ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - The color coordinated canines of the Northern Whites Kennel have a rich history in the Iditarod — Chugiak’s Jim Lanier first took the white-furred athletes to Nome in 1979, and 15 more times after that — 46 years after his rookie run, it’s Mike Parker’s turn on the runners for his first year down the famed trail.
”It is very cool to be a part of that line,” Parker said of running the Northern Whites. “There [are] a lot of mushers that have gotten their start with Jim or have even run Iditarod with Jim’s dogs and to be a part of that family is pretty special.”
Through four days of Iditarod 53, Parker and the Northern Whites are covering ground, en route to Ruby Thursday evening.
“The thought that I’ve had is ‘Wow, this is the Iditarod, I’m just running dogs as I always do!’” Parker said while resting his team in Tanana.
This was one of many thoughts he’s had along the trail, including beloved team members he recently lost.
“It’s on my mind every day,” he said.
While Parker and the Northern Whites were on a training run near Cantwell in December 2023, a snowmachine struck the team, killing three dogs. Parker is carrying the ashes of Solo, John, and Buttercup with him on his Iditarod run.
“I am going to leave them on the trail, that is where they are supposed to be,” Parker said on the banks of the Yukon River. “They were supposed to be here with me, so we’ll find a good camping spot for them.”
On the same day Parker and the Whites left for Nome, the driver of the snow machine that struck the team pleaded guilty to a negligent driving citation, a noncriminal offense. Parker declined to comment in response to the plea deal.
While the ultimate goal is the burled arch in Nome, for Parker and company, it’s about the journey, not the destination.
“Gosh, I don’t know how anything can be more special than Iditarod. Everything about this race and this dog team means everything to me, it means everything.”
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