On a recent episode of the Burled Arch podcast, we profiled Iditarod rookie musher, Ebbe Pedersen.
Photo credit: Evan Erickson/KYUK
On a brisk, chilly afternoon, while many people around the world are gathered indoors to watch the Super Bowl on February 9, musher Ebbe Pedersen and his devoted canine team were on a different mission—one that took them over 51 hours into the grueling Kuskokwim 300 (K300) race in rural Bethel, Alaska. Under pristine blue skies and in unusually warm temperatures of 40 degrees Fahrenheit, Pedersen paused briefly near a fish camp on Straight Slough, allowing his team to refresh themselves with meltwater—an essential reprieve before tackling the final stretch of the race.
As they approached the finish line along the Bethel riverfront, Pedersen’s dogs eagerly laid down in the snow, seeking relief from their exhausting journey. With a warm smile, Pedersen greeted friends, fellow mushers, and dedicated volunteers who had come to celebrate the occasion. “They’ve never done anything like this in their life. This is the first time,” he remarked, reflecting on the youthful nature of his team, most of whom were inexperienced in long-distance racing. Among them was Yoda, a spirited female who had never participated in a race before.
Pedersen’s impressive 17th place finish earned him the coveted Red Lantern Award, bestowed upon the last musher to cross the finish line. This award represents not just a finish, but the values of grit, perseverance, and determination that typify the K300 race. For the 43-year-old musher, claiming the Red Lantern wasn’t unexpected. “I have a different agenda than most of these people,” he explained. While others raced fiercely, his focus was on completing the course with as many dogs as possible, as he prepared for the ultimate challenge—the Iditarod.
His performance was commendable; Pedersen was one of only three mushers to finish the race with 11 of his 12 dogs still on the line. With plans to harness all of them for the journey to Nome just weeks later, Pedersen was ready for the next chapter in his mushing adventure.
Originally hailing from Hjørring, Denmark, Pedersen’s passion for dog-powered travel ignited during overnight skijoring trips well above the Arctic Circle in Alta, Norway. After college, a state-funded outdoor education program introduced him to Alaska, where he indulged his love for skiing in the breathtaking Brooks Range and developed a deep bond with Takotna’s renowned residents, Jan and Dick Newton. The Newtons had long been celebrated for their hospitality, greeting weary mushers with hearty moose steaks and freshly baked pies.
Over the years, Pedersen forged a close friendship with Dick Newton, who passed away in 2021 at the age of 91. “He was a good friend of mine, more like a grandpa to me,” Pedersen reminisced. Inspired by Newton, he delved into trapping and eventually returned to teach outdoor education in Norway.
Since 2006, Pedersen has called Takotna his second home, though he now spends most of his time in Norway, where he works as a handyman and guides sled dog tours at a wilderness lodge outside of Alta. Despite the serene Nordic landscape, the call of his remote Alaskan cabin lingers in his heart. “I have an addiction. I gotta get here once in a while,” he confessed.
As hopes for the Iditarod draw near, Pedersen envisions gliding along the trail with his enthusiastic team, passing through Takotna—his cherished haven. While uncertain about what lies beyond the Iditarod, he maintains a positive outlook, stating, “Just that one time, I hope. That’s what I always say, it’s a one-time thing. But who knows?”
Regardless of the future in competitive mushing, Pedersen is delighted to witness the rapid growth of the sport in Norway. Like the beloved Alaskan huskies he adores and closely works with, his primary goal remains clear: to spend as much time outdoors as possible, embracing the wild and untamed beauty of the world around him.
Pedersen is running a team in the 2025 Iditarod using a team of dogs through Turning Heads Kennel based in Seward, Alaska.
We are using a cool card deck that Robert found at an outdoor conference a couple of years ago to help come up with ideas for this story. Check them out here