2007 Iditarod
Encyclopedia
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
state of Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
began amidst the crowds of Anchorage
Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage is a unified home rule municipality in the southcentral part of the U.S. state of Alaska. It is the northernmost major city in the United States...
at 10 am (AKST) on March 3, 2007, and the start of the competitive race, or "restart", began at 2 pm the next day in Willow. The race followed the southern route for 1,151 mi (1,852 km) across the Alaska Range
Alaska Range
The Alaska Range is a relatively narrow, 650-km-long mountain range in the southcentral region of the U.S. state of Alaska, from Lake Clark at its southwest end to the White River in Canada's Yukon Territory in the southeast...
, through the sparsely inhabited Interior
Alaska Interior
The Alaska Interior covers most of the U.S. state's territory. It is largely wilderness. Mountains include Mount McKinley in the Alaska Range, the Wrangell Mountains, and the Ray Mountains....
, along the Yukon River
Yukon River
The Yukon River is a major watercourse of northwestern North America. The source of the river is located in British Columbia, Canada. The next portion lies in, and gives its name to Yukon Territory. The lower half of the river lies in the U.S. state of Alaska. The river is long and empties into...
, and then up the coast of the Bering Sea
Bering Sea
The Bering Sea is a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean. It comprises a deep water basin, which then rises through a narrow slope into the shallower water above the continental shelves....
to the city of Nome
Nome, Alaska
Nome is a city in the Nome Census Area in the Unorganized Borough of the U.S. state of Alaska, located on the southern Seward Peninsula coast on Norton Sound of the Bering Sea. According to the 2010 Census, the city population was 3,598. Nome was incorporated on April 9, 1901, and was once the...
.
Eighty two competitors started the race. Denali, Alaska
Denali Borough, Alaska
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 1,893 people, 785 households, and 452 families residing in the borough. The population density was 0 people per square mile . There were 1,351 housing units at an average density of 0 per square mile...
musher
Mushing
Mushing is a general term for a sport or transport method powered by dogs, and includes carting, pulka, scootering, sled dog racing, skijoring, freighting, and weight pulling. More specifically, it implies the use of one or more dogs to pull a sled on snow or a rig on dry land...
Jeff King
Jeff King (mushing)
Jeff King is an American long distance musher who is well known for winning both the 1,049+ mi Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race across the U.S. state of Alaska and the 1,100 mi Yukon Quest Sled Dog Race across the U.S. and Canada .King moved to Alaska in 1975 and began racing in 1976...
returned to defend his 2006
2006 Iditarod
The ceremonial start of the 34th annual Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race across the U.S. state of Alaska began amidst the crowds of Anchorage on March 4, 2006, and the start of the competitive race, or "restart", began the next day in Willow...
win, and the 2005 Iditarod
2005 Iditarod
The ceremonial start of the 33rd annual Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race across the US state of Alaska began in Anchorage on March 5, 2005 at 10 AM AKST , and restarted in Willow the next day at 2 PM...
winner Norwegian
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
Robert Sørlie
Robert Sørlie
Robert Sørlie , commonly "Sorlie" in English, is a two-time Iditarod champion Norwegian dog musher and dog sled racer from Hurdal. Together with Kjetil Backen and his nephew, Bjørnar Andersen, he forms "Team Norway", the most well-known Norwegian dog mushing team...
returned after skipping the 2006 event. Both were strong favorites to win. Other contenders included 4 time winners Martin Buser
Martin Buser
Martin Buser is a champion of sled dog racing.Martin Buser began mushing at age seventeen in Switzerland. In 1979, Buser moved to Alaska to train and raise sled dogs full time...
and Doug Swingley
Doug Swingley
Doug Swingley is an American dog musher and dog sled racer who lives in Lincoln, Montana, who is a four-time winner of the 1,049-mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race across Alaska. His first Iditarod was in 1992. His first victory came in 1995 and he followed it by winning in 1999, 2000, and 2001...
