Iditarod 2021 Countdown – Course Changes and COVID-19 Protocols

By now you will have caught up with many of the the changes to the race trail this year. Instead of mushing from Willow to Nome, the teams will race what has been dubbed “The Gold Trail Loop”. Here are some essentials:

• The race will start and finish as Deshka Landing, approximately 7.5 road miles from Willow Lake.
• Teams will follow the traditional southern route trail up until the Iditarod checkpoint then travel out to the mining ghost town of Flat before looping back to southern route trail.
• From there, teams retrace their steps and return to Deshka Landing on the same trail, navigating the Alaska Range, the Happy River Steps and the notorious Dalzell Gorge in the opposite direction

As in every year’s race, 2021 Iditarod mushers will still take three mandatory layovers that add up to 40 hours — a 24-hour layover and two eight-hour layovers:

• the 24-hour stop can come at any checkpoint up to and including Iditarod.
• the first eight-hour layover — replacing the traditional eight-hour rest required on the Yukon River — can be taken at any checkpoint on the Rohn-to-Rohn part of the loop.
• the final eight-hour layover will be at Skwentna.

When asked what section of trail she is most looking forward to running in the opposite direction, Aliy said:

Probably going up Rainy Pass from Rohn on the return is where I’m thinking will be the most special – and probably be the toughest section too. Seeing the mountain range from the absolute “other side” will be remarkable. I have often ‘looked behind me’ as I summit Rainy Pass from the south… I’m sure that I’ve even shown my rear view in some of the Aliy Cams over the years.

Covid-19 Protocols

As with every event around the world this past year, COVID-19 protocols have to be considered. Up until this year, mushers in the Iditarod did not need to undergo any specific fitness testing or health checks, other than completing qualifying races to show they are capable of caring for a team on the race, and a urine drug test at White Mountain checkpoint. This year, of course, everything is different.

The Iditarod has an extensive COVID-19 Prevention Plan – you can read about that here (click link). The Core Tenants of Iditarod prevention plan are to be “Proactive, strategic and anticipatory”, have a “Negative bubble with minimal interaction with community” and that “This year, The Last Great Race will be different.”

As such, all the festivities were been cancelled for this year including the start banquet, musher meet-and-greet and the Ceremonial start in downtown Anchorage. The teams will start from Deshka Landing rather than the Willow Community Centre, and each musher is allowed only four handlers/supporters in the staging area pre-race. Aliy’s support crew will be Allen, Doug, Kaz and Sam and they have all been in a Covid-free family bubble and following good COVID precautions during the lead up to the race.

Pre-race, all mushers must undergo several COVID tests to prove they are virus-free. This is necessary to help ensure the safety of the villages along the route as well as their fellow competitors, veterinarians, volunteers and officials out on the trail. Compulsory testing happened 14 days out, two days out, will happen the morning of the race. All mushers will then be tested at the McGrath checkpoint on their first stop there.

Allen has been tested alongside Aliy in a show of solidarity and also an extra precaution.

Thursday afternoon, Aliy had her two-day-out test, which came back negative. This is what she said:

It doesn’t really bother me to get tested so much. I realize how much effort has gone into the organization of this race and I will do my part. 

We wish all mushers, volunteers, veterinarians, officials and supporters a safe and COVID free race.

Link to an ADN article that gives some more information.