Nicholas Carman laughing his way down a crust-covered slope in the Kwiktalik Mountains, Alaska.
Trail Conditions May Vary
Between blizzards and drifting snow, passing snowmachines and surprise rain, riding the Iditarod is an exercise in perfecting your timing
The nine hundred fifty miles of Alaska’s historic Iditarod Trail are passable for just a few weeks each winter when there’s enough traffic to keep the snowy trail packed. During that short time, the trail, which runs from just north of Anchorage to Nome on the Bering Sea coast, attracts a variety of travelers drawn to remote winter adventure—snowmachiners, mushers, skiers, cyclists, and even hikers. Some travel short stretches of the trail, others strive to traverse its full length.
Peering out the cocoon of my sleeping bag, I watched my frosty breath rise lazily in the still air, air so cold it bit sharply at my nose and lungs. I could see nothing but pastel sky, and it took a moment for my mind to remember I was indeed nestled into a stomped-down patch of snow on a narrow island in the frozen Susitna River. I sat up, wriggled my head free, and looked around—a few dozen snowmachine tracks through bright fresh
2,400 words to go
You’re just getting to the good part.
This story — and 42 issues of them — opens with a subscription.
Either one picks up right where you left off.
Join 7,000+ readers · Independently owned · Since 2008
Already a subscriber? Sign in
Adventure Journal — Print Quarterly
Stories like this, in your hands four times a year.
42 issues. 11 years. Independently owned. Printed on 70lb uncoated paper with a soft-touch cover, solar-powered, and shipped in a brown paper envelope. Free domestic shipping.
