Yes, I am. I’ve volunteered to help out in the Iditarod, “The Last Great Race” in (of course) Alaska in March.
Being an old retired lady, I’m going to be doing data entry to report on the mushers’ progress at each check point, not helping with dog handling, etc.
That sounds very cool! And also very cold.
That is so great! I have a friend who works the Yukon Quest every year. I hope you will post updates (if you can) while you are working there. Dog sledding is so cool.
Good for you. The Iditarod is a ton of fun, and takes lots of help to make it happen. I follow it every year, and usually try to go out in person along the trail or ceremonial start for pictures.
Have fun!
We volunteered a couple of times and always went to see the ceremonial start in Anchorage every year. The excitement of the dogs was great. One year we worked on 4th Avenue helping to clear people out of the way when a team was coming up to the start line. Another time we worked the computers, answering emails in the guise of “Lucky”, the Iditarod mascot. One kid asked how a dog could use a computer. I told him that someone had invented the Barkamatic 2000, which translated barks into text. 
The OP will likely be in Anchorage. The spots along the trail are highly sought after and usually given to people who have been volunteering for several years.
Do they carry tracking devices, like this?
Wow. Can I come?
Stay warm and have fun!
Awesome! That sounds like so much fun. Watching the race, helping it to go well, standing out there in the cold… and the snow…
Whoops, my feet just froze in sympathy.
She’ll be in a hotel conference room (probably at the Millennium Hotel out by the airport) doing data entry as it comes in from the checkpoints. It was heated, as I recall.
I’m frozen with envy. I shot a video production of a four-day race about ten years ago. Not nearly at the level of the Iditarod but it was a nearly sleepless taste of it, and I loved it. Need a cameraman?
Yes, I will be working at the hotel. I don’t have the skills to be out on the trail.
I was wondering about the ceremonial start, whether it was really fun or just a mob scene where unless you were part of the entourage you couldn’t see anything. Glad to hear from those who’ve been there! I understand I can also get a bus from the hotel to the re-start, and may well take advantage of that.
I’m not really worried about the cold. A few years ago my husband and I took a trip to Bettles and Fairbanks to try to see the aurora, and I bought good cold-weather gear. I stood outside for an hour or two, and was really not cold at all.
All of the mushers carry GPS trackers. You can see their actual location online. I hope I’ll get to do this even if I’m working doing data entry, or when I’m off duty. I may buy a laptop just for this purpose, although we’ve been talking about doing that anyway.
I volunteered to do the midnight to 6 AM shift, and the coordinator was very grateful. I am usually up very late anyway, and that is actually 9 PM to 3 AM eastern standard time.
For those who have been there, how easy is it to get transport from the Millennium Hotel to downtown Anchorage? Will I need to rent a car? I’m sure I don’t want to just stay in the hotel all the time. Also, other than the actual starting line, where’s a good place to see the teams?
There’s likely a bus route through Spenard to the downtown area, but they usually don’t run more than once an hour. I doubt that the hotel would provide you transport. You might ask someone you’re working with if they’ll give you a ride if they’re going that way, as it’s only about ten minutes away. There are taxis, of course. You really don’t want to stay in the hotel all the time. Spenard is not the best neighborhood to be wandering around in; it’s not horrible, but the sidewalks are spotty, and there are some odd types out there.
If you want a place to eat that’s nearby, take a cab or walk to the Bear Tooth Grill. There’s also a breakfast place nearby called Gwennies that serves breakfasts. I never cared for the place, but it’s one of those joints that gets a lot of business because of tradition. There’s another one called Jackie’s Place that’s better.
If you’re downtown, try Glacier Brewhouse for lunch or dinner.
Thanks, Chefguy.
For those who have volunteered, do you know if expenses incurred can be used as a charitable donation for tax purposes? I know that direct cash contributions are deductible. I’m going anyway, but it would be an extra bonus if I could write off my airfare and/or hotel costs.
So, I could follow the entire race on-line? That could be fun.
I’ve always wanted to see the race.
Absolutely, at Iditarod.com. If you’re looking for continual vid coverage, you won’t find it.
MLS: I asked my wife, who was heavily involved in the local public transit. She says Bus #7 goes through Spenard frequently, and that there is a stop nearly across the street from the Millennium. You can check the schedule at the People Mover website.
Other good restaurants downtown are Sak’s, Typhoon and some others.
You asked about viewing points. Fourth Avenue is completely closed off for the race start. They haul in snow by the dumptruck full and cover the street as far down as Cordova Street. In addition, all of the side streets west of the start line are covered with snow, as well. The mushers bring their mobile kennels in and park on the streets, where you can wander along and look at all the pups and mushers. You’re not allowed past the barriers, though, as they don’t want people getting the dogs any more hyper than they already are. It’s fairly easy to see the sleds moving up to the line, but can get crowded past that point as the teams go charging down the street. There is a parking garage further east on 4th Avenue where you can go up to the second level and get a good look at them.
A word of caution: these are working dogs, not pets. You’ll see these lovely faces sticking out of the mobile kennels and be tempted to pet them. I’d advise against it.
Cool!
Those dogs are STRONG! When visiting Alaska last summer we visited a sled dog place (musher’s camp) and took a ride on a wheeled sled. Impressive.
Thanks again, Chefguy. That eases my mind. And yes, I have read enough about them to know that it would be sheer folly for a stranger to attempt to bother the dogs.
J666, if you want to watch the GPS live, you need to buy an “Insider” subscription. Depending on what features and services you want, this costs $20 or $34. Or you can get a free registration, which enables you to post in their message boards. There is one thread where people who have paid for the GPS will post information. Look here for details.
I can a rod. I will a rod. I win a rod. Iditarod.