GIC-2009 Red Lantern Award

WA3WSJ

GIC-2009

Iditarod Traditions

The Story of the Widow’s Lamp

During the days of Alaska sled dog freighting and mail carrying, dog drivers relied on a series of roadhouses between their village destinations. Since these mushers ventured out in most all kinds of weather, for safety reasons they found the idea that pilots rely on, known today as the flight plan. Word was relayed ahead that a musher and team were on the trail, and a kerosene lamp was lit and hung outside the roadhouse. It not only helped the dog driver find his destination at night, but more importantly, it signified that a team or teams were somewhere out on the trail. The lamp was not extinguished until the musher safely reached his destination.

In keeping with that tradition, GORC will present the last musher who crosses the finish line a Red Lantern Award.  The actual award is a  lantern  8.0" x 4.3" x 4.3", eight ounce,  red kerosene hurricane lantern made of strong metal construction with a glass globe and adjustable wick. Your Call will be placed on the award! The big THANK YOU goes out to Teresa, KL0WW , GIC Musher Number 12..  She brought the Red lantern Award to my attention- thanks Teresa!

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All too often, public and media think of the race as being over when the winner crosses the finish line, yet there are still teams on the trail. We hope you will find this often overlooked part of the race worthy of your attention.

History of the Red Lantern

Often the “Red Lantern” is confused with the “Widow’s Lamp.” They are not the same

“Awarding a red lantern for the last place finisher in a sled dog race has become an Alaskan tradition. It started as a joke and has become a symbol of stick-to-itiveness in the mushing world.”

WA3WSJ

GIC-2009