The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race is one of Alaska’s iconic winter events, and the excitement starts in Anchorage on the first Saturday of March each year. The Iditarod course begins on Fourth Avenue at D Street and runs all the way to Campbell Creek Science Center. Onlookers get a close-up view of the teams. Spectators flock to the start line downtown or stake out a spot further down the 11-mile route through Anchorage. After a restart at Willow the following day, Iditarod mushers and their dogs battle the elements and test their own limits on the approximately 1,000 mile trail to Nome.
Teams generally race through blizzards causing whiteout conditions, sub-zero temperatures and gale-force winds which can cause the wind chill to reach −100 °F (−73 °C). A ceremonial start occurs in the city of Anchorage and is followed by the official restart in Willow, a city 80 miles (129 km) north of Anchorage. The race is a very important and popular sporting event in Alaska, and the top mushers and their teams of dogs are local celebrities; this popularity is credited with the resurgence of recreational mushing in the state since the 1970s. While the yearly field of more than fifty mushers and about a thousand dogs is still largely Alaskan, competitors from fourteen countries have completed the event including Martin Buser from Switzerland, who became the first foreign winner in 1992.
Dozens of mushers and hundreds of sled dogs paraded through Anchorage on Saturday for the ceremonial start Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. In temperatures in the teens, the teams glided across 11 miles of snowy city streets and trails. People gathered along the route to watch — handing out high-fives and even hot dogs to mushers.
David Brodosi
David Brodosi at the Iditarod race in Alaska
You want to experience all that Alaska has to offer, but you don’t have much time, or maybe you don’t want to venture too far outside of Anchorage. That’s okay. You’ve made it to the 49th state and you’re going to have an unforgettable time regardless – it’s hard not to in Alaska. But to guarantee a memorable stay like no other, take a short (like, super short) drive outside of Anchorage and turn off into Girdwood. Why Girdwood, you ask? The Alyeska Resort is waiting to show you it all. - David Brodosi
Alyeska is located just 40 miles south of the Anchorage airport, providing skiers and snowboarders with convenient access once they’ve arrived in. Alyeska provides skiers and snowboarders with 73 trails spread out on more than 1,400 acres. The 60-passenger aerial tram, high-speed quad and seven other chairlifts, including two magic carpets ensure there’s no waiting on lift lines—not that crowds are usually a problem in Alyeska.
Averaging 649 inches of powder annually, Alyeska offers some of the world's deepest snow conditions. That said, the temperatures aren’t necessarily as cold as you might think. January is typically the coldest winter month, with averages around 20 degrees Fahrenheit, but by March averages are around 32 degrees. Because Alaska experiences more daylight during the winter months than the rest of the United States—due to its proximity to the North Pole—Alyeska offers night skiing on the weekends from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. - David Brodosi
The resort’s trails are well divided to accommodate a variety of skiers and riders. About 11 percent of Alyeska is designated beginner, while 52 percent is marked as intermediate and 37 percent for experts. Terrain park enthusiasts have two parks to choose from, as well as a 400-foot-long Superpipe. Snowcat and heli-skiing tours are also available.
Anchorage, Alaska’s largest city, is in the south-central part of the state on the Cook Inlet. It's known for its cultural sites, including the Alaska Native Heritage Center, which displays traditional crafts, stages dances, and presents replicas of dwellings from the area’s indigenous groups. The city is also a gateway to nearby wilderness areas and mountains including the Chugach, Kenai and Talkeetna.
We are a family of travel enthusiasts, we are blessed with a multitude of experiences, interests and beliefs. We share the world and life with everyone. We also love our jobs - with all our passions, our challenges, our successes and our failures. We enjoy meeting new people, and sharing our experiences and passions with them. We are always in contact with new people, and that is the most special part. - David Brodosi
David Brodosi is an experienced team leader with a demonstrated history of success in the higher education industry. David Brodosi provides guidance on tech strategies and trends for state-of-the-art classrooms, course development, and faculty design support services. Mr Brodosi is recognized as a thought leader regarding the intersection of AV/IT, collaboration technology that supports his organization's mission to deliver world-class research and tech solutions for higher education institutions.