. However, the race was won by Lance Mackey
Lance Mackey
Lance Mackey is an American dog musher and dog sled racer from Fairbanks, Alaska, who is a four-time winner of the 1,000-mile Yukon Quest and four-time winner of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.-Career:...
in 9 days, 5:08:41, with an average speed of 5.07 mi/h.
Route
| Ceremonial start |
|---|
| Anchorage Anchorage, Alaska Anchorage is a unified home rule municipality in the southcentral part of the U.S. state of Alaska. It is the northernmost major city in the United States... to Campbell Airstrip: (11 mi (18 km) |
| Highway |
| Campbell Airstrip to Willow Willow, Alaska Willow is a census-designated place in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. It is part of the Anchorage, Alaska Metropolitan Statistical Area. At the 2000 census the population was 1,658.-History:... : 59 mi (95 km) |
| Restart |
| Willow to Yetna: 45 mi (72 km) |
| See Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race for rest of route |
| Modified distance: 1,161 miles (1,868 km) |
March 3: Ceremonial start in Anchorage
Ceremonial start at Anchorage: The mushers departed AnchorageAnchorage, Alaska
Anchorage is a unified home rule municipality in the southcentral part of the U.S. state of Alaska. It is the northernmost major city in the United States...
on March 3, 2007. One of the largest crowds ever watched as 82 teams composed of a musher and twelve dogs pulling a dogsled, left the starting chute at the corner of Fourth and D Streets, and followed the 11 mi (18 km) route through the urban center to Campbell Air Strip. The mushers
Mushing
Mushing is a general term for a sport or transport method powered by dogs, and includes carting, pulka, scootering, sled dog racing, skijoring, freighting, and weight pulling. More specifically, it implies the use of one or more dogs to pull a sled on snow or a rig on dry land...
were accompanied on the sled by "Idita-riders", the high bidders in a pre-race auction.
Campbell Airstrip: After the mushers arrive at Campbell Airstrip, the dogs are transported by vehicle to the "restart" location at Willow
Willow, Alaska
Willow is a census-designated place in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. It is part of the Anchorage, Alaska Metropolitan Statistical Area. At the 2000 census the population was 1,658.-History:...
.
March 4: Restart at Willow
Restart at Willow: The mushers departed the Community of WillowWillow, Alaska
Willow is a census-designated place in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. It is part of the Anchorage, Alaska Metropolitan Statistical Area. At the 2000 census the population was 1,658.-History:...
two minutes apart, in Bib order. The first musher (Perry Solmonson, Bib 2) left on March 4 at 2:00 p.m. AKST, and the last (Jeremy Keller, bib 820) left 2 hr 42 min later at 4:42 p.m.. The teams were increased to 16 dogs each. No additional dogs could be added, but they could be left behind at any of the checkpoints along the route.
Yentna: Ramy Brooks
Ramy Brooks
Ramy "Ray" Brooks is an Alaska Native kennel owner and operator, motivational speaker, and dog musher who specializes in long-distance races. He is a two-time runner up in the 1,049+ mi Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race across the U.S...
(bib 5) departed Yentna in first place on March 4 at 5:20 p.m.. the remainder of the top 5 were Jim Lanier, Zack Steer, Cim Smyth, and Paul Gebhardt
Skwentna: Aaron Burmeister who started in 47th position departed Skwentna
Skwentna, Alaska
Skwentna is a census-designated place on Iditarod Trail in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska, United States. It is part of the Anchorage, Alaska Metropolitan Statistical Area...
in first place, on March 4 at 9:44 p.m.. The remainder of the top 5 were Robert Sorlie, Jason Barron, Rick Swenson
Rick Swenson
For the Saskatchewan politician see Rick Swenson .Rick Swenson, sometimes known as the "King of the Iditarod", , is an American dog musher who has won the 1,049-mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race across the U.S. state of Alaska more times than any other competitor...
, and three-time Yukon Quest
Yukon Quest
The Yukon Quest 1,000-mile International Sled Dog Race, or simply Yukon Quest, is a sled dog race run every February between Fairbanks, Alaska, and Whitehorse, Yukon...
champion Lance Mackey
Lance Mackey
Lance Mackey is an American dog musher and dog sled racer from Fairbanks, Alaska, who is a four-time winner of the 1,000-mile Yukon Quest and four-time winner of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.-Career:...
