It looks like respiratory problems from the warm weather seem to be the major reason for dropping dogs, but a few dogs did receive cuts and/or bruises on the trail. The humans volunteered, but the dogs didn’t.

They should have switched the trail.

Now they are saying the trail around the Norton Sound is bare of snow in many places. They are going to have to shift the race to a different month, or a different location. Climate change is making it unsustainable.

Aliy’s lead is only a minute at Koyuk, so climbing in the mountains looks to be the key.

Just checked the current statistics and Jeff King came in right behind Aliy about an hour apart into Shaktoolik. He must have been flying to have moved up that fast. He’s looking kind of determined!

Jeff was wearing a head camera from Rainy Pass to Rohn and filmed some of the more hair-raising parts of the run: Jeff King’s video. Tough ride!

I’m surprised the Committee didn’t have a rule against this type of thing. People might actually be able to see part of the Iditarod that they didn’t get a royalty on.

You know, I would never have known what these areas were like without your excellent descriptions, and this video just brings home how terrifying it can be. Good grief, Bryan. It just amazes me that anyone wants to do this really. And many of them are older than I am! I consider myself to be a fairly active person, but I can’t imagine attempting something this brutal. I’ll just keep to walking my dogs around and call it a day.