Dallas Seavey pulls in to the checkpoint in Unalakleet, Alaska, during the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, on March 11, 2012. #

Jeff King waves at race fans on 4th Avenue during the ceremonial start of the Iditarod trail sled dog race in Anchorage, Alaska, on March 3, 2012. #

A sled dog barks near its team as mushers prepare to leave during the official start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, on March 4, 2012, in Willow, Alaska. #

Two-year-old Skylar Dupuis, from Eagle River, Alaska, watches the ceremonial start of the Iditarod, in Anchorage, Alaska, on March 3, 2012. #

A leader in Pat Moon's dog team tugs at its harness during the official start of the Iditarod in Willow, Alaska, on March 4, 2012. #

Brent Sass of Fairbanks, Alaska, takes his team towards Nome at the official re-start of the 40th Iditarod in Willow, Alaska March 4, 2012. #

Two mushers cross the Farewell Burn during the Iditarod, on March 6, 2012, in Nikolai, Alaska. #

DeeDee Jonrowe leaves the checkpoint in Nikolai, Alaska, during the Iditarod, on Tuesday, March 6, 2012. #

Musher Scott Janssen puts down straw for his team in Nikolai, Alaska, on Tuesday night, March 6, 2012. #

Bill Pinkham collects hot water during his stop in Takotna, Alaska, during the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, on March 7, 2012. #

Wolvie and Roscoe stir as Karen Ramstead prepares to feed them in Nikolai, Alaska, during the Iditarod, on March 7, 2012. #

Karin Hendrickson embraces her team leader Hatchet in Takotna, Alaska, during the Iditarod, on March 8, 2012. #

A musher makes the run between the Ophir and Cripple checkpoints on Thursday, March 8, 2012. Snowmachine tracks swirl near the trail. #

Toby, a leader for Nicolas Petit, rests in the straw during the Iditarod, on March 6, 2012, in Nikolai, Alaska. #

Dallas Seavey tends to his team and gear after arriving at the Cripple checkpoint during the Iditarod Sled Dog Race, on March 8, 2012. #

Musher Ramey Smith departs the checkpoint at Koyuk, Alaska on Monday, March 12, 2012. #

A team competing in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race heads into the Finger Lake checkpoint on March 5, 2012. #

Art Church sits down for a rest at the checkpoint in Nikolai, Alaska, on Wednesday, March 7, 2012. #

Matt Failor prepares to leave the Skwentna, Alaska, checkpoint of the Iditarod, on March 5, 2012. Failor was the last racer to depart the checkpoint. #

DeeDee Jonrowe heads down the Yukon River after leaving the Ruby checkpoint of the Iditarod, on March 9, 2012. #

Iditarod communications volunteers Angie Taggart (standing) and Keri Koger update the race standings in Nikolai, Alaska, on March 6, 2012. #

Four-time Iditarod champion Martin Buser prepares his team to leave the checkpoint in Nikolai, Alaska, on Tuesday, March 6, 2012. #

Aaron Burmeister approaches Unalakleet, Alaska, during the 2012 Iditarod, on March 11, 2012. #

Musher Aliy Zirkle arrives in Unalakleet, Alaska, on Sunday, March 11, 2012. #

An aurora borealis swirls in the sky over the Yukon River village of Ruby, Alaska, a checkpoint of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, on March 9, 2012. #

Dallas Seavey puts on his parka as he leaves Unalakleet, Alaska, on Sunday, March 11, 2012. #

Peter Kaiser drives his team into the checkpoint in Unalakleet, Alaska on Sunday, March 11, 2012. #

Dallas Seavey drives toward Elim, Alaska, during the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, on March 12, 2012. #

Aliy Zirkle laughs at the finish line of the Iditarod in Nome, Alaska, on March 13, 2012. Zirkle placed second. #