Mushers sign up for Iditarod

As of Monday morning 66 mushers had signed up for the 2005 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

Forty-three mushers attended the annual volunteer picnic at Iditarod Trail Committee headquarters on Saturday and signed up for the 33rd running of the Last Great Race.

G.B. Jones was the first musher to hand over his entrance fee and officially make himself part of the 2005 field. Fellow Wasilla mushers Frank Sihler and Kelly Griffen followed Jones.

Reigning champion Mitch Seavey, 2003 champion Robert Sorlie and other past winners including Rick Swenson and Doug Swingley are also back in the field looking for another title.

Nineteen rookies have entered the field for the 33rd Iditarod. The list of rookies includes Rachel Scdoris, a legally blind musher from Bend, Ore., who was granted special accomadations to participate in the race.