Iditarod 2025

 Into the Fur Rondy

Fur Rendezvous in Anchorage is a pulse of Alaskan winter—bright, celebratory, and unexpected. This year, we joined the Running with the Reindeer race, buzzing through crowds and hooves in the snow before shifting our gear north. A year ago we would never have guessed Anchorage would be our jumping-off point for the Iditarod...but this year, fate—and climbing temperatures—had other plans.

Anchorage’s Fur Rendezvous festival is a pulse of Alaskan winter, and nothing captures that better than the Running with the Reindeer. Part spectacle, part tradition, it’s where hundreds of people sprint down the street alongside live reindeer while the crowd cheers them on.

We were so glad to take part this year. For us, it wasn’t just a race — it was a welcome into Alaska’s culture, a reminder that up here the cold is something to be celebrated, not endured. Laughter, snow, and hooves in motion — it’s wild, unpredictable, and unforgettable.

Because of a lack of snow in Anchorage, race organizers shifted the ceremonial start to Anchorage and the official start to Fairbanks, which also bumped the traditional route—turning this into the longest Iditarod yet at 1,128 miles . We treated that day off in Fairbanks as our own reset—walking the starting line, breathing the winter air, and gearing up for what would become an epic spectacle.

On the way up, we drove the Parks Highway in deep winter mode—blanketed snow, silent spruce, endless sky. That calm contrasted beautifully with the raw energy of Fur Rondy and the chaos of the Iditarod trail. It just felt right: hustle in Anchorage, beauty on the road, then back into the race.

This year’s champion was Jessie Holmes, a veteran musher originally from Alabama—finally winning in his eighth attempt. He completed the race in 10 days, 14 hours, 55 minutes, and 41 seconds, earning about $57,200, plus gold nuggets and salmon at the finish.
Holmes managed the demanding race by delaying longer mandatory rest breaks, a strategy that helped sustain his lead deep into the trail.

Iditerot 2025 – Quick Facts

• Route: Started in Fairbanks (moved due to low snow), longest route so far (~1,128 miles)
   
• Winner: Jessie Holmes—first Iditarod win in 8 attempts, previous rookie of the year in 2018
   
• Key Strategy: Delayed rest to preserve team pace through tough terrain and long trail stretches
   
• Winter Drive Highlight: Parks Road under snow, quiet beauty before the chaos
   

We came for one day off—but stayed for the calling of the trail. From reindeer hooves in Anchorage to Holmes crossing under the Burled Arch in Nome, this loop felt elemental. It wasn’t about racing—it was about being part of that winter pulse, the tradition, and the energy of Iditarod.

 It was an honor to be a part of this day of heritage.