DAY # 15 IDITAROD SATURDAY MARCH 21, 2026 ELIM - WHITE MOUNTAIN - NOME------THE END

 DAY #15 IDITAROD SATURDAY MARCH 21, 2026 ELIM-WHITE MOUNTAIN-NOME-THE END

I left you last night when there were the last 9 teams in WHITE MOUNTAIN and advised to stay there till morning as the winds were dangerous. They did just that. They all started out approx. 8am Alaska Time at 5-20 minute intervals. 

SADIE LINQUIST was the first to arrive from WHITE MOUNTAIN. MILLE PORSILD  had loaned her a sled in UNALAKLEET. Her Dad is best friends with MITCH SEAVEY (an IDITAROD winner in his time) and she was running a few of his dogs. She had a Birthday on the trail👸At the finish she gave her dogs a huge steak EACH. Looked like a feast fit for some kings and queens (which they are). Her comment "What an adventure"!!

Below: SADIE and her team coming under the burled arch in NOME

Next came RICHIE BEATTIE then JOSEPH SABIN. JOSEPH was the one I mentioned from Grandville, Michigan now living in Willow, Alaska. The school he attended had the IDITAROD in one of the classes JOSEPH was in years back. They were following him in the race. The most beautiful part of the trail, for him, was Blueberry Hill. Steep climbs in this area but he said that's what provided the great panorama.  Not everyone shared his view and considered it the most difficult part of the trail.

 

My daughter Tara lives in North Dakota and I want to mention that SYDNIE BAHL is from MINOT, North Dakota but now lives in Wasilla training her dogs. She came 25th place. She is a PHD in Physical Therapy.                                                           

The rest of the 9 came into NOME before midnight on the 20th. 

RICHIE BEATTIE came in last and won the RED LANTERN AWARD. The lantern is called the widows lamp representing teams still on the trail. When the last musher comes in they extinguish the flame representing no more teams on the trail. This a prestigious award. It show the endurance, fortitude and perseverance to continue on even though you know everyone else is in front of you. You win $1,000 and a trophy at the banquet tomorrow. Below: RICHIE BEATTIE extinguishing the flame.

Tomorrow is the Banquet where the teams are honored. As JESSIE HOMES is the winner his two lead dogs will be there as well. Any other guests have to pay their way. Not sure the cost. Hank and I helped set up for the banquet so we didn't have to have a ticket. It is a joyous and fun event. All the awards are given out (JESSIE HOLMESwill need a big truck to haul all his winnings home!!!). There is music and a gourmet dinner that Chefs from ANCHORAGE have prepared. FUN TIME.

To me, everyone that enters this race is a winner. Just the months of preparation is extraordinary. The dogs are the most incredible DAWGS' --(representing a "dog" mentality of being a winner who adapts to situations, embraces challenges and refuses to made excuses, often acting as a high-effort, physical player who elevates their team.) The musher adapts all these strengths and makes the final decisions.   The perfect combination!!!💗

FOR NOW WE MUST WAIT ANOTHER YEAR FOR THE NEXT IDITAROD RACE. Maybe it will be a little warmer but hopefully have as much snow as this year.

Thank you for reading my blog. I enjoy following the race on my laptop or in person.

SEE YOU NEXT YEAR

From one of the many snowstorms at Fox Run Farm, Salt Point!!

DAY #14 IDITAROD FRIDAY MARCH 20, 2026 WHITE MOUNTAIN - NOME

DAY #14 IDITAROD FRIDAY MARCH 20, 2026 WHITE MOUNTAIN - NOME

FIRST DAY OF SPRING and its -11 in NOME!!! There are all 9 teams that have left WHITE MOUNTAIN. They stop at SAFETY to pick up their bibs to wear coming into NOME. This is a 77 mile trip.                                                                                                                                                                       I really feel sad for ADAM LINDENMUTH not only that he had to scratch but his Mom has been waiting in NOME for days. Pictured below on right. She has been soooo excited. He was close to finish.😔

These 2 men have been narrating the race from many of the checkpoints. They have done this for years. On the left is GREG HEISLER on the right is BRUCE LEE. BRUCE has mushed the trail in the past so his perspective is usually on the money.

