Iditarod Alaska
For many, Alaska's golden years were at the turn of the last century when gold miners and fur traders plied the rivers and trails of this great Alaska in search of adventure and fortune. Men, tough guys who had character, traveled by foot, riverboat and dog team through a land where few could survive, much less thrive. It wasn't just the adventure; it was the grandeur of Alaska, the deep woods, the open tundra and the rugged mountains. And it was also the life that meant so much. The fellowship of friends sitting around a campfire talking of things simple but important, things of the deep woods where the wolves howled and the northern lights danced across a clear, black, star studded sky. This same life, these people and the husky sled dogs were found along the Iditarod race trail during the 1980s. Burt describes the life in a small wilderness cabin, the comradery of friends around a campfire, the dogs, the characters and the great Alaska wilderness. It brings back fond memories for us who lived it and tells in detail of these great times for others who want to know what it was really like.
Burt Bomhoff
Burt Bomhoff finished seven Iditarod Trail Sled Dog races. Known for his outstanding dog care, he was awarded the prestigious Leonard Seppala Award for best care of a competitive dog team during the 1984 race. He was first into the halfway point at Iditarod in 1985, breaking trail through a severe Alaska blizzard. Burt was also competitive in middle-distance racing and set a race record winning the 1988 Knik 200 Race in less than 24 hours. Burt served on Iditarod's board of directors for many years and was responsible for building the Iditarod Headquarters in Wasilla while serving as board president during 1986. He was also president of the Iditarod Official Finishers Club from 1982 through the 1987 race. Burt Bomhoff has lived in Alaska for more than 50 years. He was a professional engineer, a professional land surveyor, a U.S. mineral surveyor and a commercial pilot. He is also an avid outdoorsman who has lived in bush Alaska as an Iditarod sled dog musher and a professional fishing guide. He has also held political office. In spite of encroaching civilization, Burt has managed to live all of his dreams but one. He has never mined for GOLD! If you ask him if he's going to do it, Burt will say, “It's not too late.”
