The temperature has at least been shamed into dropping below freezing, but there isn’t any extra snow on the trail, so it will help the dogs be a bit more comfortable, but not do much for the trail.

Craig Medred, a veteran Alaska outdoor writer now working for the Alaska Dispatch has talked to people who know current conditions first hand. The general advice is to go slow and be among the first teams on the trail.

Jeff King, Jim Lanier, Cindy Abbott, and Jan Steves have all said they will be wearing helmets. Brent Sass’s concussion has convinced them that it is a good idea.

If dogs start getting hurt, teams will definitely drop out. The lack of snow will probably cause a spike in pad cuts even with booties. Aliy Zirkle is right that no one guarantees a groomed trail, but if she has to start dropping dogs early on, she will pull out. The majority of her team just won the Yukon Quest, so she can’t be reckless. She has been second two years in a row, and she wants to win, but not at any price.

She made the point that the trail is the same for all teams. If she had thought about that a little more, she wouldn’t have said it. This trail is going to change for every team after the first one – usually not for the better.

It’s Saint David’s Day, and, as he is their patron saint, it is a national holiday in Wales. The Welsh wear leeks or daffodils [called Peter’s leek in Welsh] on this day.

Today is Susan Butcher Day in Alaska, so there will be the official start of the Iditarod on the slushy, wet streets of Anchorage with no real racing:

1 Curt Perano (2)
2 Paige Drobny (3)
3 Gus Guenther (4)
4 Dan Kaduce (5)
5 Mitch Seavey (6)
6 Michael Williams, Jr. (7)
7 Yvonne Dabakk (8)^R
8 Newton Marshall (9)
9 Aliy Zirkle (10)
10 Richie Diehl (11)
11 Tommy Jordbrudal (12)^R
12 Kelly Maixner (13)
13 Dallas Seavey (14)
14 Michelle Phillips (15)
15 DeeDee Jonrowe (16)
16 Jeff King (17)
17 Monica Zappa (18)^R
18 Allen Moore (19)
19 Scott Janssen (20)
20 Christian Turner (21)^R [Read more →]