Sorry I'm so late in introducing the TEACHER ON THE TRAIL---KARI WRIGHT (don't think she's related to Jodi???) She is from Osage, Iowa and is a 3rd grade teacher and has used the IDITAROD in her classroom since 2006. She is chosen from many applicants from all over the country. She travels (by small plane) to some of the checkpoints and her goal is educating students about the race and Alaskan history. These are students from all over THE WORLD!! using technology. The teacher integrates IDITAROD into their curriculum. This is interesting to students who think scientifically, solve problems, read more, use technology as a tool, who LOVE DOGS and the magnificence of the Alaskan wilderness.There is a website where you can view Kari's journey and teaching plan.

The Air Force has supplied small planes to transport any dogs needing to be transported to ANCHORAGE where they are looked after by Vets. till the owner picks them up. These are dogs that have been dropped during the race for a myriad of reasons---not performing, ill etc etc etc.

It is 10pm EST and the last of the 9 are en route. They will be in, hopefully, in the middle of the night so I will blog about them tomorrow. 

Just a few FYI: In NOME many of the mushers stay with locals. Some have stayed with the same family for many years. Others may stay with their family if they are there. There is one hotel in town The AURORA HOTEL. I am trying to figure if this is the same hotel I stayed in that was right on the finish line--can't remember the name. You could go out on a balcony and see the teams come in if it was the middle of the night. Another "Hotel" is the former hospital building and the other the former Juvenile Detention Center. I guess make use with what you have!!!!

15 minutes before a team comes in the town sets off a siren. You can get ready to come down and welcome the teams in.

At the moment, BRENDA MACKEY is bringing up the rear and is in contention for the RED LANTERN AWARD. We'll see.                                                                                                                              

                                                    TILL TOMORROW
 

DAY #13 IDITAROD THURSDAY MARCH 19, 2026. WHITE MOUNTAIN - NOME

 DAY #13 IDITAROD THURSDAY MARCH 19, 2026 WHITE MOUNTAIN - NOME

I do hope the this is the last sad announcement: ADAM LINDENMUTH scratched. He said his dogs were done mentally and he wouldn't push them. He was past ELIM when he pushed his button for assistance. Once that is done you are out of the race. There were intense winds and it was very cold. He then followed the snow machine to WHITE MOUNTAIN and scratched there. Before SAFETY checkpoint there are river valleys between mountains and the winds funnel straight across the trail and can blow the dogs towards the open water. 

The Race Officials advised that the 10 mushers in WHITE MOUNTAIN ,early this evening, should wait until tomorrow morning to leave when the winds die down. The winds are dangerous and it is very cold. 

I started with the ending now lets go back to the beginning of the day when a total of 20 mushers came under the burled arch in NOME.  Below: JESSIE TERRYwas named ROOKIE OF THE YEAR (a great honor) and also had the fastest time from SAFETY to NOME 2 hours 56 min. Pictured below.

MATT HALL, nearing NOME, across the frozen Bering Sea. You can see some of the ice fishing huts.       

BOTTOM PICTURE : KYELL INGE ROKKA. Hope you remember mention of him at the beginning. He is the billionaire that funded some of the race and dental facilities in some of the communities along the IDITAROD trail. He always wanted to run the race himself so he trained for some time and after ending in NOME was asked what was the most difficult part of the trail. He said "everything about it, I crashed, I wiped out, I was drug on the snow and had only 12 dogs. It was cold, down to -52 you can dress for that but the run is like a train  coming down the trail. First thing I am going to do in NOME is take a shower!! He thanked MARK NORDMAN for being receptive to the idea of an EXPEDITION CLASS and making it possible. That is how he,  STEVE CURTIS and THOMAS WAERNER (former IDITAROD winner) raced in the Expedition Class. They were under different rules and could not receive any awards.

At midnight EST there are 20 mushers in NOME and 9 mushers in WHITE MOUNTAIN. They will wait till the morning when the winds die down and come into NOME. Right now in WHITE MOUNTAIN it is -17 going down tonight to -21 and windy. It is -16 in NOME with a low of -21 and not as windy as WM--only 8mph winds.

                                                             TILL TOMORROW

DAY #12 IDITAROD WEDNESDAY MARCH 18, 2026 ELIM - NOME

DAY #12 IDITAROD WEDNESDAY MARCH 18, 2026 ELIM - NOME

TODAY 13 mushers will arrive in NOME under the burled arch. 

