Is a Willow Iditarod restart in jeopardy? ITC releases report of poor conditions on stretch of trail

WASILLA — The site of the 2017 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race restart appears to be in question.

The Iditarod Trail Committee issued a press release Wednesday afternoon, citing poor conditions on an infamous stretch of trail.

“As is the case each year, the Iditarod Trail Committee staff and crews have been monitoring trail conditions closely, and in particular, sections of the trail in the Alaska Range. While Southcentral, in general, has experienced more than adequate snowfall, Rainy Pass and Dalzell Gorge have not,” officials said in the press release.

ITC officials will continue to monitor the conditions, according to the release, and will make a final determination on an official site for the restart on Feb. 10.

Willow is the typical home of the Iditarod restart, but the race restart has been moved to Fairbanks twice since 2003. It was last moved to Fairbanks in 2015. Last year, Iditarod officials had a contingency plan set for a potential move north because of poor conditions leaving Willow. Teams were able to leave Willow for the official restart for the 2016 race.

In 2015, the race was moved to Fairbanks mainly due to the poor conditions in Dalzell Gorge, the stretch in question again this year. Dalzell Gorge is part of the route between the checkpoints at Rainy Pass and Rohn. Known as one of the most difficult stretches, Dalzell Gorge leads mushers down a steep slope to the Tatina River.

Heavy snowfall blanketed the central core of the Matanuska and Susitna valleys during the month of January, which has helped early-season mid-distance races such as the Knik 200 Joe Redington Sr. Memorial and the Northern Lights 300. But subpar snowfall in certain areas also forced organizers of the Northern Lights 300 to alter their race course. Northern Lights 300 race director Sue Allen said a portion of trail to Finger Lake was not suitable to race, and the Winter Lake Lodge checkpoint had to be eliminated from the 2017 race. Instead, organizers added additional miles on the Skwentna River near the Talvista Lodge.

There are currently 75 teams in the field for the 2017 Iditarod. The ceremonial start is scheduled for March 4, with the restart, at this point, scheduled for March 5 in Willow. But that changes if the ITC opts for a change for the second time in three years.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.