Posts by Diane Johnson

The 2013 Jr. Iditarod Champion by Martha Dobson

Noah Pereira of Clarkson, NY is the 2013 Jr. Iditarod Champion. Training with Dallas Seavey since his December arrival in Alaska with his dad, Noah, Conway Seavey, and Jenny Greger raced for first place. “I left (Yentna) a few minutes after they did and caught up to them.”  Passing Greger, then Seavey, Pereira ran the …


Starter’s Impressions from Yentna Station by Terrie Hanke

For three hours, spirited teams rolled into Yentna Station on Saturday evening. After recording the time in, dogs in and bib number and then completing the bag check, I asked all the mushers the same question, “How was your run?” All thirteen mushers answered with a variation of great! I heard AWESOME, FABULOUS, AMAZING and …


13 x 13 x 13 – Off and Running by Terrie Hanke

13 x 13 x 13!  Thirteen young mushers left the start line for the 2013 Junior Iditarod while the temperature/wind chill was 13 degrees. The start from Knik Lake went off without a hitch as teams left the starting line in two-minute intervals. The morning was overcast with the temperature in the upper teens – …


2013 Bib Draw by Terrie Hanke

It’s Friday night and the Junior Iditarod mushers have drawn their bib numbers. Thanks to the generosity of local merchants each participant received a care package that included a musher hat, headband, gloves, socks and other items too numerous to mention. As the mushers and parents enjoyed pizza, the trail boss reviewed the route and …


36th Junior Iditarod by Terrie Hanke

Thirteen Junior Mushers are registered and set to start the Junior Iditarod on the last Saturday of February. The field for the 2013 Junior Iditarod is composed of an international entry, four lower 48 entries and eight Alaskans. Rookies outnumber the veteran mushers by one. All together the veterans bring eight years of Iditarod experience …


Jr. Racers Meet With Dallas Seavey by Terrie Hanke

Junior Iditarod contestants attended a symposium at Iditarod Headquarters sponsored by the Junior Iditarod Committee on Thursday evening. With just 40 hours to the start of the Junior Iditarod, the young mushers are enthusiastic and ready to pull the snow hook for the round trip journey to Yentna Station. At the symposium, the junior racers …