Wow......I was hoping that would happen....Jessie Royer got the Leonard Seppala Award!!! This award is a compilation of scores by the Vets at each checkpoint and then at the Nome dog yard....it is one of the most prestigious awards of the race and I was SO hoping Jessie would get it bringing all 16 from Fairbanks to Nome....AND, just weeks before 12 of these dogs also finished the 1,000 mile Yukon Quest! Not only did Jessie get this award....but she also was voted Most Inspirational Musher by fellow finishers for this years race too!! Wow....well done Jessie.....well done!!!!
Michelle Phillips was awarded the Herbie Nayokpuk Award!! This award is voted on by checkers along the coast who picks a Musher who most mimics Herbie "The Shishmaref Cannon Ball" in attitude along the trail! Michelle scored some nifty native made slippers and a Parka with $1,049 stuffed into all the pockets! She also gets free freight allotment on Northern Air Cargo and a trophy!
The Sportsman Award is another award that is voted on by the Mushers...and I was SO happy to see our own Allen Moore from SPK get recognized for all he does on the trail Mentoring less experienced Mushers....always willing to lend a hand and drop everything to help out! For all his good deeds, Allen gets to go home with $3,000 and a commemorative trophy! May I remind you all our boy Chemo was on Allens Team this year....well done Allen finishing with 14 SPK Team Mates!
Oh yes, there was also a few awards given to Mitch Seavey, who not only broke a speed record this year, but also is now the oldest Musher to win the Iditarod!! This was Mitch's 3rd championship and he doesn't sound like he is going to retire any time soon!
Lets hope for LOTS of snow next year for a race up and over the Alaska Range....putting some more technical challenges into the race. Although this race was FAST....it was, well....a little....mmm....lets just say not exciting. Don't get me wrong...I love the race but without the Dalzell Gorge, Buffalo Tunnels, Farewell Burn and Happy River Steps its just for the most part a race on the Yukon River...at least for the first half of the race. The ITC did the best they could given the circumstances, but more snow please for next year!
That's all from IditaDacks....Happy Spring to everyone today, I for one am already looking forward to SNOW!!!
Monday, March 20, 2017
Thursday, March 16, 2017
Welcome to Nome Chemo and the SP Kennel Black Team!!
The "Chemo Wall" pictured above is right above my chair...as you can tell we are proud Sponsor Moms of our boy Chemo! I have his tags hanging there too and look forward to adding Iditarod 45 "Blue Tag #36" to the display!
Next up.....the Finishers Banquet this weekend! I may have a few comments as I got my fingers crossed for some of the honors....hope my wishes come true. I'll let you know in my final 2017 IditaDacks post after the Banquet.
Wednesday, March 15, 2017
Rounding Out the Top 10
Aliy was able to pass Kaiser on the trail at Topkok...she said the winds were pretty fierce and visibility was not so good and BOOM, there he was! She dogged him up the hill and Kaiser ended up pulling over for her to pass and she stayed in front of him all the way to Nome! That was exciting!
So...Aliy in 8th place, Kaiser in 9th place, and soon Gebhardt will round out the top 10 as he appears to be unchallenged on the trail with his nearest competitor Jeff King nearly 10 miles behind him. Gebhardt only has about 4 miles to go to get under the Burled Arch in Nome!
The next big milestone I will cover is when Allen Moore and the SPK Black Team make it to the finish line in Nome. If you recall nearly a week and a half ago Mr. Chemo lead the Black Team alongside his Uncle Waylon out of the chute at the restart in Fairbanks....seems like ages ago! Allen (and Chemo) right now are resting in Elim at mile 856. As long as Chemo doesn't tweak a muscle or sprain a toe he will be at the finish line with Allen sometime tomorrow.
So...Aliy in 8th place, Kaiser in 9th place, and soon Gebhardt will round out the top 10 as he appears to be unchallenged on the trail with his nearest competitor Jeff King nearly 10 miles behind him. Gebhardt only has about 4 miles to go to get under the Burled Arch in Nome!
The next big milestone I will cover is when Allen Moore and the SPK Black Team make it to the finish line in Nome. If you recall nearly a week and a half ago Mr. Chemo lead the Black Team alongside his Uncle Waylon out of the chute at the restart in Fairbanks....seems like ages ago! Allen (and Chemo) right now are resting in Elim at mile 856. As long as Chemo doesn't tweak a muscle or sprain a toe he will be at the finish line with Allen sometime tomorrow.
