The Pack Leaves Nikoli

Ailey Zirkle was the first out of Nikoli...but soon after she left, Baker took after her. Zirkles Team is much smaller and lighter than Bakers...her sled dogs are 40 to 50 pounds, as compared to Bakers 65 to 75 pound monsters....what does this mean? One word....Power. They still have 750 miles to go....and Bakers is steady....a steady trot to Nome. Ailey, in the past, has surged early, and then faded....but maybe this year is different. Go Ailey!!!! Mitch Seavey, Neff and King have also taken pursuit...5 miles behind Baker and Zirkle. No doubt Mackey will join the pack of hounds, in search of the rabbits being Zirkle and Baker. The race is on to the 24 hour layover...McGrath or Takotna.....or maybe Ophir or the halfway point of Cripple. Typically, Teams do their 24 in the bigger checkpoints of Takotna or McGrath....but some push on into Cripple to capture the halfway prize. We shall see. This race is just warming up! I hope to get up in the night for another report! Stay tuned and thanks for checking in!