Sadly GRAYSON BRUTON scratched in UNALAKLEET for the good of the team. Haven't heard any more. GRAYSON started in ANCHORAGE next to last and remained in that position thru most of the race. When he scratched he was running in the last position. He is from TOK, Alaska. 

Then after 9 days, 7 hours, and 32 minutes JESSIE HOLMES guided his team across the finish line in NOME to win the 1,000 mile race for the second year in a row. Only 2 other mushers had completed that task of winning their second consecutive IDITAROD race--SUSAN BUTCHER and LANCE MACKEY. JESSIE's prize was $80,000!!! Not bad. JESSIES' comment- "This is the dogs race, I'm just here for the paperwork and drivin". JESSIE lives a very basic lifestyle. You can't drive to his home in the winter and it is just off the Denali Highway. When JESSIE came in it was -1 with a wind chill of -22 degrees. Didn't seem to bother him after experiencing -40 on the trail!!!Below: JESSIE coming into NOME on the frozen Bering Sea. 

JESSIE coming down the Main Street of NOME--at the end THE BURLED ARCH

JESSIE HOLMES winner of the 54th IDITAROD 2026                                            

 

 

Following JESSIE HOLMES to the finish and top 10 teams:

TRAVIS BEALS, JEFF DEETER, PAIGE DROBNY, WADE MARRS, MATT HALL, RILEY DYCHE, LAURO EKLUND, PETER KAISER, MICHELLE PHILLIPS and 3 more.                                                     There are 8 in WHITE MOUNTAIN and 9 in ELIM. ADAM LINDEMUTH is bringing up the rear

Most of the teams will be in tomorrow. The Banquet isn't until Sunday. Most will stay for that. 

TILL TOMORROW

 

DAY #11 IDITAROD TUESDAY MARCH 17, 2026 St. PATTY'S DAY UNALALEET - WHITE MOUNTAIN

DAY #11 IDITAROD TUESDAY MARCH 17, 2026 ST. PATTY'S DAY UNALAKLEET-WHITE MT

TODAY is the day for Jessie Holmes to arrive under the burled arch in NOME. It hasn't happened yet but perhaps in a few hours. 

IT IS ST. PATRICK'S DAY!!! My friend Joanne Chapman made a delicious REUBEN SANDWICH with corned beef, cabbage, cheese on a sandwich. WOW it was good. It was dinner on bread!! 

Above: JASON MACKEY(LANCE MACKEY'S SON) coming into KOYUK. JASON is from FAIRBANKS.                                                         

One of PAIGE DROBNY'S dogs in UNALAKLEET. Ready to go......

ABOVE: The village of UNALAKLEET                                                        

The extra sad news is JODY POTTS - JOSEPH has scratched in UNALAKLEET. Still not certain what the problem was but the media said she called the race officials via 2 way communicator giving them her decision to scratch.The officials sent personnel to assist her with safe transport to UNALAKLEET via snow machine.                                                        

Above: JESSIE HOLMES saying goodbye to the volunteers in UNALAKLEET. Fans of certain mushers send pizzas from PEACE ON EARTH in UNK. Someone sent JESSIE one but he went thru too quickly so someone on a snowmobile chased him down to deliver his pizza. 

Hank and I stayed for 5 days in UNALAKLEET to volunteer. GREAT place but I have mentioned this before and now I'm being redundant!!

Above: My next, and hopefully last sad news, MILLE PORSILD 53 from DENMARK scratched in ELIM (123 miles from NOME). Her 4 year old dog Charley died on route. He passed all pre race and vet testing so a necropsy will be preformed in UNALAKLEET. The rule of the race is if a dog dies on a team the musher can volunteer to scratch or be withdrawn by the race officials. She was definitely a favorite. She had been 1st thru 3rd thru the race. MILLE was named top rookie in 2020. She had 4 top 10 finishes over 5 years and in 2021 received the Humanitarian Award from the VETS who believed demonstrated the best dog care. 

FYI: Mandatory for the mushers to have in their sled. These are checked at each checkpoint. If anything is missing they are disqualified.  They MUST HAVE: a cooker, dog booties, sleeping bag, snowshoes, promotional pack, vet book, an axe, fuel, insulated dog coats and a vet pack. 

