The Northern Lights 300 starts Friday with a field of 34 mushers, a trail that has been tweaked due to poor trail conditions and a plea from race organizers that snowmachiners in the area keep an eye out for the dog teams.

The 300-mile race from Big Lake to Finger Lake and back won't start at Big Lake this year. Instead it will start at Deshka Landing and will travel onto the Susitna River near Su Station, and then to Yentna, Skwentna, Shell Lake and Finger Lake.

Veteran mushers DeeDee Jonrowe and Vern Halter headline the field.

The finish line is at Happy Trails Kennel at Big Lake.