Iditarod 2009

Sixty-seven mushers set out on the 1,100 mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race to Nome on March 8, 2009. Here are some of the scenes from the trail.

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Two-time defending Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race champion Lance Mackey sits with his lead dog Larry at the Iditarod headquarters in Wasilla, Alaska, on March 4, 2009. Mackey, who the won Iditarod and Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race twice in a row in 2007 and 2008, is the only musher to win both of the long distance sled dog races in the same year.

Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race veteran Ryan Redington checks his supply bags bound for one of the race's checkpoints during the Iditarod food drop in Anchorage, Alaska, on Feb. 17, 2009. For a time, it looked like the grandson of Joe Redington, Sr. the

Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race veterans Aliy Zirkle, left, from Two Rivers, Alaska, and Paul Gebhardt, from Kasilof, Alaska, talk during a break in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race musher meeting in Anchorage, Alaska on Thursday, March, 5, 2009. Sixty-seven mushers will start the Anchorage to Nome sled dog race on Saturday.

The two-time defending Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race champion Lance Mackey, center, talks with fans at the Iditarod headquarters in Wasilla, Alaska on March 4, 2009. Mackey also won the Yukon Quest race the same two years.

Hans Gatt, from Whitehorse, Canada, left, 2009 Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race champion Sebastian Schnuelle, from Whitehorse, Canada and five-time Iditarod Trail Sled Dog champion Rick Swenson from Two Rivers, Alaska, right, talk during a break in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race musher meeting in Anchorage, Alaska, Thursday, March, 5, 2009. Sixty-seven mushers will start the Anchorage to Nome sled dog race on Saturday.

Four time Iditarod champion Jeff King of Denali Park, Alaska, skis behind his dog team pulling a sled with Cathy Feneis, of Alpine, Calif., during the ceremonial start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race Saturday, March 7, 2009, in Anchorage, Alaska. Sixty-seven mushers are racing to Nome in the 1,100 mile sled dog race.

Dallas Seavey, from Seward, Alaska, grabs a hot dog from a fan as he drives his team down the trail with Roy Livingston, of Brawley, Calif., in the sled, during the ceremonial start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Saturday, March 7, 2009, in Anchorage, Alaska.

Norwegian musher Bjornar Andersen drives his team down Fourth Avenue with Nancy Livingston, of Brawley, Calif., in the sled during ceremonial start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race Saturday, March 7, 2009, in Anchorage, Alaska. Sixty-seven mushers are racing to Nome in the 1,100 mile sled dog race.

Canadian musher Sebastian Schnuelle, the 2009 Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race champion, drives his team down Fourth Avenue with Gisela Houseman, of Orange TX. in the sled during ceremonial start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race Saturday, March 7, 2009, in Anchorage, Alaska. Sixty-seven mushers are racing to Nome in the 1,100 mile sled dog race.

Canadian musher Sebastian Schnuelle, the 2009 Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race Champion, wears his racing hat as he talks to race fans before the ceremonial start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race Saturday, March 7, 2009, in Anchorage, Alaska. Sixty-seven mushers are racing to Nome in the 1,100 mile sled dog race.

Rachael Scdoris, from Bend, Ore., drives her team down Fourth Avenue with Yvonne Ooten, of Tallahassee, Fla., in the sled during the ceremonial start of the race Saturday, March 7, 2009, in Anchorage, Alaska. Scdoris is legally blind.

Hans Gatt, from Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada drives his team down the start chute as he begin the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Willow, Alaska on Sunday, March 8, 2009. Sixty-seven mushers are running the 1,100 mile sled dog race to Nome.

Volunteers move bags of Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race musher supplies to the scales during the food drop in Anchorage, Alaska, Feb. 17, 2009. Volunteers help mushers go through the process of ensuring that food drop bags are sorted, stacked, and prepped for shipment to each checkpoint along the Iditarod Trail.

Four-time Iditarod champion Jeff King leaves the start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Sunday, March 8, 2009, in Willow, Alaska.

