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Boston Globe
18-05-2025
- Boston Globe
Dan Seavey, musher who helped create Alaska's epic Iditarod, dies at 87
Advertisement The idea for the Iditarod race began with a handful of adventurous souls and a mostly forgotten trail, which was used in the early 20th century by gold prospectors and settlers. The use of dogsled teams was later eclipsed by planes and snowmobiles. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Then in the 1960s, some dogsled events were held along segments of the trail. As Mr. Seavey and others planned a competition along the complete route, more than a few critics wondered if the risks were just too high. 'They questioned in front of me the wisdom of even going on that first race,' he told KTUU television in Anchorage. Another of the race organizers, Joe Redington Sr., took out a second mortgage on his house to help fund the event. In early March 1973, 34 dogsledders - including Mr. Seavey - set out from Anchorage. Alaskan newspapers gave front-page coverage as the mushers passed near towns and as word came that others had dropped out. Advertisement Mr. Seavey carried a tape recorder to capture his thoughts and accounts, which were saved and later used in his book 'The First Great Race' (2013). When not using the recorder, Mr. Seavey stashed the batteries in his parka to keep them from freezing. His 12-dog team included a lead dog, Genghis, and others with names such as Koyuk, Snippy, and Crazy. 'Those wonders of God's creation,' he wrote, 'who weathered Arctic gales, slept in snowbanks, suffered exhaustion, sore, raw feet and, to some degree, human ignorance and neglect.' He also had aboard his sled 350 souvenir letters sold for $1 each with plans to mail them from Nome. 'If I make it,' he added. He and 21 other teams did. Mr. Seavey finished third in 20 days, 14 hours and 35 minutes - about a half-day behind the winner. (Current winners finish in less than 10 days.) The finish line was improvised by pouring Kool-Aid in the snow. 'We were wandering around in the wilderness, lost, for some of the time out there,' he said in a 2022 interview with the Anchorage Daily News. 'Whatever it took to get to Nome.' Mr. Seavey took part in the race four more times, the last in 2012 at age 74. He finished 50th in 13 days, 19 hours and 10 minutes. His grandson Dallas Seavey won that race in 9 days, 4 hours, and 29 minutes in the first of his six victories. Mr. Seavey's son Mitch has won the Iditarod three times. Advertisement Once asked to describe his most harrowing moment on the Iditarod, Mr. Seavey recounted crossing a river in the 1974 race outside of the abandoned roadhouse site at Rohn, three days into the trek. The ice began to buckle. 'I was wondering to myself if we were going to go all the way through,' he was quoted as saying on the Iditarod website. The numbing-cold water was at his knees. 'The dogs were sinking pretty deep, too,' he said. 'Some of my smaller dogs might have been doing the doggy paddle at that point.' They managed to reach the other side, only to find a group of bison on the banks. 'As we started running again, the buffalo ran with us,' he recalled. 'They ran in front for a good mile and a half, and we just followed right behind. Then they just disappeared, and we kept going for a bit until I found a good place to set up camp and build a fire.' For Mr. Seavey, the Iditarod was never fully about the race, he often said. He saw it more as an immersion into Alaska's past, which he began to explore in the 1960s as a history teacher newly arrived from Minnesota. The lore and significance of the trail, in Mr. Seavey's view, was being slowly lost at the time. The memories included a 1925 dog team run of serum to Nome along part of the trail during a diphtheria outbreak. A statue of a lead dog in that medical mission, Balto, was erected in Manhattan's Central Park. 'Even the word 'Iditarod' was lost,' Mr. Seavey told the St. Cloud Times in 2014. 'A lot of people, I guess me, too, didn't even know how to pronounce the word. There was a reeducation process that had to go on.' Advertisement The inaugural Iditarod, Mr. Seavey said, was an attempt to rebuild a tangible connection with the trail, which takes its name from a central Alaskan outpost (now abandoned) that was the site of the last major Alaskan gold rush in 1909. He playfully dubbed the first race 'a great camping trip.' Five years later, the Iditarod Trail was designated a National Historic Trail. (The race now uses alternating starting points depending on the year.) 'You might be interested in history of the game of tennis, but can you really know what tennis is all about unless you at least try to play it?' Mr. Seavey once said. 'To me, physical experience is most important in learning about something.' 