Iditarod 2008

Scenes from the 2008 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race as the race unfolds.

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One of Tim Osmar's sled dogs looks through the door of the dog box before the start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Willow, Alaska, on Sunday, March 2, 2008.

Defending champion Lance Mackey of Fairbanks takes off, with Jan Tremer from Pennsylvania in the sled during the ceremonial start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Anchorage on Saturday, March. 1. 2008.

Aliy Zirkle of Two Rivers drives her team down 4th Avenue in Anchorage on Saturday, March 1, 2008, during the ceremonial start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

Four-time Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race champion Jeff King drives his team from the ceremonial start of the 1,100 mile sled dog race to Nome in Anchorage, Alaska, on March 1, 2008, with his daughter Ellen on left, and Make-A-Wish child Elaine Strong, 10, of San Francisco, in his sled.

Norwegian musher Kjetil Backen drives his team down 4th Avenue in Anchorage on Saturday, March 1, 2008, with Nancy Livingston in his sled during the ceremonial start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. A record field of 96 mushers are running the 1,100 mile sled dog race to Nome.

Ken Anderson of Fairbanks drives his team down the starting chute of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Willow, Alaska, on March 2, 2008. Anderson completed the Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race in second place .ess than two weeks before the start of the Iditarod.

Defending Iditarod champion Lance Mackey puts a harness on one of his sled dogs as he gets ready for the start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Willow on March 2, 2008.

Norwegian musher Sigrid Ekran, who lives and trains in Interior Alaska, drives her team down the starting chute of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Willow, Alaska on Sunday March 2, 2008.

Lachlan Clark of Buena Vista, Colo., drives his team around Finger Lake as he approaches the Finger Lake, Alaska, checkpoint of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on March 3, 2008.

Five-time Iditarod champion Rick Swenson of Two Rivers drives his dog team up a hill and out of the Finger Lake checkpoint of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on March 3, 2008.

Ray Redington Jr. takes a break in the Finger Lake checkpoint of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on March 3, 2008.

Gene Smith, left, of Omak, Wash., drives his team around Finger Lake followed by Rick Holt as they approach a checkpoint during the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on March 3, 2008 in Finger Lake.

Ed Iten of Kotzebue drives his team up a hill and out of the Finger Lake checkpoint of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on March 3, 2008.

Peter Bartlett grabs a bite to eat during a rest stop at the Finger Lake checkpoint of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Monday, March 3, 2008.

A thermometer on the back of a sled show the temperature at the McGrath checkpoint of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on March 5, 2008, The reading, almost 40 degrees, shows the unseasonable high temperatures mushers and dogs are having to deal with during this year's race.

Clint Warnke of Fairbanks drives his team down the Kuskokwim River as he leaves the McGrath checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on March 5, 2008

Canadian musher Gerry Willomitzer gives one of his sled dogs a kiss on its head during a rest stop at the McGrath checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on March 5, 2008.

Five-time Iditarod champion Rick Swenson of Two Rivers looks over the brake on his sled during a rest stop in the McGrath checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on March 5, 2008.

Allen Moore of Two Rivers drives his team along the Kuskokwim River and back to the McGrath checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on March 5, 2008. Moore returned to the checkpoint because of concern for his dogs due to the warm weather.

Robert Bundtzen, of Anchorage drives his team down the bank of the Kuskokwim River as he leaves the McGrath checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on March 5, 2008.

William Hanes, of Kasilof drives his team past a snow sculpture as he arrives at the Takotna checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on March 6, 2008.

Ryan Redington runs his team past the Takotna post office as he leaves the checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on March 6, 2008.

Jessie Royer of Fairbanks drives her team out of the Takotna checkpoint during the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on March 6, 2008.

Tammy Capsul tends the hot water barrel for the mushers at the Takotna checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on March 6, 2008.

Ryan Redington's sled dog Columbia, resting on Skeeter, wakes up as Redington gets ready to leave the Takotna checkpoint during the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on March 6, 2008.

Ryan Redington puts booties on his sled dog Columbia as he gets ready to leave the Takotna checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on March 6, 2008.

Defending champion Lance Mackey drives his team across a creek on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race trail between Ophir and the halfway checkpoint of Cripple on Thursday.

Mitch Seavey, 2004 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race champion from Sterling, drives his team along the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race trail between Ophir and the halfway checkpoint of Cripple on March 6, 2008.

Norwegian musher Kjetil Backen laughs as he drives his team past a sign for fellow Norwegian musher Sigrid Ekran as he nears the Ruby checkpoint of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Friday, March 7, 2008.

