After two days of racing here are the standings in the Iditarod:
Position Musher 1 Robert Sorlie 2 Ramy Brooks 3 DeeDee Jonrowe 4 Jeff King 5 Aliy Zirkle 6 John Baker 7 Mitch Seavey 8 Doug Swingley 9 Paul Gebhardt 10 Tyrell Seavey
The leaders have checked in to Nikolai at this point. As you can see, last year’s winner, Norwegian Robert Sorlie, is in the lead but the Iditarod is a long race and anything can happen. The weather is unseasonably warm with temperatures running into the twenties and low thirties during the day. That makes for poor trail conditions and it’s hard on the dogs.
Feminists take note: in the Iditarod, one of the toughest and most grueling of all athletic events, men and women compete as equals. Women currently occupy two of the top five positions.
For the most incredible dog-sledding picture you’ve ever seen go here. If you look at the very bottom of the picture that dotted line you see is a sled and its team. Now there’s a picture that captures the spirit of the Iditarod.
Damn I get nostalgic for Alaska at Iditarod time. I lived within walking distance of the ceremonial first checkpoint in Eagle River, I always went down there to see the teams coming in from Anchorage and loading up to drive to Wasilla for the restart. My first winter in Anchorage, I bought a load of firewood from John Barron. I see he is now living in Montana, with a bunch of kids in the race as well. Truly an awesome experience.