So, you believe the worlds not getting warmer?

[Rodney Mills]

"The worlds last truly great race" as it's known...The Iditarod dog sled race. The race normally has its official start from Wasala, 40 miles from Anchorage, Alaska and ends in Nome, Alaska. The great race begins March 7, 2015. But instead of racing from the official start in Wisila to Nome, the starting line has been moved 290 miles North. This year it's from Fairbanks to Nome. The reason? Lack of snow!

The Iditarod dog sled race is approximately 1050 miles over frozen tundra, frozen rivers, and a mountain range, subject to blizzards, and snow storms, white-outs and conditions that would try the stamina of the toughest.

In 1925 a team of "Mushers" the person driving, and their dogs left Wasila, 40 miles from Anchorage, and relayed serum for very sick children in Nome, Alaska—roughly a 750 mile journey. An outbreak of diphtheria had sickened the children of Nome, and dog sled owners in villages along the Iditarod trail answered the call to deliver the serum that saved the lives of the children.

The race honoring the event commenced in 1973. The first winner took 20 days. Last years winning time was 9 days, 11 hours, and 36 seconds.

Two winners of the Iditarod where women, one woman won the event back-to-back. There is a blind female contestant who follows a lead musher who signals conditions to her by radio.

I've witnessed both of the starts—ceremonial in Anchorage and official in Wisala. The company I worked for had a division in Alaska and the company was a sponsor of a musher, who was a cook in one of our camps.

A few days ago, on National Public Radio (our version of BBC radio), mushers and scientists were discussing the lack of snow in Alaska versus a plethora of the white crap on the northern "lower forty-eight states." The consensus amongst the mushers was the race will be cancelled if this lack of snow in Alaska continues. Due to the added costs it will add to an already heavy financial burden placed upon the entrants. The musher speaking said the costs per dog team for equipment, training, food, vet fees is fast approaching $100,000 and it is becoming a full time job just raising the money.

The scientists when asked about the inordinate amount of snow the lower Northern States are having. Their reply was the climate has and is continuing to change. Cold temperatures, along with moisture, are not happening in the places where it should be happening. An example is the fabled Arctic route the North West passage, due to the raising temperature, it is almost open to commercial shipping. The raising of the oceans levels, though so far mere centimeters are multiplied in heavy wave action and quite a few small island countries are threaten, as some are only inches above sea level.

Anyway, I've lived here in South Carolina for 17 years and the last three years weather patterns have definitely changed, each year a little worse (for me). Winters have become colder , summers have become hotter. We had no fall (autumn) this year, and not much of a spring last year. I can measure that, by the days we enjoy breakfast out on our porch, way less and getting worse—I mark the calendar. It's not scientific, but it sure shows me things are a changing.

Cheers, Rodney

[Lou Barron]

Yes i agree the weather pattern as changed in the last 20 years or so in the winter we use to get more snow fall than we do now and the nights seem to get colder and i turn my electric blanket on a bit early but maybe thats because i have no one to cuddle me now ****

[j.sabourn]

Anyone been through the airport in Anchorage recently. Wondered if that big stuffed Polar Bear still adorned the airport Lounge, he was massive. JS

[happy daze john in oz]

It would appear that there are some changes taking place but what is causing it? Most of the ones we know of are at the extremes of the globe. Australia ad parts of USA are being hit just now but there is little evidence of any change across Asia, but there are a number of scientist who are convinced the earth has moved half a degree on its' axis. Friend of mine who does magnetic compass adjustments said he has never been bussier and is convinced it is to do with the earth and the axis.j