KTUU is reporting that seven rail cars full of snow had to be brought into Anchorage from Fairbanks for the ceremonial start of the Iditarod this year. (Global warming: myth or reality??)
Apparently, while Fairbanks has had so much snow that the railroad has had to move it around to keep the rail yards clear and prevent avalanches, Anchorage hasn’t had ANY snow in recent weeks. So, when it came time for the ceremonial start last Saturday, the snow had to be imported over 350 miles. And it wasn’t easy. There were concerns that some of the snow would melt, then refreeze at the bottom of the rail cars during the journey. Such a scenario could have caused the cars to tip over during unloading. Fortunately, this wasn’t the case.
The snow was off-loaded at the Anchorage rail depot into a shady spot, then race organizers picked it up and spread it along 4th Avenue in Anchorage to make a sled dog run for the tourist-attraction ceremonial start.
It’s hard to imagine anywhere in Alaska with no snow in early March, but I’m glad they were able to develop a work-around.
Until next time,
Good day, and good dog!