Heat Causes Issues during Alaska’s Famous Iditarod Race

Heat Causes Issues during Alaska’s Famous Iditarod Race

Competitors in this year's Iditarod dogsled race in Alaska are dealing¹ with another struggle along the trail – unusually high temperatures.

Jason Mackey leads one of the dogsled teams. He told The Associated Press a thermometer² attached to his sled hit 26.67 degrees Celsius³ at one point last week. The weather is usually very cold. The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race is a sport better-fitted to temperatures well below zero.

Mackey and other racers had to reconsider their usual plans to deal with the heat and poor trail conditions during the 1,609-kilometer race across Alaska.

Although it is warm along the race path, it was not that warm in interior⁴ Alaska, said Brian Brettschneider. He is a climate scientist with the National Weather Service in Alaska.

The thermometer on the sled had been in the sun so it could not did not provide an official reading, Brettschneider noted⁵. However, the warm and sunny conditions are still having clear effects on the people experiencing it, he added.

Not that long ago, the same area was much cooler than normal, which appeared to improve racing⁶ conditions. The warmer conditions have been driven by an area of high pressure, Brettschneider said.

Many communities in America's largest state hit record highs last week. Along the Iditarod trail, the community of McGrath did not set any records. But, it hit a high Wednesday of 2.22 degrees Celsius. The low in the area was 2.78 degrees. Normally⁷ at this time of year it is about -18 degrees, Brettschneider said.

Effects of the warmth have been seen all along the Iditarod trail. "There's almost no places that were below freezing...," Brettschneider said.

That was not news to Mackey. "I wish the temperatures would cool down," he said. Mackey added that the heat had created other issues also. At one point on the path, he saw two mosquitoes on his sled. "Yeah, it's spring," Mackey said.

Mackey said the heat has definitely⁸ affected⁹ the performance of his dogs, whom he calls "big boys." Each weigh more than 36 kilograms. Mackey noted that while other teams were moving in the heat of the day, he was not willing to do that. "I mean, it zaps them," he said of the dog team.

Kelly Maixner, a children's doctor, said his dogs do not like the heat. He would rather have it be -28.89 degrees Celsius.

The race started March 5 in Willow¹⁰, just north of the state's largest city, Anchorage. The dog teams will cross over two mountain areas, the frozen¹¹ Yukon River and the Bering Sea ice before reaching the finish line in the small town of Nome. The winner is expected to be announced sometime this week.

Words in This Story

dogsled – n. a sled designed to be pulled by dogs

trail – n. a path running through the countryside

thermometer – n. a piece of equipment that measures the temperature of the air or of your body

zap – v. to harm or destroy something in a fast and powerful way

1 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

2 thermometer   

n.温度计，寒暑表

参考例句：

• She put the thermometer in his mouth.她把体温表放入他口中。
• The thermometer fell to zero last night.寒暑表昨夜降至零度。

3 Celsius   

adj.摄氏温度计的，摄氏的

参考例句：

• The temperature tonight will fall to seven degrees Celsius.今晚气温将下降到七摄氏度。
• The maximum temperature in July may be 36 degrees Celsius.七月份最高温度可能达到36摄氏度。

4 interior   

adj.在内的，内部的，内地的，国内的；n.内部

参考例句：

• There is water in the interior of the cave.在山洞的内部有水。
• They went into the interior room.他们进了内室。

5 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

6 racing   

n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的

参考例句：

• I was watching the racing on television last night.昨晚我在电视上看赛马。
• The two racing drivers fenced for a chance to gain the lead.两个赛车手伺机竞相领先。

7 normally   

adv.正常地，通常地

参考例句：

• I normally do all my shopping on Saturdays.我通常在星期六买东西。
• My pulse beats normally.我脉搏正常。

8 definitely   

adv.一定地，肯定地；明确地，确切地

参考例句：

• The team will definitely lose if he doesn't play.如果他不参加比赛，这个队肯定会输。
• I shall definitely be home before six o'clock.6点以前，我一定回家。

9 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

10 willow   

n.柳树

参考例句：

• The river was sparsely lined with willow trees.河边疏疏落落有几棵柳树。
• The willow's shadow falls on the lake.垂柳的影子倒映在湖面上。

11 frozen   

adj.冻结的，冰冻的

参考例句：

• He was frozen to death on a snowing night.在一个风雪的晚上，他被冻死了。
• The weather is cold and the ground is frozen.天寒地冻。