Lack of snow north of the Alaska Range prompts Iditarod to move official start to Fairbanks

A lack of snow along a dangerous stretch of trail has led organizers of the world’s most famous sled dog race to move the start of the Iditarod farther north.

The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race will still have its ceremonial start in Anchorage on March 1, but the official start for the 33 teams will be two days later in Fairbanks, about 360 miles (579 kilometers) north.