Fur Rondy & Iditarod

The Fur Rondy, was February 23 through March 4 this year. Vern Johnson is the father of the event. Johnson and his friends decided to establish a 3-day festival to coincide with the time the miners and trappers came to town with their winter's yield. It was a three-day sports tournament February 15, through the 17 in 1935, and featured skiing, hockey, basketball, boxing and a children's sled race.

Many new events have been add since 1935. The World Championship Sled Dog Race in 1946, the World Championship Dog Weight Pull in 1967, Rondy Carnival, the Grand Parade, the uniquely Alaskan Men's Snowshoe Softball, and the Grand Prix Auto Race, one of the oldest street races in North America and ice bowling just to name a few. Rumor has it there will be a running of the Caribou at next year’s Rondy. Look out here comes Comet and he looks mad.

All of these events lead up to the Last Great Race on Earth, The Iditarod. The race is from Anchorage to Nome. Sled teams of 12 to 16 dogs and their musher cover over 1,150 miles in 10 to 17 days The official start this year was March 4 with a ceremonial start, taking place in downtown Anchorage on March 3. It takes a tough individual to compete is such a race. While men hold the large majority of the teams, women also compete and win. The first woman to win was Libby Riddles in 1985.

Chris and I were able to see some of the Iditarod teams weave their way through the city of Anchorage. Loads of people come to cheer on the dogs and mushers as they leave Anchorage. Some come to cheer for their favorite team, others just to cheer.