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Three teams made it into Takotna this morning.
1 dog is dead
5 mushers have been overcome by carbon monoxide but will
continue
Jeff King was first into Takotna at 3:14 a.m. this morning
followed right behind by Rick Swenson and Doug Swinle
24 hours layovers will begin soon.
Race has begun in earnest, front runners are bunched up and
trying tomake a break for it.
Racers now trying to figure out how to make the best of
24 hour layover.
24 hour layover can be taken anywhere
Martin Buser who was first into McGrath said Ophir is
a possibility for him.
Jeff King and Rick Swenson swept into McGrath at 1:00 a.m.
staying no more than 15 minutes.
King and Swinle both said they would probably take their
24 hours in Takotna.
Swinle has an impressive team with 18 dogs left, has only
dropped two with minor problems. Some drivers have dropped
4-5- and even 6 dogs.
Overall the dogs are doing well.
Race vet in McGrath Tex Hody said the dogs are lots better this
race than in prior races. Theya re a little tired but not as
battered and torn as in past years. This mighte be due to the
trail and snow conditions.
The trail from Nicolai to McGrath has good snow coverage with
some icy stretches.
Charles Boulding left McGrath at 5:20 a.m., Susan Butcher left
at 6:00 a.m. with 12 dogs.
Yesterday one of Susan Butcher's dogs died on the trail.
Susan Butcher and the Iditarod were rocked by the death of
one of her team dogs Monday 25 miles before the Nicolai
checkpoint.
The dog went down and by the time she got to the dog it was
dead. Attempted to revivie dog. Butcher said that her
worst nightmare had become a reality and that she didn't\
know what happened and that nothing she could have done would
have prevented it.
Butcher is being allowed to continue the race pending the race
officials results of the post mortem on the dog. If results
show that Butcher could have prevented death in any way she
will be disqualified.
Susan Butcher left Nicolai 5 hours behind the leaders. Regardless
of the trail committee decision it is clear that her chances
for victory are over and the Iditarod will be hearing
more from its critics.
Five mushers poised by carbon monoxide in Finger Lake are all OK
but are buddying up for the trip to McGrath. They
were resting in a tent warmed by a propane heater.
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