The last great race!

After much hype here in Alaska the Iditarod was finally here. After a large parade in anchorage which drew thousands, the teams head 70 miles northwest to willow where they start. The start of the race at willow had hundreds of people seeing the mushers off on there 1,000 mile journey to nome. Not really being crowd people kristen and I headed further north to deshka landing where we could hike to the trail about an hour into the race.

Can you find the suburban?

Sitting by the trail waiting for the dogs.

These folks were true alaskans, the bumper sticker on his snowcat said "If it's called tourist season, why can't we shooot em?''

53 mushers entered this year, each with a team of 14 dogs. They don't use the same dogs the whole race, other teams are waiting at further checkpoints.

Lots of planes today dipping down pretty low to watch the race.

Kristen was in love with the fur these guys have. It get's pretty chilly mushing all through the night.

Beautiful dogs, Lucy found love at first sight at least a dozen times. Sled dogs eat a mix of dog food and salmon which makes them really strong but also gives them beautiful coats.

Kristen likes the teams with the pink booties. This is John Baker last year's winner who pulled into nome 8 and a half days later.

This guy was already sitting and eating a candy bar. Doesn't seem too bad, until it's -20, a whiteout, your dogs get tangled and you haven't slept in 3 days.

The musher with the white dogs stopped real quick to say hi to someone he knew and got passed.

His dogs were so upset, howling and barking until he got going again.

More dogs.

Kristen was rooting for the lady in pink.

A casualty of a long day at the iditarod.

It was a beautiful sunny day  in the valley. Kristen said she would consider running the iditarod if everyday was like this. Unfortunatley snow is forecasted for all week so no such luck for the mushers.
8 days to valdez! snowiest city in the united states, can't wait. toodles