Known as the “Last Great Race,” the Iditarod is a dogsled race that takes place in Alaska each year during the month of March. The race trails cover more than 1,000 miles from Anchorage to Nome, along some of the most beautiful wilderness trails that Alaska offers. Mushers and their dog teams traverse frozen rivers, dense forests, rocky mountains, a windswept coastline, and a desolate tundra in approximately 8 to 14 days. Running the Iditarod means enduring sub-zero temperatures, snowstorms, wildlife encounters, and other unexpected difficulties. The dedication and perseverance shown by each of the teams is a testament to their love of all that this great race represents. Each student has been following a selected dogsled team and have been enthusiastically cheering them on since the race began on March 5.
While some teams have already successfully completed the race, others still have many miles to go. While it was exciting to see the first musher cross the finish line, there is as much anticipation as to who will be the last. The last musher to finish the race is presented with the Red Lantern award. The tradition dates back to 1953 when the first red lantern was given as a joke at the Fur Rendezvous Race in Anchorage. The award was eventually passed on to the Iditarod when the race began in 1973. Over the years the Red Lantern Award has become a symbol of perseverance and determination. Today’s mushers feel a proud sense of accomplishment when receiving the Red Lantern Award; the same sense of perseverance and determination that we strive to instill in our students. The Iditarod offered so much for us to learn and reflect on (not to mention the fact that it so perfectly provided a springboard for our exploration of Native American cultural regions, beginning - of course- with the Arctic region, home to the Iditarod).
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