.
March 5: Alaska Range
Finger Lake: Four-time Iditarod winner and course record holder Martin BuserMartin Buser
Martin Buser is a champion of sled dog racing.Martin Buser began mushing at age seventeen in Switzerland. In 1979, Buser moved to Alaska to train and raise sled dogs full time...
departed Finger Lake in first place, on March 5 at 4:35 am AKST. The remainder of the top 5 were Zack Steer, Jim Lanier, Cim Smyth, and Sebastian Schnuele. The field dropped to 79 teams after Butch Austin, Frank Sihler, and Jeff Holt scratched from the race.
Rainy Pass: Cim Smyth departed Rainy Pass at 10:05 AM AKST in first place. The remainder of the top five were Lance Mackey, Aliy Zirkle, Tim Osmar, and Ramey Smith.
Poor trail and weather conditions caused eleven teams to scratch from the race. Doug Swingley and Dee Dee Jonrowe scratched on March 5. Lachlan Clark, Richard Cummins, Melanie Gould, Richard Hum, and Jacques Philip scratched on March 6.. Tom Roig, Dan Huttunen, Perry Solmonson, and Scott White scratched on March 7. There were 68 teams remaining in the race.
Rohn: Jason Barron departed the checkpoint at the Rohn roadhouse
Roadhouse (facility)
A roadhouse is a commercial establishment typically built on a major road or highway, to service passing travellers. Its meaning varies slightly by country.-USA:...
at 8:47 PM AKST in first place. The remainder of the top five were Cim Smyth, Lance Mackey
Lance Mackey
Lance Mackey is an American dog musher and dog sled racer from Fairbanks, Alaska, who is a four-time winner of the 1,000-mile Yukon Quest and four-time winner of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.-Career:...
, Zack Steer, and Martin Buser.
The field dropped to 66 teams when G.B. Jones and Deborah Molburg Bicknell scratched from the race on March 9.
March 6: Alaskan Interior
Nikolai: Lance Mackey arrived in NikolaiNikolai, Alaska
Nikolai is a city in Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska, United States. The population was 100 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Nikolai is located at ....
in first place at 8:10 am AKST on March 6. He was followed by Paul Gebhardt (11:05 am), Zack Steer (11:48 am), Aliy Zirkle (11:48 am), and Jason Barron (12:34 pm).
Martin Buser departed the checkpoint in first place at 1:43 pm after only stopping for three minutes. He was followed by Lance Mackey (3:33 pm), Zack Steer (5:02 pm), Jeff King (5:12 pm), and Jason Barron (5:37 pm)
The field dropped to 65 teams when Ben Stamm scratched on March 8.
McGrath: Martin Buser arrived in McGrath
McGrath, Alaska
As of the census of 2000, there were 401 people, 145 households, and 99 families residing in the city. The population density was 8.2 people per square mile . There were 213 housing units at an average density of 4.4 per square mile...
at 6:47 pm and claimed the PenAir
PenAir
Peninsula Airways, doing business as PenAir, is an American airline headquartered in Anchorage, Alaska. It is Alaska's second largest commuter airline operating an extensive scheduled passenger and cargo service, as well as charter and medevac services...
Spirit of Alaska award for being first to McGrath. He was followed by Lance Mackey (8:22 pm), Zack Steer (9:50 pm), Jeff King (10:46 pm), and Jason Barron (11:22 pm). Mackey departed McGrath fifteen minutes later at 8:37 pm in first place. He was followed by Zack Steer (10:01 pm), Jeff King (10:55 pm), Jason Barron (11:25), and Paul Gebhardt (11:34 pm)
The field dropped to 64 teams when Dave Tresino scratched in McGrath on March 9.
