Ceremonial Start of Iditarod Race
Start of the 2011 Iditarod Race in downtown Anchorage, Alaska March 2011.
Get ready for this once in a lifetime opportunity to view the beginning of “The Last Greatest Race on Earth”, the Alaska Iditarod. This race pits man and animal versus nature as they travel down 1000 miles of the roughest and most beautiful terrain, encountering harsh mountain ranges, frozen rivers, dense forests, desolate tundra land, and miles of windy coastline. The conditions can be brutal, with far below zero temperatures, zero visibility winds, hours of darkness, and dangerous steep climbs. Thousands upon thousands of guests gather annually the first Saturday of March to see the start of the sometimes two-week long historic trek from Anchorage to Nome, gathered along with various towns on the path along the west Bering Sea Coastline.
The mushers come from all walks of life, with varying jobs and homelands, and the event is completely set up by family members and volunteers, who at times during the race fly vets, food, or other needed supplies to the racers. The Iditarod Trail is a national historic landmark that used to carry mail and supplies into the small coastal towns and bring gold out, all on the dog sled. These towns now receive ample economic stimulation from the business the race brings, providing the best economic and educational benefits to Alaskan locals. The purpose of the race will be easily seen by your group, as they witness up close the majesty and power of the sled dogs, an Alaskan Husky breed that needed help being preserved after the introduction of snowmobiles in the area. Your group will not be disappointed to see all the excitement that comes with the start of the Iditarod Race in Anchorage!
