I think Mitch is a great speaker etc and concerns bout the trail etc are on point > but the Iditarod has largely devolved into a business machine for the big tourist kennels. I think the small town, or village musher. Even with a Cim smyth squeezin a win in the tustemena--> didint he do that ten years ago? You know. I dont know. I think its time to challenge the money empire paradigm and build something better that can do down the trail, whether its a sno go highway or a icy and rocky mountain trail. Maybe just one dog and a person a foot is the answer. Getting your own food in preperation hunting , fishing u know the year before the race. Deemphasize sponsor and tourist relations and business stuff, remphasize self reliance, human dog wilderness skills. Make it more accessible: less of an economic barrier to entry so we dont get these big 100 dog kennels with slaves doing the work just to drive puppy teams and musher ceo hiding out on the phone with sponsors, or speaking engagements.