While the ‘parade’ takes place next Saturday on Susan Butcher Day, the actual race begins on Sunday in Willow, Alaska.

There are two mushers that won’t be in this race: Brent Sass and Lance Mackey. Brent withdrew because of the concussion he received on the Yukon Quest trail, and Lance is recovering from major oral surgery.

Among the 70 teams that will compete two jumped out at me: Robert Sørlie and Cindy Abbott.

Robert, a Norwegian, has only run the Iditarod four times before, but he won the race twice, the only non-North American to win. A total of five Norwegians have signed up for this year’s race.

Cindy is the toughest person I have ever heard of. Last year she raced 600 miles with a broken pelvis, and she came back this year to finish what she had started. She definitely does not give up easily.

The trail and distances between checkpoints:

Willow – Start
Yentna Station – 52 miles [84 km]
Skwentna – 34 miles [55 km]
Finger Lake – 45 miles [72 km]
Rainy Pass – 30 miles [48 km]
Rohn – 48 miles [77 km]
Nikolai – 75 miles [121 km]
McGrath – 54 miles [87 km] [Spirit of Alaska]
Takotna – 18 miles [29 km]
Ophir – 25 miles [40 km]
Cripple – 59 miles [95 km] [Halfway]
Ruby – 112 miles [180 km] [First to the Yukon]
Galena – 52 miles [84 km]
Nulato – 52 miles [84 km]
Kaltag – 42 miles [68 km]
Unalakleet – 90 miles [145 km] [Gold Coast]
Shaktoolik – 42 miles [68 km]
Koyuk – 48 miles [77 km]
Elim – 48 miles [77 km]
Golovin – 28 miles [45 km]
White Mountain – 18 miles [29 km]
Safety – 55 miles [88 km]
Nome – 22 miles [35 km]

The items in italics after checkpoints are awards for being first to those points.

The distance is from the previous checkpoint. Some teams in the early going will travel at 12 mph [20kph] or better with all 16 dogs eager to go. There are reasons not to do this.

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