Chase Pack in Takotna finish their 24 Hour Rest

Wade Marrs, Mitch Seavey, Pete Kaiser and Aliy Zirkle have left Takotna after serving their 24 hour rest plus start differential.  The only other Team also completed their 24 is Hugh Neff, presently at mile 352.  Neff took his 24 way back in Nikilai so his Team isnt as fresh as the 4 who just left Takotna.  Presently he is being chased by Marrs is at mile 351, Mitch at mile 348, Kaiser at 338 and Aliy at mile 333.  This is the pack to watch through the day to see how close they get to the lead teams resting in Cripple taking their 24 hour.  Yesterday the trail was bumpy and punchy in places...especially between Ophir and Cripple.....the bumps put slack in the line and then tugs hard as the sled goes up and down.  Some Mushers said it can be a bit annoying mile after mile....but that is what the trail is offering this year.  

It is worthy to mention no one has left Cripple for the Yukon River in Ruby...where another prize awaits.  It is 112 miles from Cripple to Ruby....and if the trail has been so slow and bumpy its no wonder no one tried to push through Cripple to get there.  This chase pack of Mitch, Marrs, Kaiser and Aliy have to first cover the 25 miles from Takotna to Ophir, and then the long slow bumpy run from Ophir to Cripple which is about 59 miles, and then a big 112 miles from Cripple to Ruby to be 1st on the Yukon.  Thats nearly 200 miles!  They will catch up to Dallas and the other front runners 84 miles up the trail.  Straight running that should take about 12 hours plus snacking time along the trail.  If the trail is bad it will take longer.  The timing might reveal this pack will reach the front pack right around the time where they come off their 24 hour rest...then it will be a race once again, with the Yukon River checkpoint of Ruby the next prize!

I should mention most Mushers do not strategize to win the inner trail prizes...if they happen to be the first in a check point where there is a prize they see it as a bonus....great!  The disaplined Musher will not chase gold on the trail....they rather win trail prizes by hapenstance as they chase down the real prize in Nome!