The Iditarod Trail Documentation Page -1- In 1924, a diphtheria epidemic struck Nome, Alaska, and the Iditarod Trail was used by relay dog teams to get the serum there in time. In addition, the Iditarod Trail was used during the 1908 gold rush, and by the US Post Office, to deliver mail. During the summer time, the Iditarod Trail is virtually impassible, but when covered with snow during the winter, it is usable. Every year since 1967, there has been an Iditarod race, which currently uses two different routes, for even and odd years. The northern route (even numbered years), is 1161 miles, and the southern route (odd numbered years), is 1163 miles. However, some advertizements for the Iditarod race give the distance as 1049 miles. The teams consist of from 7 to 20 dogs. The rules prohibit any form of mistreatment of the dogs, and anyone caught mistreating their dogs is permanently barred from participation in the Iditarod race. If a dog is injured and not able to continue the race, it must be carried on the sled. Dogs may not be abandoned, and it is necessary to account for all of the dogs at the end of the race. If a team loses its dogs, other teams are expected to help them recover their team. Substitution of dogs, or obtaining another dog, from whatever the source might be, is prohibited. No drugs or alcohol of any kind is permitted for either dogs or drivers during the race. If a veterinarian uses drugs to treat a dog, it is disqualified. There are veterinarians at each of the check points. The first requirement upon arrival at each check point is to check all of the dogs' feet. Dog food is at each check point. Racers face wind-chill conditions as low as -100 degress or colder, blizzards, attacks by wild animals, etc. Although the first place contender receives $50,000, all who complete the run from Anchorage to Nome are honored as celebrities, and there is even a special prize to the one taking the longest time. All below 20th place, regardless of how long it takes them to reach Nome, receive a prize of $1000. All teams must check in at all of the check points. In addition, during the race each team must make a mandatory 24 hour stopover at one of the checkpoints. (In this game, if you do not take a layover, then when you reach White Mountain, your 24 hours will be added there. Each sled must carry as a minimum: an axe with a handle at least 22 inches long and a head weighing at least 1 3/4 pounds, a cold weather sleeping bag weighing at least 5 pounds and/or rated for 25 degrees or lower by the manufacturer, a pair of snowshoes with bindings at least 33 inches long and 8 inches wide, at least 8 booties for each dog, 2 pounds of food per dog, one day's food for the driver and promotional material provided by the race committee to be delivered to Nome. Other materials to be carried is an option in the game, but remember that the more you carry, the slower you will go. However, you may need some of the extra items to complete the race. 1 The Iditarod Trail Documentation Page -2- The route used is as follows: Northern route (even) Southern route (odd) Anchorage (0 miles) Anchorage (0 miles) Eagle River (20 miles) Eagle River (20 miles) Wasilla (49 miles) Wasilla (49 miles) Knik (63 miles) Knik (63 miles) Skwentna (151 miles) Skwentna (151 miles) Finger Lake (196 miles) Finger Lake (196 miles) Rainy Pass (226 miles) Rainy Pass (226 miles) Rohn (274 miles) Rohn (274 miles) Nikolai (367 miles) Nikolai (367 miles) McGrath (415 miles) McGrath (415 miles) Takotna (438 miles) Takotna (438 miles) Ophir (476 miles) Ophir (476 miles) Cripple (536 miles) Iditarod (566 miles) Sulatna Crossing (581 miles) Shageluk (631 miles) Ruby (656 miles) Anvik (656 miles) Galena (708 miles) Grayling (674 miles) Nulato (760 miles) Eagle Island (734 miles) Kaltag (802 miles) Kaltag (804 miles) Unulakleet (892 miles) Unulakleet (894 miles) Shaktoolik (932 miles) Shaktoolik (934 miles) Koyuk (990 miles) Koyuk (992 miles) Elim (1038 miles) Elim (1040 miles) Golovin (1066 miles) Golovin (1068 miles) White Mountain (1084 miles) White Mountain (1086 miles) Safety (1139 miles) Safety (1141 miles) Nome (1161 miles) Nome (1163 miles) The first place winners, with their times, from 1973 to 1991, are as follows: (DAYS:HOURS:MINUTES:SECONDS) 1973 Dick Wilmarth 20:0:49:41 1974 Carl Huntington 20:15:2:7 1975 Emmitt Peters 14:14:43:45 1976 Gerald Riley 18:22:58:17 1977 Rick Swenson 15:10:37:14 1978 Dick Mackey 14:18:52:24 1979 Rick Swenson 15:10:37:47 1980 Joe May 15:7:11:51 1981 Rick Swenson 12:8:45:2 1982 Rick Swenson 16:4:40:10 1983 Rick Mackey 12:14:10:14 1984 Dean Osmar 12:15:7:33 1985 Libby Riddles 18:0:20:17 1986 Susan Butcher 11:15:6:0 1987 Susan Butcher 11:2:5:13 1988 Susan Butcher 11:11:41:40 1989 Joe Runyan 11:5:24:34 1990 Susan Butcher 11:1:53:23 1991 Rick Swenson 12:16:34:39 2 The Iditarod Trail Documentation Page -3- This game is intended to be a simulation (as much so as is possible with a computer game), of the 1991 Iditarod Trail race. After the game is loaded, you will be asked what you will be taking along in addition to what is mandatory. After that, for each stop you will see time, miles, etc. and a choice to continue, wait a while or take your 24 hours. At times, other choices will be brought up on the screen. This game is distributed as shareware. If you use it, please send a donation (at least $15 is suggested, especially in consideration of the extra research required to produce this game, and verify the accuracy of all information) to the author, Robert Newhart, 131 North 32nd Street, Camden, NJ 08105. This game may be uploaded on any other bulletin board, etc. as long as this text file is included with it, and nothing is changed. If you have any questions, contact me by mail (not by phone), or on Delphi (BNEWHART), or Quantum Link (RobertN081). As is true for all of the other programs I have written since 1/1/92, there are or will be versions for IBM, Tandy Color Computer 3 (RS-DOS and/or OS9), Apple II, TI-99/4A, Commodore 64 (Basic and/or GEOS) and Atari 800 computers (others may be added later.)