It's not over until the Red Lantern is blown out by the last musher to Nome. There is some many things I love about this Race but the fact that the last team in is celebrated, probably my favorite.
There are actually "two" lamps. The tradition goes back to the Widow's Lamp.
From Iditarod.com: The Story of the Widow’s Lamp
During the days of Alaska sled dog freighting and mail carrying, dog drivers relied on a series of roadhouses between their village destinations. Since these mushers ventured out in most all kinds of weather, for safety reasons they found the idea that pilots rely on, known today as the flight plan. Word was relayed ahead that a musher and team were on the trail, and a kerosene lamp was lit and hung outside the roadhouse. It not only helped the dog driver find his destination at night, but more importantly, it signified that a team or teams were somewhere out on the trail. The lamp was not extinguished until the musher safely reached his destination.
On the first Sunday in March the lamp is lit in Nome and hung on the Burl Arch. When the last team comes in the lamp will be extinguished. The last team will also receive the Red Lantern award, which began, as a joke, in the 1950s but has become a symbol of "not quitting".
This year, it looks like the last team in will be Bib Number 55: Elliot Anderson.
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| Mrs. B and Elliot at the Musher Banquet |
Elliot is running the "puppy" team out of Happy Trails kennel. Elliot has worked with these dogs since they day they were born. He has spend the last two years preparing this dogs to complete the Iditarod. The dogs on his team are about 2 years old. His job is to get as many as possible to Nome, happy and healthy.
Be sure to watch him finish!
