Category Archives: Iditarod

The Denai’na Center in Anchorage was as packed as it has been for some years as mushers, sponsors, and fans met to see the 2016 Iditarod Mushers select their starting position. Mushers pick based on their entry, so the first musher to sign up gets to draw his number from the lucky Mukluk.

Pete drew number 11 this year, which should be a good deal considering the fast trail. It will also give him a bit more reset on his 24 hour layover as time is added to the layover to compensate for starting position. The last musher to leave will have no time added, while the first Team might have as much as 2 hours added.

Pete, his Fiance Bethany and son Ari were joined at table 85 by Lynden’s Dan Hall and Donlin Gold’s Stan Foo and his wife for a dinner of steak, salad, and a fancy dessert. Newlywed Lee Ryan, from Ryan Air, brought his lovely bride Chelsea as well to the table and talk of the impending nuptials of Pete and Bethany some of the subject of the table.

Mushers are excited to make their way to Nome, but the bit of pomp and circumstance of the banquet and the Ceremonial Start are necessary before the Teams can show their real stuff out on the Trail.

Here are some photos from tonight’s event:

Welcome to Iditarod 2016 Race Week! While some fans will be headed to the beaches of Hawaii for spring break (Myron Angstman…) the rest of us won’t have to go so far as warm temperatures are expected for the Ceremonial Start on Wednesday.

It is so warm that snow is being trained in from the Northern regions to accommodate the event. Unfortunately though, as fast as it arrives, it melts and now Iditarod has had to make a few changes. The normal 11 mile run through the streets of Anchorage up to the Campbell Creek Airstrip has been shortened to 3 miles.

Pete and the Team are inbound from their Training Ranch in Nenana for the Mushers meetings all day tomorrow. Tomorrow night we will all meet for the Drawing and then the Race is ON!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 2, 2016

Iditarod ceremonial start route shortened due to lack of snow

Anchorage, Alaska – The Iditarod Trail Committee announced this morning that the 11-mile ceremonial start route for the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race will be shortened due to the lack of snow.

The new three-mile route will begin at the traditional ceremonial start location of Fourth Avenue and D Street in downtown Anchorage. From Fourth Avenue, teams will travel south on Cordova Street and continue down the Cordova hill past the Sullivan Arena. Teams will then find their way onto the Chester Creek Trail and travel to the Davenport Field Complex, located just off of Lake Otis Parkway, where the ceremonial start will conclude.

“Key personnel within the Municipality of Anchorage’s street maintenance, parks and recreation and police departments worked very hard to try to find a way for us to go the full 11 miles to the BLM Campbell Tract. Unfortunately, the warm temperatures persisted and it is no longer possible this year,” said Stan Hooley, CEO of the Iditarod Trail Committee. “Race fans concentrated in downtown Anchorage will not notice any changes to the race start, as the excitement of having more than 1,000 of the most finely-tuned sled dogs in the world will, as always, make for an electric environment.”

The ceremonial start begins this Saturday, March 5, at 10 a.m., with 85 teams lined up to compete in this year’s race.

For additional details regarding Iditarod XLIV, visit www.iditarod.com.