March 7
Takotna: Lance Mackey arrived in TakotnaTakotna, Alaska
Takotna is a census-designated place in Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska, United States. The population was 50 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Takotna is located at ....
at 10:52 pm AKST on March 6 in first place. He was followed by Zack Steer (12:05 am, March 7), Jeff King (1:14 am), Jason Barron (1:38 am), and Paul Gebhardt (1:52 am). Zack Steer left Takotna 4 minutes later at 12:09 am in first place. He was followed by Jeff King (1:27 am), Martin Buser (2:21 am), Lance Mackey (04:14 am), and Paul Gebhardt (8:13 am).
Ophir: Zack Steer arrived in Ophir
Ophir, Alaska
Ophir is an unincorporated area located in the Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area in the U.S. state of Alaska.It was named by miners after the wealthy land of Ophir mentioned in the Old Testament. The area was the site of a gold rush in 1906. Ophir reached a peak population of 122 in 1910.Ophir is now...
at 2:47 am in first place. He was followed by Jeff King at 4:05 am, Martin Buser at 4:33 am, Lance Mackey at 6:50 am, and Paul Gebhardt at 10:17 am. The rest of the top 10 arrived within 9 hours and 11 minutes of the leader. Lance Mackey left Ophir in first place at same time he arrived at 6:50 am. He was followed by Paul Gebhardt at 10:24 am, Mitch Seavey at 12:45 pm, Ed Iten at 12:46, and Cim Smyth at 2:50 pm
March 8: Halfway
Iditarod: Lance Mackey arrived in the ghost townGhost town
A ghost town is an abandoned town or city. A town often becomes a ghost town because the economic activity that supported it has failed, or due to natural or human-caused disasters such as floods, government actions, uncontrolled lawlessness, war, or nuclear disasters...
of Iditarod
Iditarod, Alaska
Iditarod is an abandoned town in the Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area in the U.S. state of Alaska.- Geography :It is on a horseshoe lake that was once a bend in the Iditarod River, northwest of Flat, ultimately flowing into the Yukon river.- History :...
in first place at 12:11 am. He won the GCI Dorothy Page
Dorothy Page
Dorothy G. Page was best known as "Mother of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race", the 1,049-mile dog sled race across the U.S. state of Alaska.Page moved from New Mexico to Alaska in 1960...
Halfway Award and $4,000 in placer gold
Placer mining
Placer mining is the mining of alluvial deposits for minerals. This may be done by open-pit or by various surface excavating equipment or tunneling equipment....
nuggets. He was followed by Paul Gebhardt at 12:17 am, Ed Iten at 6:22 am, Mitch Seavey at 6:24 am, and Tollef Monson at 8:00 am. The rest of the top ten arrived within 7 hours and 22 minutes of Mackey's time. The top twenty arrived within 28 hours and 32 minutes of Mackey's time
Zack Steer departed Iditarod at 9:28 pm in first place after staying for only 10 minutes. He was followed by Martin Buser at 10:48 pm, Jeff King at 12:21 am on March 9, Lance Mackey at 2:31 am, and Paul Gebhardt at 2:44 am. The rest of the top ten departed within 11 hours and 42 minutes of Steer's time
The field dropped to 63 teams when Linwood Fielder scratched from the race on March 9.
March 9: Yukon RiverYukon RiverThe Yukon River is a major watercourse of northwestern North America. The source of the river is located in British Columbia, Canada. The next portion lies in, and gives its name to Yukon Territory. The lower half of the river lies in the U.S. state of Alaska. The river is long and empties into...
Shageluk: Martin Buser arrived in ShagelukShageluk, Alaska
Shageluk is a city in Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 129.-Geography:Shageluk is located at ....
in first place at 06:55 am and departed thirteen minutes later at 07:08 am. Jeff King arrived in Shageluk at 08:35 am and departed three minutes later at 08:38 am. An hour and half later, Lance Mackey arrived at 10:02 am and departs three minutes later at 10:05 am. Eight minutes later, Paul Gebhardt arrived at 11:13 am and departed at 11:15 am
Anvik: Martin Buser arrived in Anvik
Anvik, Alaska
Anvik is a city, home to the Deg Hit'an people, in the Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska, United States. The name Anvik, which became the common usage despite multiple names at the time, may have come from early Russian explorers. The native name in the Deg Xinag language is Deloy Ges...
on the Yukon River at 10:45 am in first place and was awarded the First Musher to the Yukon Award which consists of a seven course meal and $3,500 in cash. He was followed by Jeff King, Lance Mackey, Paul Gebhardt and Ramy Brooks at 12:00 pm, 1:22 pm, 1:28 pm and 5:05 pm respectively..
