Mush On!

The 48th Annual Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race began this morning, with the ceremonial start in downtown Anchorage.

Vidcap from KTUU Channel 2's live coverage

There 57 mushers in this year's field, with a number of strong contenders. (The complete listing of teams is here.)

Alaska has received "epic amounts" of snow, according the Iditarod Trail Association president. He said there are places where the trail is between two walls of snow which were over his head. He went on to say he only hopes no moose fall into the trough, so that no teams get trampled.

The official re-start is tomorrow morning, from about 47 miles northwest of Anchorage at Big Lake. 

Last year's winner, Pete Kaiser is expected to do well again this well. One disappointment is that Jeff King had to scratch at the last minute for unscheduled surgery. But many other favorites are competing. One note: Lance Mackey, who won four times in five years a decade ago, is back in the race after dealing with some serious ailments.

The first musher to win four races was Rick Swenson, in 1982. In 1991 he became the only person to win five times and the only musher to win the race in three different decades. Susan Butcher, Doug Swingley, Martin Buser, Jeff King, Lance Mackey, and Dallas Seavey are the only other four-time winners. 

Martin Buser and Lance Mackey are the only four-time champs in this year's race.

Anyone wishing to follow the race can go here to find current standings, after tomorrow's re-start.

This is going to be good. :)