Iditarod 2015

Even though I'll get to see the "ceremonial" start of the Iditarod in downtown Anchorage, due to the lack of snow (I know, this is Alaska, I can't believe it) they have moved the re-start to Fairbanks.

Click to visit the official website.

If you're in the Lower 48 (what we call the rest of the country) and are going to follow the "Last Great Race", check out my Iditarod pack on TPT.

You can also check out this FREEBIE to see what you think.

And stayed tuned to find out how to win an Iditarod 2015 memorabilia pack.  Last year I kept all of the newspaper articles, pamphlets and magazines that I could get my hands on...as well as some dog booties from one of the race dogs!  I sent this whole pack to an elementary teacher in Canada and I'm going to do it again :-)

  

The Iditarod and TONS of sunshine!

These awesome photos were taken by a friend of mine, who was downtown for the start of the Iditarod.

Although WE weren't downtown at the starting line, we went to the first checkpoint on the Iditarod trail: the Campbell Airstrip.

The last mushers were just coming in and we got to walk around and take a look at dogs, sleds, trucks, and mushers.  It was a neat close-up!

It was a GORGEOUS 45 degree day (unusual for this time of year)!

Me and my little guy!

The dogs are waiting for all equipment to be packed up.

The inside of a truck.

A very nice musher chatting with my little girl.

a sled

The front of the sled where all dog lines start.

The dog harnesses off the lead line.

A sled anchor...not sure if there's a specific term for it.

After reaching this 1st checkpoint, all mushers pack up their gear and their dogs and drive 45 minutes north to the 'official' start in Willow, Alaska.  The start is on Sunday at 2p.m.

Discover some basic facts about the 'Last Great Race' with your students.

 

It's Iditarod Time!

Goooooooooooood morning from the start of the Iditarod everybody!

The ceremonial start is today in downtown Anchorage!

I'm a bit embarrassed to admit this but I didn't know much about the Iditarod nor do anything with my students....and I've lived here about 10 years now!  But for some reason I dove in and learned all about it and it's so fascinating, all the cool little tidbits that make up the 1,000+ 'Last Great Race'.

If you want to bring the adventure into your classroom over the next 2 weeks, check out this Iditarod unit that incorporates reading, writing & math.

I'm heading out with my own kids to see the action in person for the first time! I'll hopefully post some pictures tomorrow!