Peter Schneidler of Kasigluk, Alaska, saw that I was looking to find out why Laura Daugereau dropped out of the Iditarod Sled Dog Race. He sent along this note:

Basically she had to drop 5 dogs by the time she got to Grayling, which isn't a deal-breaker, except that they were all "lead dogs," which is the most specialized member of the team.

Most dogs CAN'T lead - they'll chase after a raccoon or go too fast or slow or not obey commands to turn, that kind of stuff. So she was down to one lead dog with 500 miles to go, and the trail obliterated by snow and wind. She made the right call.

I live in Western Alaska and those winds were brutal. They didn't stop for days where I live and I kept talking to my wife about all the mushers out there in it. When you have wind over 25 mph (and it was way over that) along with subzero temps ... all I can say is it cuts into you like a knife. If there is recent snow, it blows around creating a "ground blizzard" where visibility plunges. Basically you're better off hunkering down and waiting it out than crawling along and getting exhausted and passed later by the healthy teams that waited.

Anyway, saw you were looking for an update on Laura, and there you go.

Peter Schneidler

Thanks for Peter for giving us the update.

Somehow I missed this notice from the state Department of Fish and Wildlife. As a result today's fishing report incorrectly states that the Wynocche and Satsop rivers are open. The entire Chehalis River system was closed as of Monday.

Here is the notice from the state:

Action: A portion of the Chehalis River and its tributaries will be closed to ALL FISHING for the remainder of the winter season.

Effective dates: March 16 - April 30

Species affected: Closed to fishing for ALL SPECIES upstream from Porter Bridge. Closed to fishing for ALL SPECIES - except white sturgeon - from the mouth of the river to Porter Bridge.

Location: Chehalis River (from mouth to high bridge on Weyerhaeuser 1000 line approximately 400 yards downstream of Roger Creek upstream including all forks and tributaries and the Chehalis River, South Fork from the mouth to Hwy bridge at Boistfort School) and its tributaries; Cloquallum Creek (from the mouth to Hwy. 8 Bridge to the 2nd bridge on Cloquallum Rd), Newaukum River (South, Middle and North Forks), Satsop River and East Fork (from the mouth to bridge at Schafer State Park), Skookumchuck River (from the mouth to 400' below outlet of PP&L/WDFW steelhead rearing pond located at the base of Skookumchuck Dam), Wishkah River (from the mouth to 200' below the weir at the Wishkah Rearing Ponds), and Wynoochee River (from the mouth to above mouth of Schafer Creek upstream).

Reasons for action: Early indications are that both hatchery and natural steelhead returning to the Chehalis River basin are well below pre-season projections. Available data indicate escapement goals will not be met. Many independent tributaries have not achieved their spawner escapement goals in recent years; the entire Chehalis River system has not met minimum conservation goals for the last two years. To minimize overall impact to the natural spawning population and to ensure hatchery egg-take needs are achieved, the sport fishery will be closed.

Other information: Quinault Indian Nation has also closed their commercial fishery in the lower Chehalis River for the remainder of the winter steelhead season.