The Iditarod is held in March...a race from Settler's Bay in Anchorage to Nome, Alaska ran by mushers and their dog sled teams. It takes between 8-15 days or more and is 975 miles long.
The yearly starting field is usually about 50 mushers and 1000 dogs.
The name Iditarod is derived from the Athabaskan word haiditarod meaning a far away or distant place...and is ran along the Trail of the same name.
There are 26 checkpoints during the race. These are used as drop points for additional supplies during the run.
Most of the dogs are Alaskan Malamutes and Siberian Huskies. Both bred for the grueling temperatures and terrain they endure during the sled race.
and a first-person view so we can zoom along with one of the sleds.
https://youtu.be/dAHa-6VkUQY
Sled Dogs
https://youtu.be/6nVfFNbxX7s
The Beginning of the 2016 Race
https://youtu.be/jI3bliK7R94
and the Finish Line
https://youtu.be/BPsvNGSbU0Q
Denali National Park has Famous Sled Dog and Kennels...but perhaps the very best is in Summer when they have the Live Kennel Webcam: Puppy Cam
http://www.nationalparkstraveler.com/2011/08/new-puppy-cam-features-sled-dog-pups-denali-national-park-and-preserve8616
This is the finish line at Nome.
The lantern hanging on the right side is known as
the "Widow's Lamp"
and remains up and lit until all of the mushers are
back in off the trail and safe.
More anon...
