Interesting Choice by Dallas

Dallas got to Elim Checkpoint, grabbed some straw, and traveled just a mile before stopping to rest. Now, it is customary to stop in Elim and hydrate the dogs...2, 3 hour tops. Musher sleep deprivation is at its height...a checkpoint at the very least has water and a place to sleep...if even for 15 minutes between tending to your dogs with some hot gruel of kibble and meat for a full 2 hour rest for them. I have never seen a musher doing this at this stage...passing by the hospitality of a checkpoint to go essentially camping for a few hours? Its more effort to do that...thats why most mushers stay at the checkpoint. Now Dallas has done this too in Shaktoolik....one advantage is your competition doesn't know when you leave....you can slip into the night unannounced. So advantage Dallas. But, as Bruce Lee said in his commentary, this race will come down to efficiency in the rest periods...how long does it take to bed them down and feed them...and possibly get a cat nap yourself. Sleep deprivation can only be tamed by a 15 - 20 minute nap when you can catch one. If you need to feed and tend to your dogs, I'd think you would want a little shelter from the cold...some heated water at the very least provided by the check point. Lets see what Aily does.