Officials of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race say the race this year will again be restarted in Willow-- not Wasilla, the headquarters of the race. The race has restarted before in Willow after a ceremonial start
in Anchorage. However, it's always been because of a lack of snow
in Wasilla.

Iditarod Trail Committee director Stan Hooley does say there's a
shortage of snow in the Susitna Valley so far for the March race. But he also says that the many roads, driveways and bike paths
don't make for good and safe racing conditions for mushers on their
way out of Wasilla.

The Wasilla route hasn't been used since 2002.

When the race begins in Wasilla, officials have to find
volunteers or police to serve as guards at the many vehicle
crossings.

Iditarod spokesman Chas St. George Land also says that disputes
in many places require that the trail routing be adjudicated. He says that when there's also a shortage of snow, and moving
the restart to Willow becomes the easy thing for the Iditarod to
do.