A safe trip to them all!

WILLOW, Alaska — To a rousing send off from fans, dozens of dog sled teams took to the trail for the start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, embarking on a near thousand-mile journey through the Alaskan wilderness.

The 66 mushers and their dog teams will spend about the next eight days trying to be the first to reach the old gold rush town of Nome.

"They look like this is what they live for," said Leigh Hopper, 53, a registered nurse from Hendersonville, Tenn., as she watched mushers get their dogs ready for Sunday's start. "They can't wait to get out there and run."


Snip for the ladies ~
Anjanette Steer is married to veteran Iditarod racer Zack Steer but instead of looking from the sidelines this year she is the one taking the dog team to Nome. The 39-year-old rookie said she expects to make it but isn't sure when she will cross the finish line. It could be after much of the excitement has died down. It could be in the middle of the night.

"Any team that makes it across the finish line in Nome should have 1,000 people because it is a huge accomplishment," Steer said. "It is an adventure I will remember for the rest of my life."

more @
http://xfinity.comcast.net/articles/news-general/20120305/Iditarod/