We Only Control How We Respond
The past eight months have certainly provided its share of challenges. But, aren't we are a group that prides itself on maintaining perspective in the face of adversity, perseverance in the face of failure and purpose through action? We are outliers who don't follow the well-worn path, who think for themselves and who work together to support each other and our communities.
Sure, the easy route would have been to cancel the ITI months ago. Instead, the ITI team has spent countless hours working to develop solutions to the problems COVID-19 introduces with the help of professional advisors, has invested heavily in people, equipment and assets that will increase the event's self-sufficiency and has been constantly adapting to the ambiguous future that February 28, 2021 presents.
Why?
Because this community means everything to us. We believe in you and in the power of the human spirit. We believe that tough, empathetic and responsible people are those who will carry us forward through this challenging time and the challenging times we will face in the future.
Although the COVID-19 pandemic is a new trial, the ITI has adapted to many challenges over the last 20 years with a sense of responsibility towards everyone involved, including the communities of Alaska, who not only depend on the financial support that you and the ITI sponsors provide, but also the inspiration that you impart by overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds.
So where does that leave us? It leaves us to focus on the things we can control. We can't control the weather or the conditions on the Iditarod Trail. We only control how we respond. We don’t control what government will do over the next 3 months. What we control is what we do in response. We can't control how the coronavirus will impact the ITI, but we can control how we adapt to those impacts.
Specifically:
Everyone who travels to Alaska must arrive with a negative COVID-19 test or must test negative upon arrival in the state.
All athletes, staff and volunteers will be tested for COVID-19 the morning of their departure on the Iditarod Trail, and those tests must be negative before they are allowed to proceed.
Checkpoints to McGrath will adhere to strict mask mandates and maximum occupancy limits.
ITI trail teams (again, who have been certified to be COVID-19 negative) will establish remote checkpoints beyond McGrath as required.
To put it in more succinct terms, please join us if you are prepared to spend a lot of quality time outside in the glorious Alaskan wilderness and are ready to be adaptable to those things we can control.
- Kyle Durand, ITI Director