Nine mushers will be heading to Knik Lake in the morning for the start of Jr. Iditarod XLIII.  Earlier today mushers brought their dogs in for vet check.  This evening they gathered for bib draw, pizza and race rules/information.  As the mushers came forward to draw their bib number, they all had hopes and expectations …

After 43 years, it’s very predictable.  Jr. Iditarod is the last weekend of February.  The mushers will meet with race officials to draw bib numbers on Friday evening.  There will be pizza for the mushers and their parents.  Earlier the same day, mushers bring their canine athletes in for vet check. This morning I was …

It’s a long-standing tradition for both the Jr. Iditarod and Iditarod to honor people who have given their time, energy and talents to the race.  The Jr. Iditarod salutes Linda and Dale Peterson as the honorary mushers for the 2020 race.  The Petersons will be wearing bibs with the #1 for the start of the …

Four graduates of the 2019 Jr. Iditarod Rookie class are returning to the race as veterans in 2020.  They’ll know the trail and with a year of experience they will be the upper classmen who will encourage and help the Rookie class of 2020. Bjorn Keller, age 15, has been working with his father, Jeremy, …

The Jr. Iditarod is in its 43rd year.  The nine contestants bring a wide variety of mushing experience to the stating line. Some come from mushing families and others have connected with a mushing family to learn the sport.   There are four veterans who all completed their rookie run in 2019.  There are five rookies who …

The 43rd Jr. Iditarod is scheduled to start on Knik Lake Saturday morning, February 29th.  In my mind, the Jr. Iditarod is the “start” of Iditarod.  Ask me when Iditarod starts and I’ll always answer, “The last Saturday of February.”  That’s for a couple of reasons.  Over the years, many of the Jr. Iditarod mushers …

Going with the idea that a picture is worth 1,000 words.  Enjoy the photos of the very capable Jr. Iditarod mushers as they depart Knik Lake for the 75 mile run to the half-way checkpoint at Yentna Station Roadhouse.                  

While some might think that when the Finisher’s Banquet has concluded and the Red Lantern has been awarded, the race is over.  I suppose that “officially” speaking that may very well be true but in the case of the Jr. Iditarod, the Finisher’s Banquet and the awarding of the Red Lantern is the beginning for …

From Yentna Station early on Sunday morning, all the Jr. Iditarod mushers are on the trail heading for Willow.  The first musher to leave Yentna Station, Anna Stephan, departed at 04:48.  Winds were calm, skies were clear and the temperature was 9 degrees below zero.  Stephen is the only veteran in the 2019 Jr. Iditarod.  …

It’s partly cloudy in Knik and the temperature is climbing from the zero mark.  There’s plenty of snow as Mother Nature has been good to mushers and snow machiners over the recent weeks.  Trail officials have groomed and marked the trail.  The question yet to be answered, will the trail set up or will it …