Reply #38: Agreed, Blue - rerouting the Iditarod in 2003,

[northofdenali]

both the Quest and Iron Dog this year, lack of snow, icepack melting. I haven't seen a real Interior winter in 8 years, and none for several years before that as well. The Iditarod may have to be rerouted again this year because of open water on Norton Sound (that's why the Iron Dog had problems). Hardly any snow at all from Carmacks to Whitehorse on the Yukon Quest route, so it's going from Dawson to Pelly Crossing, then back to Dawson for the finish.

The Chena River is open here in Fairbanks about 1/4 mile from where the Quest usually starts. This area is usually frozen solid until about late March.

Anyone who thinks Global Warming isn't coming their way should spend a summer - and a winter - here. Listen to the oldtimers and the elders. They know. Hell, we hit a record of about 92 above in the summer of 2004 in Fairbanks!