The 2024 Iditarod musher sign ups are underway as of June 24, 2023. So far, 28 mushers submitted their entries for the 2024 Iditarod Race. The great race is scheduled to start in Willow March 3rd, 2023.

This year, the race will follow the northern route of the trail. The Iditarod follows the northern route on even years and the southern route on odd years. The northern route of the trail totals to 975 miles from the official start in Willow, to crossing the burled arch in Nome.

Of the 28 mushers, 9 of them are rookies. Veteran Riley Dyche of Dark Horse Racing Kennel is competing in his fifth year in the Iditarod. Dyche says he plans to race several of his two-year-old dogs that helped him cross the arch last year. Dyche prides himself on the care they provide to their team to keep them happy and healthy.

“So just that consistent routine of praising them patting them, give them a snack, offering them you know, a drink of water that really helps build their trust, you know, in me that they know I’m going to always look out for their best interests and they know you know, if I just asked them to do those things all day long with no extra praise and no extra snacks.”

Dyche says his team is ready to excel this racing season. He highlights that one of the best aspects of the Iditarod are those in the communities surrounding it.

“Just all the different people you meet along the trail and into the runkles and Nikolai it all kind of adds to the race. I think that’s what makes the Iditarod the Iditarod.”

Registration for the Iditarod ends November 30th, 2024. Registration fees are $4000 for participants, and $3950 for past champions. On Wednesday afternoon, Dallas Seavey announced on his social media that he is competing in this year’s Iditarod, looking to earn his 6th win.

Image at top: The 2023 Iditarod finish line on Front Street in Nome.