The Iditarod Trail Committee announced Monday that the race restart will shift north this year, with the route beginning in Fairbanks instead of Willow due to a lack of snow on a portion of the southern route. But the precise location for that restart remained unclear – until Thursday, that is.
“For us, the carnival is coming to town," said Jay Ramras, owner of Pike’s Waterfront Lodge.
The Iditarod restart has moved up to Fairbanks three previous times in race history, in 2003, 2015 and 2017. And each of those three years, Pike’s property on the Chena River has been the spot for mushers to begin their Iditarod journey.
This year will be the fourth. And Ramras said he quipped about that number’s significance with mushing legend Dave Monson and T-Dog 200 organizer Tekla Butcher-Monson. She’s the daughter of Monson and four-time Iditarod champion Susan Butcher, who died of leukemia in 2006.
“I told them that in the world of hospitality ... that would be considered a championship – hosting the Iditarod – so I’ve now tied Susan Butcher’s record of four-time Iditarod champ. And we all had a good laugh over that over coffee," he said.
Ramras said the pieces began falling into place after Monday’s announcement and that logistical prep work on Pike’s end is already underway, including things like formulating a safety protocol in coordination with Alaska State Troopers.
“We wanna roll out the red carpet so that when the weather is sketchy the next time, they don’t hesitate to come up here for the fifth restart in Fairbanks," he said.
The ceremonial start event will still take place in Anchorage on March 1 at 10 a.m. The 33 teams will then pack up and head north for the restart at Pike’s, which is set for March 3 at 11a.m.