Martin Buser departed Anvik in first after taking his mandatory eight-hour layover at 6:45 pm. Heff departed Anvik in second after his eight-hour layover at 8:00 pm. Zack Steer departed Anvik in third after staying three minutes at 8:18 pm. Lance Mackey and Paul Gebhardt departed Anvik after taking their eight-hour layover at 9:22 pm and 9:28 pm.
Grayling: Martin Buser, Jeff King, Zack Steer, Lance Mackey, and Paul Gebhardt arrived in Grayling
Grayling, Alaska
Grayling is a city in Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 194. Since 1977, the Athabaskan village has seen a surge of interest on odd-numbered years, when it is the site of a checkpoint during the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race...
at 9:04 pm, 10:22 pm, 10:47 pm, 11:51 pm, and 12:01 am (March 10) respectively.
Martin Buser, Jeff King, Lance Mackey, Paul Gebhardt, and Ramy Brooks departed Grayling at 9:06 pm, 10:32 pm, 11:56 pm, and 3:42 am (March 10). Zack Steer departed in sixth place at 4:47 am on March 10.
March 10
Eagle Island: Martin Buser and Jeff King arrived in Eagle Island at 6:30 am AKST and 7:50 am respectively. An hour and a half later, Paul Gebhardt and Lance Mackey arrived one minute apart at 9:34 am and 9:35 am. Zack Steer arrived 3 hours and 9 minutes later at 12:44 pmJeff King left Eagle Island at 12:55 pm and was followed by Martin Buser at 1:00 pm. Lance Mackey and Paul departed Eagle Island two minutes apart at 3:43 pm and 3:45 pm. Ken Anderson departed at 8:35 am Zack Steer took his 8-hour layover and departed at 8:44 pm in sixth position.
Kaltag: Jeff King arrived in Kaltag
Kaltag, Alaska
Kaltag is a village in Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 230.-Geography:Kaltag is located at ....
at 9:23 pm in first place. Martin Buser arrived 52 minutes later at 10:15 pm. Lance Mackey and Paul Gebhardt arrived one minute apart at 12:05 am and 12:06. Ken Anderson arrived at 5:36 am AKDT. Zack Steer arrived at 5:48 am.
Jeff King departed Kaltag at 4:46 am in first place. Martin Buser departed 13 minutes later at 4:59 am. Paul Gebhardt and Lance Mackey departed six minutes apart at 6:23 and 6:28 am. Zack Steer departed 4 hours and 18 hours later at 10:46 pm.
March 11: Bering Sea
Unalakleet: Jeff King arrived in the village of UnalakleetUnalakleet, Alaska
Unalakleet is a city in Nome Census Area, Alaska, United States, in the western part of the state. At the 2000 census the population was 747. Unalakleet is known in the region and around Alaska for its salmon and king crab harvests; the residents rely heavily on caribou, ptarmigan, oogruk , and...
in first place at 3:35 p.m. He was awarded the Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo & Company is an American multinational diversified financial services company with operations around the world. Wells Fargo is the fourth largest bank in the U.S. by assets and the largest bank by market capitalization. Wells Fargo is the second largest bank in deposits, home...
"Gold Coast" Award and $2,500 in gold for being first to Norton Sound
Norton Sound
Norton Sound is an inlet of the Bering Sea on the western coast of the U.S. state of Alaska, south of the Seward Peninsula. It is about 240 km long and 200 km wide. The Yukon River delta forms a portion of the south shore and water from the Yukon influences this body of water...
. Lance Mackey arrived 45 minutes later at 4:20 p.m. with Martin Buser and Paul Gebhardt arriving within 7 minutes behind him. Zack Steer arrived four hours and 31 minutes later at 8:58 p.m.
