Wind batters Iditarod mushers in Alaska Range as teams head toward 24-hour rests

Relaxed rules have Iditarod mushers wary of new Expedition Class

Norwegian businessman, Kjell Inge Røkke, sets off from the 2026 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race’s Ceremonial Start in Anchorage, March 7, 2026. (Ben Townsend/KNOM) The Iditarod is known for its toughness, but this year three teams on the 1,000-mile trail to Nome are in the race’s first-ever noncompetitive Expedition Class. Two are wealthy businessmen who’ve contributed money to the race. One is a former champ. Despite their financial contributions,…

Wind batters Iditarod mushers in Alaska Range as teams head toward 24-hour rests

For some, the weather was exciting. For others, it proved determinative.

Iditarod 54: Thirty-four mushers are on the way to Nome

By Ariana Crockett O'Harra The 54th running of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race kicked off with a snowy ceremonial start in Anchorage the morning of Saturday, March 7. The temperature hovered around 20°F and the six inches of snow that started falling the night before made for a wintery atmosphere. Despite the snow, the thousands of spectators lining the streets and trails were not deterred from cheering on the mushers and dogs. Mushers and the…

Inside the Iditarod Sled Dog Race, an Alaska Native Tradition With Cultural Flair

This year, Jody Potts-Joseph—the mother of model Quannah Chasinghorse—outfitted her dogs with special Indigenous-made blankets. “For me, mushing is not a sport—it’s a way of life,” she says.

Iditarod 2026: 5 Indigenous mushers to watch

Story by KNBA's Rhonda McBride Five Indigenous mushers and their dog teams are well into the first leg of the Iditarod. The 1,000-mile race got underway in Willow on Sunday, as mushers headed out onto a vast landscape, covered with a fresh blanket of snow. Ryan Redington and his team head out on Saturday's Iditarod ceremonial race start. He won the Iditarod championship in 2023. Matt Faubion/ Alaska Public Media   Two of the top contenders in a…