Pete Kaiser fans in Bethel celebrate hometown musher’s victory
If you heard a roar early Wednesday morning, it likely came from Pete Kaiser fans cheering across Alaska.
Iditarod Leaders Make Rainy Pass
Leaders in the 40th Iditarod were in Rainy Pass late Monday morning, including Ray Redington, Jr., Hugh Neff, Aliy Zirkle, Paul Gebhardt, Jim Lanier and Cim Smyth. The group also included past champions Lance Mackey and rival Jeff King. Defending champion John Baker was out of Finger Lake and not far behind the leaders.
Fierce competition at the front of Iditarod pack
The competition is fierce in this year's Iditarod. Jeff King and Lance Mackey left Shaktoolik within minutes of each other last night, headed across...
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.
44th Iditarod: what, who, and why to watch
The 44th annual Iditarod trail sled dog race gets underway on Sunday, although the festive ceremonial start in Anchorage happens tomorrow. This is one of the largest fields in the race's history at 85 mushers signed up to start. KNOM News Director Emily Schwing and Alaska Public Media's Zachariah Hughes will be reporting from the trail. Before they take off, let's find out who they're keeping an eye on and what to watch out for along the trail. Download Audio
Busers Bolt into Iditarod Lead
Martin Buser and his son, Rohn, stopped for only a few minutes in Takotna and bolted into the Iditarod lead Wednesday morning. Martin Buser arrived in Takotna about 8:30 am, stopped a few minutes and then headed towards the ghost town of Ophir. Rohn, who won the Kusko 300 earlier this year, reached Takotna about 9:45 am and left almost immediately. As of 11:30 Wednesday morning, Aliy Zirkle, who had led much of the race, was still in Takotna.
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.
Iditapod: Injuries, wildlife and Zirkle first to halfway. Plus: naming dogs
Two Rivers musher Aliy Zirkle and all 14 of her SP Kennel dogs made it to the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race's halfway point, the Iditarod checkpoint, for her 24-hour layover. Other mushers coming off their 24s are expected through there Thursday. Earlier on their breaks, mushers shared stories of injuries, sled mishaps and wildlife encounters, as well as sled dog litter-naming conventions.
Iditapod: Slip slidin’ away
We rejoin the Iditarod something like 48 hours in, and, on what sounds like a hard and fast trail, mushers are pacing themselves for the shorter 850-mile race. There've been a total of three scratches so far, none bigger than Aliy Zirkle, who suffered a concussion and upper body injury in the Dalzell Gorge and had to be flown out of Rohn by helicopter. Also, we catch up with our pal Zachariah Hughes in McGrath.
Iditarod strategies on view as mushers take “24’s”
At this point in the Iditarod, just about every top team has declared their mandatory 24-rest, and is either recuperating, or else charging back onto the trail. The rest gives both dogs and mushers a chance to catch their breath and rebuild some strength. And it’s one of the main indicators of a musher’s strategy, finally giving shape to the accelerating race in the days ahead.
The Iditarod has a new champion: Brent Sass arrives first to Nome
The 42-year-old musher took command of this year’s race around the halfway point and never gave it up.
New Route Makes Some Mushers Feel Like Rookies
This year’s race reroute has left even the most seasoned of Iditarod mushers feeling like rookies. Race leaders won’t start to appear until after teams complete their mandatory layovers and make up their start time differentials.
Elway, the super intelligent star quarterback
Riley Dyche described 5-year-old Elway as fearless, smart and strong.
LISTEN: Legends of the last great race are here to celebrate Iditarod 2020
What can we expect from this year's field of racers? How have trail conditions and sled designs changed over the decades? And who's trail stories are the most…hellacious? It's all about the Iditarod when race icons Jeff King and DeeDee Jonrowe join us.
In push up the coast, Iditarod mushers vie for top 10
Competition is hardly confined to the front as Iditarod teams sprint along the coast. Mushers in Unalakleet are hoping to hop, skip, and leap-frog their teams toward the top 10.
Why a wilderness lodge in the middle of nowhere became a magnet for mushers
Along one of the most remote stretches of the state's road system is a wilderness lodge that's become thoroughly popular with elite dog-mushers.
‘It’s pretty much everywhere’: Iditarod mushers should prepare for deep snow, race officials say
Iditarod race marshal Mark Nordman said the word for this year’s race may be “patience” as teams navigate deep snow along much of the trail.
Baker Takes Iditarod Lead; King Wins Penair Award
Kotzebue's Jon Baker is leading the Iditarod pack at this hour. Baker breezed through Ophir checkpoint at 8:45 Wednesday morning and breezed out four...
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.
Butcher, who needs her space
“A lot of dogs here, they love to be hugged and cuddled and snuggled. And she likes it to some extent, but then she wants her space,” said Anja Radano. “And I'm the same way.”