Area mushers sign up for Iditarod 2013

This past Saturday marked the first day that dog mushers could sign up for the 2013 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race from Anchorage to Nome. 54 hopeful mushers, including 9 rookies and 6 former champions, put their $3,000 entry fee on the table.

Talkeetna’s Jerry Sousa signed up for his 12th run up the National Historic Iditarod Trail. Sousa’s best finish was in 2004 when he finished in 16th position.

6 mushers from Willow signed up on Saturday including perennial favorite DeeDee Jonrowe. Jonrowe will be heading to Nome for the 31st time.

Defending Iditarod Champion Dallas Seavey from Willow signed up Saturday as well as did another Willow veteran Bob Chlupach (clue-patch). Chlupach finished in next to last place in the 2012 race.

Two of the entrants are off to a good start as their names were drawn out of a hat and their $3,000 entry fee is forgiven, Big Lakes’ Cym Smythe (Sim Smith) and 4-time winner Jeff King were the lucky mushers.

The 41st running of the Iditarod gets underway in Anchorage on March 3 of next year…the deadline to sign up for the race is November 30th of this year.