
         The Iditarod Trail          Documentation               Page -1-
     
     
     
         In 1924, a diphtheria epidemic struck Nome, Alaska, and the
     Iditarod Trail was used by relay dog teams to get the serum there in
     time.  In addition, the Iditarod Trail was used during the 1908 gold
     rush, and by the US Post Office, to deliver mail.  During the summer
     time, the Iditarod Trail is virtually impassible, but when covered
     with snow during the winter, it is usable.
     
         Every year since 1967, there has been an Iditarod race, which
     currently uses two different routes, for even and odd years.  The
     northern route (even numbered years), is 1161 miles, and the southern
     route (odd numbered years), is 1163 miles.  However, some
     advertizements for the Iditarod race give the distance as 1049 miles.
     The teams consist of from 7 to 20 dogs.  The rules prohibit any form
     of mistreatment of the dogs, and anyone caught mistreating their dogs
     is permanently barred from participation in the Iditarod race.  If a
     dog is injured and not able to continue the race, it must be carried
     on the sled.  Dogs may not be abandoned, and it is necessary to
     account for all of the dogs at the end of the race.  If a team loses
     its dogs, other teams are expected to help them recover their team.
     Substitution of dogs, or obtaining another dog, from whatever the
     source might be, is prohibited.  No drugs or alcohol of any kind is
     permitted for either dogs or drivers during the race.  If a
     veterinarian uses drugs to treat a dog, it is disqualified.  There are
     veterinarians at each of the check points.  The first requirement upon
     arrival at each check point is to check all of the dogs' feet.  Dog
     food is at each check point.  Racers face wind-chill conditions as low
     as -100 degress or colder, blizzards, attacks by wild animals, etc.
     Although the first place contender receives $50,000, all who complete
     the run from Anchorage to Nome are honored as celebrities, and there
     is even a special prize to the one taking the longest time.  All below
     20th place, regardless of how long it takes them to reach Nome,
     receive a prize of $1000.  All teams must check in at all of the check
     points.  In addition, during the race each team must make a mandatory
     24 hour stopover at one of the checkpoints.  (In this game, if you do
     not take a layover, then when you reach White Mountain, your 24 hours
     will be added there.
     
         Each sled must carry as a minimum: an axe with a handle at least
     22 inches long and a head weighing at least 1 3/4 pounds, a cold
     weather sleeping bag weighing at least 5 pounds and/or rated for 25
     degrees or lower by the manufacturer, a pair of snowshoes with
     bindings at least 33 inches long and 8 inches wide, at least 8 booties
     for each dog, 2 pounds of food per dog, one day's food for the driver
     and promotional material provided by the race committee to be
     delivered to Nome.  Other materials to be carried is an option in the
     game, but remember that the more you carry, the slower you will go.
     However, you may need some of the extra items to complete the race.







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         The Iditarod Trail          Documentation               Page -2-
     
     
     
         The route used is as follows:
     
	 Northern route  (even)                 Southern route  (odd)
     
         Anchorage (0 miles)                    Anchorage (0 miles)
         Eagle River (20 miles)                 Eagle River (20 miles)
         Wasilla (49 miles)                     Wasilla (49 miles)
         Knik (63 miles)                        Knik (63 miles)
         Skwentna (151 miles)                   Skwentna (151 miles)
         Finger Lake (196 miles)                Finger Lake (196 miles)
         Rainy Pass (226 miles)                 Rainy Pass (226 miles)
         Rohn (274 miles)                       Rohn (274 miles)
         Nikolai (367 miles)                    Nikolai (367 miles)
         McGrath (415 miles)                    McGrath (415 miles)
         Takotna (438 miles)                    Takotna (438 miles)
         Ophir (476 miles)                      Ophir (476 miles)
         Cripple (536 miles)                    Iditarod (566 miles)
         Sulatna Crossing (581 miles)           Shageluk (631 miles)
         Ruby (656 miles)                       Anvik (656 miles)
         Galena (708 miles)                     Grayling (674 miles)
         Nulato (760 miles)                     Eagle Island (734 miles)
         Kaltag (802 miles)                     Kaltag (804 miles)
         Unulakleet (892 miles)                 Unulakleet (894 miles)
         Shaktoolik (932 miles)                 Shaktoolik (934 miles)
         Koyuk (990 miles)                      Koyuk (992 miles)
         Elim (1038 miles)                      Elim (1040 miles)
         Golovin (1066 miles)                   Golovin (1068 miles)
         White Mountain (1084 miles)            White Mountain (1086 miles)
         Safety (1139 miles)                    Safety (1141 miles)
         Nome (1161 miles)                      Nome (1163 miles)
     
         The first place winners, with their times, from 1973 to 1991, are
     as follows: (DAYS:HOURS:MINUTES:SECONDS)
     
         1973   Dick Wilmarth                   20:0:49:41
         1974   Carl Huntington                 20:15:2:7
         1975   Emmitt Peters                   14:14:43:45
         1976   Gerald Riley                    18:22:58:17
         1977   Rick Swenson                    15:10:37:14
         1978   Dick Mackey                     14:18:52:24
         1979   Rick Swenson                    15:10:37:47
         1980   Joe May                         15:7:11:51
         1981   Rick Swenson                    12:8:45:2
         1982   Rick Swenson                    16:4:40:10
         1983   Rick Mackey                     12:14:10:14
         1984   Dean Osmar                      12:15:7:33
         1985   Libby Riddles                   18:0:20:17
         1986   Susan Butcher                   11:15:6:0
         1987   Susan Butcher                   11:2:5:13
         1988   Susan Butcher                   11:11:41:40
         1989   Joe Runyan                      11:5:24:34
         1990   Susan Butcher                   11:1:53:23
	 1991   Rick Swenson                    12:16:34:39

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         The Iditarod Trail          Documentation               Page -3-
     
     
     
          This game is intended to be a simulation (as much so as is
     possible with a computer game), of the 1991 Iditarod Trail race.
     
	 After the game is loaded, you will be asked what you will be
     taking along in addition to what is mandatory.  After that, for each
     stop you will see time, miles, etc.  and a choice to continue, wait a
     while or take your 24 hours.  At times, other choices will be brought
     up on the screen.

         This game is distributed as shareware.  If you use it, please send
     a donation (at least $15 is suggested, especially in consideration of
     the extra research required to produce this game, and verify the
     accuracy of all information) to the author, Robert Newhart, 131 North
     32nd Street, Camden, NJ 08105.  This game may be uploaded on any other
     bulletin board, etc.  as long as this text file is included with it,
     and nothing is changed.  If you have any questions, contact me by
     mail (not by phone), or on Delphi (BNEWHART), or Quantum Link
     (RobertN081).  As is true for all of the other programs I have written
     since 1/1/92, there are or will be versions for IBM, Tandy Color
     Computer 3 (RS-DOS and/or OS9), Apple II, TI-99/4A, Commodore 64
     (Basic and/or GEOS) and Atari 800 computers (others may be added
     later.)

