Seven of the contestants are from Maine, including Don Hibbs of Millinocket, the defending champion and a favorite to win this year's competition. He was followed by Keith Aili of Ray, Minn., and four-time champion Andre Nadeau of St. Melanie, Quebec. Other mushers traveled from Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and other states to compete. Snow flurries, cloudy skies and cooler temperatures greeted mushers, to the relief of race organizers who saw recent unseasonably warm weather and rain showers take a toll on the trails. But about two feet of snow from storms last month provided a sufficient base, said Can-Am Crown President Rita Cannan.
Wacky weather is a hallmark of the race.
The temperature dropped to 38 below and a storm dumped 15 inches of snow during the first race in 1993. The next year, it hit a freakish 60 degrees, forcing 11 of 14 teams to drop out. Cold weather is important because the snow becomes mushy when the temperature hits the 30s, making it harder on the dogs, said Tony Mignone, a meteorologist from the National Weather Service in Caribou. The teams feature eight to 12 dogs apiece. The teams will run south to Portage, west to Allagash and back to Fort Kent.