Photos: It was a sparkling day to drive a dog team through the Alaska Range

Temperatures were cool but the sunshine was strong.

By Marc Lester
Updated: March 10, 2020 Published: March 10, 2020

Joar Leifseth Ulsom arrives at the Rainy Pass checkpoint on Puntilla Lake. Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race mushers headed through the Alaska Range on March 9, 2020. (Marc Lester / ADN)

After the snowy first day of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, the second day was clear for the mushers’ run through the Alaska Range. By nightfall, at least one musher, Aaron Burmeister, had made it into Rohn, on the other side of the mountains.

Related: Sunny skies greet Iditarod mushers after their first night on the trail

A dog from Joar Leifseth Ulsom's team nudges his water dish at Rainy Pass on Monday. (Marc Lester / ADN)

The Rainy Pass checkpoint on Puntilla Lake is busy with Iditarod mushers and visitors Monday. (Marc Lester / ADN)

Wade Marrs laughs while talking with people at the Rainy Pass checkpoint on Puntilla Lake. (Marc Lester / ADN)

One of Paige Drobny's dogs rode in her sled as she reached the Rainy Pass checkpoint Monday afternoon. (Marc Lester / ADN)

Sean Underwood and his dog team follow a volunteer as they park at Finger Lake on Monday. (Marc Lester / ADN)

Jason Campeau and his team head downhill toward the Happy River near its confluence with the Skwentna River Monday afternoon. (Marc Lester / ADN)

Ryan Redington leaves the Finger Lake checkpoint. Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race mushers headed into the Alaska Range on March 9, 2020. (Marc Lester / ADN)

Linwood Fiedler's team climbs a hill as they leave Finger Lake. (Marc Lester / ADN)

Jason Campeau booties his dogs before leaving Finger Lake on Monday. (Marc Lester / ADN)

Jason Campeau's team leaves Finger Lake. (Marc Lester / ADN)

Joar Leifseth Ulsom arrives at the Rainy Pass checkpoint Monday afternoon. (Marc Lester / ADN)

Paige Drobny reaches the Rainy Pass checkpoint on Puntilla Lake. (Marc Lester / ADN)

Tom Knolmayer rests near his team at Finger Lake. (Marc Lester / ADN)

Linwood Fiedler mushes between the Finger Lake and Rainy Pass checkpoints. Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race mushers headed toward the Alaska Range mountains on March 9, 2020. (Marc Lester / ADN)

Sean Underwood parks his team at Finger Lake. (Marc Lester / ADN)

Martin Buser mushes between the Skwentna and Finger Lake checkpoints. Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race mushers headed toward the Alaska Range mountains on March 9, 2020. (Marc Lester / ADN)

Ryan Redington leaves the Finger Lake checkpoint Monday afternoon. (Marc Lester / ADN)

Marc Lester

Marc Lester is a multimedia journalist for Anchorage Daily News. Contact him at mlester@adn.com.