JESSIE HOLMES, just when I thought he won ALMOST all the awards he has won 1st to WHITE MOUNTAIN with 13 dogs, first given out in 2018. Northrim Bank gave the ACHIEVE MORE AWARD. He was given a $2,500 check and a special trophy that will be kept at IDITAROD Headquarters year round. 

As of midnight EST JESSIE HOLMES is in SAFETY (22 miles from NOME).  5 of the top 10 are in WHITE MOUNTAIN: TRAVIS BEALS, JEFF DEETER, PAIGE DROBNY, WADE MARRS, MATT HALL, RILEY DYCHE, MICHELLE PHILLIPS, LAURO EKLUND and PETE KAISER. There are 6 mushers in ELIM, 10 mushers in KOYUK, 7 mushers in SHAKTOOLIK and the last 2 are in UNALAKLEET: ADAM LINDENMUTH and GRAYSON BRUTON.

From UNALAKLEET to SHAKTOOLIK  is 40 miles and from  SHAKTOOLIK to KOYUK is 50 miles KOYUK to ELIM is 48 miles ELIM to GOLOVNIM is 28 miles and GOLOVNIM to WHITE MOUNTAIN is 18 miles. Temps haven't changed very much. Low (minus) temps and wind.

77 miles from WHITE MOUNTAIN to NOME

Let's hope JESSIE HOLMES  will come in tonight. 

TILL TOMORROW

DAY #10 IDITAROD MONDAY MARCH 16, 2026 UNALAKLEET - ELIM

 DAY #10 IDITAROD MONDAY MARCH 16, 2026 UNALAKLEET - ELIM

JESSIE HOLMES is running a smart and fast race. The weather conditions are helping. The dogs love the cold weather, there is lots of snow which is packed down by the snowmobiles and conditions are fast. It's still very cold from 0 degrees to -16 at night. Not seeing those -40's which is good. 

A note about what snacks the mushers have for themselves: cheddar cheese packs (vacuum packed), meat snacks, trail mix, yogurt covered fruit snack packs,, mini granola bars for example. They will be frozen, due to the outside temps, so they can put a pack inside their parka ,close to their body, to defrost it if they are on their sled. 

MILLE PORSILD is at a shelter (many shelter cabins along the way)by SHAKTOOLIK (just after UNALAKLEET). She had to go UP Blueberry Hills which is steep and usually windy. She said it was good for her--no problems. Being a veteran, you anticipate the trail and seem to be able to handle difficulties better than a rookie never haven been on these trails before. MILLE is definitely a veteran. She tries to rest her team outside the checkpoints as she is not fond of chaos and there can be a bit of chaos when so many teams are in checkpoints. MILLE gets sad to know the end is coming up. She said you train for 8-9 months and then ITS OVER😢

ABOVE: PAIGE DROBNY is now on NORTON SOUND an inlet of the Bering Sea, above photo.The SOUND is 150 miles long and 125 miles wide and is typically ice free from June to October. NOME is on its north shore. This area is steeped in history of human settlements and subsistence activities . PAIGE crossing the SOUND. It's flat, snow clumps and windy (reason for the blurry pic), seems to go on  and on and......

Above: sun coming up in UNALAKLEET. Over those first hills pictured live a herd of musk-ox. Their fur is used in making hats, gloves etc etc. I have a hat and it is the lightest and warmest hat I have ever had. In ANCHORAGE you can see the natives making these products. They are for sale there.                

A sign of spring in the Arctic are the snow bunting birds, like our robins.
They are small and white and blend in very well. They turn brown in the summer. Hope you can see them. As I said, they blend in very well!!

Everyones strategies and strength are now tested trying to get to WHITE MOUNTAIN where they have their last mandatory rest --8 hours. This is testing their endurance as they are getting tired, sleep deprived and full of anticipation and some anxiety. 

SHATOOLIK to KOYUK is 50 miles, 7 of the mushers are here. I found KOYUK cemetery quite interesting. Pictured here. 

UNALAKLEET to SHATOOLIK is 40 miles and the weather during the day in both places approx. -5 degrees and nite temps are approx -17 they had a sunny day today.                                                                    SHATOOLIK to KOYUK is 50 miles  with day temps 0 to -4 and night temps -15. It was sunny here today as well.

