Winter In Alaska – March 2021

Winter In Alaska – March 2021

By: Terri Hirsch.

The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race

One of the most popular events in Alaska is the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. This legendary race is a contest of endurance and triumph over the hostile winter wilderness. Concerns about COVID-19 made a drastically different competition this year – required testing and face masks, At Deshka Landing, Alaska the 49th Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race began at 2pm Sunday, March 7, 2021.

Dalles Seavey crossed the finish line at Deshka Landing on March 15. 2021 with 10 of his 14 dog race team, claiming his fifth record-tying Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race championship. Veteran Musher Victoria Hardwick, the final musher (46th) arrived on March 17th with10 dogs and crossed the finish line to claim the Red-Lantern Award – a symbol of perseverance.

All Iditarod dogs are now home and happy with their buddies in their kennels. The mushers are already planning for the 50th Anniversary Race in 2022.

The Perrins Rainy Pass Lodge

I flew Regal Air to The Perrins Rainy Pass Lodge landing on a frozen lake equipped with skis. Rainy Pass is nestled in the heart of the Alaska range on a mountain lake situated 125 air miles north of Anchorage, Alaska and known as one of the official checkpoints on the Iditarod Trail. Steve and Denise Perrins run Rainy Pass Lodge with the help of their five sons. Denise was busy cooking a hot lunch of beef stew, soups, breads and cakes for all the guests.

Outside the Lodge were numerous teams of the Iditarod Sled Dog Race. It was amazing to meet the Berington twins, Kristy and Anna and their dog teams on Rainy

Pass. The twins earned 22nd and 24th places at the finish line on March 16th . Kristy Berington operates Seeing Double Sled Dog Racing with her twin sister Anna and her husband, Andy Pohl, in Knik, Alaska. Mushing dogs has become part of their family life. Being able to train and raise dogs has been a dream come true.

Iditarod Trail Kennel, Knik, Alaska

An exciting experience and educational meeting with GB Jones (GB) at the Iditarod Trail Kennel in Kirk, Alaska to learn how to be a musher was unforgettable. On GB’s “Grateful Sled” he taught me how to start, stop, brake and make contact by commands with the dog team. Dog sledding commands and communication between the teams musher and the dogs are essential. Every musher does things differently from training to feeding. GB hitched his team of eight dogs and drove me in his sled over the quarter-mile loop on the Iditarod Trail, before being able to go mushing.

GB’s greatest accomplishment in his dog sledding career was to become a finisher of the Iditarod race. In 2004 he came in second to last, did not win the Red-Lantern Award, but in his eyes he just won the 2004 Iditarod Sled Race by not giving up and by making his decision to finish the race he began. He had perseverance – the ability to keep doing something in spite of obstacles and despite how hard or how long it took to reach his goal. The true story of GB Jones is told in his book entitled “Winning The Iditarod.”

Arctic Valley Ski Area

Located on Ski Bowl road in Chugach State Park Arctic Valley is the only multiple Ski and Tube Park area located within 20 miles of Anchorage, Alaska with three chair lifts: the T-bar, Little Teton and theThompson Lift.

The T-Bar offers a unique benefit, that if you just want to venture slightly up the mountain, or you want to take it to the top, you can dismount at any point on your climb. Located next to the lodge, the T-Bar was built in 1961 and is the heart of the ski area serving Arctic Valley’s riders.

The Little Teton Chairlift takes you to Rendezvous Peak where you can take in the spectacular views of Arctic Valley and Eagle river, Alaska. The ride down is the longest of all the lifts.

The Thompson Lift is the Southern-most lift and a quick 4-minute ride up the mountain.

Tubing is a fantastic way to get yourself and your children outside in the winter. The tube park operates four 1.5 hour sessions with a capacity of fifty people per day.. Buying tickets in advance to ensure space availability is a must as well as completing a liability waiver before arriving at the Arctic Valley Ski Area.

The Matanuska Glacier

The Matanuska Glacier is a valley glacier nestled between the Chugath and Talkeetna mountain ranges, standing at 13,000 feet. Well-trained professional guides gave us a wealth of knowledge including glaciology and geology while taking us to remote areas. Price is $100.00 per person and includes Crampons Ice Cleats Traction Snow Grips for boots, sneakers and/or shoes.

We began our three-hour trekking and ice climbing on the Matanuska Glacier citing many beautiful moulins, crevasses, and blue pools. With over an hour of hiking on difficult terrain to reach the climbing spots we started our climb. All the trekking and climbing were on uneven ice and rock terrain with moderate ups and downs and ice-capped mountains and blue ice all around us. No previous glacier experience was required although a moderate level of fitness is required. My climb was challenging but my memories of a walk on a glacier will be with me forever.