With less than a month to go before race day, Wilson Bourdon is already at work in Nome. The first bundle of trail stakes had arrived, and he was monitoring the weather to see when the most opportune time would be to start placing them on the trail. He’s responsible for roughly 40 miles of trail – which can be some of the most challenging on the course – and every year, he gets the job done.
“I bring a hammer drill and a generator, and if I don’t have enough snow for a stake, I hammer it into the ground with the drill,” Bourdon said. “It will take me about three trips to get it done.”  

The lifelong Nome resident has been a fixture at the Nome checkpoint since the early 2000s, first working as a “grunt” for Nome checkpoint leader Nate Perkins until Perkins retired about six years ago.

“Nate was my buddy, and he got me hooked up with Iron Dog and we started working together,” Bourdon said. “He was always the checker, and I was always his relief. After he retired and moved to Anchorage it left me in charge, and I don’t mind. It keeps me busy, and I like to stay busy.”

Vasser said Wilson is one of those volunteers who just gets it done. When supplies are sent to Nome, the Iron Dog Board of Directors knows that Bourdon will simply take care of it.

“Wilson has helped volunteer for Iron Dog for 20-plus years, including staking the trail from Nome to White Mountain and back,” Vasser said. “He’s always out there when the racers come into Nome, no matter what the conditions are. Windy, cold, blowing or sunny, he’s always there. Iron Dog would not exist without volunteers, especially those in our remote communities.”

Bourdon said he is glad to help Iron Dog – he thinks the race is good for the community, and the race, 40 years strong, is an Alaska tradition.

“The Iron Dog guys are always easy to work with, and we try to make it smooth for them,” he said. “We try to help them out however we can – at the garage, mopping the floor, sweeping the floor, moving sleds around, or setting up for the banquet and taking down for the banquet. I always find buddies who are willing to stay up until 3 a.m., or 6 a.m. to do what we need to do.”

Bourdon said he is humbled to be an Iron Dog Hall of Famer – being part of the race is part of his yearly routine.

Once we get Iron Dog done, I’m crabbing all winter, birding all spring, and fishing all summer,” he said. “In the fall, I’m hunting. I’ve got my seasons planned out well. I live in God’s country, and I’m lucky.”