Saturday morning brought heavy, relentless snowfall to downtown Anchorage for the ceremonial start of the Iditarod. The morning started quietly. Silent flakes fell as mushers sorted dog booties and harnesses at their trailers. Before long, the streets filled with throngs of spectators, Alaska celebrities and politicians. The mood became increasingly more energetic as fans asked for autographs, handlers harnessed dogs, media conducted interviews, and children peeked through the fencing at the canine athletes, who sometimes howled in return.
As mushers took off from the start line at C street and raced around the Anchorage trail system, snow continued to stack up, laying down a soft base for spectators in Campbell Tract who skied or biked in to watch the end of the 11-mile course. Bells rang, dogs barked and crowds gathered in the trees along Campbell Airstrip to catch a glimpse of the teams as they passed.
The next day in Willow, the team staging area carried a calmer vibe as mushers made final adjustments to their kits for the 1,000 mile journey. The dogs remained relaxed until they were slipped into their harnesses, at which point they jumped, barked and tugged at their necklines, ready to run. Spectators lined the start chute on Willow Lake, cheering and handing goodies to mushers as they set off. Throughout Nancy Lakes Recreation Area, snowmachiners, skiers, and fat bikers gathered to spectate and tailgate the occasion.
Thousands of Alaskans come together each year to celebrate the iconic race from Anchorage to Nome. This year is proving to have a very competitive field, with 37 teams strung out along the trail to Nome. Many have already traveled through McGrath and beyond — disappearing one by one into the long, quiet miles ahead.
Emily Sullivan is a photographer and writer focused on outdoor recreation, environmental wellness, and community empowerment. She is based on Dena’ina lands, where she can usually be found skiing, packrafting, or berry picking.
