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Iron Dog Adjusts Trail

(Fairbanks, AK.) The Iron Dog gets underway this weekend, and there are some changes to the race route, which takes riders from Big Lake to Nome and then to Fairbanks. Iron Dog executive director Kevin Kastner says the most recent alteration re-routes the race between the villages of Galena and Koyukuk.

“Because of the open water on the Yukon. There’s a lot of theories as to why. Both weather conditions and also just post flood, seems to be affecting how the river freezes there. It’s about 2 and had miles we had to go around. It seems its only adding about 9 or 10 miles to the overall distance to the trail.”   

Kastner says volunteers have marked the new route for racers. Kastner says snow along the west coast this week has improved overland trail conditions there, but the sea ice remains unsafe.  “Our plans are to go overland. So, avoiding the sea ice at all costs.”

Kastner says trail conditions are rough on the west side of the Alaska Range with minimal snow and there’s concern about snow machines overheating. The Iron Dog has a ceremonial start in Anchorage tomorrow, and a re-start in Big Lake Sunday. There are 37 teams in the pro class event. Among them are several past champions, and 2 woman. Also of note, dog musher Sonny Lindner of Fairbanks is competing.  ###

Dan has been in public radio news in Alaska since 1993. He’s worked as a reporter, newscaster and talk show host at stations in McGrath, Valdez and Fairbanks. Dan’s experience includes coverage of a wide range of topics, from wolf control to the Trans-Alaska Pipeline and dog mushing.