DAY #5 WEDNESDAY MARCH 11th, 2026 IDITAROD TAKOTNA - OPHIR

 DAY #5 WEDNESDAY MARCH 11th, 2026 IDITAROD  TAKOTNA - OPHIR

JESSIE HOLMES of Brushkana, Alaska, was the FIRST to reach MCGRATH with 16 dogs in harness and win Alaska Air Transit Spirit of Iditarod Award. The first one was given in 2019. MCGRATH community shares deep ties with IDITAROD and the award reflects the connection. He was given beaver fur musher mittens with Athabaskan beadwork on Moose hide and beaver fur hat all locally made. Below: JESSIE HOLMES. 

Above : MICHELLE PHILLIPS tending to her dogs.

Above: BRENDA MACKEY traveling within the beautiful Alaska wilderness. BRENDA started mushing at age 3--kid sprint Races. At age 19 she entered and finished the 1,000 mile Yukon Quest. The Mackey family has a storied Iditarod history. Since the race began in 1973, 54 years ago, there have been at least one Mackey racing in 48 of those 54 races. BRENDA previously scratched at NIKOLAI and TANANA so she is looking forward to seeing more than the first 300 miles of the race.

At 11PM EST most are taking their 24 hour mandatory rest. During that time they fix any broken parts, care for their dogs, rest, eat and dry all their wet clothing. They average about 5 hours sleep during this time.

Resting in TAKOTNA: JESSIE HOLMES, PAIGE DROBNY, MILLE PORSILD, RYAN REDINGTON, and 9 more mushers. Behind them there are 11 resting in MCGRATH and 4 in NIKOLAI (including the Expedition Class mushers). 

From MCGRATH to TAKOTNA it is 18 miles and from TAKOTNA to OPHIR it is 23 miles. 5 of the mushers went past TAKOTNA, traveled the 23 miles to OPHIR. Those 5 are: RILEY DYCHE, MATT HALL, LAURO EKLUND, JOSI SHELLEY and JESSIE TERRY. 

You really can't say who is "ahead" until they have had their 24 hour rest and get back on the trail. 

FYI: It is -3 in TAKOTNA low -31, crunchy snow with light winds. Let's see how it goes after everyone has their 24 hour rest.

                                                   TILL TOMORROW

DAY #4 TUESDAY MARCH 10th, 2026 IDITAROD ROHN-TAKOTNA

 DAY #4 TUESDAY MARH 10th, 2026 IDITAROD ROHN-TAKOTNA

Sometimes photos come up a day late, reason for the pic of the cabin at FINGER LAKE. Looked interesting so here is a picture: Not the Hilton but sufficient.

The word is the trip from FINGER LAKE - RAINY PASS was brutal due to the winds and sugar snow. The BURN, TUNNELS and GORGE were not difficult as there was enough snow. Usually it is the other way round. Although a few mushers had problems in that area of the GORGE. One such:

MILLE PORSILD, pictured above, from Denmark. She is my son Henrys' favorite. She crashed off the side of a glacier and landed between two trees. Took her 45 minutes to right the team. Her sleeping bag got wet and the zippers on her tote froze so at -50 (she thought it was) she had a tough night. Her dry mittens were in her tote but she couldn't get to them. A musher passing by gave her a pair and she was SAVED!!!BUT....she does this as it is such beautiful land and she loves her dogs. She is now 263 miles into the race and resting at NIKOLAI.

Last night Jessie Holmes (the leader) camped by NIKOLAI. He said it was damp, windy and cold but he never had visions of luxury and as long as the dogs were comfortable, fed and warm he was ok. He was the first out of NIKOLAI and will take his mandatory 24 hr. rest in TAKOTNA.

The 24 hour mandatory rest can now be taken from MCGRATH to OPHIR. Many will go to TAKOTNA as they have a great set up there and are known for their great food!!!Hank and I volunteered there for 4 days. I was cooking and making pies. It was great as so many of the mushers stopped here. 

Rohn Buser (his Dad MARTIN a champ and a friend of mine) was in NIKOLAI. It was -4 and very windy. He said he was having a good run although he lost a brake part in the BURN. He was pleased he had 16 dogs still in tow. 

Not sure you can see the winds in this picture. This is around NIKOLAI and MCGRATH. 

