2011 Iditarod news - Rick Swenson's broken collarbone

2011 Iditarod News - In other Iditarod news I haven't had a chance to write about, five-time Iditarod champion Rick Swenson suffered a broken collarbone in the race on either March 7 or 8, 2011. At the time of this writing on March 9, 2011 at 6:35pm Alaska time, Mr. Swenson is still in the race, currently in 23rd place.

Here are some quotes from the story I found on the adn.com website, including something I've read about before -- veterinarians having to tend to human patients:

Five-time Iditarod champion Rick Swenson, 60, had just arrived. His collarbone looked broken and it was time for an unofficial Iditarod tradition: Animal doctors pinch hitting on human injuries.

Swenson's sled crashed at the bottom of the notorious Happy River Steps, a Z-shaped series of turns that threatens sleds each year.

"I landed on my shoulder and heard a 'pop,' " said Swenson, who suddenly had just 24 hours to decide whether his Iditarod was over, or if he could mush one-handed.

You can find more information on this story on the adn.com website.