Photos: A snowy Iditarod restart in Willow

The race to Nome officially began Sunday in a snowstorm and deep snow on the trail.

By Bill Roth
Updated: March 9, 2020 Published: March 9, 2020

Iditarod rookie Fabio Berlusconi of Italy drives his dog team during the restart of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Willow on Sunday, March 8, 2020. (Bill Roth / ADN)

The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race began Sunday with heavy snow falling and an already deep base of snow on the ground. 57 mushers left Willow, one of them a surprise - John Shandelmeier took the place of Zoya DeNure at the last minute.

Nicolas Petit drives his dog team across Willow Lake in a snowstorm during the restart of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Sunday. (Bill Roth / ADN)

Three-time Iditarod champion Mitch Seavey greets people during the restart of the Iditarod. (Bill Roth / ADN)

Sled dogs in the team of Brent Sass drive through the snowstorm as they cross Long Lake during the restart of the Iditarod on Sunday. (Bill Roth / ADN)

Sled dogs in the team of Iditarod rookie Mille Porsild of Denmark dash back onto the trail while crossing Long Lake. (Bill Roth / ADN)

Iditarod rookie Mille Porsild of Denmark runs back to her sled after making an adjustment to her dog team while crossing Long Lake during the restart of the Iditarod in Willow. (Bill Roth / ADN)

Iditarod veteran Laura Neese and her dog team from McMillan, MI, leave Willow during the Iditarod restart. (Bill Roth / ADN)

Four-time Iditarod champion Martin Buser is greeted by fairies during the restart of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Willow on Sunday. (Bill Roth / ADN)

A sled dog named Anna and her teammates with musher Nic Petit rest on blankets before the restart of the Iditarod in Willow. (Bill Roth / ADN)

Aliy Zirkle is greeted by fans after exiting Willow Lake during the restart of the Iditarod. (Bill Roth / ADN)

Iditarod veteran Matthew Failor of Willow changes his runner plastic before the restart of the Iditarod on Sunday. (Bill Roth / ADN)

Iditarod veteran Ryan Redington connects with a fan while driving his dog team across Long Lake on Sunday. (Bill Roth / ADN)

Iditarod rookie Sean Underwood eats a sandwich while driving Jeff King's dog team across Long Lake during the restart of the Iditarod. (Bill Roth / ADN)

Jim Lanier of Chugiak drives his dog team across Long Lake on Sunday. (Bill Roth / ADN)

Former Yukon Quest champion John Schandelmeier was a last minute replacement for his wife Zoya DeNure during the restart of the Iditarod. (Bill Roth / ADN)

Four-time Iditarod champion Lance Mackey of Fairbanks drives his sled during the restart of the Iditarod in Willow. (Bill Roth / ADN)

The last three dog teams negotiate spectators on Long Lake during the restart of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Willow on Sunday, March 8, 2020. (Bill Roth / ADN)

Defending Iditarod champion Peter Kaiser of Bethel waves to the crowd gathered on Willow Lake during the restart of the Iditarod on Sunday. (Bill Roth / ADN)

Bill Roth

Bill Roth is a staff photojournalist at the Anchorage Daily News.