A Hot Start to the 53rd Iditarod

By Colin A. Warren

Photo by Anna Lionas /The Nome Nugget

Travis Beals launches his 10th Iditarod race out of Fairbanks

Ceremonial Start in Anchorage

Snow was laid through the streets the night before from downtown Anchorage to the Sullivan Arena for the Ceremonial Start of the 53rd Iditarod on Saturday, March 1. Due to the warm weather, which was cresting at 40 degrees, Iditarod officials shortened the typical run around the city to just three miles. They also kept the 33 teams to just 8 dogs instead of the typical 12. 

Crowds still packed the streets, though it was less dense than in recent years.  

Photo by Colin A. Warren

Musher Gabe Dunham sparkles at the Ceremonial Start in Anchorage.

Alaska Native traditional music performed by the dance group Kingikmiut Dance kicked off the event under the start banner on 4th Avenue. Then, after the National Anthem, Alaskan politicians gave short speeches. 

“Iditarod is a little bit…skinnier this year, but you know what, it doesn’t make a bit of difference,” Senator Lisa Murkowski said. “Mush on!”

The smell of food trucks wafted through the area as spectators lined the streets. Businesses and organizations had booths set up: Marines in full dress uniform challenged people to a pull-up competition, Girl Scouts sold cookies, and Lynden Transport handed out doggie bowls. PETA supporters protested the event, as usual. 

Dappled sunlight broke through slate skies. Volunteers had to shovel the paltry snow pack back into the center of the streets as the mushing teams and pedestrians pushed it aside. 

Teams pulled two sleds each and were released in 3-minute intervals to rousing cheers and lots of photography. Kids in snowsuits were pulled in wagons and propped up on parents' shoulders. Lots of women and kids wore GCI foam dog ears. 

All mushers pulled into the Sullivan Arena by the early afternoon. The city quickly cleaned up the remnants of snow from the streets on the spring-like day. Many of the mushers took off to Fairbanks that day.

Photo by Colin A. Warren

UAF student Isabell Rhodes helping her mom, Brenda Mackey, bring her dogs to the start line in Fairbanks

Re-start in Fairbanks

Even though the race started in Fairbanks for only the fourth time in the race’s history because of the lack of snow and hot temperatures down south this year, it was the same temperature here as in Anchorage two days before. With the sun cooking spectators as they packed into Pike’s Waterfront Lodge on March 3, 33 mushers hit the trail in quick two-minute intervals. 

“It’s about getting them out on the trail, then the real race begins,” said Christina Wilson, head veterinary technician for the Iditarod. 

From there, the mushers descended onto the Chena River for the first leg of the race. Families, college kids, and all types of Fairsbanksians, from bush rats to office workers, cheered and celebrated the biggest event for the state’s official sport. 

Keaton Loebrich, one of three rookies from Michigan, shared that his truck broke down that morning on the way to the race, so he “hadn’t had too much time to think.” But he didn’t seem concerned, “Gotta keep overcoming and on to the next.”

Trail sweep crewman Ron Stiffler mused with race favorite Matt Hall that it was too bad that the race rulebook specifically disallowed tethering the musher to the sled this year. Many mushers feared the long river route this year for its potentially tedious terrain. Stiffler and Hall thought some might fall asleep at the helm.

However, this was countered by the possibility of the dogs running at a faster pace because much of the race is on the river, and the mushers don’t have to pass through the Alaska Range.

Even with a swifter course this year, mushers might not make it to the finish line in Nome any sooner. The year’s unique route, which includes a loop through villages before it hits the coast in Unalakleet, is the longest in Iditarod history at over 1,100 miles. The race is usually just under 1000 miles.

Photo by Anna Lionas / The Nome Nugget

Samantha LaLonde, rookie in the 2025 Iditarod , gets ready to take off on her first Iditarod in Fairbanks, Alaska

Out of the 33 teams, an astounding 16 of them are rookies this year. Spectators followed the race down the Chena River along the road system to the town of Nenana, where the racers took their first rest before jumping onto the Tanana River.

“The Last Great Race” is officially into the Alaskan wilderness and on the trails. 

Come back next week to The Sun Star to get more Iditarod coverage live from the trail and finish line in Nome!