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It's a competition that pits one dog driver, called a musher, and a team of dogs not only against other racers but against the (often cruel) forces of Â­Mother Nature. Named for a town in Alaska, the race ceremonially sets off from downtown Anchorage, Alaska, on the first Saturday in March.
Temperatures range from 50 above zero to 60 below zero, and blinding snow and whipping wind aren't uncommon. In this article, we'll look at how the Iditarod got its start, what it takes to compete in the race, and some of the hazards encountered on the trail.