A day after musher wins Iditarod, others face woes on trail - Action News
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A day after musher wins Iditarod, others face woes on trail

Nearly a third of the 57 mushers in this year's Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race have quit the race before finishing.

Musher Nicolas Petit has encountered problems late in the Iditarod for the 3rd straight year

Musher Nicolas Petit hugs one of his dogs during the 2019 Iditarod. Petit activated an alert button seeking rescue because of weather conditions Thursday. (Marc Lester/Anchorage Daily News via AP)

Nearly a third of the 57 mushers in this year's Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race have quit the race before finishingincluding a musher who activated an alert button seeking rescue Thursday morning because of weather conditions.

Thomas Waerner of Norway won this year's race, crossing the finish line in Nome, Alaska, early Wednesday. Eighteen other mushers have completed the race as ofThursday morning with another 20 still on the trail.

For musher Nicolas Petit, a native of France who now lives in Girdwood, Alaska, it's the third straight year he's encountered problems late in the race, including getting lost in a blizzard two years ago and his dogs quitting on him last year.

Petit activated his alert button between the checkpoints of Elim and White Mountain on Thursday, which is the second-to-last checkpoint in the race.

"In combination of weather and resulting trail conditions, Petit was not able to continue, and by activating his SOS, Petit scratched," the Iditarod said in a statement.

Large coastal storm affects trail

Race marshal Mark Nordman reports the area was experiencing a large coastal storm, which was affecting the trail.

A search and rescue team helped Petit and his dog team to a shelter cabin. Nordman spoke to Petit on a satellite phone to confirm that both the musher and his team of 11 dogs were fine.

Tom Frode Johansen mushes on a road between Takotna and Ophir, Alaka, March 12, during the 2020 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Nearly a third of the 57 mushers in this year's race have quit the race before finishing. (Loren Holmes/Anchorage Daily News via The Associated Press)

Petit told him he intends to wait out the storm at the cabin, and then mush to either Elim or White Mountain to arrange transport off the trail.

Two years ago, Petit had a healthy lead in the race until he got lost in blizzard in another Being Sea coastal storm. He recovered to finish second.

Last year, his dogs quit running in nearly the same location as 2018. He blamed it on the dogs having a bad memory from getting lost there the year before.

This year's race started March 8 in Willow for 57 mushers. Since then, 17 have voluntarily withdrawn from the race and one was removed for not being competitive.

Written by Mark Thiessen