Dogsled.com: Mushing news, Iditarod, Yukon Quest, sled dog events

Login Form

Main Menu

Home

Latest News

The Iditarod Trail is an old United States Postal Route, and teams in the Iditarod Race carry a packet of ceremonial U.S. Mail from Anchorage to Nome. These "cachets" as they are called, are special edition envelopes that are signed by the musher who will carry them, and then stamped and postmarked in Anchorage on the day of the start. When the team crosses the finish line in Nome, a second cancellation postmark is placed on the envelop with the date of the team's finish.

Reporter Teresa Daily visited with Leo Rasmussen about the story behind the Iditarod cachet tradition. Video was recorded just before the 2007 Iditarod Musher Banquet in Anchorage, Alaska. (3/1/07)

Since 1974 or in the second year of Iditarod Race history, Iditarod dog teams have carried mail over the Iditarod Race, also known as the Iditarod National Historic Trail, as a part of regular participation in the race itself. The original purpose of establishing the Iditarod Trail was to create a positive communications link with the outside world. The original historic trail from Seward (MilePost #0) to Nome (MilePost #938) had it's direct routing which took all of 938 miles to deliver the US Mail. There were many other camps and small mining communities along the way that mandated longer trip tickets on connecting trails for the delivery of freight and mail.

Marlene Phillips-Daniels said:

Can't tell you, Teresa and Kevin, how very much I'm enjoying your site. The stories, photos and videos are wonderful. Thank goodness for your dedication and commitment to creating this website and involving the great talents that are there to be used.
Keep "gittin' 'er done"
MLG

March 02, 2007

Kevin Kastner said:

Hi MLG,

Thanks for the feedback. We are just as excited to be here, doing what we do to make the mushing news and Iditarod coverage fun for you! We couldn't do this without the help of our contributors and new partners who have jumped in this year to help us grow.

A special thank you to June Price, Donna Quante, Scott Slone and Joshua Rogers for bringing their talents and energy! Thank you for being a dedicated fan - we appreciate you too!!

Happy trails...
Kevin (aka Lead Dog)

March 02, 2007 | url

Write comment

You must be logged in to a comment. Please register if you do not have an account yet.

Last Updated ( Wednesday, 07 March 2007 )