'3,2,1- they're on the trail!' 2024 Iron Dog racers embark from Big Lake

BIG LAKE —The 2024 Iron Dog is officially underway.

Pro-Class race teams took off from the starting line in Big Lake Saturday, Feb. 17. They're currently embarked on a long journey through to Nome then back to Big Lake.

Racers left in two minute intervals from the race start located atop the frozen lake near Susitna Brewing Company. A large crowd gathered around the starting line to cheer teams on as they departed.

"3,2,1- they're on the trail!" emcee Beagle Jarvis said as each team took off.

Big Lake resident Terry Maddox watched the 2024 Iron Dog unfold with his trusty dog James. Maddox said he checks out the race start every year and has a lot of fun coming out there.

"I think it's a great thing," Maddox said.

Maddox said that taking on the Iron Dog is an impressive feat and it's exciting to see all the different people that have the tenacity to take on such a massive undertaking.

"That's quite an adventure," Maddox said.

Tyler Aklestad and Nick Olstad won the 2022 and 2023 Iron Dog races. Aklestad said that he's feeling good about this year's race and they're going to focus on "smart, clean consistency" while they're on the trail.

"We're not gonna get too worried if we get a little behind," Aklestad said. "We're just gonna run our race."

The Iron Dog is often referred to as the "world's longest, toughest snowmobile race." It covers over 2,500 miles across Alaska's vast and harsh wilderness. This unique call to the wild draws racers from across the state and beyond.

Daniel Thomas made his way from Salt Lake City, Utah to compete in the Iron Dog. Prior to taking off, he said this is his fourth time participating and he looks forward to getting back on the trail. He said it's exciting being back in Alaska.

"What you guys have up here is epic. It’s just an experience you cannot find anywhere else on the planet," Thomas said. "Anybody who has snowmachine two-stroke in their blood, this is on their bucket list."

Thomas said he took on his first Iron Dog race the year of his 40th birthday.

"I guess you could call it my midlife adventure crisis," Thomas said with a laugh.

Thomas said there's nothing like the Iron Dog and he's grateful for the opportunity to be a part of it again.

"The highs and lows are about as extreme as they get in life… The sky, the scenery, the snow… And then there's moments that make you question your life choices.

Thomas is racing with Palmer resident Stan James. He said they met through Iron Dog and became friends. He said this is their first run together and he's feeling confident.

"We're ready," Thomas said. "When we're on the trail together we do really good."

James said this is his 11th time competing in the Iron Dog. He said that he grew up in Alaska and he's always loved racing.

"It was always something I wanted to do once. Once turned into a whole bunch of times," James said.

Thomas said that one of the main lessons he learned from racing in the Iron Dog is persevering through adversity.

"The pain always ends. You just gotta get through it. The sun always comes in the morning and sometimes in those lows, you just gotta power through it. There's joy on the other side."

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com