As of Tuesday night, all but one team had completed the new segment of trail that has been added to the Iron Dog 2020 route. The “Kotzebue Loop,” as it’s come to be called, added roughly 375 additional miles to an already revamped race that started in Fairbanks and will end in Big Lake on Saturday, Feb. 22. Pro Class riders came through the villages of Buckland, Noorvik, Kiana and Selawik, with a layover in Kotzebue Monday night. Earlier in the week, the Rec Class riders had the same experience. Along the way, all of the riders were greeted by cheering fans, race signs, mountains of food, autograph sessions and more.  

 Pulling off a race of this magnitude requires immense coordination and surely there were a few hiccups. But the over-arching feeling is one of extreme gratitude, said Iron Dog executive director John Woodbury.

 “What started out as an experiment with the Kotzebue Loop turned into a shining example on how to host racers in your region,” Woodbury said. “Those good folks in the Northwest really rolled out the red carpet and not only took care of our Iron Doggers, they made them part of the family. From fresh baked cookies and caribou stew to raucous cheers and shouts of encouragement, you’d be hard pressed to find a more involved and supportive group of race fans.” 

Kotzebue served as Iron Dog central Monday night, as a small army of volunteers worked around the clock to manage racers, monitor sleds, make food, keep track of timing, oversee fueling and more. Race checkpoint lead Claude Wilson could not be reached to name everyone involved, but fellow volunteer Paula Jean Octuck provided the following list besides she and Claude: Sadie Wilson, Adrian Wilson, Jade Hill, Nina Lie, Jessica Walker, Derek Haviland Lie, Micky Jorgensen, Jamie Reed, Ray Schaeffer, Paulette Schuerch, Adrian Scott, Jackie Viveiros, Mike Hensley, Vera Norton, Corita Thomas, Tom Dublin, Irene Dublin, Harold Lambert, Matt Bergan, Dickie Moto Sr., Dan Henry, Lucy Henry, Randy Toshavik, Jim Brown, Connell Thomas, Tommy Reed, Vince Schuerch, Trudy Kenworthy, Brandon McConnell, Jerry McCall, Matt Tekker, Nate Kotch, Sam Barr, Angel Barr, Donald Fairbanks, Lennie Henry, Harley Shield, and Ann Howarth.

To be honest, the whole city deserves kudos. When Team 7 first arrived in town, the line down the river cheering Nick Olstad and Tyler Aklestad in sounded like the an NFL football stadium. And when Team 34, the hometown team of Christopher Collins and Jesse Crumbley arrived, it’s a wonder the ice didn’t crack. The cheers sounded out like a World Cup soccer match. That kind of enthusiasm is infectious, and the riders come away energized and in good spirits. 

 BUCKLAND 

The Buckland checkpoint, through which racers passed twice, required nonstop work from its volunteers, said Tim Gavin Jr., the lead at that checkpoint. 

 “We had plenty of food, people to direct the racers and people to mark the trails,” he said. “It’s been a long two days, and the kids here loved it.” 

 Special thanks to Gavin and his crew, among them: 14-year-old assistant David Tickett, Robert Barr, Ernst Barger, Nick, Eva Carter, Mike Hadley Sr., Riley Armstrong, Floyd Tickett Sr., David Barr, Matthew Hadley, Charles Foster, Justin “Stinky” Hadley, Dorothy Lee, Mona Washington, Sheryl Tickett and Minnie Foster. Many others supported and cheered, and every one of you makes a difference. Thank you! 

 NOORVIK

The small checkpoint of Noorvik was poised and ready to help where needed, as well. Checkpoint lead Jimmy Baldwin, worked with Vern Cleveland, Sr., Kim Baldwin and Sophie Cleveland, among others, to help make sure operations there went smoothly, and racers’ arrival times were recorded properly. As of press time, many of the Noorvik folks were already asleep after arising extra early to greet the racers as they passed through. 

 Thank you, Noorvik! 

KIANA

Brad Reich played the lead checkpoint role in Kiana, along with dealing with logistics and breaking trail. There wasn’t a dull moment there, either, as several teams stopped there for repairs and/or recovery after taking spills from their sleds. 

Reich, and Iron Dog, send a hearty thank-you to their volunteers: Robert Atoruk, fueler; Justin Morris, welder; Larry Westlake Sr., official; trailbreakers Brad Reich, Lorenz Morris, Moody Barr, Louis Hadley Jr., and Matthew Westlake; Ely Cyrus, logistics; and signmakers – Kiana Elementary teachers and students.

 SELAWIK

Selawik was the last community through which racers would pass before heading south back through Buckland again and Koyuk, where racers then turned westward toward Nome. Joe McCoy, lead checkpoint contact there, said he’s already looking forward to next year. 

 “It was busy but we had fun,” he said. The volunteer crew consisted of a McCoy trio: Joe, his wife, Della, who acted as timer; and Joe’s brother Tom. 

 “Tom did all the fencing and we had the IRA Fuel Project folks pumping fuel,” Joe McCoy said. 

 As of press time, the McCoys also were ready to call it a night. 

 Again, Iron Dog humbly thanks all of these villages – the checkpoint volunteers, the spectators, the children and even the Facebook fanatics who enthusiastically posted blow-by-blow moments on this new and challenging course. 

 From Woodbury: “Can’t wait for the return visit next year, friends!”