Thanks to a lack of snow, this year’s edition of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race needed a new route across the Alaska wilderness. The course change adds more than 100 mile.

The Iditarod, now in its 53rd year, is the largest and most popular dog sled race in the world. "The Last Great Race on Earth" takes place in Alaska each March, as mushers and teams of 12-14 dogs race through the wilderness from Anchorage to Nome.

Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race winner, six-time Iditarod champion Dallas Seavey, is not competing in this year’s race. That development, paired with the Official Restart being moved to

The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, the world’s most famous sled dog competition, is making history this year as mushers and their teams tackle the longest route ever due to climate-induced changes in Alaska’s wilderness.

The Iditarod is a 1,000-mile race held annually in Alaska. Many argue that the race, which starts this weekend, is a form of animal abuse.

The mushers will bring their Badger State connections to Alaska for the famous sled dog race that kicks off on March 3.