This is the VET in MCGRATH waiting for the dogs to come in. He is holding on to the post so he won't blow over!!!!

As of 11PM EST these are the standings: JESSIE HOLMES,RILEY DYCHE, PAIGE DROBNY, BAILEY VITELLO, MILLE PORSILD, RYAN REDINGTON, MICHELLE PHILLIPS, MATT HALL, TRAVIS BEALS, WADE MARRS--top 10. They are all out of NIKOLAI. The rest of the pack are in ROHN including the Expedition mushers. l

From MCGRATH to TAKOTNA is 19 miles and where the race gets much more serious.

Sadly JAYE FOUCHER scratched at RAINY PASS. She hit a tree and got hung up  and never imagined the wind could be so fierce. She thought that would happen by the Bering Sea trail.Her dogs were fine--she was not. She suffers from PTSD after a traumatic accident while training. A truck hit her and her team, killing one of the dogs. Tragic the path something like that leaves.

                                                TILL TOMORROW

Day #3 MONDAY MARCH 9, 2026 IDITAROD

Day #3 MONDAY MARCH 9 2026 IDITAROD

Everyone went through SKWENTNA and continued on 30 miles to FINGER LAKE where it was extremely windy and getting colder. About half of the mushers rested here but the other half  continued on to RAINY PASS. After RAINY PASS is a difficult part of the trail in the DALZELL GORGE and the idea is to rest in RAINY before hitting the "STEPS" in the GORGE. Last year there was very little snow so the STEPS were mostly dirt, rocks and stumps, very difficult if your racing on a sled. This year there is snow so they may not have such a difficult pass. 

RAINY PASS was sunny and calm but it was-14 degrees. Rainy Pass Lodge was established in 1937 and is the oldest hunting, recreation and wilderness lodge in Alaska. Below: RAINY PASS LODGE and checkpoint. 

Check out the printed "sleeve" on the dogs' leg. These are protection from ice and snow chunks.

CHAD STODDARD, from Anchorage, coming into RAINY PASS.

CHAD came in to a sunny, calm checkpoint and within minutes the wind came up like a tornado!!They do experience quick changes like that in this area. CHAD STODDARD has trained with top mushers like LANCE MACKEY and MARTIN BUSER. 

At 11PM EST the leader is JESSIE HOLMES, last years winner. He left RAINY PASS for the 30 mile trip to ROHN, through the GORGE. Tomorrow we can hear how the "STEPS" were in the DANZELL GORGE. The following are now still in RAINY PASS: MATT HALL, TRAVIS BEALS, PAIGE DROBNY, 2 of the Expedition mushers, LAURO EKLUND, BAILEY VITELLO and                             KEATON LOEBRICH. The remaining mushers are in FINGER LAKES.

The race will get more exciting as the days go on. The top field will thin out and the neck and neck race will begin.                                       

                                                     TILL TOMORROW

       

 

DAY #2 SUNDAY March 8, 2026 WILLOW - YENTNA

 DAY #2 Sunday March 8, 2026 WILLOW - YENTNAWILLOW START

Norwegian KJELL ROKKE and Canadian entrepreneur STEVE CURTIS will join THOMAS WAERNER, who won the IDITAROD in 2020, in the IDITAROD'S first-ever EXPEDITION CLASS. That will allow them to receive outside assistance, which is against the rules for other mushers (It's controversial). ROKKE is a billionaire and has contributed more than $300K to the race to lower entry fees, boost the race purse and to support villages along the trail.  The IDITAROD says a significant donation from ROKKE will help deliver preventative pediatric care to children in rural Alaska thru a series of dental clinics and deliveries of oral hygiene supplies. 

STEVE CURTIS is a cancer survivor who has climbed Mt. Everest and also contributed a significant amount of money to the IDITAROD. 

Mushers in the  EXPEDITION CLASS will be supported by veteran mushers on snowmobiles, JEFF KING, 4 X Champ, will be one of them. The mushers in this class are allowed to travel the trail and cross the finish line in NOME but are not included in the official standings and not eligible for prize winnings. They have to adhere to good dog care standards and not interfere with the race participants.

Paige Drobny #10 was the one in the squid outfit at the Ceremonial start. A favorite. She is recovering from cancer. 

