Start of the Iron Dog

Start of the Iron Dog Snowmachine Race

As I pulled into the tiny town of Big Lake, Alaska, north of Anchorage, I was greeted by the vast frozen lake stretching west before me.  The line of traffic ahead of me crawled through town and turned into the park on the end of the lake and continued down the boat ramp onto the ice.  As I parked, donned my winter gear and ice spikes, I noticed that Denali was visible and lit up far to the north.  Finally the great mountain had shown itself to me on this cold 18 degree day.  It looked like it was a five minute drive away when in actuality, as I had learned a few weeks ago, it was a three hour drive. Today was to be the highlight of my first winter in Alaska, the start of the Iron Dog Snowmobile Race, the longest, toughest snowmobile race in the world.  Starting in Big Lake, Alaska running to Nome on the Bering Sea and then back to Fairbanks for a total of 2032 miles through some of the harshest terrain in the world.

The crowd gathered around the pit area as the the drivers received their final instructions.  The
sleds lined up in pairs ready to head out on the course across the vast Alaskan tundra.  I made my way past the start line to find a spot to get a good vantage point.  People on snowmobiles, 4 wheelers and in side by sides cruised up and down the area next to the starting chute.  Children bundled up against the cold played between their parents legs and small children were being pulled in sleds as the first pair of drivers positioned themselves at the starting line.  The National Guard honor guard stood at attention as a beautiful version of the Star Spangled banner was sung and the Lieutenant Governer said the invocation.

As the announcer counted down, the first pair of sleds raced out the shoot heading west toward the first stop in McGrath hundreds of miles and several hours away.  The teams left in two minute intervals as the 37 pairs of drivers started the race down the chute.  People lined the chute near the starting line and dispersed farther down.  Others rested in their warm trucks and cars keeping warm while they watched the sleds rocket down the chute waving to the crowd and snow flying behind them.  One innovative couple brought their love seat from the living room on the back of their truck to watch the race in comfort.  Bush planes landed on the ice and helicopters hovered overhead waiting to tail the riders on the trail.

Each pair of sleds left the starting line and raced down the chute curved to the left and headed out onto the open ice of the lake.  The trail conditions were reported to be bad with ice and bare dirt areas taking a toll on both riders and machines as the temperatures at times can drop to -60 below zero causing metal to become brittle and snap.  The riders cover every inch of their exposed skin often using duct tape to cover the areas left bare by helmet and goggles to protect the skin from freezing instantly in the harsh temperatures.  As the iron dogs headed out across the tundra, the fur covered dogs are preparing themselves for their run on the open tundra in a few weeks for the Iditerod.  Iron dogs or sled dogs the result is the same as brave souls attempt to overcome the harsh Alaskan environment.