JESSIE HOLMES is approx 46 miles to WHITE MOUNTAIN. 

3 mushers are in ELIM : JESSIE HOLMES, TRAVIS BEALS and WADE MARRS.                                    7 mushers are in KOYUK (48 miles from the front runner): PAIGE DROBNY, JEFF DEETER,                    MILE PORSILD, MATT HALL, RILEY DYCHE, MICHELLE PHILLIPS, LAURO EKLUND.                  There are 7 mushers in SHAKTOOLIK and 16 mushers in UNALAKLEET.                                             JODY POTTS-JOSEPH and GRAYSON BRUTON switch last place periodically.                                   There will be a big push to WHITE MOUNTAIN tomorrow so we can look forward to that.

                                                                    TILL TOMORROW

DAY #9 IDITAROD SUNDAY MARCH 15, 2026 NULATO - SHAKTOOLIK

       

 DAY #9 IDITAROD SUNDAY MARCH 15, 2026 NULATO - SHAKTOOLIK

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEEDEE LUMB (not JONDROW)💃. Can you believe that JESSIE HOLMES won yet another award. He well deserves these awards but I do wish he could share a bit of his speed with others. He was the first musher to KALTAG and won 25 lbs of fresh Bristol Bay salmon filets, $2,000 and a wood burned art piece of a sockeye salmon. Kaltag is home to the worlds largest sockeye salmon fishery.       Below: JESSIE accepting the beautiful art piece, made by a local.

Many of the mushers are seeing, and a few confronted by, moose on the trail. So far no accidents or incidents except for JODY POTTS-JOSEPH that I explained previously. I am trying to find the picture of JODY'S dogs with their handmade beautifully stitched coats on. They were given to JODY by the locals in her community in EAGLE RIVER,ALASKA

All the mushers have now had their 24 hour and 8 hour mandatory rest periods. The next mandatory rest is in WHITE MOUNTAIN ( resting up for their run to the finish in NOME!!)

JOEY SABIN from Grandville, Michigan has a 4th grade following-- below. JOEY went to this school and had this teacher. They are making blankets for the natives in Alaska and following JOEY in the race.      

                                          This is JOEY SABIN in Anchorage before the race began.  He said "follow your dreams because I'm LIVING mine". GO JOEY!! picture below.

JESSIE HOLMES has won yet another award. He was the 1st to UNALALEET. He was given  $2,500  in gold nuggets from the Bering Strait region, a carved loon by a local and a gold pan plaque commemorating his feat. 

Weather and mileage to checkpoints:  NULATO 0 degrees -16 at night with a few flurries.                       KALTAG -2 at night -14 and sunny. UNALAKLEET -6 at night -15 and sunny. SHAKTOOLIK -3         at night -10 sunny during the day. 

From NULATO to KALTAG 47 miles, KALTAG to UNALAKLEET 85 miles, UNALAKLEET  to         SHAKTOOLIK 40 miles.

As of midnight EST the standings are: 3 OUT OF UNALAKLEET, JESSIE HOLMES, TRAVIS BEALS, PAIGE DROBNY. IN UNALAKLEET MILLE PORSILD, RILEY DYCHE, WADE MARRS, JEFF DEETER, RYAN REDINGTON, MATT HALL, MICHELLE PHILLIPS of the top 10 plus 3 more in UNALAKLEET. 

KALTAG there are 11 mushers.

NULATO there are 8 mushers.  GRAYSON BRUTON is the last musher, at the moment. More excitement coming up.                                                                                                                                      

                                                       TILL TOMORROW

                     

DAY #8 IDITAROD SATURDAY MARCH 14, 2026 NULATO - KALTAG

 DAY # 8 IDITAROD SATURDAY MARVH 14, 2026 NULATO - KALTAG

Still very cold in the minus figures and not as windy with some sun. The distance between the musher in first JESSIE HOLMES to the musher last JODY POTTS-JOSEPH is approximately 170 miles (about a full days run). 

