Iditarod Red Lantern

From Iditarod.com

The Last Musher On The Trail Has Arrived…

In Nome Alaska! Thirty Seven Year Old Celeste Davis, from Deer Lodge Montana, is the last musher to make it under the Burled Arch on Front Street in Nome. Her arrival signifies the end of the 2010 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Davis arrived in Nome at 8:06 pm with 9 dogs on her team. She will also go into the Iditarod history books as the fastest “Red Lantern” arriving in Nome in 13 days, 5 hours, 6 minutes, and 40 seconds.

Iditarod Traditions

The Story of the Widow’s Lamp

During the days of Alaska sled dog freighting and mail carrying, dog drivers relied on a series of roadhouses between their village destinations. Since these mushers ventured out in most all kinds of weather, for safety reasons they found the idea that pilots rely on, known today as the flight plan. Word was relayed ahead that a musher and team were on the trail, and a kerosene lamp was lit and hung outside the roadhouse. It not only helped the dog driver find his destination at night, but more importantly, it signified that a team or teams were somewhere out on the trail. The lamp was not extinguished until the musher safely reached his destination.

In keeping with that tradition, the Iditarod Trail Committee will light a “Widow’s Lamp” at 10:00 a.m., on the first Sunday in March, in Nome at the trail’s end. This lamp, which will be attached to the Burled Arch, our official finish line, will remain lit as long as there are mushers on the trail competing in the race. When the last musher crosses the finish line, officials will extinguish the “Widow’s Lamp” signifying the official end of the Iditarod for that year.

All too often, public and media think of the race as being over when the winner crosses the finish line, yet there are still teams on the trail. We hope you will find this often overlooked part of the race worthy of your attention. There are many very good stories about these other mushers on the trail.

History of the Red Lantern

Often the “Red Lantern” is confused with the “Widow’s Lamp.” They are not the same. An article several years ago in Alaska magazine states that the first red lantern was awarded in the 1953 Fur Rendezvous Race. According to Alaska,

“Awarding a red lantern for the last place finisher in a sled dog race has become an Alaskan tradition. It started as a joke and has become a symbol of stick-to-itiveness in the mushing world.”

The Boys from the Bush, Kaiser, Williams, and Iten, were together for just a bit. This evening, the last of the trio, Quinn Iten, crossed the line at 8:23pm. Now it’s time for everyone to relax and share stories of the trail as they wait for the Mushers banquet on Sunday.

Congratulations Quinn on a fine finish!

A bit about Quinn-

Quinn Iten, will be 18 in December of this year and the youngest musher to enter the 2010 Iditarod and one of the youngest ever to run the Iditarod. The son of Iditarod veteran, Ed Iten, Quinn said he thought it was “only natural” that he would run the Iditarod before he leaves home. Since the age of four, he was raised on a homestead in northwestern Alaska, 30 miles above the Arctic Circle. Their family included five horses, 12 chickens, 2 goats and about 60 sled dogs. He ran his first race at the age of six and ever since, has wanted to follow in his dad’s footsteps and one day race the Iditarod. A veteran of the Jr. Iditarod, where his best finish was third in 2008, Quinn is a senior in high school and will graduate in December of this year. Next year, he plans to attend the University of Alaska at Fairbanks but says “I have no clue what I will major in.” Quinn says he enjoys “hunting, fishing, horses, rock climbing and anything else exciting and outdoors.”

Quinn Iten 08 Jr. Iditarod

We have been following Thomas Lesatz and Pete since Kaltag. (When was that anyway??) Well here he is with Pete at the Finish Line!

So, Does Anyone recognize the leader on the right?

Leaders Myan & Beyshah and Pete

Peter Kaiser and the Kaiser Team

2010 Iditarod Trail Race

Northern Route

28th Place

NOME- IN- 03/18/2010 – 02:13:59

10 Days 11 Hours 13 Minutes 59 Seconds

Finishing with 11 Dogs

Average Speed – 4.43 mph

4th of 4 Rookies in Top 30

The Heros of the Race

Flying Across the Finish Line

Peter Kaiser-

2010 Iditarod Trail Race

Northern Route

28th Place

NOME- IN- 03/18/2010 – 02:13:59

10 Days 11 Hours 13 Minutes 59 Seconds

Finishing with 11 Dogs

Average Speed – 4.43 mph

4th of 4 Rookies in Top 30