Go Aliy, GO!!!
Aliy and Kaiser - ONE minute apart!
As Ray Redington Jr nears Nome with 2 more miles to go, Aliy and Kaiser check in and out of Safety a mere 1 minute apart! They both are presently at mile 964 with 16 miles to the finish!
Run Aliy and the SPK Red Team.....RUN!!!
Run Aliy and the SPK Red Team.....RUN!!!
Wade Marrs Finishes in 6th....Kaiser and Aliy Still Fighting for 8th Place!
As Wade Marrs pulls his Team under the Burled Arch in Nome, there is quite a battle for 8th place between Pete Kaiser and Aliy Zirkle!!! Ray Redington has 7th pretty much locked up as he is already in and out of the Safety Checkpoint and appears to be moving along nicely towards the finish line 17 miles away. But Aliy and Pete are on top of each other at mile 951, 6 miles from Safety, the the last checkpoint on the trail. Be sure to check race stats to see how close they truly are, as the GPS doesn't split things down to the minute and seconds!
And the rest of the Top Ten are nearing the finish!
The Burled Arch in Nome at Mile 979...here is how they are looking on the GPS Tracker:
Wade Marrs nearing the finish at mile 964
Ray Reddington Jr at mile 941
Pete Kaiser at mile 931
Aliy Zirkle also at mile 931....Pete and Aliy are RACING hard!!!
Gebhardt at mile 924
Wade Marrs nearing the finish at mile 964
Ray Reddington Jr at mile 941
Pete Kaiser at mile 931
Aliy Zirkle also at mile 931....Pete and Aliy are RACING hard!!!
Gebhardt at mile 924
Tuesday, March 14, 2017
Dallas slips into 2nd place by a mere 2.5 minutes ahead of Petit!
Well there you have it....Dallas is second by 2.5 minutes....and then Petit in a respectable 3rd place. He gave Dallas a run for sure.....nice job Nick!
Nick is the first Team over the finish line that had his dogs on the tow line the entire race, unlike the Dog Hauling Seaveys who "saved" certain dogs to be put on the line in Kaltag when they switched out their sleds for lighter sleds without mobile dog kennels. Nick did an awesome job keeping up with the Dog Hauling Seaveys and should be applauded for having his entire Team enjoying the trail with him, out in the open and doing what dogs love to do.....RUN! Way to go Nick!!
Please note the next Teams are also NOT Dog Hauling Teams, and like Nick they kept their dogs in the race on the tow line to experience the trail with them as they all headed down it together as a Team!
Next in the chute will be Joar Ulsom, presently running at mile 945
Jessie will follow him and is presently at mile 930 WITH ALL 16 dogs!!! You go Jessie!
That rounds out the top 5....Dog Hauling Mitch and Dallas, followed by traditional Mushers Nick Petit, Joar Ulsom and Jessie Royer. The next 5 will be racing for a spot on the top ten....right now they are serving out their 8 hour mandatory rest. This group consists of Ray Redington Jr, Fan Favorite Aliy Zirkle, Young Musher Wade Marrs, "ThreePete" Pete Kaiser, and Veteran Paul Gebhardt who came outta nowhere! I will start coverage of them when they are well on their way!
Stay tuned!!!
Nick is the first Team over the finish line that had his dogs on the tow line the entire race, unlike the Dog Hauling Seaveys who "saved" certain dogs to be put on the line in Kaltag when they switched out their sleds for lighter sleds without mobile dog kennels. Nick did an awesome job keeping up with the Dog Hauling Seaveys and should be applauded for having his entire Team enjoying the trail with him, out in the open and doing what dogs love to do.....RUN! Way to go Nick!!
Please note the next Teams are also NOT Dog Hauling Teams, and like Nick they kept their dogs in the race on the tow line to experience the trail with them as they all headed down it together as a Team!
Next in the chute will be Joar Ulsom, presently running at mile 945
Jessie will follow him and is presently at mile 930 WITH ALL 16 dogs!!! You go Jessie!