JASON MACKEY said he has seen bison and a few moose on or near the trail. They didn't bother him BUT JODY POTTS - JOSEPH, at the back of the pack and not for the reason of her encounter with a Bison. She rounded a corner on the trail and a Bison was coming at them . Bison have shorter legs than moose so it is difficult for them to move in the deep snow. They therefore enjoyed the packed down trail and thought it was theirs--NOT JODY'S!!! He was not giving up and lowered his head to charge towards the team then stopped short-twice! Jody had a pistol, part of the mandatory items, used only if threatened by animals. She tried firing some warning shots but click---click---nothing. May have been frozen?? She jumped out of the sled moving up to her leaders and took cover with them, behind a tree. She used sticks and branches to ward him off but it was a no go. She remember her Grandmother facing an aggressive grizzly bear and her children were in the yard. With courage and boldness she went up to the bear and started speaking her native language HanGWich'in and yelling "go away, have mercy, leave us alone AND.....the bear retreated!!! JODY thought would Grandma's tactics work here. She tried it and IT WORKED--why, how WHO KNEW!! Perhaps the bear and her Bison understood her native language!!!????? Another musher came along---after all this occurred--- and gave her another pistol for safety sake. They are huge animals. They stand up 6' tall and can weigh 2,000 pounds! WHEW!!! 

Below: picture of JODY POTTS-JOSEPH (the WARRIOR!!) Love her "markings", of her heritage, on her chin. 

                 

FINALLY some Northern Lights near RUBY and GALENA. 

I am just now getting pictures of the gourmet dinner (below) JESSIE HOLMES had as first to RUBY.I can only see his salmon dip that convinced him to stay and have the rest of the 9 course meal. Also had white bean and bacon soup, beef bourguignon plus 6 other courses. You can include another person so JESSIE shared this meal with local BILLY HONEA. 

From NULATO to KALTAG is 47 miles. JESSIE HOLMES is on his way there now along with PAIGE DROBNY and MILLE PORSILD. The next 9 mushers are in NULATO: TRAVIS BEALS, RILEY DYCHE, WADE MARRS, MICHELLE PHILLIPS, MATT HALL, RYAN REDINGTON and JEFF DEETER of the top 10. Two others are in NULATO and 10 are in GALENA and 10 are in RUBY including JODY POTTS - JOSEPH pulling up the rear. Tomorrow more awards given out and perhaps it will get a little warmer. In most places today it was minus -20's and -30's. In one area there was ice fog and JESSE ROYER found it difficult to see even her dogs BUT the trail markers and the reflectors on the dogs coats helped a great deal. The lead dog isn't bothered by the weather. He, or she, keeps on the trail. They perhaps can smell the other dogs? or know the packed trail with the reflective markers. Somehow they know. 
                                                        TILL TOMORROW

DAY #7 IDITAROD FRIDAY 13(oooh), 2026 CRIPPLE - NULATO. (fm Cripple - NULATO total of 157 miles)

 DAY #7 IDITAROD FRIDAY 13 (oooh), 2026 CRIPPLE -NULATO (total miles 157)

JESSIE HOLMES still leading the pack. He is almost to NULATO at 10 pm EST. Now to go back and recount the day. Below: good picture of TAKOTNA checkpoint. Little history of the check point.Two of the legendary icons ,who never ran the race ,were JAN and DICK NEWTON. When they moved to the area the Iditarod decided to stop here. They had very simple beginnings--moose stew and chili. As years passed JAN began making more meals and PIES!! The checkpoint became known for good hospitality and PIES. During the "fat" years of the IDITAROD 75-80 pies would be consumed. As the volume of mushers decreased about 30-40 pies are devoured. They also account for the pilots and volunteers that are lucky to have great meals and DESSERT!!! JAN died in 2012 (I met her in 2011) yet the legend       continues. 

      

JOEY SABIN was staying only 8 minutes so they prepared a to go sack lunch AND PIE for him--in TAKOTNA.

Dogs "waiting to run"in TAKOTNA.

 

 

From TAKOTNA to OPHIR its 23 miles. Below a picture of a team  passing by mining relics in OPHIR-a ghost town. OPHIR is mentioned in the Bible. Supposedly the rich King Solomon received shipments of gold and silver from the wealthy land of Biblical OPHIR. Ghost town or not ..there is ONE  cabin owned by the FORSGREN family. WHAT??? This is in the middle of no where. How do they get supplies, health care etc. etc. ? I would love to interview them. They must be loners!!! The checkpoint is by their cabin. 

