The longest and toughest snow machine race in the world, the Iron Dog takes racers through a rugged, 2,000-mile-long course composed of harsh Alaska wilderness.
The photos in this album were taken from the ceremonial start of the race in downtown Anchorage.
- Jeffrey Rivet / KTUU Channel 2 News (2016)
Snow-machine racers ride away from the Iron Dog ceremonial starting arch.
Two racers with orange helmets travel through drifting snow at the start.
Snow machine number 5 stands at the front of a crowded staging area.
A participant in a dark baseball cap and orange-lined jacket watches the event.
A smiling participant wears a gray knit hat and orange jacket.
A racer in bright FXR gear stands beside a snow machine.
A snow-machine rider approaches with headlights shining on the snowy street.
A racer passes near the camera with the starting arch behind.
Two snow-machine racers travel along the downtown course.
A close portrait shows a racer wearing a bright orange helmet.
A helmeted racer adjusts a face covering beneath a mounted action camera.
A participant in a black knit hat is photographed in profile.
Two racers wait astride their snow machines in the staging area.
Orange-trimmed snow machines line up beside support vehicles.
A racer in an orange helmet talks with a participant in a black hat.
Two racers in matching orange-and-black gear pose together.
A side view highlights an orange helmet and black face covering.
A racer sits on a green snow machine beside a support vehicle.
A uniformed honor-guard member stands at the ceremony.
Uniformed participants stand together during the opening ceremony.
A man in a blue jacket watches the event beside a downtown building.
A close view shows the large orange number 5 on a snow-machine windshield.
Two helmeted racers speak face to face in the staging area.
Racers in orange jackets and helmets gather beside their machines.
A racer’s eyes are visible above a black face covering inside an orange helmet.
A racer’s jacket displays ARMSTRONG and the number 26.
A smiling racer wears an orange helmet beside a snow-machine windshield.
A smiling participant in a dark cap stands in the staging area.
A close profile shows a racer wearing a yellow helmet and black face covering.
A race jacket displays the surname STROBEL and number 22.
Two helmeted racers talk beside their snow machines.
A racer in an orange helmet looks down at a handheld item.
A racer in green gear stands behind windshield number 15.
A racer waits behind a snow-machine windshield marked 48.
A helmeted racer in dark gear stands beside a windshield.
Team 34 racers wear jackets labeled BAHNKE and COLLINS.
A bundled spectator stands beside a racer wearing an orange helmet.
Helmeted racers exchange a gesture near their machines.
A smiling racer in an orange helmet looks across the staging area.
A man in a black knit hat watches the event in profile.
Two racers ride black-and-yellow snow machines along the staging lane.
Green and black snow machines line up beneath event flags.
An official stands beside helmeted racers waiting on their snow machines.
Racers line up beside event flags for the ceremonial start.
An official raises both arms near the waiting snow machines.
A helicopter flies overhead against a gray sky.
Racer number 40 waits on a snow machine beside a support vehicle.
Snow machines idle in a haze near the starting area.
Racer number 17 waits behind a tall windshield.
A snow machine moves forward with headlights shining through the haze.
Team 19 racers gesture toward each other before the start.
A camera operator films racer number 18 at close range.
Two snow machines approach side by side with their headlights on.
Two racers in orange gear speak beside their machines.
An official holds a green flag near the starting line.
A pair of racers accelerates along the snowy downtown course.
Racer number 30 leans over a snow-machine windshield.
Bundled spectators watch the race from beside the staging area.
Two racers ride forward past parked support vehicles.
A helmeted racer gestures from a green snow machine.
An official holds a green flag beside a support vehicle.
Racers and officials gather between snow machines at the start.
Racer number 16 waits behind a windshield in the staging lane.
Two green snow machines line up near officials in orange.
An official walks between waiting green snow machines.
Racer number 24 sits behind a windshield labeled WEBB.
Snow machine number 24 moves toward the camera.
Racer number 35 waits on a white-and-red snow machine.
A racer turns a green snow machine beside a green starting flag.
Racer number 21 waits behind a windshield labeled LEE.
A racer leans over the controls of a green snow machine.
An official stands between a pair of snow machines at the start.
Snow machine number 32 approaches with headlights shining through drifting snow.
Racer number 5 travels along the snowy ceremonial-start route.
Two racers ride side by side past the starting area.
A racer on a black-and-yellow snow machine approaches the camera.
Helmeted teammates talk beside their waiting snow machines.
A close portrait shows a racer wearing an orange helmet and dark jacket.
A patterned orange-and-black helmet fills the frame in profile.
A racer rides through a cloud of snow on the downtown course.
Team 39 racers approach side by side through the haze.
A blue snow machine passes close to the camera with its lights on.
A racer on a red-and-white snow machine rides toward the camera.
Two racers travel along the snowy street with the starting arch behind them.
Racer number 14 heads away along the spectator-lined route.
Racer number 16 approaches through the starting area.
A racer rides away through a cloud of snow at the ceremonial start.