Hi Boys and Girls,

Hi Everyone,  Well most of the mushers are finishing their 24 hour mandatory break and are starting down the trail again.  Now is when we will see the leaders emerge.  I hope you are enjoying the race.  Please don’t forget to write me with comments and questions.  I love reading  and answering your questions.

Now for today’s update:

DATE: 3/8/2012

TIME: 12:37

LEADERS: 1. Jim Lanier, 2. Trent Herbst, 3. Mitch Seavey, 4. Aily Zirkle, 5. Dallas Seavey.

WHERE ARE THE MUSHERS: The first 31 mushers have left Ophir.  All have completed their 24 hour rest excep Jim Lanier and Trent Herbst, there are five teams in Ophir, 3 teams traveling to Ophir, 13 teams are in Takotna, one team headed to Takotna, 11 teams are still in McGrath and one team is on the way to McGrath.

WEATHER: The weather in Takotna is 18 and cloudy with a forecast of -10 and partly cloudy tonight. The weather in McGrath is 18 and cloudy with a forecast tonight of -15 and mostly cloudy.     i

SCRATCHED: The first scratch of the race is Silvia Furtwangler from Norway.  She scratched in Nikolai due to concern for her own health.

THE RED LANTERN POSITION: Dan Seavy.  Dan has left Nikolai and is headed to McGrath.  He has not taken his 24 hour rest yet.

Answer to yesterdays question: Since the mushers don’t all leave the start line at the same time, that would give an advantage to the mushers who left first.  So to even everyones time, a race differential is initiated during the 24 mandatory rest.  Only the musher who left Willow last will actually rest for 24 hours.  The musher next to last will rest for 24 hours and 2 minutes.  The musher who left first, Ray Redington will rest for 26 hours and 10 minutes.  That’s the amount of time between when he left and when number 67 Ryan Redington left.

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Today I listed the Red Lantern position for the first time.  What is the Red Lantern?

FAN QUESTION: Joyce asked: What is “Happy River Steps’? Why is it called that?
Answer: The Happy River Steps comes off of the Happy River. It is one of the more hazardous sections of the Iditarod Trail. It is very steep with switchbacks.

Hope you are enjoying the race.  I have really enjoyed reading all your comments and questions.  Check back tomorrow for another update.

Until tomorrow,

Gypsy