Mac, one of North Pole musher Jeff Holt's sled dogs, peeks out of its box as he waits to join the team and begin the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Willow, Alaska, Sunday, March 8, 2009.

Cameron Alter, 13, stacks a bag of Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race supplies bound for Kaltag during the food drop in Anchorage, Alaska, Tuesday Feb. 17, 2009. Volunteers help mushers go through the process of ensuring that food drop bags are sorted, stacked, and prepped for shipment to each checkpoint along the Iditarod Trail.

Two-time Iditarod champion Lance Mackey, right, gets his cap knocked back by one of his sled dogs during the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race vet check at the race headquarters in Wasilla, Alaska, on March 4, 2009. All the sled dogs running in the Anchorage to Nome sled dog race are checked to see if they are fit to beginning the race that starts Saturday.

Iditarod rookie Kim Darst from Blairstown, N.J., drives her team down the starting chute of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in this March 8, 2009 photo in Willow, Alaska.

Dee Dee Jonrowe feeds snacks to her dogs at the Rainy Pass, Alaska, checkpoint of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Monday, March 9, 2009.

Mushers take care of their dog teams as they rest at the Rainy Pass, Alaska, checkpoint of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Monday, March 9, 2009.

Norwegian musher Bjornar Andersen drives his team past an old cabin as he leaves the Rainy Pass, Alaska checkpoint of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race Monday, March 9, 2009.

Mitch Seavey's dog team watches Jessie Royer drive her team along the Kuskokwim River and into the Nikolai, Alaska, checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Tuesday, March 10, 2009.

One of Iditarod musher John Baker's sled dog chews on a bootie during a during a rest at the Nikolai, Alaska checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Tuesday, March 10, 2009.

Four-time Iditarod champion Martin Buser drives his team off of the Takotna River and into the Takotna, Alaska checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Wednesday, March 11, 2009.

Ryan Redington drives his team into the Takotna, Alaska, checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Wednesday, March 11, 2009.

Ray Redington Jr. drives his team off of the Takotna River and into the Takotna, Alaska checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Wednesday, March 11, 2009.

Iditarod veteran Aliy Zirkle, right, feeds her sled dogs as she talks with volunteer veterinarian George Stroberg of Denver, after she arrived at the Nikolai, Alaska, checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Tuesday, March 10, 2009. Volunteer veterinarians check all the dogs to see if they are able to continue the 1,100-mile race.

Volunteer veterinarian Ron Svec, from Vermont, checks one of John Baker's sled dogs after he arrived at the Nikolai, Alaska, checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Tuesday, March 10, 2009. Volunteer veterinarians check each dog to see if they are able to continue the 1,100-mile race.

Mitch Seavey feeds his dog team during a rest in the Nikolai, Alaska checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Tuesday, March 10, 2009.

Norwegian musher Bjornar Andersen massages one of his sled dogs during a rest at the Nikolai, Alaska, checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Tuesday, March 10, 2009.

Hugh Neff, left, talks with fellow musher and defending Iditarod champion Lance Mackey during a rest stop at the Takotna, Alaska, checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Wednesday, March 11, 2009.

Matt Hayashida of Willow, Alaska, drives his team along the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race trail near the Takotna, Alaska, checkpoint Wednesday, March 11, 2009.

Iditarod veteran Bill Cotter, from Nenana, Alaska, grabs his snow hook as he arrives at the Takotna, Alaska, checkpoint during the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Thursday, March 12, 2009.

Thomas Abraham, 10, chops wood for the mushers' hot water barrel at the Takotna, Alaska, checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Wednesday, March 11, 2009. The children spend part of their spring break helping in the Iditarod checkpoint by keeping the hot water hot, raking up straw and cleaning up after the musher leave.

Cindy Gallea, from Seeley Lake, Mont., gets hot water for dog food during a rest stop at the at the Takotna, Alaska, checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Wednesday, March 11, 2009. Gallea hit a branch coming down the Dalzell Gorge, giving her a black eye.

David Sawatzky, of Healy, Alaska, drives his team into the Takotna, Alaska, checkpoint during the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Thursday, March 12, 2009.

