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In 1925 a desperate race was run to save lives in the icebound community of Nome, Alaska. A diphtheria epidemic had broken out, and no serum was available to treat the disease. Frantic telegraph messages for help were sent to all of the neighboring communities in an effort to locate the closest available supply of the life-saving serum. Hope began to plummet when it was learned that the closest supply was in Anchorage, about a thousand miles away.
No airplanes were available to fly the serum to Nome. It was decided that the fastest way to get the serum to Nome would be to ship it by rail to the town of Nenana, over 650 miles from Nome, then have a strong team of huskies waiting to pick up the antitoxin and take it from there.
This first Iditarod "race" was actually a relay of many different dog teams and mushers from different villages along the route. The much-needed serum arrived in just over 127 hours, in time to save hundreds of lives.
The modern Iditarod race, held in early March, is said to be 1049 miles long. The 1049-mile figure is symbolic, representing a thousand mile race in the 49th state. There are actually two different routes that are used in alternating years, and they are closer to 1200 miles in length.
The idea for using the Iditarod trail for a race came in the 1960's from local historian Dorothy Page of Wasilla, Alaska. She approached musher Joe Redington, Sr. with her idea to promote greater awareness of the important role of the Iditarod trail in Alaska's history. Together Dorothy and Joe organized some short precursors to the modern Iditarod race.
A few years later, in 1973, the Anchorage-to-Nome Iditarod race was born. Initially, Joe and Dorothy envisioned that the race route would follow a nearly abandoned supply trail, ending in Iditarod. At almost the same time, the military improved the existing trail, which had become overgrown with bushes throughout the years. It was decided that Nome, while further away, made a better destination than Iditarod for both historical and practical reasons. Redington organized the race, promising a winner's purse of $50,000 - and the new rush was on.
The Iditarod trail runs through a spectacular wilderness filled with frightening surprises. A race-winning strategy must take into account variable weather conditions, the attitude of the dogs, changing trail situations and psychological pressures. Mushers admit to playing "head games", inviting competitors to make critical strategic mistakes. The same stretch of trail can be heaven or hell to mushers passing through at different times.
Sometimes an unexpected thaw can leave racers with scant snow for their sleds. At the other extreme, temperatures during the race can plunge to -60 degrees Fahrenheit, with wind chill adding to the danger. Mushers commonly encounter "whiteout" and blizzard conditions, and leading mushers sometimes become losing mushers when they accidentally leave the trail.
Other dangers mushers face include moose attacks, frostbite, accidental injury from axes and snow hooks, and breaking through ice or driving into water. The sled and dogs are the musher's lifeline. Perhaps the most important caveat is: Don't lose the team.
The rules of the race require that mushers carry certain items on their sleds at all times. These items include dog food, dog booties and a veterinarian's notebook, an axe, snowshoes, a "cooker and pot", and a warm sleeping bag. Each musher is required to make three mandatory rest stops along the way: two 8-hour stops, and one 24-hour stop at the checkpoint the musher chooses as most beneficial for the dogs.
There are 27 checkpoints along the route. The ghost town of Iditarod is one of the checkpoints along the Southern Route, which is used in odd-numbered years.
No team can begin the race with fewer than 12 dogs. Veterinarians examine the dogs at each checkpoint and determine whether they are fit to continue. Dogs that are deemed unfit are flown home.
The concerns of animal advocacy groups and heightened media scrutiny have increased the pressure on race organizers to ensure that all of the dogs are healthy and well cared for. According to race organizers, in recent years health and mortality statistics for dogs that participate in the Iditarod are similar to those of dogs everywhere.
Native mushers from area villages, once prominent in Iditarod races, have all but disappeared from the racing scene. In recent years, rising costs have outstripped the ability of most mushers to afford the price of participation.
Better dogs, better gear, and focused, long-term training are needed in order to have a serious shot at the winner's purse. Today, with estimated costs exceeding $10,000 per race, most race hopefuls must find commercial sponsors to back them.
In 1985, 28-year-old Libby Riddles became the first woman to win the Iditarod. The following year the Iditarod was won by a second female, 4-time winner Susan Butcher. This prompted a new slogan: "Alaska--Where men are men, and women win the Iditarod."
Statistically, fewer than 10% of Iditarod contestants have been women. The record for the most Iditarod wins as of the year 2000, was held by Rick Swenson, a five time winner.
The pace of the race has increased dramatically since the Iditarod's infancy. The first race was won in a time of just under 21 days. Modern racers are pushing to break through the 9 day barrier.
Once the mushers cross under the burled arches at the finish line in Nome, they are greeted by throngs of enthusiastic well-wishers. Despite the tribulations they experience on the trail, most mushers agree that they wouldn't trade the journey for any other in the world.
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