This activity begins at 5:30 am and involves getting mushers checked in at an area on 3rd Avenue between A and C Streets. Once a musher is checked in they proceed (in their vehicle) west on 3rd Avenue to one of the turns at E, F, G, or H Streets where they turn left (south) and take their assigned position on E, F, G or H Streets or on 4th Avenue. Mushers are staged in order with the first team schedule to start being farthest from the start line. This allows their vehicles to get out of the area away from the remaining teams for pickup at the end of the trail.
This is the activity that leads up to the teams passing the start line and heading down the trail. The timing here is very important as the teams must be at the start line and ready to leave at their assigned time. They leave every two minutes starting at 10:00 am (with a few gaps for advertising).
After leaving the start line, the mushers are on Trail headed to pickup. Trail operation's concern is safety at road crossing and knowing which segment of the trail a team is on at any particular time.
Iditariders are going to the end of the trail at the pickup point this year: Campbell Airstrip.
The duty of a shadow is to follow - as close as a shadow - the race official to whom you're assigned. The race officials all know each other and their respective roles; we are using the same tactical names that they are. You will be asked to relay messages to/from your assigned official. You may be doing a lot of walking.
These positions are used in Sign-In and Trail. You'll be passing traffic as needed if assistance is required or messages are to be passed on to an official or another volunteer posted in your location.
These positions are used in Staging and along Trail. You'll be reporting the passage of each musher to net control as they pass your location. Additionally, you'll be functioning as a Communication Point (above).
Net controllers are responsible for passing traffic between nets and assuring that tactical positions are manned. Nets are open unless priority traffic is to be handled. Allow operators to make calls when the frequency is clear and pass their messages. If a message needs to go to another net, pass it to the appropriate net control.