                                                                                From OPHIR to CRIPPLE is 73 miles from CRIPPLE to RUBY is 70 miles, the long runs.                        JESSIE HOLMES was first into  RUBY with 16 dogs. He wins the DOROTHY PAGE (Mother of the IDITAROD), award. This is the halfway point in the race. He has the choice of either $3,000 in gold nuggets or a smartphone of his choosing with a year of mobile service. He also received a trophy made of Alaska birch and marble which will be on display at the IDITAROD HEADQUARTERS all year.     JESSIE said the trail from OPHIR to CRIPPLE was slow on the surface but wasn't punchy (whatever that means). There was a good firm base.                                                                                                         JESSIE also was the 1st to the YUKON (he is collecting trophies) where he enjoyed a gourmet dinner prepared by chefs from locally grown restaurants in ANCHORAGE. JESSIE was not going to stay here but after having the Salomon dip he couldn't pass this up---HE STAYED and enjoyed his meal.

The weather in most of the checkpoints today have been 0 degrees to 14 degrees and the night time temps are around -20's. It is cloudy with some sun early in the day.                                                                    

FYI: Groceries in Alaska are among the most expensive in the US. For ex. in Juneau it is $5 for a gallon of milk but in more remote areas it is up to $10 a gallon. 

As of midnight EST the standings are: OUT OF RUBY to GALENA (50 miles) JESSIE HOLMES, PAIGE DROBNY, RILEY DYCHE, TRAVIS BEALS.                                                                               IN RUBY RESTING: MILLE PORSILD, RYAN REDINGTON, MICHELLE PHILLIPS and 17 others.  IN CRIPPLE: 9 mushers. JODY POTTS JOSEPH is pulling up the rear but still in good spirits and doing her very best--dogs too.                                                                                                                       Two mushers in the Expedition team are in NULATO one still in MCRATH. STEVE CURTIS in MCGRATH has been there for some time. No sure if there is a problem. Nothing has been said.                There is now more action and strategies are being planned. Exciting!!

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DAY #6 IDITAROD THURSDAY MARCH 12, 2026 MCGRATH - CRIPPLE

DAY #6 IDITAROD THURSDAY MARCH 12, 2026 MCGRATH - CRIPPLE

Mushers send extra sleds to MCGRATH to use if needed.

It is still very cold but not snowing today. JEFF DEETER had a thermometer on his sled. It was -30

At that temperature the dogs take on their own hue, yet this is dog weather. They much prefer the cold.One of JEFF'S dogs below.

I didn't get a picture of JESSIE'S prize--1st into MCGRATH. Here are his gloves--hat wasn't pictured.

An interview with MATT HALL: He said he realized he shouldn't have been so conservative with his team. They have the power and stamina so now he may increase their speed. They WANT TO RUN!! MATT lived in EAGLE, ALASKA in a very remote area--only a few people in his community. When the power lines started to come close to his area his family moved further into the wilderness!!! They lived without power. Yikes!! Imagine and they preferred that. He is in the top 10 so far.

There was an interview with KATE (never got her last name) a volunteer VET from Australia. She is in love with Alaska. She said the dogs are sweet and so well behaved and the people are so welcoming. Her feet were freezing and one of the volunteers took off her boots and gave KATE her socks. Another Alaskan gave her a pair of "bunny boots". They are the BIG white boots you see on the volunteers and the mushers. The are big, heavy and VERY WARM. With KATE'S accent she called the mushers--mooooshers!!

The weather and distances at todays checkpoints: MCGRATH: -2 tonight -23 cloudy.                               TAKOTNA: 0 and -19 tonight calm, OPHIR: 0 and -18 tonight. CRIPPLE: no report of the weather--too remote or just not hooked up yet, but cold and snowy.  From MCGRATH - TAKOTNA 18 miles. From TAKOTNA -OPHIR it is 23 miles. From OPHIR - CRIPPLE it is 73 miles. 

As of 11PM EST 23 are resting in CRIPPLE: PAIGE DROBNY, JESSIE HOLMES, MILLE PORSILD, RYAN REDINGTON, TRAVIS BEALS, MICHELLE PHILLIPS, RILEY DYCHE the top mushers. There are 7 in OPHIR resting and 2 in MCGRATH plus at the 3 expeditioners.

Tomorrow everyone will be rested and ready to run. 

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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.

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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.

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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.                                       

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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. 

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