Four-time Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race champion Jeff King of Denali Park checks one of his sled dogs' feet during a rest stop in the Ruby checkpoint Friday, March 7, 2008.

Mitch Seavey, 2004 Iditarod champion from Sterling runs his team up a hill as he arrives at the Ruby checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Friday, March 7, 2008.

Norwegian musher Sigrid Ekran drives her dog team into the Ruby checkpoint during the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Friday, March 7, 2008.

Mitch Seavey gives water to his dogs after arriving in the Nulato checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog race Saturday, March 8, 2008.

Four-time Iditarod champion Jeff King of Denali Park drives his dog team into the Nulato checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, Saturday, March 8, 2008, a few hours behind defending champion and current leader Lance Mackey.

Norwegian musher Kjjetil Backen gives one of his sled dogs a kiss on the nose after arriving at the Nulato, Alaska checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Saturday, March 8, 2008.

Defending champion and current leader Lance Mackey naps in the gym during a rest stop in the Nulato checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Saturday, March 8, 2008.

Rohn Buser, son of four-time Iditarod champion Martin Buser, leaves the Nulato checkpoint during his first Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, on Sunday, March 9, 2008.

Defending champion Lance Mackey transfers his sled after arriving in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race checkpoint of Unalakleet a few hours after Jeff King on Sunday, March 9, 2008.

Defending champion Lance Mackey drives his dog team down the Kouwegok Slough as he leaves the Unalakleet checkpoint Sunday, March 9, 2008 to regain the lead in the 1,100 mile sled dog race to Nome.

Four-time Iditarod champion Jeff King puts booties on one of his dogs as he gets ready to leave the Unalakleet, Alaska checkpoint Sunday, March 9, 2008, about an hour behind defending champion Lance Mackey.

Silvia Willis drives her dog team down the main street in Kaltag as she arrives at the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race checkpoint Sunday, March 9, 2008.

Norwegian musher Sigrid Ekran drives her dog team into the Bering Sea village of Unalakleet, Alaska during the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, Monday, March 10, 2008. (AP Photo/Al Grillo)

One of Silvia Willis's sled dogs takes a nap at a rest stop in the Bering Sea village of Unalakleet, Alaska during the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, Monday, March 10, 2008. (AP Photo/Al Grillo)

Dale Myers puts sponsor banners along the finish chute of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race with the burled arch on Front Street in Nome, Alaska Monday, March 10, 2008, to make it ready for the finish of the 1,100 mile sled dog race from Anchorage. (AP Photo/Al Grillo)

Sixty-seven year-old musher Jim Lanier, drives his team up the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race trail between Unalakleet and Shaktoolik, Alaska, Monday, March 10, 2008. (AP Photo/Al Grillo)

The finish chute for the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race with the burled arch sits on Front Street in Nome, Alaska Monday, March 10, 2008, ready for the finish of the 1,100 mile sled dog race from Anchorage. Snow will be trucked in and laid down on the street when the mushers near the Bering Sea town. (AP Photo/Al Grillo)

Defending champion Lance Mackey leaves the White Mountain, Alaska, checkpoint in the lead of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Tuesday, March 11, 2008.

Four-time Iditarod champion Jeff King, right, repalces the runners on his sled as defending champion Lance Mackey gets ready to leave the White Mountain checkpoint to lead the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, Tuesday, March 11, 2008.

Defending champion Lance Mackey talks to his lead dog, Larry, as he gets ready to leave the White Mountain, Alaska, checkpoint in the lead of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Tuesday, March 11, 2008.

Lance Mackey talks with reporters at the finish line of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Nome early Wednesday March 12, 2008. Mackey won his second consecutive Iditarod, completing the 1,100-mile journey across Alaska in just under nine and a half days.

Lance Mackey gets a kiss from one of his dogs, Handsome, after winning the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race early Wednesday, March 12, 2008 in Nome.

Lance Mackey drives his team to the finish line of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Nome early Wednesday, March 12, 2007. Mackey won his second consecutive Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, completing the 1,100-mile journey across Alaska in just under nine and a half days.

Lance Mackey sits with one of his dogs, Handsome, after winning the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race early Wednesdayy, March 12, 2008, in Nome.

Four-time champion Jeff King drives his sled to the finish of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Nome early Wednesday morning, March 12, 2008, to finish second behind defending champion Lance Mackey.