Iditarod rookie Karin Hendrickson drives her team into the Takotna, Alaska, checkpoint of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Wednesday, March 11, 2009. Hendrickson is the leading rookie in the race.

Canadian musher Gary Willomitzer's dogs are shown after arriving at the Takotna, Alaska, checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Thursday, March 12, 2009.

Norwegian musher Bjornar Andersen is hugged by fellow Iditarod musher DeeDee Jonrowe as he leaves the Takotna, Alaska, checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, Thursday March 12, 2009. Race officials say Andersen scratched Thursday after being injured in a sled crash between the Rohn and Nikolai checkpoints.

Norwegian musher Bjornar Andersen get buckled into a a small plane as he leave the Takotna, Alaska, checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, on Thursday, March 12, 2009. Race officials say the musher from Elverum, Norway, scratched Thursday after being injured in a sled crash between the Rohn and Nikolai checkpoints.

People get ready to load Norwegian musher Bjornar Andersen's dog team onto a small plane at the Takotna, Alaska, checkpoint during the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Thursday, March 12, 2009.

DeeDee Jonrowe drives her team along the trail as she leaves the Takotna, Alaska, checkpoint in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Thursday, March 12, 2009.

Bruce Linton, from Kasilof, Alaska, drives his team out of the Takotna, Alaska, checkpoint during the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Thursday, March 12, 2009.

Jessie Royer, from Fairbanks, Alaska, drives her team out of the Takotna, Alaska, checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Thursday, March 12, 2009.

Judy Currier, from Fairbanks, Alaska, drops her snow hook as she arrives at the Takotna, Alaska, checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Thursday, March 12, 2009.

Ryan Redington, the 26-year-old grandson of Iditarod founder Joe Redington Sr., drives his team out of the Takotna, Alaska checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race Thursday, March 12, 2009.

Jan Newton sits at the table as volunteers cook for mushers in the kitchen in the community center at the Takotna, Alaska, checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Thursday, March, 12, 2009. The 72-year-old Newton has been serving up meals and catering to mushers' needs for decades.

One of Jan Newton's freshly baked pies cools by the window in the community center at the Takotna, Alaska, checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Thursday, March, 12, 2009 as a sled dog rests outside. The 72-year-old Newton has been serving up meals and catering to mushers' needs for decades.

Dick Newton, right, sit on his snowmobile and talks with his traveling companion Paul Sayer outside of the community center at the at the Takotna, Alaska, checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Thursday, March, 12, 2009. Dick and his wife, Jan Newton, have been serving up meals and catering to mushers' needs at the checkpoint for decades. The 77-year-old trapper plans drive his snowmobile to the Iditarod finish line about 700 miles away in Nome with two buddies on Friday.

Ryan Redington packs his sled as he gets ready to leave the Takotna, Alaska, checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race Thursday, March, 12, 2009. The 26-year-old grandson of Iditarod founder Joe Redington Sr. put in an order at community center the for two double cheeseburgers as he prepared to hook up his dog team and leave.

A musher drives a team along the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race trail Friday, March 13, 2009, near the halfway checkpoint of Iditarod.

Snowmobilers follow defending Iditarod champion Lance Mackey as he drives his team into the Anvik, Alaska checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Friday, March 13, 2009. Mackey was the first musher to reach the Yukon River.

Defending Iditarod champion Lance Mackey drives his team into the Anvik, Alaska, checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Friday, March 13, 2009. Mackey was the first musher to reach the Yukon River.

Defending Iditarod champion Lance Mackey works on his dogs at the Anvik, Alaska, checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Friday, March 13, 2009. Mackey was the first musher to reach the Yukon River.

Defending Iditarod champion Lance Mackey talks to Lindsey Turner as he eats part of an eight-course gourmet dinner he received for being the first musher to reach the Yukon River checkpoint of Anvik, Alaska on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race trail Friday, March 13, 2009.

