So, beyond the $72,000 and the brand new $44,000 dodge truck the winner receives in Nome, there are a number of other interesting prizes for mushers along the race. As a few have already been handed out this year, and a few major ones will be handed out in the hours and days to come I thought it might be nice to break them all down for you.

“PenAir Spirit of Alaska Award”
This award is presented to the first musher that reaches the town of McGrath, the winner receives an original “spirit mask” that is created especially for the award by Bristol Bay native artist Orville Lind. The winner also gets a $500 credit on PenAir towards travel or cargo shipments.

“GCI Dorothy G. Page Halfway Award”
This award, named after the “mother of the Iditarod” has been handed out every year since 1994 by race sponsor GCI, the major communications company throughout Alaska. During even number years the award is presented in Cripple, and odd numbered years is presented in the ghost town of Iditarod. The first musher to the checkpoint receives a trophy and $3,000 in gold nuggets.

“Millennium Hotel First Musher to the Yukon Award”
During even-numbered years this award is presented to the first musher that reaches the checkpoint of Ruby, and odd-numbered years the checkpoint of Anvik. The musher that reaches the first checkpoint on the Yukon River gets a seven course dinner that is cooked on a coleman stove by the Hotel staff, complete with an “after-dinner mint” of $3,500 in one dollar bills. The musher also gets the chance to reprise the dinner in Anchorage upon the Iditarod’s completion .without of course the pricey mint.

“Wells Fargo Gold Coast Award” Presented by Wells Fargo to the first musher who reaches the gold coast community of Unalakleet. For the remainder of the race after this checkpoint the trail follows and runs on the Bering Sea. The first musher to reach this checkpoint receives a trophy and $2500 is gold nuggets.

“Wells Fargo Red Lantern Award”
There is a story about the red lantern that tells about how the last musher into Nome must extinguish the lantern that was guiding the racers to the finish line. The last person to complete the race gets this award, and the honor of putting out the flame.

There are a few others that are voted on in Nome, such as the “Most improved musher award” or the sportsmanship award, and the inspirational musher award you know, the normal tee-ball banquet at Godfathers stuff.

Posted by admin on Friday, March 10th, 2006 at 4:15 pm.