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Howard Misner, the inventor of the Bear Klaw Snow Hook, was at the 2007 Iditarod in Unalakleet - we chatted with him about his snow hook and sponsorship of Lance Mackey.

Josh Rogers and the KICY folks have set up a microphone at the Iditarod Banquet in Nome to capture the speeches and stories from this years race.

Head on over to Iditablog for the audio.

Gary Paulsen called in from Nome giving his account of Lance's race and expected arrival into Nome. Mackey is on course to win the 2007 Iditarod wearing bib #13 on the 13th day of March. Go Lance!

I just spoke with Josh Rogers who is now in Nome. He flew in from White Mountain about 2:30PM AKST and actually flew over Lance Mackey and team just a few miles outside of Safety.  According to Josh, Mackey was definitely way ahead of Gebhardt and looking good.

We suspect that Lance will be in Safety at any time now and could roll into Nome anytime after 6PM! Stay tuned. We are hoping to bring you extended coverage of the finish including a live audio broadcast from KICY AM-850 radio.

Update | 6:59AM AKST
With more than a two hour lead, Lance Mackey will most likely kick off a final sprint into Nome around 10AM this morning. Both he and Paul Gebhardt are the only two currently into White Mountain.  After an 8 hour layover, the two should be heading out in just a few hours. We'll be bringing you plenty of news from Nome as the leaders begin their final push for the finishline.

A reader sent in this short audio update from KNOM AM Radio in Nome, Alaska. Includes news about Robert Sorlie, the first dog death (Snickers) on the trail and a variety of other updates.

As the Iditarod race reaches the coast, the rumors and predictions are coming in from rans fans, mushers and family members. We caught up with Bill Borden (former Iditarod finisher) in Nome, where he gives us his thoughts about Lance's strategy to win the race.

Read more for other Lance Mackey videos from the Unalakleet checkpoint

Newsflash: The top four have arrived into Unalakleet.

Jeff King | 15:35
Lance Mackey  | 16:20
Martin Buser  | 16:22
Paul Gebhardt  | 16:27

Lance is definitely gaining ground and keeping a good pace. It may still be too early to say for sure, but we certainly are pulling for Lance. Listen to Lance's thoughts on catching up with Martin and how the helicopter played into the equation!  

Read more to watch the video of Jeff King arriving into Unalakleet and interview with the BSSD team.

Live from Unalakleet! The Mobile Uplink Satellite Housing (MUSH) is ready to go and the kids have been working hard to prepare for the incoming Iditarod teams. GCI, Apple, Bering Strait School District and lots of other volunteers have banded together to create a live feed from Unalakleet.

Read more about the BSSD Student Broadcasting Team and Iditaproject

Press release (www.iditarod.com)
IDITAROD XXXV MUSHER GB Jones, (Bib #82) made the decision to scratch at 9:24 this evening, (March 08, 2007) at Rohn Checkpoint in the Alaska Range.  Race officials say the Knik Alaska musher took the wrong trail, through Ptarmigan Pass and got lost on his way to Rohn. At some point during Jones' ordeal, one of his dogs, AFEES, slipped out of his harness and ran off. Jones finally made his way to the Rohn Checkpoint, where he and his team waited in hopes the dog would find its way there. Jones scratched so he could continue searching for his dog.

Official press release
 

Lance Mackey was the first musher into Iditarod at 12:11am (March 8) with 15 dogs. As of 1:40am both he and the second to arrive Paul Gebhardt are still showing as the only two mushers at the halfway checkpoint.  Lance will take home the halfway prize and likely spend some time resting in the freshly rebuilt cabin (known as "Don's Cabin") along the river in this ghost town.

While the leaders of the race continue to jockey for position, many are speculating whether Lance's strategy will allow him to maintain his lead. Based on the speed and duration from Ophir, it appears that Lance is pacing his team for the long haul.

Read Josh's blog where he made some predictions the day before on the topic of the 24 hour layover strategy.

More headlines
With a 6-minute lead, Mackey claims $4,000

DeeDee Jonrowe of Willow scratched from the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race here Monday night (March 05, 2007) at Rainy Pass Checkpoint on Puntilla Lake in the Alaska Range.  DeeDee scratched due to a broken pinkie bone in her left hand she received after taking a fall just a few miles before she reached the Rainy Pass Checkpoint.

Additional reports
Josh's Iditablog
Anchorage Daily News
Iditarod Press Release
DeeDee Jonrowe website
Video of DeeDee at the start

Photo by Lisa Dearing Photography