Iditarod-Mother Nature Joins the Race

Mother Nature has decided to take a hand in the running of the Iditarod.  Martin Buser was coasting along on a comfortable lead until she stepped in.  The unusually warm weather created lots of overflow (water) along the Yukon River which made for slow going for everyone.  However, the big problem came when Martin, in the lead, ran into a rain storm as they progressed toward the coast of the Bering Sea.  The rain melted the trail underneath him causing his team to work at making a new trail through the heavy melting snow.  The mushers following were able to benefit from his team's hard work.  The result is that he lost time and is now having to rest his team more to recuperate from their exertions.

Now that the teams are approaching the coast they will face more of Mother Nature's fun.  The locals in the area, who are wise in the Bering Sea coast weather, are predicting even higher than normal winds. This could create gusts of blowing, drifting snow that not only blows over the trail but can even obscure the markers, causing some unintentional detours.

Meanwhile the race lead is changing from minute to minute.  Ally Zirkle, Aaron Burmeister, Jake Berkowitz, Mitch Seavy, Martin Buser, and Joar Ulsom are still in the front group.  However, Mitch's son Dallas, who was last year's winner, has started to make his move from the middle.  He has been easing his team along but has now started to shake them up and move along.  Last year he used the same tactic and won the race, so he is a musher to watch.  Jeff King, another four time winner, is also showing signs of making a run for the front.

Lance Macky, four time winner and one of the front runners has had a bit of bad luck.  He broke a tooth at the last checkpoint and has an exposed nerve.  I don't even want to think about the pain in the cold wind.  He is coming into Unalakleet on the coast where a Dental Therapist is waiting to give him some relief.  Lance deals with several medical issues from radical radiation and chemotherapy for a bout with cancer.  Not only does he have dental problems but also damage to the saliva glands that keep him sipping on water to keep his mouth moist.  He also has damage to the nerves in his hands that make the cold a challenge.  He refuses to let any of this slow him down and stays in an upbeat humor all the time.  These mushers are amazing.

If you are interested in following the race in more detail go to www.Iditarod.com and you will find all kinds of fascinating information.  Also, check out a map of Alaska to get a feel for the distance and topography that these teams are crossing.