Nome Still a flurry of Activity

With 47 mushers in, and 12 still out on the trail, I’m almost tempted to say that things have slowed down here in Nome but that isn’t the case.  Even though mushers aren’t arriving in groups of 6 or 7 an hour anymore, it doesn’t mean that things have gone back to normal for this small boom town.  Nome knows that it will almost double in size with all of the Iditarod visitors during this week, and it takes care of it’s guests.  Even though there isn’t nearly enough hotel room to accommodate everyone that comes into town, especially when you account for all the mushers and their families, the citizens of Nome step up to the plate and rent out rooms, beds, and couch space to those who come from thousands of miles away to see the finish of the last great race.  Events like the Businessman’s Sled Dog race, sponsored by the Nome Kennel Club or the Bering Sea Ice golf classic are both Iditarod staples, however there are dozens of other activities for a interested Iditarod volunteer, or tourist to participate in.  There are tons of educational events for someone interested in learning more about Nome or the surrounding region.  The Carrie M.McLain Museum hosts daily lectures by long time Nome resident, and early Iditarod organizer Howard Farley. The National Park service hosts presentations on Nome Mushing history, local hotsprings , living off of the tundra, and other regional interests.  For the cultured visitor, a visit to the Art Exhibition or fine arts show might be appropriate.  Bar hoppers can choose between events like the dart tournament, Idita-marti Gras , the Arm Wrestling contests, or even the tattoo contest.  The University of Fairbanks, Northwest Campus will open it’s ceramics studio to those tourists who want to have a hands on experience with the souvenir that they take back home, or you can learn how to make a western Alaska staple, the beaver hat at the fur hat workshop.  But the Iditarod mushers aren’t the only thing drawing people into Nome for the third week in March; during Iditarod Nome also hosts the annual Lonnie O’Connor Iditarod Basketball Tournament.  Local Nome rec teams, along with village teams compete in this tournament which over the course of a week will probably see more people in the crowd than the finish of a winning Iditarod musher.  Most tourists fly into Nome via Alaska Airlines to participate in Iditarod activities, but the local charter airlines are running in full swing bringing men’s & women’s basketball teams from Bethel, Unalakleet, Elim, and all over western Alaska for this basketball classic.

Things will start to wind down on Sunday afternoon with the Iditarod Awards Banquet where the prize money is handed out, after that there will just a handful of mushers left out on the trail…but don’t worry, they get their own Banquet once the red lantern comes in.