Alaska Range, it’s a scenic place to rest.