What do you need for a dog sled race? Dogs, of course. And sleds. But there’s something missing.
Wait—where’s the snow?
The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race is the most famous sled race in the world. Traditionally, it begins in Anchorage, Alaska. This year, it’s moving to Fairbanks, Alaska. Why? There’s just not enough snow!
The opening ceremony will still occur in Anchorage on March 1. But the real start will happen in Fairbanks two days later. Fairbanks sits 360 miles north of Anchorage. There, 33 dog sled teams will begin the 1,000-mile race.
In January, race officials said the Iditarod would start as normal. But since that announcement, no snow has arrived. A portion of the trail became impassable. It’s a 20-mile stretch between two checkpoints. These checkpoints have names: Rohn and Nikolai.
Even with snow, this is tough terrain. Race officials encourage mushers (sled racers) to avoid crossing it alone. They might get stuck or hurt and need help. Windblown “gravel sandbars” often block the path. A glacier, rivers, and ice also make it tricky. Without snow, it’s unsafe for mushers and their dogs.
“With no new snow on the horizon, there is simply no way we can allow the teams to progress through that 20-mile stretch,” says Race Marshal Warren Palfrey. The Race Marshal enforces the rules of the race. “It is a shame because the remainder of the trail is in great shape all the way to Nome.”
This isn’t the first time the race has moved to Fairbanks. That also happened in 2003, 2015, and 2017.
The Iditarod takes place every March. It started in 1973. The usual trail takes mushers from Anchorage to Nome, Alaska. The winner receives about $50,000 dollars. Typically, the winner finishes the race in about 10 days.
Race officials made changes for the sake of safety. But the Iditarod is still a tough, dangerous race. It requires training and endurance. To succeed, mushers must guide their dogs well. The dogs must hear and obey their leader’s commands.
Sometimes life feels like a rough, long race. But we have a faithful Leader! Our God guides us down good paths. We can follow Him. He gives us the strength to run the race.
Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. — Psalm 24:4