Gebhardt was the first to depart the checkpoint at 9:00 p.m. Mackey departed nineteen minutes later at 9:19 p.m. Buser and King departed within two minutes of each other at 9:43 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. respectfully. Steer departed the checkpoint at 2:16 a.m on March 12.
March 13: Dash to the Finish
White Mountain: Lance Mackey arrived in White MountainWhite Mountain, Alaska
White Mountain is a city in Nome Census Area, Alaska, United States. At the 2000 census the population is between 220 and 250. The city is an Iġaluiђmuit Iñupiat village, with historical influences from and relationships with Kawerak and Yupiaq Eskimos. 86.2% of the population is Alaska Native or...
first place at 1:46 am AKDT. Paul Gebhardt arrived 2 hours and 38 minutes later at 4:16 am. Martin Buser arrived 5 hours and 29 minutes later at 9:45 am. Zack Steer arrived 20 minutes later at 10:05 am. Jeff King arrived 1 hour and 28 minutes later at 11:33 am.
Mackey, Gebhart, Buser, Steer, and King departed White Mountain after serving their mandatory 8-hour layovers at 9:46 am, 12:16 pm, 5:45 pm, 6:05 pm ,and 7:33 pm respectively.
Safety: Mackey arrives in Safety in 4:49 pm AKDT in first and departed five minutes later at 4:54 pm. Gebhardt arrived in second place at 7:08 pm and departed four minutes later at 7:11 pm. On March 14, Steer and Buser arrived two minutes apart at 12:36 and 12:38 pm respectively. Steer departed at 12:37 am and Buser departed at 12:41 am. Two hours later, Jeff King arrived at 2:38 am and departed four minutes later at 2:42 pm.
Nome: Mackey arrived under the burled arch in Nome
Nome, Alaska
Nome is a city in the Nome Census Area in the Unorganized Borough of the U.S. state of Alaska, located on the southern Seward Peninsula coast on Norton Sound of the Bering Sea. According to the 2010 Census, the city population was 3,598. Nome was incorporated on April 9, 1901, and was once the...
in first place at 8:08:41 pm with a time of 9 days, 5 hours, 8 minutes, and 41 seconds. He is awarded $69,000 and a brand new Dodge pick-up truck. He was the first musher to win the Yukon Quest
Yukon Quest
The Yukon Quest 1,000-mile International Sled Dog Race, or simply Yukon Quest, is a sled dog race run every February between Fairbanks, Alaska, and Whitehorse, Yukon...
and the Iditarod in the same year. Gebhardt finished second two hours and 28 minutes later at 10:28:12 pm with a time of 9 days, 7 hours, 28 minutes, and 12 seconds. Steer finished third five hours and 48 minutes later at 03:46:07 with a time of 9 days, 12 hours, 46 minutes, and 7 seconds. Buser finished fourth 21 minutes after Steer at 04:07:04 with a time of 9 days, 13 hours, 7 minutes, and 4 seconds. King finished fifth two hours later at 06:05:17 am with a time of 9 days, 15 hours, 5 minutes, and 17 seconds.
Scratches
Twenty-three mushers have scratched from the race:- Four-time champion Doug SwingleyDoug SwingleyDoug Swingley is an American dog musher and dog sled racer who lives in Lincoln, Montana, who is a four-time winner of the 1,049-mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race across Alaska. His first Iditarod was in 1992. His first victory came in 1995 and he followed it by winning in 1999, 2000, and 2001...
scratched in Rainy Pass on March 5, 2007 at 12:36 pm AKST due to broken ribs and a dislocated thumb. - Jeff Holt scratched in Finger Lake at 5:03 pm AKST. Holt "said he was approaching Finger Lake when he felt a sharp pain, extreme discomfort and blacked out."
- Two-time runnerup Dee Dee Jonrowe scratched in Rainy Pass at 6:00 pm AKST on March 5, 2007 due to breaking her little finger
- Butch Austin scratched in Finger Lake on March 6, 2007 at 8:00 am AKST "due to injuries incurred before the race began."
- Frank Sihler scratched in Finger Lake on March 6, 2007 at 8:00 am AKST due to "a lack of leaders on his team."
