Lex Treinen, Alaska Public Media - Anchorage
Lex Treinen covers culture, homelessness, politics and corrections for Alaska Public Media. Reach him at ltreinen@alaskapublic.org.
Top Iditarod teams swap laughs and stories during long rest at remote Cripple checkpoint
Then, it was back to racing.
Good luck charms? Some Iditarod mushers carry one. Others would never consider it.
“It's kind of just a physical reminder that it doesn't really matter if the travel is bad, you know?” said one musher about the importance of carrying his mom's keychain.
Tundra, an unpredictable captain
Alberta musher Aaron Peck has some contradictory things to say about Tundra, a 5-time Iditarod veteran and one of his main leaders.
“He's a leader, but I can't have him in lead too much because...
Wandering bison and bone-jarring moguls challenge back-of-the-pack Iditarod mushers
At least one musher was stopped by a half-dozen buffalo on the trail from Rohn to Nikolai.
Steve, who’s kind of a jerk
Fairbanks veteran Lisbet Norris doesn’t hesitate to say she has a favorite dog on her team of fluffy Siberian huskies.
Iditarod teams navigate rough, windblown trail into Nikolai
Hugh Neff said his 54-year-old arms were exhausted by the constant bumping. “I’ve taken a few Tylenols, let’s say,” he said.
Iditarod rookie describes trip down steep and twisty Dalzell Gorge as ‘just zip, zoom, zag, bing, bang, boom’
Teams must navigate the Dalzell Gorge on their way to Rohn. It's marked by a series of steep downhills and some very tight turns.
Iditarod teams met by ‘super good trail’ as they enter Alaska Range
At Rainy Pass Lodge, many mushers soaked up the mountain views and the love from a few excited tourists who arrived on charter planes.
Viva, the sled dog queen
Rookie Gerhardt Thiart has a very specific story for choosing Viva for his Iditarod team.
Last year, he was running an Iditarod qualifier when he got lost on a lake. There were snowmachine tracks headed...
Anchorage restaurant Mexico in Alaska celebrates 50 years
81-year-old owner Maria Elena Ball changed the Mexican food game in the young state of Alaska, and she’s got no plans to retire.
The race is on: Iditarod teams hit the trail in Willow under clear skies
Some mushers worried about the heat for their dogs as warm temperatures heated the snow.
Our favorite 30 photos from the snowy 2022 Iditarod ceremonial start
As one race fan put it, the Iditarod felt back to "normal-ish."
Stealie, the unexpected leader who never looked back
In our first daily Iditarod dog profile, we bring you Stealie, rookie Eric Kelly's main leader.
The 2022 Iditarod starts this weekend. Here’s what to know.
The race, in some ways, is back to normal: Mushers are again dashing 1,000 miles to Nome.
This Eagle River nurse has seen a lot of trauma this year. His Iditarod quest has helped him cope.
Matt Paveglio will start the Iditarod after watching dozens of patients die during the COVID-19 pandemic. He also had to bury his mother.
‘He wanted death to occur’: Iditarod musher Bridgett Watkins recalls harrowing moose attack
Bridgett Watkins was training near Salcha when a moose attacked her team, stomping it repeatedly.
Hungry, angry and aggressive moose put mushers on high alert before Iditarod
Heavy rain and snow have forced moose onto dog trails resulting in several harrowing encounters.
Can anyone beat Dallas Seavey? Top Iditarod mushers say they’re ready to try.
The five-time champ will have to defeat numerous top teams, including his dad's, if he wants to make history this year as the winningest Iditarod musher.
Vets were once unsure whether Zeke would live. Now, he’s racing in the Iditarod.
Six years ago, Kailyn Davis adopted Zeke. He was a hairless, scabby rescue dog. She says running with a dog team has helped him heal.
Iditarod to require daily COVID testing for race officials and volunteers
Mushers will also have to get COVID tested three times before the start of the 1,000-mile race to Nome, and once in the checkpoint of McGrath.