The Iditarod is often known as the last great race on Earth, and for good reason. Historically, dog sleds have delivered mail, groceries, gold, furs, and medicine. It wasn’t until the winter of 1925, when there was a diphtheria outbreak in Nome, AK, that the long-distance relay became popular. (Alaska Geophysical)

During the diphtheria outbreak, the nearest antitoxin serum was 1,000 miles away in Anchorage. Sea transport was impossible because the waters were frozen. The only way to deliver the serum was on foot, but that was nearly impossible. (Alaska State Archives) The towns gathered together, and a relay team of dog sleds was set up. The relay was successful, and this epic course inspired the Iditarod. (History)

The Iditarod race officially began in 1973 to celebrate Alaska’s centennial. (Iditarod) The race symbolizes mushers (people who run dog sleds) and their teams of 14 dogs, testing their physical and mental resilience. The trail crosses mountain passes, rivers, forests, and the wind chill can reach -100 degrees Fahrenheit. (Bureau of Land Management)

In total, the trail is nearly 1,000 miles, and the mushers complete this in about 15 long days. The fastest time is 8 days, 3 hours, and 40 minutes. (Guinness Book of World Records) As the race grew in popularity over the years, two separate race trails were established: a North trail and a South trail. Race traffic impacted the small towns the race passed through. Since then, the two trails alternate every year to minimize the impact.

As an observer, there is much to see with dog mushing and the Iditarod in Alaska.

If you are lucky enough to be in Alaska in early March, you can view the beginning of the Iditarod yourself in downtown Anchorage. Part of the fun of this race each year is talking to the mushers. It’s common to wish them good luck and say hello to your favorite musher before they begin the race. Dog sledding tours are available year-round at a variety of locations around Alaska, so you can learn more about what the mushers go through during this intense journey.