- Jacques Philip scratched in Rainy Pass on March 6, 2007 at 8:00 am AKST. No official reason was given. However, in an interview with the Anchorage Daily NewsAnchorage Daily NewsThe Anchorage Daily News is a daily newspaper based in Anchorage, Alaska, in the United States. It is often referred to colloquially as either "the Daily News" or "the ADN"...
, race judge Art Church reported that Philip "just wasn’t having any fun out there." - Lachlan Clark scratched in Rainy Pass on March 6, 2007 at 11:00 am AKST due to a torn "ligament in his ankle."
- Melanie Gould scratched in Rainy Pass on March 6, 2007 at 11:00 am AKST. Her "sled was damaged beyond repair during her trek from Finger Lake to Rainy Pass."
- Randy Cummins scratched in Rainy Pass on March 6, 2007 at 3:00 pm AKST due to a "shoulder injury and damage to his sled."
- Richard Hum scratched in Rainy Pass on March 6, 2007 at 5:15 pm ASKT. No official reason was given.
- Tom Roig scratched in Rainy Pass on March 7, 2007 at 5:30 pm AKST due to "a broken sled and team welfare"
- Dan Huttunen scratched in Rainy Pass on March 7, 2007 at 10:00 am AKST. No official reason was given.
- Perry Solmonson scratched in Rainy Pass on March 7, 2007 at 11:00 am AKST due to concerns about the weather and trail conditions
- Scott White scratched in Rainy Pass on March 7, 2007 at 12:35 pm AKST due to "'uncooperative' weather conditions and frostbite."
- Ben Stamm scratched in Nikolai on March 8, 2007 at 1:52 pm AKST due to a knee injury.
- G.B Jones scratched in Rohn on March 9, 2007 at 9:42 am AKST after so that he could go back and find a dog, Afees, whom had slipped his harness and ran off.
- Deborah Molburg Bicknell scratched in Rohn on March 9, 2007 at 10:00 am AKST "based on she what felt was in the best interest of her team."
- Dave Tresino scratched in McGrath on March 9, 2007 at 1:35 pm due to sick dogs.
- Linwood Fielder scratched in Iditarod on March 9, 2007 at 5:00 pm due to "severe frostbite on his ear."
- Karen Ramstead scratched in Grayling on March 12, 2007 at 7:30 am after the death of Snickers, one of her dogs.
- Gerald Sousa scratched in Grayling on March 12, 2007 at 4:00 pm because he "sustained a leg injury while traversing through Rainy Pass [and] determined his injury required medical attention."
- Eric Rogers scratched in Iditarod on March 13, 2007 at 5:00 pm after damaging his sled and sustaining "leg and frostbite injuries."
- Bruce Milne scratched in Kaltag on March 16, 2007 at 1:20 pm "based on the welfare of his team."
Awards
Note: All monetary values are in United States DollarUnited States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
s
- Martin Buser won the PenAirPenAirPeninsula Airways, doing business as PenAir, is an American airline headquartered in Anchorage, Alaska. It is Alaska's second largest commuter airline operating an extensive scheduled passenger and cargo service, as well as charter and medevac services...
Spirit of Alaska Award on March 6, 2007 at 6:47 pm AKST for arriving first to the McGrath checkpoint. He was awarded a "spirit mask" by artist Orville Lind and a "$500 credit toward travel or freight shipment."
- Lance Mackey won the GCI Dorothy Page Halfway award for arriving first to the Iditarod checkpoint on March 8, 2007 at 12:11 am AKST. He was awarded $4000 in placer gold nuggets.
- Martin Buser won the First Musher to the Yukon Award for arriving to the Anvik checkpoint on March 9, 2007 at 10:45 a.m. AKST He was awarded a seven course meal and $3,500 in cash.
- Jeff King won the Wells FargoWells FargoWells Fargo & Company is an American multinational diversified financial services company with operations around the world. Wells Fargo is the fourth largest bank in the U.S. by assets and the largest bank by market capitalization. Wells Fargo is the second largest bank in deposits, home...
