Last night we were on our way the the Iditarod. Cameras in tow ready to photograph the Ceremonial Start of the Last Great Race. The Alaskan equivalent of the Superbowl.
Everything was swell until we got to Sterling. It was there, as the evening air cooled, the roads turned to glare ice following an afternoon of melting in the sun. We immediately slowed to 30 miles per hour and proceeded along the Sterling highway for another 10 miles. Every time I tried to accelerate the back end of the truck would lose traction and swing sideways for a brief instant. Just as we were about to enter the mountains we pulled off the road into a parking area along with a number of other vehicles. As people got out of their cars everyone was asking the same question: "Are you going to continue?" One driver had come from Anchorage and said the glare ice conditions extended for another 50-60 miles. He also mentioned that a semi had gone off the road just a few miles ahead. We turned around and came home. My Iditarod photo expedition was over. Bummer.
So, I took photos of the mushers and sled dogs on our television this morning. Not quite the same as being there (well, not even close) but I did get some pics. In reality, I guess you could say they are photos of video...thanks to KTUU Channel 2.
At any rate we are glad it has started, the greatest sled dog race on earth...Iditarod 2009.
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