The Alaska Dispatch News is reporting that not only is there a lack of snow, but Stan Hooley, Iditarod CEO, emailed a brief statement on Monday evening saying that the 11-mile ceremonial start route for the Iditarod sled-dog race may have to be shortened to three miles.
“It’s no secret that warm temperatures for days on end have further eroded what little snow cover existed on the trail system here in Anchorage,” the statement said. “We are exploring our options at this time as we very well may need to shorten our Day 1 Ceremonial Start.”
In a press release published on Wednesday, The Iditarod Trail Committee said the start route of the race had been officially shortened to three miles, beginning at the traditional location at Fourth Avenue and D Street and concluding at the Davenport Field Complex. The race, set to start on March 5, will have 85 teams competing this year.
Jeff Barney, Fur Rendezvous executive director, said the rail cars of snow are coming from Fairbanks, several hundred miles away. The snow will be spread across parts of Anchorage’s streets and this will help with Fur Rondy events, like the Running of the Reindeer on Saturday.
“The railroad is saving our behinds and bringing 300 cubic yards of snow,” Barney said. This year marks the ninth Running of the Reindeer, and Barney says this is the first time he can remember the event needing to have snow brought in. He also says no money will be exchanged for Alaska Railroad’s snow delivery. “They’re doing this out of the goodness of their hearts,” Barney said. “It’s huge for us.”
Anchorage has had an unseasonably warm stretch of weather this year, with only 1.8 inches of snow being recorded in February, far less than the usual 10 to 11 inches. Warmer than normal temperatures are forecast to last through Saturday, with a chance of some snow possible Saturday night.
However, on Monday at Fairbanks International Airport, 13 inches of snow covered the ground. Don Aycock, a weather service forecaster says there is typically 21 inches of snow on the ground this time of year.
Conditions for the real start of the race don’t look much better, even though there is some snow on the ground. The 1,100 mile-long race for Nome kicks off Sunday in the town of Willow at 2 p.m. The temperature is expected to be a warm 43 degrees Fahrenheit, and there is no snow in the forecast, reports NBC News.
