Climate Watch Barge caught after drifting loose in Bering Strait

By Rick Thoman Alaska Climate Specialist Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy International Arctic Research Center/University of Alaska Fairbanks

The 52nd running of the Iditarod Sled Dog Race is underway, with teams heading toward the finish line on Front Street in. Nome.

For the Interior portion of the race, the main hazard this year looks likely to be the Farewell Burn area, where, as commonly happens, there’s very little snow on the trail. But even with teams taking the northern route this year, there does not appear to be much chance of any temperatures dropping to 40s or 50s below, as happens in some years.

Once teams head west out of Kaltag toward the Norton Sound coast, they will face a very different trail environment. While problems can occur anywhere on the trail, over the past half century certain sections of trail have been repeatedly problematic. Especially in low snow winters, the trail into Unalakleet can be very rough.

The Shaktoolik to Koyuk run across Norton Bay has caused grief to more than a few teams over the years, and it was here in 1985 that Libby Riddles’ Teller-trained team pushed through the blowing snow and strong headwinds, propelling Riddles to victory and become the first woman to win Iditarod.

The trail from Elim into Golovin usually doesn’t get as much notice, but Iditarod veterans know that the winds and steep sections can be treacherous, especially coming late in the race, when mushers are often seriously sleep deprived after more than a week on the trail. And of course, the howling winds and blowing of the Topkok Hills to the coast east of Solomon are notorious and can cause severe problems even for the most experienced teams.

Of course, these potential hazards are all part of the “Last Great Race”, and to pass under the historic burl arch means, one way or another, successfully facing all these obstacles. Every Iditarod finisher, whether a repeat winner or the rookie red lantern can be proud of that accomplishment.