'You can talk about a segment of the trail being used,' he added, 'but unless you run a team down the Yukon from Ruby to Kaltag, it's just an academic exercise.' Mr. Seavey joined his grandson Tyrell Seavey on a sled behind Dan Freitas on Fourth Avenue in Anchorage, Alaska, during the 2005 ceremonial start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Al Grillo/Associated Press Daniel Blake Seavey was born in Deerwood, Minn., on Aug. 19, 1937. His father worked in iron mines, and both of his parents helped run the family farm. As a child, Mr. Seavey imagined Far North adventures while listening to the radio drama 'The Challenge of the Yukon,' later known as 'Sergeant Preston of the Yukon,' about battling wrongdoers during the Gold Rush. In 1961, he received a teaching degree from St. Cloud State College (now St. Cloud State University) and two years later headed for Alaska with his wife, the former Shirley Anderson. They met years earlier when Mr. Seavey was 19 and working a summer job as a carnival wrestler. Advertisement In Seward, Mr. Seavey was hired to teach high school history. The family later built a homestead - originally with no electricity or indoor plumbing - following a devastating 1964 earthquake and tsunami that hit southern Alaska and claimed more than 130 lives from Canada to Hawaii. At the family cabin, Mr. Seavey began to acquire and train sled dogs. Mr. Seavey later served on the board of groups including the Iditarod Trail Committee and the Iditarod Historic Trail Alliance. He retired from teaching in 1984. 'I admit to being a hardcore Iditarod junkie,' he said. As climate change brings warmer winters to Alaska, the Iditarod has been forced to adapt by shifting the starting line farther inland from coastal Anchorage and diverting the route from thinning sea ice near Nome. His wife of 59 years, Shirley Seavey, died in 2017. He leaves three children; 10 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and a brother. In November 1973, about 10 months after the first Iditarod, Mr. Seavey posted a classified ad in the Anchorage Daily News to announce that dogs from his sled team had puppies. 'For sale,' the ad said, 'endurance race sled dogs.'
The Independent
01-03-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
A lack of snow is irrevocably changing an historic Alaskan sled-dog tradition
The Iditarod, the world's most famous sled dog race, faces its longest course ever due to a challenging lack of snow across the Alaskan wilderness. This year, mushers and their dog teams will tackle a route exceeding 1,100 miles, over 100 miles longer than the traditional course. This year's starting line has been moved to Fairbanks for the fourth time in the race's history, a decision prompted by insufficient snow cover near Anchorage and along other sections of the trail. The ceremonial start will still take place in Anchorage on Saturday, followed by the official race start in Fairbanks on Monday. The challenging conditions have also impacted participation, with musher numbers tying the all-time low set in 2023. Despite the hurdles, the race is set to go on, with the winning team expected to reach Nome, the historic Gold Rush town and race finish line, approximately 10 days after the Fairbanks start. Here is a by the numbers look at the race: 33 Only 33 mushers will start this year's race, tied with 2023 for the smallest field ever. The largest field ever was 96 mushers in 2008. This drop in participants raises concerns about the viability of the iconic race, which has suffered from inflation, pressure from animal rights groups and climate change. 53 The first Iditarod was held in 1973, making this year's race the 53rd. The inaugural event had 34 mushers start the race, only one more than the smallest fields in 2023 and 2025. Sled dogs were once the main form of transportation in Alaska. Dog teams hauled freight, brought people to other villages and even provided transport for the Alaska Territorial Guard, or the famed Eskimo Scouts, which patrolled the western coast against Japanese attack in World War II. Dog teams were supplanted by snowmobiles in the 1960s, but interest was growing to honor Alaska's traditions as the 100th anniversary of its purchase by the U.S. from Russia neared in 1967. Dorothy Page and Joe Redington Sr. conceived the idea of a long-distance race to honor the Iditarod Trail, a freight-and-mail route from Seward to Nome, which eventually led to the first Iditarod. This year the Iditarod will honor another famous route: the 1925 Serum Run, in which sled dog teams saved Nome from a deadly diphtheria outbreak. 396 to 528 That's a lot of dogs. Each musher must have at least a dozen dogs to start the race, but throughout the course, they can have up to 16, meaning there could be up to 528 canines on the trail. It won't be that crowded in Anchorage, however. Mushers are limited to eight dogs each for the ceremonial start, or a total of 264 tail-waggers. 