Updated: The treacherous Iditarod Trail has taken a toll on the mushers this year.
Fourteen mushers have scratched or been withdrawn so far, including many race veterans who said the trail is the worst they've ever seen it. Most said they scratched because of injuries to themselves or damage to their sleds on a mostly snowless section of trail. They include perennial fan favorite DeeDee Jonrowe, Â Jake Berkowitz, Scott Janssen, Gus Guenther, Mike Santos, Linwood Fiedler, Karen Ramstead, Cindy Abbott, Ellen Halvorson, Jim Lanier, Jan Steves and Cindy Gallea.Â
Ramstead, who had badly injured a hand, was withdrawn from the race by officials.
Two Rivers musher Sonny Lindner was in the lead this morning, passing through Ophir about 3 a.m. Behind him are Nicholas Petit and four-time champion Jeff King, who are both in Ophir.Â
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Four veteran mushers are out of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race because of injuries on the treacherous trail.
DeeDee Jonrowe, Linwood Fielder and Mike Santos scratched Tuesday in Rohn, while Jim Lanier left the race at Rainy Pass.
Iditarod officials said in a release that Jonrowe told checkpoint personnel she was "beat up physically" in the Dalzell Gorge.
Fielder cited "physical injury from driving the Dalzell Gorge passage." The 74-year-old Lanier told officials he injured his leg.
Officials said Santos scratched for personal reasons, leaving 64 mushers in the race.
A lack of snow is causing dangerous conditions in the gorge, with many mushers crashing their sleds.
