The Toughest Snowmobile Race in the World: Iron Dog 2022

The Iron Dog is the longest, toughest snowmobile race in the world. It is a grueling 2600 mile trip with a lot of hazards. Today the green flag dropped at 10:00 and the ceremonial start began. Once this was completed racers moved to Big Lake for the official start and the 29 race teams were released in two minute intervals. Each team is made up of two individuals and both racers must cross the finish line to earn a spot in race history. That said, I think we will be lucky if 20 of the teams finish the race. There have been years when less than 50% of the teams saw the checkered flag. These racers are in great physical condition, well practiced and among the best racers in the world. However, you can only stay on a hundred mile an hour bucking bull for so long, and one slight mistake, one failed mechanical part and a rider may not be able to finish the race.
The race trail is roughly the same trail as the Iditarod to Nome. At Nome racers will continue on Northeast to the Northwest Arctic region (Kotzebue area) and return to Wasilla. This year’s race will take racers through 21 rural Alaskan villages and I suspect the winner will finish the race in less than 60 hours on the trail. Godspeed and safe travels.
Live streaming is provided by South Anchorage HS at: www.irondog.or...

[@larrythompson5617]

Looked like a nice relaxing ride to me...

[@inalaska1709]

This is not the real start. The real start is on Big Lake. When I ran it in 2001 we were doing between 90-110 across the lake. There are times when you’re going well over 100 mph and others when you’re lucky to be doing 15. Our last day going into Nome we did 513 miles and it took us 13 hours, but that is stopping for fuel and and food. We also took over an hour break at White Moutan.

[@LifestylewithSharon]

Looks tough but also loads of fun. Great video

[@RaisedinAlaska]

Thank you. It was fun enough that I’ll do it again.😁

[@raymondmarshall1891]

What an awesome race!

[@marymarshall149]

It was a fun time on a nice day! A little sloppy for the racers though. I wish them all safe travels!

[@RaisedinAlaska]

🙏🏽

[@again5162]

@@RaisedinAlaska I've done a few desert rides in Australia on a 1000cc Kawasaki same distance but at 150kmh this looks just as tough

[@RaisedinAlaska]

@@again5162 I can only imagine. My son was in Nome (1/2 way point) when racers arrived two years ago. He said some were pretty buggered up. Last year, less than half the racers finished.

[@gkhuntertrapper2738]

Looks the temps are pretty warm your way I'm betting we have it colder & more snow Not one cheap sled eh thanks for sharing

[@briancarp9463]

Wow... thank you. Next lifetime fortune. Trail sled head here. Thank you for the turn on to northern toboggan.

[@RaisedinAlaska]

My pleasure. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@briancarp9463]

Do you Know where Homer Alaska is?

[@RaisedinAlaska]

@@briancarp9463 Homer is a 5 hour drive south of Anchorage. It is a beautiful community on the Kenai Peninsula.

[@briancarp9463]

@@RaisedinAlaska my Half brother lived there 18 years. He passed almost two years now. Was just getting ready to go for a visit. We are from Wisconsin.

[@briancarp9463]

Really enjoyed your camping out on the race course. Recently just got back into sleds. Sailed the entire great lakes 5300 miles. Took 7 years. Took off a month every summer. I'm a truck driver. All 48 states.

[@inthebay2014]

This is awesome

[@RaisedinAlaska]

Thank you, it was a fun event.

[@IronDogger]

Awesome video! 🏁🏆👏🏽😎 I love the Iron Dog 💝🏁🏆👏🏽👏🏽 Iron Dog Slush Cup!

[@RaisedinAlaska]

Slush cup for sure this year. 🏆 They’re currently saying they’re going to end the race in Wasilla on Saturday. I don’t think they can make it to Wasilla. That said, if they end the race at Big Lake there’s not really enough room, because of all the slush and water, to have a proper finish line area for a ceremony. I’m interested to see how it concludes.

[@IronDogger]

@@RaisedinAlaska Oh fun!!! Yeah Menard Center for ceremonial finishes!

[@JDRTRM]

And when it freezes the ruts are very hard and dangerous!

[@RaisedinAlaska]

True. 10 of the 27 teams have scratched. It is a tough trip.

[@joeinmi8671]

Thank you.

[@MyAlaska12]

I was going to come out for the race start but bc of the crappy weather I decided not to. Is that Big Lake where the official start was?

[@RaisedinAlaska]

Yes, the official start was on Big Lake. The lake was covered with a foot of slush and ice. Certainly a unique start.