A good drone shot at the start in WILLOW.                  

                                                              JASON MACKEY#22 from the famous MACKEY family. His Dad LANCE MACKEY was 4X IDITAROD winner and LANCES' Dad  DICK MACKEY (befriended my husband) was one of the 4 who initiated the IDITAROD in 1973.                                                                     

The mushers are doing a 42 mile journey from WILLOW to YENTNA. At 11PM EST the first of the mushers are arriving in YENTNA. Most will check in and continue on as they have just started. They will then travel on to SKWENTNA a 30 mile trip. 

TILL TOMORROW

PAGE #2 of CEREMONIAL START TO THE IDITAROD 2026 (Cont'd)

 PAGE #2 CEREMONIAL START TO THE IDITAROD 2026 (Cont'd)

The blurred photo above of
MARY SHIELDS' sled driven by EMILY ROBINSON, shows the IDITARIDER (person in the sled). These people paid, in a bid, to be a rider in the START.

These photo's are a bit blurred as it is snowing so hard!!! Above a few of the Alaska Beauties!!BELOW:PAIGE DROBNY, with her IDITARIDER, dressed as a SQUID!!! Her team dressed as well. Don't know why but it made everyone smile!! TILL TOMORROW IN WILLOW!!!👀

CEREMONIAL START OF IDITAROD 2026 Sat. March 7th

 Ceremonial Start of Iditarod 2026 Sat. March 7th:

SNOW SNOW and more SNOW in ANCHORAGE. It's what an Iditarod Start should look like!!

There are 37 Mushers. Low number due to the high cost of keeping a kennel. There have been up to 80 mushers and as few as 40. Last year only 22 finished in NOME. This year there are:

37 mushers, 23 Veterans, 14 rookies                                                                                                                 4 past champs-JESSIE HOLMES (winner last year), RYAN REDINGTON, PETE KAISER and      THOMAS WAERNER.

They are doing the NORTHERN ROUTE from WILLOW to NOME--1,000 miles.

IDITAROD is the "Super Bowl" of dog mushing Alaska's state sport.                                                                  Today in ANCHORAGE it is 19 degrees and SNOWING!!                                                                                 Alaska is 4 hours behind New York.

The event begins with the honorary musher, MARY SHIELDS ,who was the first woman to finish the IDITAROD in 1974. She died in 2025. Her sled will be driven by 4 X JR. IDITAROD CHAMP EMILY ROBINSON, who recently won the 2026 JR. IDITAROD. 

Below a drone view of 4th Ave in ANCHORAGE. Look carefully to see the START banner for the IDITAROD this year. 

Each of the teams will start 3 minutes apart and mush 11 miles thru the city. You can see many people "tailgating" on the trail cheering on the mushers. 

CONT'D MARCH 17th DAY#16

 CONT'D MARCH 17th DAY #16 💚

Want to inform you of the latest from the trail: JENNY RODDEWIG, a rookie, had to scratch in WHITE MOUNTAIN with 10 dogs in harness. She was the last musher and was to be the RED LANTERN . I don't know any details but I'm sure she put her dogs first and did not want to push them any further.   We are all sad but she did her very best and we are all proud of her and hope to see her next year.                           

The next to last musher to finish was EBBE PEDERSEN, from NORWAY, a rookie. He said he wasn't in a hurry just wanted to finish and he wanted for himself and his dogs to have a rewarding experience. He said that they did!!!! He seemed very joyful!! Now he is RED LANTERN finisher for 2025.
As I have said, I do believe this is a very important award. This shows determination and spirit to keep going on even though everyone else is in front of you.

One of my favorite mushers is MILLE PORSILD, from DENMARK. She has spirit, loves her dogs, shows determination and was in the top 10 finishers. Her talk, at the banquet, spoke about how much in awe of her dogs intelligence and strength she is. THEY were the leaders she said, "I just drove the sled"!!!

ABOVE: JESSIE HOLMES WINNER OF THE 53rd RUNNING OF THE IDITAROD  WITH THE BEAUTIFULLY CARVED TROPHY-THE SYMBOL OF THE IDITAROD                                              MARCH 2025

My sincere thanks to anyone that followed my blog. I do hope you enjoyed it and appreciated how powerful these men, woman and dogs are. Please join me again next year - MARCH '26