Seeley Swan to Welcome

Youngest Iditarod
finisher from
the lower 48

G. Noland File photo of Jim Gallea, taken last year.

Seeley Swan Pathfinder
March 25, 1999

Jim Gallea, 18-year-old Seeley-Swan High School graduate, crossed the finish line of the Iditarod Sled Dog Race in Nome at 3:14 a.m. Mountain time last Sunday. He finished in 43rd place out of 48 mushers.

Gallea, whose mother, Cindy, and father, Bill, ran the Iditarod in the last two years, finished the rugged 1,100-mile course in 13 days, 14 hours and 14 minutes.

Gallea started the race with 15 dogs and crossed the finish line with 13.

He became the youngest musher to complete the Iditarod from the lower 48 states, and joined his parents to become the first family to complete the Iditarod.

See story about Jim in the November 26, 1998 Pathfinder issue.