While we don’t know why at this time, Anchorage funeral director, Scott Janssen – The Mushin’ Mortician – was forced to scratch in the Iditarod Sled Dog race only 22 miles from the finish line in Nome, Alaska.  Janssen and his team of dogs had trekked 976 of the 998 mile course in the past 12 days, but were unable to finish.  As of our last report he was one of 15 mushers that have had to scratch.

We do know that Janssen left the White Mountain stop at 1:37 am on Friday morning and, according to the Iditarod web-site,  arrived at the final rest stop in Safety, on the coast of the Bering Sea just about 10 hours later with 11 of his dogs.  We also know that he finished that leg in under ten hours whereas some mushers took over 12 hours to complete the same segment.

According to a report on the official Iditarod web-site which you can find here, weather and a difficult trail may have played a part in the scratch.  Those who have arrived in Nome have told of the challenges of the trail, especially the deep snow, drifted trail and the beastly blowhole between White Mountain and Safety.  That is the passage that Janssen just completed.

This was Janssen’s eighth attempt at the Iditarod.  He has completed the course twice, finishing 38th and 42nd, and been forced to scratch in the other six attempts.

After I completed this article I received this update on Scott —  conditions at the time were 6 degrees with 19 mph winds.  Knowing Scott, it does not surprise me that he gave up his chance to finish the Iditarod to help a friend in need!!

FINAL UPDATE:
Scott has arrived in Nome but it was by helicopter rather than a dog sled. He left White Mountain at 1:37am and the team was flying! Then he came upon his friend, Jim Lanier, whose team was stuck and Jim was starting to freeze.

He stayed with his friend until they were rescued and he chose to accompany his friend to Nome to make sure he was safe, but that meant scratching from the race. His team is loaded in a trailer on the way here.

Iditarod 46 – COMPLETE!

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