Beginning of 2021 Iditarod

 MARCH 6, 2021  CEREMONIAL START OF THE 2021 IDITAROD.

TODAY is the "Ceremonial start" of the Iditarod 2021. Due to COVID it will be quite different this year. They will not have the usual Ceremonial Start in Anchorage but it will be in DESHKA LANDING.This is 5 miles from the usual RESTART in WILLOW and there will be NO SPECTATORS. I can't imagine not being able to be there and be part of the excitement. YENTNA will not be an official checkpoint but the trail will go by that area. TAKOTNA will also not be an official checkpoint but they will go by that area. That is where Hank and I volunteered one year and made good friends that I have even today.They will then LOOP from IDITAROD around FLAT and back to IDITAROD. FLAT is not a checkpoint.

There will be three mandatory layovers:

A 24 HOUR at any official checkpoint between the SKWENTNA to IDITAROD stretch, including SWENTNA or IDITAROD. Must be taken before going on to FLAT for the return.

AN 8 HOUR at any official checkpoint between the ROHN to ROHN STRETCH, including either ROHN stops. Normally this would have been taken between the SHAGELUK to KALTAG stretch.

AN 8 HOUR at SKWENTNA on the return trip. Normally that would have been taken at WHITE MOUNTAIN. 

As you see, they will NOT go to UNALAKLEET where Hank and I also volunteered one year and loved or to NOME. The TOTAL distance this year is 852 MILES. 

Many of the USUAL SUSPECTS will be running this year. My favorite MARTIN BUSER and also ALIY ZIRKLE will run her LAST RACE. I will tell you more about her record as we go along but she certainly is a favorite and will be sorely missed so let's cheer her on.