Life Observation # 44

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take,

but by the moments that take our breath away.

Ice

Iditarod Update

From the Anchorage Daily News reports:

The notorious stretch of Iditarod Trail from Finger Lake up into Rainy Pass in the Alaska Range has claimed its first victim of the year, and it's a big one.

Iditarod officials said four-time champ Doug Swingley from Lincoln, Mont. scratched from the race Monday after crashing his sled on the way into the checkpoint at Puntilla Lake. Race spokesman Chas St. George reported Swingley had possible broken ribs and a dislocated thumb.

The latter, more than the former, could make it difficult for Swingley to care for dogs; particularly in the prevailing subzero cold that often necessitates regular changes of booties on their feet. Changing dog booties with one-hand is a difficult task.

Swingley reportedly told race officials before scratching that he was concerned about his ability to take care of his team. Even if he could have managed that, however, trying to bootie dogs with one hand would have been so time consuming as to take him out of contention.

Interactive Map with standings of the mushers:

http://www.iditarod.com/flashmap/

Current Top Ten Standings

Name

Checkpoint

1

Lance Mackey

IN TO Rohn (Rone)

2

Martin Buser

IN TO Rohn (Rone)

3

Zack Steer

IN TO Rohn (Rone)

4

Aliy Zirkle

IN TO Rohn (Rone)

5

Paul Gebhardt

IN TO Rohn (Rone)

6

Sebastian Schnuelle

IN TO Rohn (Rone)

7

John Baker

IN TO Rohn (Rone)

8

Robert Sorlie

IN TO Rohn (Rone)

9

Jim Lanier

IN TO Rohn (Rone)

10

Cim Smyth

OUT OF Rainy Pass

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