Four-time Iditarod champion Jeff King is greeted by his daughter, Ellen, left, and his wife, Donna, at the finish line of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Nome early Wednesday morning, March 12, 2008, after he finished second behind defending champion Lance Mackey.

Ken Anderson, of Fairbanks, front, and four-time Iditarod champion Martin Buser race for fourth place up Front Street to the finish of Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Nome Alaska on Wednesday morning, March 12, 2008. Anderson beat Buser.

Four-time Iditarod champion Martin Buser pets his dogs after finishing fifth in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Nome on Wednesday, March 12, 2008.

Canadian musher Hans Gatt is greeted by his girlfriend, Susie Rogan, after he crossed the finish of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Nome on Wednesday, March 12, 2008, to finish in sixth place.

Canadian musher Hans Gatt feeds his dogs after he crossed the finish line of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Nome on Wednesday, March 12, 2008, to finish sixth.

Mitch Seavey of Sterling, who won the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in 2004, runs his team up the finish chute of the 1,100 mile sled dog race in Nome on Wednesday, March 12, 2008. Seavey finished seventh.

Mitch Seavey of Sterling, who won the Iditarod in 2004, is greeted by his wife, Janine, after he finished the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Nome on March 12, 2008, in seventh place.

Paul Gebhardt, of Kasilof checks his dogs after he finished the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Nome on Wednesday, March 12, 2008, in eighth place.

Norwegian musher Kjetil Backen runs his dog team up the finish chute of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Nome on Wednesday, March 12, 2008, in ninth place.

Norwegian musher Kjetil Backen gives his children Helene, 6, front, and Emil Andreas,7, a ride in his sled as he drives his team out of the finish chute after he finished the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Nome on Wednesday, March 12, 2008, in ninth place.

Iditarod rookie Melissa Owens leads her team up Front Street past fans as she arrives in her hometown of Nome to finish the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Thursday, March 13, 2008. The 18-year-old high school student from Nome is the youngest musher in this year's race.

Mike Owens hugs one of the sled dogs in his daughter's, Iditarod rookie Melissa Owens, team as her mother, Pat Owens, back, look on after the 18-year-old high school student arrived in her hometown of Nome to finish the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race Thursday, March 13, 2008.

Fans and media gather around rookie musher Melissa Owens, center, after she arrives in her hometown of Nome to finish the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Thursday, March 13, 2008. The 18-year-old high school student from Nome is the youngest musher on this year's race.

Jason Mackey, right, of Kasilof, is greeted by his brother and Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race champion Lance Mackey after he crossed the finish line of the 1,100-mile sled dog race in Nome, on Thursday, March 13, 2008.

One of Aaron Burmeister's sled dogs rests in a bread carton in the dog lot in Nome on Thursday, March 13, 2008, as the team waits to be transported home after finishing the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

Kate Palfrey, wife of Canadian Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race musher Warren Palfrey, lies with one of their sled dogs in the dog lot in Nome on Thursday, March 13, 2008, as they wait to be transported home after finishing the 1,100 mile sled dog race.

Italian musher Fabrizio Lovati, left, throws a snowball at fellow musher Jason Mackey as Lovati drives his team up Front Street in Nome to the finish of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Friday, March 14, 2008.

Italian musher Fabrizio Lovati, hugs his dogs after finishing the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Nome on Friday, March 14, 2008.

French musher Benoit Gerard, left, is greeted by fellow Iditarod musher Kjetil Backen of Norway, after Gerard finished the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Nome on Friday, March 14, 2008.

French musher Benoit Gerard, right, talks about his dogs with fellow Iditarod musher Sigrid Ekran of Norway, left, after he finished the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Nome on Friday, March 14, 2008.

Kelley Griffin of Wasilla, left, is greeted by fellow Iditarod musher Hans Gatt,of Canada, after Griffin finished the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Nome on Friday, March 14, 2008. Both are veterans of the Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race.

Jennifer Freking of Finland, Minn., runs her dog team up Front Street in Nome in front of her husband, Blake Freking, as they approach the finish line of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Friday, March 14, 2008.

Jennifer Freking of Finland, Minn., front, runs her dog team to the finish line of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Nome in front of her husband, Blake Freking, on Friday, March 14, 2008.

Blake Freking of Finland, Minn., gives local children a ride in his sled as he leaves the finish chute of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Nome on Friday, March 14, 2008.

Lachlan Clarke, of Buena Vista, Colo., is greeted by his wife, Linda, after he finished the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Nome on Friday, March 14, 2008.

Deborah Bicknell from Juneau poses with the

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