[@robertlivingston1634]

Quite a bit warmer in Alaska than upper Michigan

[@RaisedinAlaska]

Very different than usual. I’m sure next year will be back to normal, I hope.

[@chef.papa.6tango523]

Do the races continue tomorrow at biglake?

[@RaisedinAlaska]

The race started in Big Lake today and racers are heading for Nome and then Kotzebue and back to Wasilla: 2600 miles.

[@chef.papa.6tango523]

@@RaisedinAlaska darn it... I thought the pro class started on Sunday in BL

[@RaisedinAlaska]

@@chef.papa.6tango523 Sorry.☹️

[@chef.papa.6tango523]

@@RaisedinAlaska least I got t watch it here! And my feet didn't get wet 🤣🤣🤣

[@RaisedinAlaska]

@@chef.papa.6tango523 😂😂

[@rogermoore-o8k]

I would love to have an opportunity to navigate and dominate this thing they call “ Iron Dog “ I live in Maine and there is only one person that I know of that I would want to be part of this race and I guarantee you that we would cross the finish line side by side and in front of everyone else Lmaf “Iron pup”

[@RaisedinAlaska]

This race is absolutely crazy, but there are a few people out there with a skill set to be competitive. The iron dog starts in a few days and I’m planning on being there.

[@randy5391]

Cains quest that is all

[@RaisedinAlaska]

I have watched some videos on it, it looks like a good race.

[@SB-vx5pc]

This race is a hell of a lot more cut throat than Cains Quest

[@RaisedinAlaska]

@SB-vx5pc They take a beating.

[@chestermcgillicuddy4368]

Alaska AKA soon to be Canada rightfully.

[@RaisedinAlaska]

I ❤️ 🇨🇦.

[@ingesamuelsson8104]

It looks like water skipping and not good conditions for å snowmobile race, how many kilometers är they driving? All att the same time (day/days/night/nights)? What i have seen before from some years ago is that its not so much snow and the tracks is only full speed an not like å good enduro track with speed Up to 100 km/h

[@RaisedinAlaska]

The Irondog is 1600 miles this year, and racer should finish tomorrow.

[@mikeskidmore6754]

It must have been warmer than 35F to make all of that Slush????

[@RaisedinAlaska]

It had rained the week prior to the race and, the days leading up to the race had daytime temperatures as high as 40 and then freeze again at night. The Iditarod starts Sunday and runs the same trails on the rivers, I’m kind of concerned about the river ice, but we’ll see how it looks.

[@mikeskidmore6754]

@@RaisedinAlaska I live in SW MI got 8" of snow several times over the winter but always had warm weather and rain a few days later and it melted every time. The is 1 foot of ice on the Lake near me today . Some years the Lake never froze over. It was 21 F the last two Mornings. They are Predicting 67-F for Saturday. There are a few patches of snow in the shady areas. My Uncle Lives in Chugicack .. I wanted to ride my Motorcycle up and Visit him this Summer..

[@RaisedinAlaska]

@@mikeskidmore6754 That would be an awesome trip. I’ll be heading out on the Iditarod trail on Sunday if all goes according to plan. Additionally, I will watch today’s festivities from a couple different locations.

[@rcr-zt4of]

@@mikeskidmore6754 where are you at in southwest Michigan?

[@mikeskidmore6754]

@@rcr-zt4of Near Kalamazoo .. My Uncle lived in Chugiak since he graduated College

[@paulcondie2520]

Probably more snow in Texas! Lol

[@Thunder_vrr]

Beginning at wasilla

[@RaisedinAlaska]

Yes it started at the Menard Center in Wasilla and finish there today.

[@Thunder_vrr]

@@RaisedinAlaska I watched the end

[@RaisedinAlaska]

@@Thunder_vrr My son was there, he was pretty excited.

[@Thunder_vrr]

@@RaisedinAlaska same as my dad

[@jordanmckenzie2174]

This 41

[@sylvainlaurence1554]

Looks like band weather for racing,this is snowmobile,thé best and the worst of mother nature

[@edwardabrahamiii3742]

No more arcticcats an yamahas sad

[@SB-vx5pc]

They're not supportive or engaged enough with their racers, that's why Skidoo and Polaris manufacturers adapt to these racers feedback directly and keep improving

[@RaisedinAlaska]

Last year they started the race on Friday, so there weren’t very many people at the start. My understanding is this year they will start on Saturday so I’m sure it will be crowded.

