Deaths, plane crash mar Iditarod
Lance Mackey won his second consecutive Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Wednesday morning – a race marred by the death of three dogs, injuries to several others, and the crash of a small plane carrying three Iditarod volunteers.
According to an Associated Press report, three volunteers were being flown to known to Nome for treatment of non-life threatening injuries sustained when their Cessna 180 crashed.
State police said the plane went down Tuesday about 16 miles outside of White Mountain, a checkpoint 77 miles from the Nome finish line. The cause of the crash was unknown.
On Tuesday, a third sled dog died, according to the Iditarod Trail Committee – a four-year-old named Cargo, on the team of veteran musher Ed Iten.
Earlier in the race, a snowmobiler hit and killed a dog on the team of Minnesota musher Jennifer Frekking, and a dog on the team of John Stetson died from symptoms of pneumonia.
Mackey, a 37-year-old throat cancer survivor, crossed the finish line of the 1100-mile race at 2:46 a.m. Wednesday, with 11 of his dogs.
"I don't know exactly how to explain it. I'm just blessed with an incredible dog team."
In its 36th running, the Iditarod commemorates a run by sled dogs in 1925 to deliver lifesaving diphtheria serum to Nome. For much of the race Mackey struggled with dogs stricken with diarrhea and slowed by unseasonably warm weather that marked much of the trail. Mackey's dogs also quarreled on the trail. He had to drop Hobo, who was badly injured in an “ongoing rivalry” with Larry. Some of his dogs were coughing and one was in heat, another Associated Press report said.
The modern-day Iditarod trail crosses frozen rivers, dense woods and two mountain ranges, then goes along the dangerous sea ice up the Bering Sea shore.
Mushers compete for a piece of an $875,000 purse, to be paid out among the top 30 finishers to reach Nome. Mackey gets $69,000 and a new truck worth $45,000 for winning.
(Photo by Associated Press)
Comments
How sad that the only thing that really matters is the money to be made. The dogs are only a means to an end for these mushers, with that end being $$.
Posted by: Linda | March 12, 2008 7:52 PM
Tragically power and greed triumph.
Posted by: EN Benjamin | March 13, 2008 5:56 AM
The human race did not evolve from a pristine garden where the lamb lay down with the lion. We got here through trials and hardships, even though we now insulate ourselves with heating in the winter and air conditioning in the summer in both our homes and transports. As we evolved, we did so in an alliance with our dogs. We two species have an intimate ability for social contact and bonding while facing extreme challenges.
Anyone who spends time with the mushers clearly sees through a porthole to the past. These folks and their dogs bond in an amazing way to overcome extreme environmental conditions. I for one am happy to realize that we as two species can still muster the strengths to endure the Iditarod.
Posted by: Duane | March 13, 2008 12:23 PM
My problem isn't so much with the Iditaod, but with the next race, teh All Alaska Sweepstakes. Last year, Ramey Brooks was disqualified for beating his dogs - witnessed by many in the village. He can't run the Iditarod for a few years because of it - yet he is approved to run in the All Alaska Sweepstakes where he can win $100,000. Pathetic.
Posted by: Digger | March 16, 2008 2:21 PM
My mate from Australia was one of the cameramen travelling on the plane that crashed. We did not get coverage in Sydney and I would like to see comments posted from anyone that may know something about the details of the crash.
Thanks
Simon Duck.
Posted by: Simon Duck | March 17, 2008 6:20 AM
You stated above that the race commemorates a run by sled dogs to deliver diptheria vaccine in 1925. Baloney!! The Iditarod began in 1967 as a project of Joe Reddington Sr. and Dorothy Page. Joe Reddington wanted to revive sled dog racing and the culture it represented and Page was looking for an event to honor the mushers and the dogs who played a large part in the settlement of the state. The race was patterned after the All-Alaska Sweepstakes races held early in the century. It has nothing to do with the diptheria run.
Posted by: Brian Cohen | March 10, 2009 8:47 PM
Really great
Posted by: Codes | April 23, 2009 4:44 AM