That rounds out the top 5....Dog Hauling Mitch and Dallas, followed by traditional Mushers Nick Petit, Joar Ulsom and Jessie Royer. The next 5 will be racing for a spot on the top ten....right now they are serving out their 8 hour mandatory rest. This group consists of Ray Redington Jr, Fan Favorite Aliy Zirkle, Young Musher Wade Marrs, "ThreePete" Pete Kaiser, and Veteran Paul Gebhardt who came outta nowhere! I will start coverage of them when they are well on their way!
Stay tuned!!!
Dallas and Petit....Neck in Neck Down the Beaches of Nome!
Its hard to tell who is in front...they are both showing the same mile and it all depends when the GPS "pings" in. I believe Dallas is still in front....7 miles to go!
ONE Mile of Separation!!!
Nome Finish Line mile 979
Dallas at 967 going 10 mph
Petit at mile 966 going 11.8 mph
They are almost down to the beach...what a race for the spectators in Nome!!!
Dallas at 967 going 10 mph
Petit at mile 966 going 11.8 mph
They are almost down to the beach...what a race for the spectators in Nome!!!
Petit Reeling In Dallas.....Too Late?
Two miles of separation.....but the speed is also important....around 8.5 - 9 mph for Dallas with 7 dogs, and 9 - 9.7 mph from Petit's Team comprised of 13 huskies!
The Finish Line in Nome is at mile 979
Dallas currently at 963
Nick Petit at mile 961
The Finish Line in Nome is at mile 979
Dallas currently at 963
Nick Petit at mile 961
Mitch Under the Burled Arch in Nome - 2nd Place Race Tightens
As Mitch makes his way under the burled arch in Nome and thus capturing the Championship title of Iditarod 45, his son Dallas pulls into the Safety Checkpoint 22 miles from the finish and drops another dog, pulling out with 7 on the tow line.
Petit pulls in 12 minutes later with 13 dogs and heads back out for the 22 mile sprint to Nome with all 13 puling. Will Nick Petit's Team catch Dallas in the next 20 some miles?
Nick Petit needs to put on the after burners...its now or never Nick....run like the wind with those 13 dogs!!!
Petit pulls in 12 minutes later with 13 dogs and heads back out for the 22 mile sprint to Nome with all 13 puling. Will Nick Petit's Team catch Dallas in the next 20 some miles?
Nick Petit needs to put on the after burners...its now or never Nick....run like the wind with those 13 dogs!!!
Mitch Thru Safety Checkpoint...Dallas and Petit Race for 2nd Continues!
Mitch is through the final checkpoint of Safety and is now at mile 963
Dallas at mile 939
Nick in hot pursuit at mile 935
Joar Ulsom has just been released of his 8 hour rest in White Mountain and is at mile 907
Dallas at mile 939
Nick in hot pursuit at mile 935
Joar Ulsom has just been released of his 8 hour rest in White Mountain and is at mile 907
Mitch is Steady....Dallas and Nick Battle it out on the Coast!
Mitch is nearing the Safety Checkpoint, presently at mile 949. So far, he is not showing any chinks in the armor.
Dallas has slightly lengthened his lead over Petit at mile 927
Nick, just off a snack break of 20 minutes is at mile 923
Dallas will have to stop and snack his team at some point too....interesting to watch!
Dallas has slightly lengthened his lead over Petit at mile 927
Nick, just off a snack break of 20 minutes is at mile 923
Dallas will have to stop and snack his team at some point too....interesting to watch!
Teams on the Way to the Finish!
Mitch left White Mountain with 11 on the tug line....some were a bit sleepy, but as soon as they shake off the sleep on the trail I'm sure Mitch will be motoring....maybe thinking about what color truck he may order as part of his prize. No wind in the Blow Hole will sweep this dream away....Mother Nature is giving the Teams a safe passage this year. Mitch is currently at mile 928 and will pass the Checkpoint of Safety at mile 958 before completing his trek to Nome 22 miles thereafter.
Dallas left next, with Nick 13 minutes behind him. Remember when I mentioned Dallas having a swollen wrist back on his way to Huslia....well that is now a severe case of tendinitis and its very painful. Back in that interview on the trail he mentioned it was caused by "vibrations through the handlebar and whatnot". If he is allowed to haul dogs next year and the ITC does not outlaw it, you can be sure Dallas will be tweaking his carbon fiber sled so it does not put out so much vibration. Better yet, perhaps he well refashion a sled like his Dads since that seemed to work perfectly well for him hauling dogs! Dallas is presently at mile 910.
