Comments on: Nikolai Update

By: Bryan

Bryan — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 03:34:24 +0000

The reports are that she will be given the sled under race rules, and can make her own decision. She hasn’t been withdrawn. The other mushers say that her dogs are fine and under control, but both runners have been smashed on the sled. It sounds like she hit a rock or a log.

The wind must have shifted, which caused the temperature to spike. The veterans will start resting during the day and moving at night when the temperatures fall. In the climate change crap shoot, the Arctic is getting warmer. Temperatures were a problem last year too. They may have to schedule the race earlier.

By: JuanitaM

JuanitaM — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 02:47:30 +0000

I had heard about the heavy snowfall but not about the high temperatures. 40 degrees! I live in Lexington, Virginia, and that’s a normal temperature for us but strange indeed for Alaska in March.

You mentioned Nancy Yoshida had a crash – have you heard if she and all her dogs are okay? I couldn’t tell if they were sending a sled to pick her up or if it’s for her to use to continue the race. There are always fewer women in the race, it’s a shame to lose one.

By: Bryan

Bryan — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 02:04:51 +0000

Well, I’m personally concerned about the weather, as it reached 40° at Nikolai today. That is terrible for the dogs as they will be subjected to heat related problems which is confusing to people who have never dealt with sled dogs. It also makes the trail a mess and make weaken the ice on the rivers.

I just finished watching the Quest and there wasn’t a dog lost.

By: JuanitaM

JuanitaM — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 00:06:18 +0000

Oh man, that’s hard to hear about the dog. Keep us posted if you hear what happened.

I’d like to thank you for the blog you do each year on the Iditarod. You give a nice overview of the whole day – what it’s like for the mushers. I find this a lot better than trying to navigate all around the official Iditarod site and still not finding stuff. For example, the situation with Jeff’s dog wasn’t even on the list of articles on the main webpage. This seems like a fairly major event, but then maybe I’m just a dog person.

As you can see, I’m back from last year. Can’t wait to see how this year plays out!