Aaron Burmeister drives his team off of the Yukon River and into the Anvik, Alaska checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race trail on Friday, March 13, 2009.

Defending Iditarod champion Lance Mackey watches musher Sebastian Schnuelle, of Canada, arrive second at the Eagle Island, Alaska, checkpoint during the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, Saturday, March 14, 2009.

Four-time Iditarod champion Jeff King feeds his dog team as he stops on the Yukon River near the Eagle Island, Alaska, checkpoint during the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, Saturday, March 14, 2009.

Aliy Zirkle, left, and Sonny Lindner travel down the Yukon River near Eagle Island, Alaska, during the Iditarod Trial Sled Dog Race on Saturday, March 14, 2009.

Defending Iditarod champion Lance Mackey, left, Sebastian Schnuelle, and Aaron Burmeister, right, joke as they read the current standings and watch Hugh Neff arrive the Eagle Island, Alaska checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Saturday, March 14, 2009.

A musher drives his dog team down the Yukon River near the Eagle Island, Alaska checkpoint on Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Saturday, March 14, 2009.

A small plane gets ready to land near the trail as Aaron Burmeister drives his team along the Yukon River and into the Eagle Island, Alaska checkpoint of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Saturday, March 14, 2009.

Four-time Iditarod champion Jeff King leaves the Kaltag, Alaska checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Sunday, March 15, 2009.

Defending Iditarod champion Lance Mackey takes a break from the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race at the Eagle Island, Alaska, checkpoint on Saturday, March 14, 2009.

The 2004 Iditarod champion Mitch Seavey leaves the Kaltag, Alaska checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Sunday, March 15, 2009.

Hugh Neff whistles as he drives his team along the Yukon River and into the Eagle Island, Alaska, checkpoint of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Saturday, March 14, 2009.

Defending Iditarod champion Lance Mackey, right, and Sebastian Schnuelle talk about the trail as they take a break from the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race at the Eagle Island, Alaska checkpoint on Saturday, March 14, 2009.

Cim Smyth arrives off of the Yukon River into the Kaltag, Alaska, checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Sunday, March 15, 2009.

Dallas Seavey, from Seward, Alaska, son of 2004 Iditarod champion Mitch Seavey, arrives at the Kaltag, Alaska checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Sunday, March 15, 2009.

DeeDee Jonrowe drives her team off of the Yukon River and into the Kaltag, Alaska, checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Sunday, March 15, 2009.

Paul Gebhardt, from Kasilof, Alaska, massages his dogs during a rest at the Kaltag checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, Sunday, March 15, 2009.

Defending Iditarod champion Lance Mackey drives his team as he arrives first into the Unalakleet, Alaska checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Sunday, March 15, 2009.

Defending Iditarod champion Lance Mackey drives his team past fans as he arrives first into the Unalakleet, Alaska, checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Sunday, March 15, 2009.

Hugh Neff of Skagway, Alaska runs behind his sled as he leaves the Kaltag, Alaska checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Sunday, March 15, 2009.

Sonny Lindner, from Two Rivers, Alaska, carries his supplies as he gets ready to rest at the Kaltag, Alaska checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, Sunday, March 15, 2009.

Unalakleet residents watch as defending Iditarod champion Lance Mackey beds his dog team after he arrived first into the Unalakleet, Alaska, checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Sunday, March 15, 2009.

Canadian musher Sebastian Schnuelle drives his team across Norton Bay on Monday, March 16, 2009, near the Shaktoolik, Alaska checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

The 2004 Iditarod champion Mitch Seavey, drives his team across Norton Bay as he leaves the Shaktoolik, Alaska checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race trail Monday, March 16, 2009.

John Baker drives his dog team out onto Norton Bay on Monday, March 16, 2009, as he leaves the Shaktoolik, Alaska checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

John Baker, left, drives his dog team past four-time Iditarod champion Jeff King, right, as King tries to straighten out his team on a windy day as they leave the Shaktoolik, Alaska, checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race trail Monday, March 16, 2009.