"Gold Coast" Award for arriving first to the Unalakleet checkpoint on Norton Sound on March 11, 2007 at 3:35 p.m. AKDT. He was awarded $2,500 in gold nuggets.
Ramy Brooks incident
Ramy Brooks
Ramy "Ray" Brooks is an Alaska Native kennel owner and operator, motivational speaker, and dog musher who specializes in long-distance races. He is a two-time runner up in the 1,049+ mi Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race across the U.S...
punch and kick some of his dogs and hit them with a ski pole when they refused to leave a checkpoint during a March 15, 2007 stage in Golovin, Alaska
Golovin, Alaska
Golovin is a city in Nome Census Area, Alaska, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 144.-Geography:Golovin is located at ....
, less than 100 miles (160.9 km) from the finish in Nome, Alaska
Nome, Alaska
Nome is a city in the Nome Census Area in the Unorganized Borough of the U.S. state of Alaska, located on the southern Seward Peninsula coast on Norton Sound of the Bering Sea. According to the 2010 Census, the city population was 3,598. Nome was incorporated on April 9, 1901, and was once the...
. Brooks denies the more serious allegations, but acknowledged "spanking" the dogs in his team with a trail marking lathe. One of Brooks‘ dogs died the day after the incident, but a necropsy could not determine why the dog died and race officials said there was no evidence that Brooks was to blame. On March 17, 2007, the judges voted unanimously to disqualify Brooks from the 2007 Iditarod.
Shane Goosen who has taken part in the Iditarod three times, told the Iditarod board that during the Tustumena 200
Tustumena 200
The Tustumena 200 Sled Dog Race is a dog sled race on the Kenai Peninsula of Alaska covering 200 miles. The race is run each year on the last weekend in January, and has grown in reputation to draw competitive distance mushers from Alaska, the lower 48, and international locations. The Tustumena...
Sled Dog Race in January 2007 five people said they saw Brooks kick, hit and drag his dogs and that "There is no doubt in my mind that he beat his dogs" and "It took three days to disqualify this guy, there went the credibility of the Iditarod right there — it's gone", said Goosen. Bud Smyth, a former race marshal and Iditarod musher, criticized race officials, saying the Iditarod officials were slow to interview and tape record witnesses. Musher Perry Solmonson stated "It is just a sad situation, I hope as a board you will have some integrity and do what is necessary for the dogs."
Chas St. George, the Director of Public Relations, stated "If you are, by Alaska state statute,
convicted of animal abuse or cruelty, then you are not allowed to enter this race."
Iditarod Trail Committee President, Richard Burmeister announced on April 26, 2007, that the ongoing independent investigation being conducted by the Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage is a unified home rule municipality in the southcentral part of the U.S. state of Alaska. It is the northernmost major city in the United States...
law firm of Davis Wright Tremaine
Davis Wright Tremaine
Davis Wright Tremaine LLP is a national business and litigation law firm representing clients in the United States and in China. In 2008, the National Law Journal ranked the firm 98th largest in the United States based on attorney headcount. In 2008 , Davis Wright Tremaine ranked No...
is not yet complete. Race officials are hoping the report will be ready for the board of directors meeting on April 26, 2007. Stan Hooley said it is unlikely the board will make an immediate decision on consequences ranging from doing nothing to a lifetime ban.
On May 18, 2007, the Iditarod Trail Committee Board of Directors announced that they had suspended Ramy Brooks
Ramy Brooks
Ramy "Ray" Brooks is an Alaska Native kennel owner and operator, motivational speaker, and dog musher who specializes in long-distance races. He is a two-time runner up in the 1,049+ mi Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race across the U.S...
for abusing his sled dogs. The suspension is for the 2008 and 2009 races, and following that Brooks would be on probation for 3 years.
External links
- The official site
- Blogging the Iditarod Trail
- Anchorage Daily News coverage
- Student Broadcast Team Coverage (Students who live on the trail produce Iditarod race reports, interviews & stories)
- Daily pictures from a school in Shageluk
- Nome Alaska Radio Station broadcasts the finish live!