[@gregsouther7293]

Looks as sloppy as NH was last week.

[@RaisedinAlaska]

Once they get a couple hundred miles north it should firm up: however, they’re supposed to come back down to Wasilla for the finish in a week and the weather forecast here is more 30 degree weather.

[@rkruts5667]

About as exciting as a chess match

[@EileenPCarryEPC]

K🙇🏻‍♀️l!

[@440tomcat]

Looks like a normal day of riding for me.

[@nomadpandamediamichaelkim2800]

Hey! lol there i am at 6:24 scrunched over flying a drone haha great work on this video! I did a video too if you want to check it out :)

[@RaisedinAlaska]

I wonder who was flying the drone an wanted to see the footage. I bet it is awesome.

[@RaisedinAlaska]

I just went and watched your two videos and subscribed to your channel. Very professionally done. I’m curious.

[@FIRESHOCK88]

So much Ski-Doo Junk.

[@RaisedinAlaska]

I believe the winners this year were riding Skidoos, but most the sleds were Cats.

[@tdavidg9176]

@@RaisedinAlaska you’d never know that about the Cat’s considering all they showed at the start seemed to be Doo’s and Poo’s.

[@shadetreelife3670]

That’s because they can make it,

[@SB-vx5pc]

​@@tdavidg9176they're the only brands that are durable and reliable enough to finish. Cat's (Yamahas) don't put up any competition for the Skidoo and Polaris sleds

[@islam-peace5101]

Surah Mulk indexed with number 67, number of verses 30 1 Exalted is He, in Whose hand is all dominion, and He has power over all things. 2 He it is Who created death and life, that He might try which of you is best in conduct. He is the Mighty, the Forgiving. 3 He it is Who created the seven heavens in pairs. In the creation of the Merciful you can not see any contrast, so direct your gaze to see if you see any cracks? 4 Then, from time to time, direct your gaze, and your gaze will return to you humbled and helpless. 5 We have adorned the nearest heaven with candles, and We have made them shooters against the devils, to whom We have prepared a painful doom. 6 Hell is the punishment for those who disbelieve in their Lord; what a miserable place he is! 7 When they are thrown into it, they will hear his roar and it will boil. 8 "Out of anger, he is almost torn to pieces. Every time a crowd is thrown at him, the guard asks:" Did not a prophet (warner) come to you? 9 They say: "Yes, a messenger came to us, but we rejected him, and we said, 'Allah did not reveal anything, and you are nothing but a great loss.' 10 And they say, If we had heard and understood, we would not have been among the dwellers of the Fire. 11 So they confess their sins; the dwellers of the Fire are far from mercy. 12 Those who fear their Lord without seeing it, for them is forgiveness and a great reward. 13 But hide yourselves, or speak your word openly; surely He knows what you conceal in your hearts. 14 Do not He Who created create, when He knows that He penetrates the depths of the secrets, He knows the details? 15 He it is Who has made the earth suitable for you, so walk through its parts and enjoy His bounty, for to Him is the future. 16 Have you been assured by Him Who is in the heavens that the earth may not shake you when it shakes? 17 Were you assured of Him Who is in heaven, that He should not send upon you a tempest of stones? Well, you will understand what My punishment is! 18 Even those before them denied, but what was My punishment? 19 Have they not seen the birds above him with open arms, and when the wings are folded, no one holds them in the air except the Almighty. He is the One who sees and knows every thing. 20 Who is your army that can help you but the Merciful? It is true that the disbelievers are found in a great deception. 21 Who is he that feedeth you, if He should withhold His provision from you? Nay, but they persist in arrogance and aversion. 22 Is he who walks with his face to the ground more guided, or he who walks upright on the straight path? 23 Say: He it is Who created you, and endowed you with hearing and sight and understanding, but you give thanks a little. 24 Say: "It is He Who created you and multiplied you in the earth, and to Him you will be gathered." 25 And they say: When will this promise be fulfilled, if ye are truthful? 26 Say: "Only Allah knows, and I am only a warner to you." 27 "When they see it (Hell) approaching, the faces of those who disbelieve will be disfigured, and it will be said to them, 'This is what you used to seek.' 28 Say: Tell me, if Allah takes my soul and those with me, or has mercy on us, who will protect the disbelievers from a painful doom? 29 Say: He is the Most Merciful, to whom We have put our trust, and in Him we put our trust, and you will know who the lost one is. 30 Say: Tell me, if your water is lost in the depths, who will bring you above ground water?