1,128 The Iditarod is typically called a 1,000-mile race as mushers and their dogs battle the most challenging elements an Alaska winter can throw at them. However, that mileage has always been approximate. Organisers alternate between different routes most years to allow more villages in rural Alaska to serve as checkpoints. In odd-numbered years, the race goes 998 miles along the southern route. In even-numbered years, the race's mileage drops to 975 miles on the northern route. This year's event will set a record for the longest Iditarod: 1,128 miles. Organisers had to reroute competitors around a stretch of trail without snow. A lack of snow this winter in the state's largest city also has curtailed the ceremonial start. Usually the teams course through 11 miles of Anchorage streets. This year, it's less than 2 miles . The Iditarod's four-legged athletes will go through a total of about 100,000 booties during the race. They help protect the dogs' paws from snow, ice and frigid temperatures.
The Independent
01-03-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
The world's most famous sled dog race is longer than ever. Here's a look at Iditarod, by the numbers
The world's most famous sled dog race is longer this year than ever before. Thanks to a lack of snow, this year's edition of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race needed a new route across the Alaska wilderness. The course change adds more than 100 miles (161 kilometers), so teams of dogs will have to pull their mushers over 1,100 miles (1,770 kilometers) to the finish line. The number of mushers participating this year is down from previous years, and tied with 2023 as an all-time low. This year is the fourth time the starting line has moved to Fairbanks due to barren ground near Anchorage or elsewhere on the trail. Here's a by-the-numbers look at the grueling event, which begins with a ceremonial start in Anchorage on Saturday, followed by the start of the race in Fairbanks on Monday. The winning team is expected in the Gold Rush town of Nome about 10 days later. 33 Only 33 mushers will start this year's race, tied with 2023 for the smallest field ever. The largest field ever was 96 mushers in 2008. This drop in participants raises concerns about the viability of the iconic race, which has suffered from inflation, pressure from animal rights groups and climate change. 53 The first Iditarod was held in 1973, making this year's race the 53rd. The inaugural event had 34 mushers start the race, only one more than the smallest fields in 2023 and 2025. Sled dogs were once the main form of transportation in Alaska. Dog teams hauled freight, brought people to other villages and even provided transport for the Alaska Territorial Guard, or the famed Eskimo Scouts, which patrolled the western coast against Japanese attack in World War II. Dog teams were supplanted by snowmobiles in the 1960s, but interest was growing to honor Alaska's traditions as the 100th anniversary of its purchase by the U.S. from Russia neared in 1967. Dorothy Page and Joe Redington Sr. conceived the idea of a long-distance race to honor the Iditarod Trail, a freight-and-mail route from Seward to Nome, which eventually led to the first Iditarod. This year the Iditarod will honor another famous route: the 1925 Serum Run, in which sled dog teams saved Nome from a deadly diphtheria outbreak. 396 to 528 That's a lot of dogs. Each musher must have at least a dozen dogs to start the race, but throughout the course, they can have up to 16, meaning there could be up to 528 canines on the trail. It won't be that crowded in Anchorage, however. Mushers are limited to eight dogs each for the ceremonial start, or a total of 264 tail-waggers. 1,128 The Iditarod is typically called a 1,000-mile (1,609-kilometer) race as mushers and their dogs battle the most challenging elements an Alaska winter can throw at them. However, that mileage has always been approximate. Organizers alternate between different routes most years to allow more villages in rural Alaska to serve as checkpoints. In odd-numbered years, the race goes 998 miles (1,606 kilometers) along the southern route. In even-numbered years, the race's mileage drops to 975 miles (1,569 kilometers) on the northern route. This year's event will set a record for the longest Iditarod: 1,128 miles (1,815 kilometers). Organizers had to reroute competitors around a stretch of trail without snow. A lack of snow this winter in the state's largest city also has curtailed the ceremonial start. Usually the teams course through 11 miles (17.7 kilometers) of Anchorage streets. This year, it's less than 2 miles (3.2 kilometers). 100,000 The Iditarod's four-legged athletes will go through a total of about 100,000 booties during the race. They help protect the dogs' paws from snow, ice and frigid temperatures. 180,000 Mushers pack supplies they will need during the race but can't carry. The supplies, including about 180,000 pounds (81,647 kilograms) of dog food, are delivered to checkpoints ahead of the race.
