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Iditarod 54 Day 5 Update: Halfway Award, Bison Encounters, and the Race Heads Toward the Yukon

March 12, 2026
Editor and/or Contributors

In this Day 5 update from the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, the field begins moving into the second third of the race as teams head toward the Yukon River. Jessie Holmes claims the Dorothy G. Page Halfway Award after reaching the checkpoint first with a full team of 16 dogs.

The episode also covers dramatic wildlife encounters on the trail, including reports of mushers confronting woodland bison while traveling between checkpoints. These incidents highlight the unpredictable challenges of long-distance mushing in Alaska’s wilderness.

In addition to race updates and analysis with guest Jonathan Hayes, the show features a musher profile of rookie Joey Sabin and a look back at sled dog racing history, including debates about breed diversity in racing from decades past.

Musher Profile: Joey Sabin

Iditarod 54: Podcast Playlist

About the Iditarod

The Iditarod is held each year starting on the first Saturday of March, with a ceremonial start in Anchorage and an official re-start in Willow on Sunday. In 2026 the race will follow the northern route. For more information, please visit Iditarod.com

About The Burled Arch Podcast

Award-winning podcasters Robert and Michele Forto hosts the Burled Arch podcast and covers the race nightly on various media platforms. For more information, please visit Mushing.com

About Team & Trail

Team & Trail became a significant factor in the growth of sled dog racing worldwide. Sled dog racing needed an international association to standardize rules and racing events. The Team and Trail Foundation, a non-profit (501(c)3 pending) whose mission is to support the dog mushing community and lifestyle, was founded to offer unique sports sponsorship opportunities. For more information, please visit teamandtrail.org

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