Aliy took many short videos during her ten days on the Iditarod trail this year. We have complied them into short episodes that will be posted.
The term “Rainy Pass” is used in two ways. Rainy Pass is the name of the checkpoint that is located at Rainy Pass Lodge. Many teams will stop and resupply here. It has also become a very popular location for race fans to watch the action and really feel like they are in the middle of the Iditarod. It can be one of the most stunning and gorgeous spots of the trail. It is surrounded by incredible mountains and people who witness a dog team traveling through the heart of the Alaska Range say it is unbelievable to watch the human/dog commitment.
Rainy Pass is also, literally, the mountain pass that the dog teams must climb over and pass through in order to get north of the Alaska range. From there, teams can then continue north and west. This is the second video in a series of three from in and around Rainy Pass.
Traveling up to Rainy Pass is always phenomenal. In 2019, the scenery was no less stunning. The sun was in the sky to the southwest. The sky was gorgeous, the hillsides were white and the team was determined. The team composition was: Commando & Amber (in lead), Dutch & Mismo, Five & QT, Nomex & Spark, Driver & Rodney (no booties), Bruno & Jefe and Violet & Decaf.
In this video the team is always climbing towards the pass even as they cross over dips and go around corners. They are actually traveling at a rather fast speed – perhaps 9 or 10mph – for heading uphill. Rodney was running barefoot in this video. Aliy talks about him being hot in the warm afternoon temperatures. Because of this, she left his booties off. Dogs do sweat through their pads and on occasion, in warm temperatures, Aliy will see if a dog looks more comfortable barefoot. You can see for yourself that Rodney looks great regardless of boots.
Where is exactly is Rainy Pass in this photo?
This spot is still 40 minutes from the top. The route goes west for several more miles, then turns north at the base of the mountain pictured in the foreground. Here is where the real climbing begins. The trail travels up a steep gully in between the foreground mountain and the mountain to the west. The trail is located in the crack between of two bases of these mountains. At times, there are 15 foot high snow drifts – well above a dog’s head – along the sides of the trail. These snow formations are amazing and are different every year. Their forms depend on the power and direction of the winter winds and amount of snowfall. Avalanche slides are common. As the trail seems to get swallowed up by the two mountains coming together, it suddenly opens up. Here is a small alpine lake off to the east. The climb resumes after the lake. Now it climbs up a very steep, wind blown, boulder field. Once the team reaches the boulder field – hang on – because the leaders of the dog team will immediately start to descend the pass as the wheel dogs continue to climb. DONE!
Here is an overhead satellite view of Rainy Pass and the Alaska Range. Of course, the most famous mountain nearby is Denali… but Rainy Pass is spectacular as well!
WOOF WOOF WOOF
How gorgeous!!! And to have your wonderful dogs as company on this adventure, too!!!
Doesn’t get better than that!!!
So happy to be along for the ride – thanks so much for this opportunity.
Now that things have slowed down and you have had a chance to relax a bit, I just want to say that I loved this year’s Iditarod race plan. I think it was a bold plan that was exciting to follow along and had the potential for great rewards. While I agree with your assessment that you would probably have finished in the same place and not had to work nearly as hard, I still love that you took the risk. I have followed SP Kennel for about 11 years now and no matter where you finish I know you have given everything you and the dogs had in each and every race. Enjoy your summer “dogs be dogs” time and I look forward to another great racing season next year.
The scenery is so beautiful! There must be no better place to be than on a dog team in the Alaska wilderness! Thank you for sharing this!
Amazing! Amazing! Never get tired of watching it. Ditto the previous comment about dog team
in Alaska Wilderness! Thanks Aliy for the ride and each SPK Dog!
Beautiful! Another gorgeous ray of sunshine streaming down. Thanks for showing where the trail is with the arrows and the satellite pictures. I bet the alpine lake is beautiful. Love the note on the leaders starting to descend at the same time the wheel dogs are still climbing! Good dogs!
Watching the short video, a again, this time expanded to “full screen” was positively stunning!!! WOW!!!
Thanks ever so much – yet again!!!
Ditto to everything Peggy Long said!
and
Us SPK fans are so spoiled!
Thank you!
You know, I switch to satellite view for much of the race to keep track of the actual terrain. When the race is off, there have been many times I have gone back to this section and traced what must be the path from memory.
It’s a good life.