Associated Press
01-03-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
The world's most famous sled dog race is longer than ever. Here's a look at Iditarod, by the numbers
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The world's most famous sled dog race is longer this year than ever before. Thanks to a lack of snow, this year's edition of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race needed a new route across the Alaska wilderness. The course change adds more than 100 miles (161 kilometers), so teams of dogs will have to pull their mushers over 1,100 miles (1,770 kilometers) to the finish line. The number of mushers participating this year is down from previous years, and tied with 2023 as an all-time low. This year is the fourth time the starting line has moved to Fairbanks due to barren ground near Anchorage or elsewhere on the trail. Here's a by-the-numbers look at the grueling event, which begins with a ceremonial start in Anchorage on Saturday, followed by the start of the race in Fairbanks on Monday. The winning team is expected in the Gold Rush town of Nome about 10 days later. 33 Only 33 mushers will start this year's race, tied with 2023 for the smallest field ever. The largest field ever was 96 mushers in 2008. This drop in participants raises concerns about the viability of the iconic race, which has suffered from inflation, pressure from animal rights groups and climate change. 53 The first Iditarod was held in 1973, making this year's race the 53rd. The inaugural event had 34 mushers start the race, only one more than the smallest fields in 2023 and 2025. Sled dogs were once the main form of transportation in Alaska. Dog teams hauled freight, brought people to other villages and even provided transport for the Alaska Territorial Guard, or the famed Eskimo Scouts, which patrolled the western coast against Japanese attack in World War II. Dog teams were supplanted by snowmobiles in the 1960s, but interest was growing to honor Alaska's traditions as the 100th anniversary of its purchase by the U.S. from Russia neared in 1967. Dorothy Page and Joe Redington Sr. conceived the idea of a long-distance race to honor the Iditarod Trail, a freight-and-mail route from Seward to Nome, which eventually led to the first Iditarod. This year the Iditarod will honor another famous route: the 1925 Serum Run, in which sled dog teams saved Nome from a deadly diphtheria outbreak. 396 to 528 That's a lot of dogs. Each musher must have at least a dozen dogs to start the race, but throughout the course, they can have up to 16, meaning there could be up to 528 canines on the trail. It won't be that crowded in Anchorage, however. Mushers are limited to eight dogs each for the ceremonial start, or a total of 264 tail-waggers. 1,128 The Iditarod is typically called a 1,000-mile (1,609-kilometer) race as mushers and their dogs battle the most challenging elements an Alaska winter can throw at them. However, that mileage has always been approximate. Organizers alternate between different routes most years to allow more villages in rural Alaska to serve as checkpoints. In odd-numbered years, the race goes 998 miles (1,606 kilometers) along the southern route. In even-numbered years, the race's mileage drops to 975 miles (1,569 kilometers) on the northern route. This year's event will set a record for the longest Iditarod: 1,128 miles (1,815 kilometers). Organizers had to reroute competitors around a stretch of trail without snow. A lack of snow this winter in the state's largest city also has curtailed the ceremonial start. Usually the teams course through 11 miles (17.7 kilometers) of Anchorage streets. This year, it's less than 2 miles (3.2 kilometers). 100,000 The Iditarod's four-legged athletes will go through a total of about 100,000 booties during the race. They help protect the dogs' paws from snow, ice and frigid temperatures. 180,000
