The Most Athletic Dogs on Earth

The 2014 Iditarod came to a riveting end early on Tuesday, March 11. Four-time champ Jeff King started the final day with more than an hour lead, but poor weather prevented him from finishing. Aliy Zirkle finished second for a third straight year after being passed by Dallas Seavey, who would go on to win the race. Alaska Dispatch photographer Loren Holmes followed the entire race and came back with some amazing moments.

Photo: Eventual champion Dallas Seavey mushing into the Rainy Pass checkpoint on Puntilla Lake. March 3, 2014

Jamaican musher Newton Marshall replaces the runners on his sled in a quiet Nikolai checkpoint on Wednesday morning. March 5, 2014

Aliy Zirkle arriving at dawn into Puntilla Lake. March 3, 2014

Joar Liefseth Ulsom walks to the South Fork of the Kuskokwim River for water, outside the Rohn checkpoint. There is no snow or water at the checkpoint, so mushers have to walk a half-mile for water. March 3, 2014

DeeDee Jonrowe’s team pulls a driver-less sled through the Dalzell Gorge. She lost her team three times in this dangerous part of the trail. March 3, 2014

Dogs in Cim Smyth’s team nap in the Nikolai checkpoint. March 4, 2014

2011 champion John Baker arrives in Ruby before dawn on Friday, March 7, 2014.

Jeff King leaving Unalakleet, chasing then-leader Aliy Zirkle. Mar 8, 2014

Norwegian musher Robert Sorlie navigates an icy downhill turn in the Dalzell Gorge. March 3, 2014

A musher travels across bare ground between Unalakleet and Shaktoolik. March 9, 2014