Just a few days before the start of the Iditarod on Sunday, March 5, it was determined that the conditions of the trail between Anchorage, Eagle River, Wasilla and Knik were such that they were not adequate for 79 dog teams to safely travel. As a result, the following changes were made to the Start and Re-Start of Iditarod XXXIII. Rather than travel from downtown Anchorage to Eagle River on day one, mushers and their teams will call it a day at Campbell Airstrip, a distance of approximately 11 trail miles. Normally the first day covers a distance of approximately 50 miles. The first day is mostly ceremonial with the actual race beginning on Sunday. Mushers leave Anchorage carrying paying passengers, friends or family members in their sled but only to the point designated as the Sunday start point.

The race will begin at WILLOW on SUNDAY, MARCH 6, at 2:00 p.m. The race re-start will be staged on Willow Lake located behind the Willow Community Center.

The 2005 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race will have 79 dog teams competing for record prize money. Prize money will be awarded in 2005 to the top thirty dog teams that cross the finish line at Nome.

Contact:   Everette Carr
Nome Census Area Coordinator