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Bumpy ride bruises veteran Iditarod musherFast-moving Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race front-runners enjoyed a swift glide during the early part of the day Monday, pushing toward the Rohn checkpoint. But the good fortune, clear skies and warm weather enjoyed by the head of the pack quickly dissipated and by evening two veterans -- including the race’s only five-time winner -- had encountered serious hazards and injury as they navigated a notoriously nasty section of trail known as "the steps." By 5:30 p.m. Monday, DeeDee Jonrowe and Rick Swenson had both borne the brunt of "the steps," a series of three descents awaiting mushers as they make their way to Happy River. The steps are routinely hazardous enough that racers are advised to traverse the region with extreme caution. Conditions on the trail this year are such that the mushers farther back in the pack are finding the steps even more dangerous than they typically are -- and living up to their reputation. Jonrowe pulled into the Rainy Pass Lodge checkpoint uninjured but caught off guard. Swenson didn’t fare as well. He suspects he has a broken collar bone, and left Rainy Pass lodge headed for Rohn with the added burden of knowing he may need to scratch. Bandaged and packing up his team, Swenson told Alaska Dispatch he still planned to make a go of it. But before departing the checkpoint to ascend the race's highest point -- Rainy Pass itself -- he said he'd turn back if he thought he couldn't make it. Swenson was favoring the injured shoulder as he left. "It's a long race from here with a broken collar bone," Rainy Pass lodge owner Steve Parrin said, adding that Swenson tipped his sled going down the steps. Swenson also bent a part of his sled, which Parrin’s boys reheated and reshaped as the former champ tended to himself and his team. Jonrowe said she crashed coming out of Happy River -- not heading down into it as Swenson did. "It's the first time in a long time I’ve crashed in the steps" she said, adding, "I didn’t hurt myself but it was a bit of a shock." Jonrowe described the trail as "twisted up" and full of obstacles. Contact Jill Burke at jill(at)alaskadispatch.com |
