Iditarod Trivia Answers

1 -b: March 3, 1973 was the start date of the first Iditarod as we now know it.  However, much shorter versions of the race were held on parts of the Iditarod Trail in 1967 (as part of Alaska’s Centennial Year) and in 1969.

2 – a: The fastest time ever recorded for completion of the Iditarod was 8 days, 22 hours, 46 minutes and 2 seconds, recorded in 2002, using the northern route.

3 – c: Martin Buser is the current record-holder.

4 – b: Carl Huntington won the 1974 race with a time of 20 days, 15 hours, 2 minutes and 7 seconds, the slowest winning time ever recorded.  Current winning times are generally in the eight to ten day range.  You’ve come a long way, baby!

5 – c: There are 27 points where mushers must sign in along the southern route.  They are:  Anchorage, Campbell Airstrip, Willow, Yentna Station, Skwentna, Finger Lake, Rainy Pass, Rohn, Nikolai, McGrath, Takotna, Ophir, Iditarod, Shageluk, Anvik, Grayling, Eagle Island, Kaltag, Unalakleet, Shaktoolik, Koyuk, Elim, Golovin, White Mountain, Safety, and Nome, a total of 1,131 miles.  This route will be used in 2011.

6 – a: There are 26 points where mushers must sign in along the northern route.  They are:  Anchorage, Campbell Airstrip, Willow, Yentna Station, Skwentna, Finger Lake, Rainy Pass, Rohn, Nikolai, McGrath, Takotna, Ophir, Cripple, Ruby, Galena, Nulato, Kaltag, Unalakleet, Shaktoolik, Koyuk, Elim, Golovin, White Mountain, Safety, and Nome, a total of 1,112 miles.

7 – c: The farthest distance between consecutive check points is 112 miles from Cripple to Ruby on the northern route.  The shortest distance between two consecutive checkpoints is 18 miles, occurring several times along both routes.

8 – b: Rick Swenson won the Iditarod in 1977, 1979, 1981, 1982, and 1991.  His times ranged from 16 days, 16 hours  in 1977 to 12 days, 16 hours in 1991.

9 – a: Lance Mackey has won the race for the past four years (2007 – 2010).  His finish times are pretty consistent, ranging from a minute under 9 days to 9 days, 21 hours.

10 – c: The red lantern is the prize awarded to the last musher to cross the finish line.  Times range from 14 – 32 days.

11 – b:  The Burled Arch is finish line in Nome.  It’s not really an arch, but looks like a log laying across the tops of two poles.  The mushers pass under the arch to finish the race.

12 – c: When you pedal your sled, you are pushing the sled with one foot while the other remains on the runner (similar to how you would ride a scooter).

13 – c: Termination dust is the first snow that covers the top of the mountains in the fall, signaling the termination of summer in Alaska.

14 – b: The dogs are driven only by voice command.  To drive them with slapping reigns or whips could cause disqualification from the race due to cruel and inhumane treatment.  These dogs are bred, born, and trained to run, and they love the competition.

15 – a: To “come gee” means to turn 180 degrees to the right.  “Come haw” means to turn 180 degrees to the left.  “Gee” and “haw” used alone mean to go right or left, but not as sharply.