BellaOnline Forums Travel and Culture Alaska IDITAROD!!

Hey, the start of the world-famous Iditarod is only a couple of weeks away! This is one of my favorite winter events and I refuse to allow personal "life-altering events" to swallow up my enjoyment of this exciting adventure. I live less than 5 miles from the official Iditarod headquarters here in Wasilla. The "Ceremonial Start", with all the fanfare, tourists and hoop-la will happen right down the middle of 4th Avenue in downtown Anchorage (about 55 miles from my home), as always. The "re-start" (the start of the actual, official race) has been moved from Wasilla to Willow, about 20 miles further out of town, so the racing sleds and dogs will not pass right by the end of my road anymore ... but they will start less than a half-hour drive away so I will be there! I plan on taking photos at the start (and re-start) and journaling my thoughts of the Iditarod as it progresses. I will also be happy to answer any questions readers may have on this Great Race! If you are an Iditarod fan, get your questions ready! If you are not familiar with the Last Great Race, now is the time to learn more! I am thinking about running a contest beginning the day before the race starts and ending when the Red Lantern is handed out ... let me know if you are interested. :) Cheers, Deb Frost Alaska Site Editor (in disguise, since my laptop for some reason won't accept my regular log-in User Name)

WOW! What a fun Iditarod race start in downtown Anchorage. Fresh snow, excellent temperatures for the "Ceremonial Start" with all the whoopla and celebrity - mushers in their fancy gear (gorgeous fox, wolf, beaver and other fur head gear and jackets, fancy Cabela Arctic cold-weather suits with fur trim on the hoods, dogs dressed in special coats advertising their kennel or sponsors and all those adorable, bright colored doggie booties! I love the doggie booties <g>. Was anyone else there to see the start?? This event is always a lot of fun, even though the dogs only run about 20 miles and are then loaded up in their kennel trucks/trailers and ride out to Willow where the "real race" will begin in earnest the following morning. Still, the "start" in Anchorage is tradition and it is LOADS of fun!! If you didn't get to see it this year maybe you can make it next year. :) Cheers, Deb in AK