NIKOLAI, ALASKA
This is what it might look like to one of the mushers running the Iditarod near Nikolai. At the 2000 census, Nikolai had a population of 100 with a medium income of $15,417. Each town or village greets every one of the teams with equal enthusiasm. It doesn't matter if you're first or last.
The information I get is currently saying that about half the mushers have passed this point. The previous point was Rohn and the distance from Rohn to Nikolai is 75miles. That's the furthest distance between check points. Some stops are mandatory, some are not. The length of some stops is mandatory also. The dogs are continually checked by vets along the way.
At this point, all 66 teams that started out are still running. Starting out with 16 dogs, some are down to as few as 12. The furthest teams have passed the Takotna check point which is 329 miles for the Anchorage start and 646 miles to the finish. There's still a long long way to go. Strategy will come in to play later in the race. Position at this point is not so important.
Not everyone will make it. Many will drop out along the way. It's a personal thing to the mushers. It's a self challenge. Some know going into it they most likely will not finish, but it's not always about the finish, sometimes it's just about the journey.
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