Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race start in Anchorage is in the middle of a large urban center, most of the route passes through widely separated towns and villages, and small Athabaskan and Iñupiat settlements. The Iditarod is regarded as a symbolic link to the early history of the state and is connected to many traditions commemorating the legacy of dog mushing. The race is a very important and popular sporting event in Alaska, and the top mushers and their teams of dogs are local celebrities; this popularity is credited with the resurgence of recreational mushing in the state since the 1970s. While the yearly field
Can-Am Crown International Sled Dog Race Can-Am Crown International Sled Dog Race The Can-Am Crown is an international sled dog race held annually in Fort Kent, Maine, and usually takes place the first Saturday in March (which is also the day the Iditarod Trail begins). The organization was founded on October 16, 1992 as a non-profit corporation for the purpose of establishing a long-distance sled dog race. The first Can-Am Crown 250-mile race began on Tuesday, February 16, 1993. Nine teams from Maine, Ontario, Quebec, and New Brunswick competed in that race. In 1994 sixteen teams competed in the 250-mile race and eleven in the newly