Dog mushing

It was Holmes’ fourth consecutive Kobuk 440 win, and fifth overall.

“It's kind of the unknown, I don't know what to expect,” Kevin Hansen said. “I haven't gone more than the 440, which is what, three, four days on the trail.”

Connection to mushing history of region keeps participants coming back

“It's the true meaning of what the Iditarod stands for,” said Sue Evans, a descendant of a musher who was part of the historic effort.

Rookie musher Jessi Downey spent part of her childhood in the Northwest Arctic and was the only Iñupiaq woman in the race. In fact, she might be just the second Iñupiaq woman musher in the race’s more than 30-year history.