FORT KENT, Maine — Half of the mushers dropped out because of heavy rain, but those who persevered are nearing the finish the 250-mile Can-Am Crown across northern Maine.
Mushers encountered a variety of conditions that forced 11 dog-sled teams to drop out of the race that started Saturday morning in Fort Kent.
Mushers saw a full variety of winter weather over the course of the grueling endurance race across northern Aroostook County. Race Marshal George Theriault (TEH’-ree-oh) says it rained for 18 hours, then turned to sleet and snow.
Wild weather is a hallmark of the event.
Over the years, the weather has ranged from a minus-32 reading during the inaugural Cam-Am Crown in 1993 to a freakish 60 degrees a year later.