Trail Update

Asbjørn Bruun and Beat Jegerlehner arrived in Unalakleet last night and learned that the sea ice had become impassable on foot or skis. Both men will end their races in Unalakleet and will return to Anchorage with the other six athletes affected by the storm surge.

We deeply respect the months of effort and sacrifice that each of these athletes invested into preparing for the journey and the herculean efforts it took to make it to the Bering Sea in a very difficult year on the Iditarod Trail. These resilient and determined athletes endured countless challenges during their journeys, including massive snow storms, blasting winds, mechanical failures, animal attacks and ever-present frigid temperatures before being ultimately trapped by Mother Nature.

Thank you Willy, Roberto, Jussi, Toni, Asbjørn, Beat, Graham and George for showing us the true power of human will.

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Casey Fagerquest, Petr Ineman and Jill Martindale, the three remaining athletes in the ITI 1000, departed Elim this morning, following the last 11 Iditarod dog teams.