Iditarod 2009 Underway

The 67 Mushers and their dogs left Willow yesterday and are on their way to Nome. At this stage of the race its all about getting safely out of town and down the trail to the first checkpoint at Skwentna. The pack is sorting itself out and by tomorrow the leaders will start to establish themselves as they put their strategies in to action for that winning run.

Last years winner Lance Mackey did not run the Yukon Quest this year but should still be considered a favorite, along with perennial powerhouses Martin Buser and Jeff King. Mackey was inducted into the Racers Hall of Fame this year for accomplishing what was considered the impossible, winning the Quest and the Iditarod in the same year. Not once but two years running, 2007 and 2008. Once again I'll be rooting for five time champ Rick Swenson to bag his sixth win.

The following pictures were courtesy of my friends at the Anchorage Daily News.

Woohoo lets go!
Rick Swenson Heads out of Anchorage.

Governor Palin on hand for the festivities in Anchoage. The governor is the one in the shades.


The PETA Corner

I'm betting these three won't be getting a Christmas Card this year:)