The Iditarod: Wish You'd Been Here?

The starting line for the Iditarod Race, as well as the Fur Rondy's sled dog races, is at 4th & D Street. (I've mentioned that I managed properties in downtown Anchorage. That's directly in front of my former office.)

For four years, I had the privilege of standing on top of the building that occupies the entire block from D to C Streets, on the north side of 4th Avenue, and photographing/filming the race from above.

Here's Robert Bunsen leaving the line in an Iditarod past (with an older, rather primitive digital camera; please forgive the poor quality of the video):

The crowd noise is quite loud, even 25 feet above the sidewalk. Not least of this is the 5,000 watt sound system which is elevated on scissor lifts directly in front of where I used to work. That building has metal siding, and the announcer can be heard quite clearly when he's talking. In fact, the biggest threat - indoors - is keeping artwork from falling off the walls when they're playing music prior to race time.

But the start of the race, even though it's ceremonial in nature*, is pretty much the biggest tailgater party all year long. Families & folks of all ages are out there: sourdoughs in furs, moms with small kids and babies, and everything in between can be seen in the crowds that form along the entire 11-mile route from downtown to the Campbell Air Strip in northeast Anchorage.

Yesterday we saw one enterprising lad of 10 or 12 climbing to the top of the snow berm, and high-fiving the racers as they went past. His grin was so wide that it must have been painful! But I'll guarantee he won't forget the time the slapped gloves with the Iditarod mushers.

Folks are generous with the snacks they bring along, as well as those grilling food where they're staked out for the event. They frequently give sandwiches or hot coffee to the mushers as they go by, as well.

Imagine your typical football crowd tailgate party, and then string it out for 11 miles, and also imagine that thousands of people watch as the players go by in open convertibles. That will give you a better idea of the atmosphere. It's an event that everyone should attend at least once; I've been fortunate to attend every year but one since we've been in Alaska.



*The mushers restart - the official beginning of the race - at Willow, Alaska at 2 pm today. They'll run flat out, with a few mandatory rest stops, for the next eight to nine days.