Iditarod mushers Linwood Fiedler, Martin Massicotte scratch at Galena checkpoint

KTVA ^ | March 14, 2020 | Elizabeth Roman

[Morgana]

Two Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race mushers have scratched at the Galena checkpoint.

Veteran musher Linwood Fiedler, of Willow, scratched at 1 p.m. Saturday. Rookie musher Martin Massicotte, of Canada, scratched at 5:58 p.m.

A release from the Iditarod said both mushers chose to scratch in the best interest of their race teams.

At the checkpoint, Fiedler told KTVA's Heather Hintze that there were cascading issues with his team's health. Massicotte said the weather was too warm.

Fiedler had 14 dogs in harness when he decided to scratch, while Massicotte had nine.

As of Saturday evening, six mushers have scratched from the race.

[Morgana]

ALASKA PING

TOO WARM IN ALASKA TO RACE!

[Lurkina.n.Learnin]

I’m going to Alaska and buy some beach from probably. When it gets as warm as Florida I’ll be rich.

[SaveFerris]

[ Iditarod ]

She’s an Eskimo, actually. She was in the Iditarod; hit the finish line, just kept going. She’s got the dogs in the hotel room with her right now.

[Lurkina.n.Learnin]

Beach front property.

[Morgana]

Was looking at the weather report in Alaska as I posted this.

Juneau 27f

Fairbanks 21f

Bethel 29f

Homer 22f

That’s a freaking heat wave! Plus this is what 3 hours behind me so they are at night, what is the day time temps? Not good for the dogs.

[Col Freeper]

I spent a year at the (then existant) Campion Air Force Station (AFS) which was at the end of a 9 mile dirt road from Galena, many years ago.

Partway through the tour, the AF decided we could go home for 2 weeks at the 6 month point.

Initially I thought going home halfway done was great, but then I found out how hard it was to go back for another 6 months.

Back then the Radar Site, Galena, and some F-104 Fighters were where the action was.

I thought Campion was Remote, but then when they flew our departing plane north to some really, really Remote Radar Sites, I saw some places that made Campion look like a fine Resort with River front views. LOL

[Sequoyah101]

Those were the days. Thinking of how it was to maintain and operate 104s in those conditions. Had to be tough.

I did not realize the Iditarod trail went through Galena.

[Col Freeper]

Apparently it goes through Galena every other year (or on odd Years or something like that). See the Wikipedia entry on it for a route map with the paths.