Photos: Iditarod mushers rest and recuperate in Nikolai

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Russian orthodox crosses in the graveyard in Nikolai. Mar 5, 2014

Iditarod mushers who survived the gauntlet of rock, ice and snow through Rainy Pass and the Farewell Burn had little time to contemplate their achievements and good fortune. A couple hours of damage assessment and makeshift repairs to sleds and bodies were all that was allowed before re-focusing on the extremely tight race among the top 10 teams.

The effect of the dismal trail has been well documented and will be the topic of much discussion among mushers and race organizers once the race is complete. Questions are being asked about whether the safety of the drivers and dogs was given enough weight in the decision to proceed with the race on its normal course. The difficulty of organizing a 1,000-mile ultramarathon through the Alaska wilderness has never been more evident. The issue of changing trail conditions is not new, nor is the debate about competition vs. safety. There is a lot of second guessing going on, but for now the attention will return to the race that is still unfolding.

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