The mushers start on fourth avenue and usually drop their riders off at the Campbell Airstrip, but due to the warmer weather in the Wasilla area and the lack of snow, the mushers were not able to go all the way to Eagle River as usual. So after dropping their passenger at the checker, they continued to their truck and loaded the dogs to go home for the night. They will restart tomorrow in Willow, Alaska. Left - A team turns the corner as a musher proceeds toward Campbell Airstrip. There are about 450 volunteers involved in the start.
Some volunteers are up all night getting the chute ready for the race.
Others sleep a little bit longer but wind up staying longer to help tear down the chute. Volunteers are so important to the race. Even the Anchorage Police Department becomes involved with the race. Here you can see a team crossing a busy Anchorage street while off duty police officers hold back the traffic. The streets are not closed because they are main streets, but as soon as a team is spotted approaching, the nice police officer stops the cars so my K-9 pals don t get hit by a car.