Just the same, mid-January brings its own issues: long nights, cold (okay, it can be VERY cold), snow, and very little activity with which to liven the routine. December has Christmas, lots of displays of holiday lights, parties, and the fireworks on New Year's Eve. January has ... umm ... and then there's ... wait, don't tell me ...
February will bring the annual Fur Rondy (again, not really about the fur trade anymore). There will be rides, exhibits, sled dog racing, parties, craft fairs, sled dog racing, special events, LOTS of food, and sled dog racing. The sled dog racing is particularly popular, and it only takes a couple of seasons for it to get into an Alaskan's soul. "Food, gifts, shopping and fun", to borrow a slogan from a downtown arts & crafts mall.
Did I mention the sled dog racing?
March brings the Iditarod, "the Last Great Race", where the sled dog teams have a ceremonial start in Anchorage on the first Saturday. The teams run a few miles down the road to Centennial Park, then unhitch, pack up & travel to Willow, Alaska. The official start is the following morning, and the teams light out for Nome.
The Iditarod Trail is somewhat over 1,100 miles long, but advertised as 1,049 miles. Why? I'm glad you asked: somewhere along the line, somebody decided it would be good for the race distance in the 49th state to end with "49"
... and so it does. There are actually a couple of different routes that the trail might follow, depending on the weather & how much snow has fallen.An interesting tidbit about the destination: The name of Nome was generated, well, inadvertently. A mapper made note of the location, but didn't know what to call it. He marked it with "Name", indicating that someone needed to find out what it was. The clerk to whom he gave the map thought it said Nome (bad handwriting much?), and so it remains.
A resident of Nome recently remarked to a reporter (a bit alliterative, there) that the Iditarod is a one-day event to folks in Anchorage, while Nome considers it a two-week long party. But many Alaskans follow the racers' progress, which is posted on-line. Many volunteers work along the trail at check stations, and some blog about it. Several of the racers have GPS transmitters in their sleds, although like many a good Alaskan, most are reluctant to allow the "intrusion".
The winners of the Iditarod become instant heroes to Alaska, and are wined & dined, amply rewarded, and their names become part of a rich history. I've had the good fortune to rub elbows with a few of them (Jeff King, Martin Buser, and Mitch Seavey), and I know a number of folks who have run the race once or twice.
It's hard to explain the mystique to Outsiders, but just imagine: running along with a team of dogs, in temps of -30 F., with blizzards, white-out, ice fog, frost, hunger, sleep deprivation, etc, for well over a thousand miles. We respect the men and women who have run the race: they're ALL winners.
* * * * *
I didn't make it downtown for the races last year, but this year I shall. Oh, yes ... bundle up, and bring a thermos of hot chocolate. I can steer you toward some good food vendors, so be sure & say hi.
See you there!
5 comments:
You won't see me there - I don't do well in temperatures below 70's :) That is interesting about Nome/Name. Must have been a doctor who wrote it - they have such terrible handwriting! Your header picture is fantastic.
Which town has the fiberglass outhouse race called called the "Iditapotty"?
Deedee, I understand. We get used to it because it stays cold for so long ... but it's hard on southerners. You know, from places like Vancouver, Seattle, etc. :^)
Tam, the outhouse races are here in Anchorage, at the UAA campus.
I inclination not agree on it. I over warm-hearted post. Especially the title attracted me to review the intact story.
I didn't know that about the name of Nome. Interesting little bit of trivia.
As you probably know, I've followed the Iditarod on the computer for a couple of years now. It's great fun to read the reports and see the progress of your favorite musher and anguish over the progress of te "red lantern" bearer. (I always root for them to suck it up and finish. Even if they are a couple of days behind. I get disappointed if they drop out in the final stretches unless, of course, it's because their dogs are worn out.)
I'd love to be in Nome for the finish, but that's one thing I don't think I'll ever be able to do. (More a time thing than a cold one.) I'll satisfy myself with a nice long trip through the Yukon, Alaska and BC this summer.
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