...is underway: the Iditarod, an 1,100 mile dog sled race from Willow to Nome, Alaska. The Iditarod's official website is here. I wrote a year ago about my own brief experience with the race, and Gary Paulsen's book Winterdance. The beauty you encounter everywhere in Alaska is stunning; by way of example, if you follow the link, blow up the photo of me and three co-workers at Hatcher Pass.

This photo of 2004 winner Mitch Seavey and his team was taken yesterday:

And this one, of Clint Warnke's dog Chili, was taken earlier today:

It's a great race, and a great tradition. Alaska may be the only place in the United States that really is still different from the rest. That's how it seems when you're there, anyway.

Posted by John at 10:07 PM  |    |