This year's Iditarod was supposed to be a fast one, but many are finding it slow. No, the teams aren't moving slowly, it is just that trail markers are being swept away by high winds and many of the teams are taking wrong turns and having to backtrack. A particullarily popular place to do this is between Rainey Pass and Rohn. It seems that there is a snowmobile trail that leads to Ptarmigan Pass (which does go to Rhon - the long way) that is very inviting and many teams are taking that trail. For one team, whose musher did not realize the mistake, another 40 miles was added to the trail (he made it to Rohn). Another team headed out and turned around after going 22 miles because the storm conditions were too bad to see any part of the trail (adding, let me get out my fingers and toes; 22+22=44 extra miles).
The current top 10 are Zack Steer (where did he come from? He has been at or near the lead for a lot of the race), Martin Buser, Jeff King, Lance Mackey, Paul Gebhart, Ed Iten, Mitch Seavey, Cym Smyth, Ramey Smyth and Tollef Monson (I'm not familier with him either). The first 3 have already taken their madatory 24 hour rest, as has the 11th place contender, Ramy Brooks. None of them have taken their mandatory 8 hour rest.
There are still 3-4 days of racing left - still time for someone to come from farther back and make an outstanding move on the leaders.
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