After a year in Cantwell, Junior Iditarod returns to Willow

WASILLA — During the days preceding the 2015 Jr. Iditarod, organizers scrambled to find safe trail for the event’s teenaged mushers. The race directors scratched multiple plans for the race, ultimately opting to send the teams north to race along the Denali Highway.

But despite another odd winter in Southcentral Alaska, things are running much easier this year, and organizers anticipate a good run for the 11 teams in the field along a traditional route from Willow to Yentna Station and back.

“The trail’s in exceptionally good shape for the winter we’ve had,” Junior Iditarod trail manager Richard Plack said Thursday afternoon.

Plack said he’s seen better trail conditions in past years. But he’s also seen worse.

“Trail conditions compared to last year, I’m very satisfied,” Plack said. “The kids won’t have any trouble.”

Teams will depart the Willow Community Center Saturday at 11 a.m., cross over the Susitna River, follow the Iditarod Trail to Eagle Song Lodge, before hitting the Yentna River and racing to the Yentna Station Roadhouse for the mandatory 10-hour layover. Following the layover, teams will leave Yentna and make their way back to Willow on the same trail.

“I think we’re looking at a hard and fast trail, unless it snows,” race organizer Barb Redington said.

Redington said there are 11 mushers in the field for the second consecutive year. The field features three rookies, including Denver Evans, who is staying with the Redingtons in advance of the Junior Iditarod.

“A little nervous. This is my first competitive race,” the 17-year-old said of the anticipation of her first experience in the Junior Iditarod.

Evans, who lives in Skagway, said she does not come from a mushing family. Instead, Evans adopted a sled dog as a pet in 2011, and wanted to start learning about dog mushing. She became more interested in the sport, and earned a job with a sled dog tour company in Skagway. She also drew the attention of Iditarod musher Ryan Redington, who took her under his wing.

“It was interesting. I didn’t think I was anything special. But I guess he saw something,” Evans said.

Evans said it was Redington her urged her to enter the 2016 race.

“She showed up to work one day with the entry packet. He gave it to me, and I started thinking about it,” Evans said.

Evans, who hopes to study wildlife biology and have a kennel of her own in the future is holding onto a particular outlook as she prepares for her first race.

“Having fun, getting experience,” Evans said. “Have fun with the dogs.”

The 2016 field also includes the defending champion, Kevin Harper. The Wasilla-area musher will embark in his third career race in 2016. His first shot in 2014 results in rookie of the year honors and a third-place finish. Last year, Harper won the race, with a time of 11 hours, 24 minutes and 43 seconds. Harper edged runner-up Jimmy Lanier by three minutes.

Teams will cover 150 miles of trail during the race. The first teams are expected to arrive at the finish line Sunday morning.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.