Veteran Iditarod musher Linwood Fiedler speaks to the media the morning after his dogsled arrived at a checkpoint without him Fiedler said he fell asleep a few miles outside the checkpoint at Ruby, Alaska, and fell off his sled, necessitating an hour-long walk. Screen shot courtesy KTUU-TV
It initially took officials some time to realize Fiedler wasn't there. He arrived on foot about an hour later, with no physical injuries, but a slightly bruised ego.
He told KTUU-TV he was fighting to stay awake a few miles away from the checkpoint when he apparently fell asleep and fell off the sled. The dogs continued their path toward the checkpoint without his direction.
After a rest, Fiedler was able to continue the race, which is at its halfway point.
