Friday Morning - Weather and the Iditarod

Good morning. It's still rather cold at 3 degrees, but not frigid, and snowing lightly again. The snow crunches underfoot, sounds are less resonant, and fade quickly. Footprints in the snow are less distinct, and blur quickly as the crystals slide into any depression. In the first two days of colder weather, people scurry from their cars to the building, heads down, coats bunched against the chill. By the third day, gaits returns to normal, coats are open or loosely fastened, and the cold has become a familiar, if not always welcome, acquaintance.

Iditarod Update:

Jeff King of Denali Park and Lance Mackey of Fairbanks are leading a pack of 63 mushers still headed for Nome, conjuring memories of their thrilling stretch run two years ago, when Mackey took advantage of a napping King to seize his second victory in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

And while the same two players are back in front this year, there are differences.

• King is leading. Two years ago, King was chasing Mackey -- and seemed ready to pass at any time. But it never happened. Into Ruby this year, King owned a 72-minute advantage.

• King has speed. The leaders are only about midway through the 1,000-mile marathon, and much racing remains, but King was a half-hour faster from Cripple to Ruby, the first checkpoint on the Yukon River.

• Mackey is down to 13 dogs. Right now, that's no problem. King only has two more. But should two or three of Mackey's dog get injured or fall ill, he could wind up short on dog power.

This is going to be interesting, but while Mackey appears to be at a slight disadvantage, he has surprised us all in past races. Click the link to read the latest.

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Homernews.com has an interesting story about surfers in Kachemak Bay. Excerpt:

Every once in awhile, on an unpredictable schedule, a few wetsuit-clad madmen and women gather around Kachemak Bay when the waves are crashing down hard on the beach or reaching up the coastline with foamy white fingers.

Just last weekend, bookended by two days of blizzards, surfers like Brad Conley hit the waves just off the Homer Spit taking advantage of the surf conditions resulting from the storm. Under a bright, sunny sky, a harbor seal watched the action from a few yards away.

Read the rest here.