The Steps are Back In!

The trail committee has decided at the last minute to put the Happy River Steps back into the race course!

They had planned to replace the steps with a mining road that was recently put in nearby.  Today, the trail groomers decided that the new route wasn't safe due to the amount of snow and wind in the area.

So the mushers are back to the steps.

Many mushers consider the steps one of the hardest parts of the trail.  It's a series of three switchbacks.  Angie said when she ran it last year, she intentionally ran that part at night so that she couldn't see the drops off to the sides!  She didn't want to scare herself!

The mushers had very mixed emotions about the removal of the steps from the race.  Some thought that everyone should have to do the steps as a sort of "rite of passage."  Others were looking forward to skipping it!  But most seemed to agree that if was too dangerous for the dogs, it should be taken out.

I'm wondering how this news will effect the mushers tonight.  I'm wondering if anyone them will need to alter their game plan at this late date and time.....