2005 Iditarod

The ceremonial start of the 33rd annual Iditarod dog sled race across the U.S. state of Alaska began in Anchorage on March 5, 2005 at 10 AM AKST (19:00 UTC), and restarted in Willow the next day at 2 PM (23:00 UTC). After covering 1,161 miles (1,868 km)http://www.iditarod.com/trailinfo/racemileage.php?id=3 of wilderness, musher Robert Sørlie, an airport firefighter from Norway, crossed the finish line under the "burled arch" in Nome on March 16 at 8:39 AM AKST (17:39 UTC). After taking care of his dogs, and an inspection to make sure all the mandatory equipment was in his sled, Sørlie was declared the winner by Race Marshal Mark Norman, with a time of 9 days, 18 hours, 39 minutes, and 31 seconds and won USD $72,066.67 and a new truck. When asked how it felt to win a second time, Sørlie said "it feels good, I'm ready for breakfast"http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=sportsNews&storyID=7924830, live on the Alaska superstation. His team of dogs averaged 4.65 mi/h (7.58 km/h). The Red Lantern in last was Phil Morgan, an Alaska Airlines pilot, and when he crossed the finish line on March 21 at 8:02 PM AKST (March 22, 5:02 UTC), the Widow's Lantern hanging on the burled arch was extinguished, which signalled the end of the race.

March 5: Ceremonial start

Anchorage to Campbell Airstrip: http://www.iditarod.com/raceupdates/racecheckpoint.php?id=25 http://www.iditarod.com/raceupdates/racecheckpoint.php?id=26 The ceremonial start of the 33rd annual Iditarod race began at 10 AM Alaska Standard Time on March 5, 2005 in Anchorage. The first "bib" position out of the starting chute on Fourth Avenue and D Street was reserved for honorary musher Jirdes Winther Baxter, the last known survivor of the children who were saved from a diphtheria epidemic by the historic 1925 serum run to Nomehttp://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/sports/111002768289770.xml. Baxter rode out of the starting chute on Fourth Avenue and D Street in the sled of 15 year old Melissa Owens, who won the 138-mile (222 km) Junior Iditarod on February 27, with a time of 1 day, 51 minutes, and 27 seconds. Earlier in the year, Owens also placed second in the Junior Yukon Quest.http://www.adn.com/iditarod/news/story/6236821p-6111996c.html http://www.news-miner.com/Stories/0,1413,113~7244~2763428,00.html

Related Topics:
AM - Alaska Standard Time - March 5 - 2005 - Anchorage - Diphtheria - Epidemic - Nome - 222 km - Junior Iditarod - February 27 - Yukon Quest

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Separated by intervals of at least two minutes, the competitors departed starting at 10:02 AM. The last team left at 12:53 PM. In addition to the musher and the team of 12 dogs, each dog sled also carried a family member or friend, and an "Idita-Rider". The Idita-Riders seats were auctioned off in January, and raised a total of USD $140,021, with an average bid of $1918.09. The auction was held entirely online for the first time in 2005.

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Dog sled - USD

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The teams passed through 1.5 miles (2.5 km) of city streets lined with an estimated 100,000 peoplehttp://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/sports/111011377730870.xml. The temperature was 32 °F (0 °C). Due to the warm weather and poor trail conditions, the first leg of the race was shortened by the Iditarod Trail Committee on February 27, and ended at Campbell Airstrip 11 miles (18 km) from Anchorage, instead of the traditional checkpoint 20 miles (32 km) away at Eagle River.

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°F - °C - February 27 - Campbell Airstrip - Eagle River

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