After an epic trek across the Alaskan wilderness in abnormal conditions, the Iditarod mushers reached Nome in mid-March.
While the Iditarod normally begins just outside Anchorage, nearly absent snow forced a last-minute decision to start the race from Fairbanks, one day later than originally planned. Along with the new start came a new trail, the longest route in Iditarod history.
In the final days of the race, veteran mushers Jessie Holmes and Matt Hall jockeyed for position in an exciting contest for their first first-place finish which also comes with a $57,300 prize purse. Holmes won in the end, crossing under the Burled Arch early in the morning of March 14, after nearly 10 days and 15 hours on the trail, the longest time for a first-place finish since 1993! Underneath a full moon and clear skies, Holmes literally took a victory lap, jumping over the fences to offer high-fives and celebratory hugs to everyone in the crowd. Hall arrived three hours later, claiming second place.
The final musher, rookie Ebbe Pedersen, reached the burled arch early in the morning of March 17, claiming the almost equally-coveted red lantern prize.
