It started with a sprained ankle of Busers, then news of Burmiester dislocating his knee, then Petit with one banged up knee and one hurt knee....and a badly bruised Aliy Zirkle hip....Hans Gatt hit a tree but is shaking it off. Both King and Sorlie told stories of sleds tumbling over a half dozen times. Aliy sent word to Dee Dee....."don't even attempt it...live to race another year"....she heeds the advice and scratches in Rohn along with Jim Lanier. The Farewell Burn is filled with holes, it's like the moon out there says Hugh Neff. I got one question.....why did the Iditarod Trail Committee not reroute the trail to the north and come into Ruby by way of the Yukon River from Fairbanks? That was their back up plan after all. This much destruction, injury and loss of property is insane! King reports there is debris all over the trail....he lost equipment out of his caboose trailer. Over 100 miles of snowless moon terrain, remains of a million and a half acre fire years ago. Stumps, holes and no snow......for hours on end.
But the saving grace......the dogs loved it! They had traction, they were happy, RUN because why not, their mushers brake pad broke off we are free to go! Gang lines broke, dogs ran loose until caught.....crazy times indeed. It was a fun time for the dogs!
Next up....as Martin Buser sleeps and ices his ankle, Lindner, Zirkle, King, Sorlie, Neff and yes even Petit and Burmiester are making their way to McGrath where the Spirit Award awaits the first a musher to this interior Alaskan Villiage. The technical part of the trail is done...it's now snowing in Nikolai......and there is snow on the trail....the crazy no snow trail is done. It's been survival for many of the Teams up to this point.....now it's time to race!
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