Who was the first woman to do the Iditarod?

Answer 1

Mary Shields was one of two women to be the first to participate in the Iditarod Trail Race in 1974, and the first to finish the Iditarod. She placed 23rd then. Her first race experience came shortly after she came to Alaska. In October some friends of hers let her borrow 3 of their dogs and a sled for her to use in hauling water and firewood. From this experience she learned a love for dogs and mushing.