I'm sitting at home in Virginia enjoying the web-based updates from Alaska. I became interested in the Iditarod during my Alaska bike tour last August. The annual event begins in early March and lasts about two weeks. It has a ceremonial start in Anchorage and really begins in Willow, just outside Wasilla. This year has a lot of drama, and as I write this the lead has changed several times in the past few days. I am in awe of all the mushers. The last place musher (the "Red Lantern" sled) is Cindy Abbot of California. Cindy was diagnosed with a rare disease (Wegners Granulomatosis) in 2010. Since then has climbed Everest, finished the Yukon Quest 300, and is well past the half way mark on the Last Great Race. Her website is aptly named http://reachingbeyondtheclouds.com/.
There's a bicycle connection as well. The Iditarod Invitational is a human-powered race (runners and snow-bikers) along the first 350-miles of the Iditarod trail. This year's race was by far the fastest, with numerous records broken.
There is an opportunity for truly experienced athletes to continue along the entire trail to Nome, a distance of 1000 miles. This year three cyclists are on the course still, attempting the run to Nome.
While the cyclists get a week head start, they are normally lapped by the speedier mushers. (This brings new meaning to the phrase "chased by dogs"!) Even with a snow bicycle, there's a need to walk in deep snow or slush or water. Right now, Anchorage cyclist Bob Ostrom is in the lead, and is approaching the Bering Sea "Gold Coast".
All these people have a different concept of cold. "Too warm" is anything above zero. "Just right" is about ten below. And, yes, we are talking Fahrenheit! Alaska has some tough people!
