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Iditarod Sled Dog Race - Anchorage Race Start + Fly-out to Checkpoints
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From Anchorage, Alaska
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Day 01
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Anchorage
Arrival in Anchorage. Transfer to your downtown hotel. Anchorage, also called "city of lights" offers many attractions during winter time. Visit the Fur Rendezvous Festival offering snow sculpture competition, snowshoe softball and the Eskimo blanket toss. Stroll along the coastal trail to Earthquake Park with fantastic views of the Alaska Range, Mt. Susitna and Mt. McKinley.
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Day 02
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Anchorage - Race Start
Watch today the ceremonial race start in downtown Anchorage at 4th Avenue. The start is scheduled for 10:00 am. The teams run a short distance and will be driven to Wasilla. Mushers will have passengers on their sleds, known as "Idita-Riders". They pay up to several thousand dollars for the opportunity to ride along out of the starting line in Anchorage.
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Day 03
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Anchorage - Wasilla / Willow Restart
Today you have the opportunity to discover one more time the surrounding of Anchorage or travel about 50 miles north of Anchorage to watch the actual start, taken place in Wasilla or Willow.
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Day 04
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Anchorage - Fly out Finger Lakes
This morning you meet at the airport to fly out to Finger Lakes Checkpoint. From the air look out for mushers and their dog teams. In Finger Lakes observe the busy scene as mushers are coming in, taking care of their dogs and later on gearing up for the difficult stretch over Rainy Pass. Return to Anchorage in the late afternoon.
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Day 05
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Anchorage - Fly out Rainy Pass
Fly out to Rainy Pass checkpoint, located on Puntilla Lake, just below the highest point of the trail, Rainy Pass, at 3,160 feet. It is not uncommon for them to have about ten feet of snow all over the ground. Enjoy the pristine wilderness setting that is unexcelled for its scenic beauty and primitive majesty in the middle of the Alaska Mountain Range. Observe the mushers and their dog teams. Return to Anchorage in the late afternoon.
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Day 06
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Anchorage
Pick up your rental car. Today you have the opportunity to visit Alyeska Resort, Seward, gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park or Homer. From Anchorage drive along ice-filled Turnagain Arm. Watch for Mountain Goats and Moose along the road! Alyeska Resort, tucked in a glacier valley between the mountains and the sea offers first class skiing and sled dog tours. Continue to Seward and attend a whale watching cruise. You can also fly from Anchorage to Homer, world-famous for its Bald Eagles. Over 100 of these majestic creatures congregate here during the entire winter.
* Optional Sightseeing
Flightseeing Tour to Homer
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Day 07
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Anchorage - Nome
Enjoy another day to explore the surrounding area of Anchorage. In the late afternoon drop off your rental car. Flight to Nome - the finish line for the Iditarod Race after 1,049 miles.
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Day 08
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Nome - Fly out Shaktoolik and/or Unalakleet
Depending on race schedule you are flying out to Shaktoolik or Unalakleet. Both checkpoints are situated on the coast of Norton Sound. The trail is now entering the gateway to the Bering Sea and from here on the mushers can expect sudden storms and an ample supply of wind. The trail then leads the mushers out onto the ice of Norton Bay, one of the most treacherous segments of trail.
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Day 09
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Nome - Fly out White Mountain and/or Elim
Today fly out to Elim or White Mountain Checkpoints. From Elin the trail heads over the hills of the Kwiktalik Mountains inland a little way to the next checkpoint on Golovin Bay. White Mountains, just 77 miles from Nome is located on the banks of the Fish River. It takes its name from that of a picturesque nearby mountain. Here is where all mushers need to take a 8 hour layover.
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Day 10
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Nome
As the first mushers approach the finish line, the streets are filled with spectators. The event is televised state-wide. Take pictures of the champion with their lead dogs. During the day there are many activities offered in Nome including three awards banquets, dart tournament, golf on the Bering Sea, art & craft shows, reindeer potluck, movies and slide shows. Look our for Northern Lights!
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Day 11
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Nome - Anchorage
Flight to Anchorage. Departure
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