Four-time Iditarod champion Jeff King, right, works to straighten out his dog team with fellow musher John Baker helping as they leave the Shaktoolik, Alaska checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race into the blowing snow and subzero temperatures Monday, March 16, 2009.

The 2004 Iditarod champion Mitch Seavey, right, and Aaron Burmeister drive their teams across Norton Bay through the blowing snow Monday, March 16, 2009, near the Shaktoolik, Alaska, checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

Canadian musher Sebastian Schnuelle drives his team off of Norton Bay and into the Koyuk, Alaska, checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Monday, March 16, 2009.

Canadian musher Sebastian Schnuelle's lead dog Finn, left, rests with the team at the Koyuk, Alaska, checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Monday, March 16, 2009.

Canadian musher Sebastian Schnuelle cooks dog food for his team as they rest at the Koyuk, Alaska, checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Monday, March 16, 2009.

Canadian musher Sebastian Schnuelle feeds his lead dog Finn as they rest at the Koyuk, Alaska, checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Monday, March 16, 2009. Schnuelle credits Finn for getting him and the team through bad weather across Norton Bay from Shaktoolik to Koyuk.

John Baker drives his team up a hill near the Elim, Alaska, checkpoint during the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, on Tuesday, March 17, 2009.

Canadian musher Sebastian Schnuelle drives his team through the blowing snow near the Elim, Alaska, checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Tuesday, March 17, 2009.

Defending Iditarod champion and current leader Lance Mackey drives his team off of the ice and into the Golovin, Alaska, checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

Defending Iditarod champion and current leader Lance Mackey greets villagers as he drives his dog team through the Golovin, Alaska, checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Tuesday, March 17, 2009.

Defending Iditarod champion and current leader Lance Mackey shakes hands as he drives his team through the Golovin, Alaska, checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Tuesday, March 17, 2009.

Defending Iditarod champion and current leader Lance Mackey talks after arriving at the White Mountain, Alaska checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Tuesday, March 17, 2009. Mackey is expected to cross the finish line around noon today to win his third consecutive Iditarod.

Defending Iditarod champion and current leader Lance Mackey drives his team across the frozen Golovin Sound as he makes his way to the White Mountain, Alaska checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Tuesday, March 17, 2009.

Defending Iditarod champion and current leader Lance Mackey drives his team through the Golovin, Alaska checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

Defending Iditarod champion and current leader Lance Mackey, right, drives his team into the White Mountain, Alaska checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Tuesday, March 17, 2009.

Defending Iditarod champion and current leader Lance Mackey, right, gets a surprise visit from his mother, Kathy Mackey, after he arrives at White Mountain, Alaska checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Tuesday, March 17, 2009.

Lance Mackey drives his team up the finish chute of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Wednesday, March 18, 2009, in Nome, Alaska, to win his third Iditarod in a row.

Iditarod champion Lance Mackey holds a sign for a fan from Sidney, Neb., after crossing the finish line of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Nome, Alaska on Wednesday, March 18, 2009, to win his third Iditarod in a row.

Lance Mackey sits with his lead dogs Larry, right, and Maple after crossing the finish line of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Wednesday, March 18, 2009, in Nome, Alaska, to win his third Iditarod in a row.

Lance Mackey drives his team up the finish chute of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Nome, Alaska, Wednesday, March 18, 2009, to win his third Iditarod in a row.

Iditarod champion Lance Mackey waves to the crowd after crossing the finish line to win his third consecutive Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, Wednesday, March 18, 2009, in Nome, Alaska .

Iditarod champion Lance Mackey talks to his father, Dick Mackey, who won the Iditarod in 1978, on a cell phone after crossing the finish line of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Nome, Alaska, Wednesday, March 18, 2009, to win his third Iditarod in a row.

Iditarod champion Lance Mackey talks to his dad, Dick Mackey, who won the Iditarod in 1978, on a phone after crossing the finish line of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Nome, Alaska Wednesday, March 18, 2009. Mackey won his third Iditarod in a row.

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