Introduction
Iditarod is a race pitting man and animal against nature. It is held annually in the state of Alaska, United States. The race starts from Anchorage, South Central Alaska, to Nome on the western sea coast, where musher and a team of between twelve to sixteen dogs cover a total of 1150 miles through Ice covered mountain ranges, dense forest, frozen rivers, windswept coast, and isolated tundra. Most of the participants are Alaskans, but the number of foreign participants has increased in the recent past, with past winners like Martin Buser, from Switzerland who won the 1992 Iditarod race.
History
Iditarod Trail is a Historic National trail used as a supply and mail delivery route between the late 1880s to early 1920s from the coastal town of Seward to the interior mining town of Elim and Golovin. The 1898 Alaska Gold Rush brought miners to the Nome region and Kuskokwim Mountain. The steamship was used as the primary link of these two regions to the rest of the world, but during summer, the region was inaccessible by steamship as the river becomes frozen. This prompted the use of dogs sled to deliver mails, gold, firewood, and mining equipment in and out of this region. With the introduction of small aircraft and snowmobiles in the late 1920s, the use of the dog as the main supply carrier was reduced significantly. Adverse weather in some periods made these areas inaccessible by aircraft, and in such cases, the dogs were used to deliver supplies and mails.
The first official Iditarod race started in 1967 as a commemorative event honoring the great men and women who used the original trail as a highway to deliver medicines and supplies to the Epidemic Stricken Nome, which experienced the Diphtheria outbreak in 1925. Intrepid dogs were used to deliver serum and other medical supplies to this area as there were no other means available at the time. Dorothy G. Page and Joe Redington have considered the brain child’s behind the Iditarod race; they are referred to as the mother and the father of Iditarod, respectively. They helped organize and sponsor the first race in 1967, in honor of Reinhard Seppala, who covered the longest, and the roughest distance in 1925, life-saving Serum delivery race.
On the Trail
The Iditarod trail has remained relatively constant, with no major changes to the route. It is a very demanding trail, composed of the Northern and Southern routes, which are used interchangeably, covering a total of 1150 miles. Both routes follow the same trails in the first 444 miles from Anchorage in Central Alaska to Ophir. Here the trail diverges into the Northern and Southern route and then joins at Kallang. The route passes through small native villages which become alive during the Iditarod race, as well as large metropolitan areas where residence view the Iditarod race as an economic activity and educational opportunity for the young generation.
While on the trail, every musher uses different tactics and strategy which he or she feel will form the winning combination. They design and carry a special menu for snacking and feeding the dogs. There are those who prefer to run during the day while other prefer the night, as long as they meet certain regulation guiding the Iditarod race. The rules, for example, require each team to take three mandatory rests during the race. The first is a 24-hour rest at any of the checkpoints; the second one is 8 hours rest at any of the checkpoints along the Yukon River, and the last is an 8-hour stopover at any checkpoint on the White Mountain.
Burled Arch, located in Nome, is the official finish line for the Iditarod Race. A lantern is lit and hanged on the arch at the start of the race and put off when the last competitor crosses the finish line. The last stretch requires every musher to pass through Front Street on the way to the arch, with the city siren sounded as each musher enters the 2 mile stretch to the finish line.
Supplies
Each team participating in the Iditarod race must have the following equipment and supplies as per the rules and regulations of the race;
- Heavy sleeping bag
- Arctic pack
- Snowshoes
- An ax
- Musher food
- Dog food
- Boots for each dog’s feet
Other supplies include; headlamps, tools, and spare parts for sled repairs and battery pack.
Musher prepares around the year for the Iditarod race by training the dogs and raising money to purchase supplies. The supplies for each team are flown by Iditarod Air Force to various checkpoint points prior to the start of the race.
The food for both the musher and the dogs must be enough for three weeks. The sleeping bag is for use by musher during resting to shield him/her from the chilly weather condition. The dog boots protect it against cutting ice injuries. Before the start of the race, all dogs must undergo veterinary examination for eyes, teeth, heart, lungs, feet, and joint check-ups. Modern technological improvement has led to microchip implants in the dog to help in identifying and tracking the dog used in the race. No stimulants, sedatives, anti-inflammatory, muscle relaxants, and anabolic steroids drug should be administered to the dog prior to and during the Iditarod race.
Danger Associated with Iditarod
Rarely does the Iditarod race ended without a musher getting hurt. The rough terrains, especially the rainy forest passage, are so dangerous.
A pointing case is the 1985 incidence where Jerry Austin broke his hand when the sled went out of control, hitting a stand of trees. His two dogs were also injured in the incident.
The last ten year has seen an increase in the number of dogs dying during or soon after the race. Some are strangled by the tow line, others suffer internal injury, heart failure, and pneumonia because of extreme exercise, leading to sudden death.
The mountainous valley is exposed to blizzards leading to increased cases of frostbites, especially when the temperature drops to -45 degrees centigrade. In the 1975 race, for example, Musher Vaughan was hospitalized for frostbite treatment.
Animal Rights groups have in the past been waging a campaign against the Iditarod race, citing various cases of dogs abuse by the musher. Such campaigns discourage corporate sponsors from participating in this annual event.
Conclusion
Iditarod Race is a major sporting activity in the state of Alaska, attracting participants and spectators from all over the world. The event is a major economic driver in this region as a lot of money is generated in terms of supplies and equipment purchases from the region. The event also provides opportunities to the young generation as they participate and learn the major aspects of the race. The race also contributes to the opening up of rural Alaskan towns located along the Iditarod trail leading to increased development and tourism.
Reference:
Alisa Crandall, Jeff Schultz, Bill Sherwonit (1991) Iditarod: The Great Race to Nome, Alaska Northwest Books, Alaska.
Debbie S. Miller (2006) The Great Serum Road: Blazing the Iditarod Trail, Walker, and co. publishers, United States.
The Iditarod Trail sled Dog Race, Web.