Nick has some pain of his own..favoring a sprained ankle. He isn't really known for running beside his sled like Dallas is, so its unclear how this will affect his speed. Nick has 13 healthy and strong dogs.....Dallas departed with 8 team mates. Nick is presently 2 miles behind Dallas at mile 908.
The race for second is on! Go Nick!
Dallas left next, with Nick 13 minutes behind him. Remember when I mentioned Dallas having a swollen wrist back on his way to Huslia....well that is now a severe case of tendinitis and its very painful. Back in that interview on the trail he mentioned it was caused by "vibrations through the handlebar and whatnot". If he is allowed to haul dogs next year and the ITC does not outlaw it, you can be sure Dallas will be tweaking his carbon fiber sled so it does not put out so much vibration. Better yet, perhaps he well refashion a sled like his Dads since that seemed to work perfectly well for him hauling dogs! Dallas is presently at mile 910.
Nick has some pain of his own..favoring a sprained ankle. He isn't really known for running beside his sled like Dallas is, so its unclear how this will affect his speed. Nick has 13 healthy and strong dogs.....Dallas departed with 8 team mates. Nick is presently 2 miles behind Dallas at mile 908.
The race for second is on! Go Nick!
White Mountain - Eyes on 2nd and 3rd
Dallas Seavey was dogged into White Mountain by a loping Nick Petit Team 13 minutes behind him. Both Teams are now shut down and resting and will leave around 1:30 pm EST. This is the race to watch....sure its for 2nd...but it will be Dog Hauling Dallas versus traditional "all dogs on the tug line for the WHOLE race" Petit. Bet you know who I want to come in 2nd....go Petit!!
Dog Hauling Dallas Daddy Mitch has all but locked up 1st place. Something bad would have to happen in order for Mitch to fall from 1st in this last 77 miles to Nome. I don't care for Mitch and his tactics....but at this point I rather have the elder Seavey win over Dallas to assure Lance Mackey can keep his iconic title of the only 4 time back to back Iditarod Champion out there. Lance's iconic reputation was on the line this whole race, along with Rick Swensons 5 Iditarod wins. I care not for Ricks claim to fame....but Lance....I want Lance to be that 4 time back to back champ forever.
SO.....what is my fantasy finish for Iditarod 45? Mitch slipping up without any damage to his Team, then Nick passing Dallas to come in 1st. That would be my fantasy finish....but the likelyhood of that happening is pretty small. So the next thing I would hope for is Mitch in 1st, Nick in 2nd, and Dallas dropping to 3rd. The worse scenario would be Mitch slipping up, and Dallas edging out Nick to win it....thus crumbling Lance's and Ricks iconic status as "the only". Really anything can happen out there....but lets just hope no iconic reputations fall in this last 77 miles of the race!
Ulsom has come in 4th to White Mountain, but really doesn't have a chance to catch up with Dallas and Petit....unless, unless, unless....
Still on their way to White Mountain are:
Jessie Royer at 894 (and yes, with 16 dogs!)
Wade Marrs at 862 (he stopped to rest in Elim)
Still on their way to Elim are:
Ray Redington at 848
Aliy Zirkle at 844
Kaiser at 842
Phillips at 838
Gebhardt at 825 (not sure where the hell Paul came from but nice to see you Paul!)
Diehl at 821
Johannessen at 820
Lars Monsen at 812
The next pack is resting in Koyuk, mile 808...this includes Jeff King and John Baker. Buser, who was showing a strong start has slowed way down and is not yet into Koyuk at mile 764.
Dog Hauling Dallas Daddy Mitch has all but locked up 1st place. Something bad would have to happen in order for Mitch to fall from 1st in this last 77 miles to Nome. I don't care for Mitch and his tactics....but at this point I rather have the elder Seavey win over Dallas to assure Lance Mackey can keep his iconic title of the only 4 time back to back Iditarod Champion out there. Lance's iconic reputation was on the line this whole race, along with Rick Swensons 5 Iditarod wins. I care not for Ricks claim to fame....but Lance....I want Lance to be that 4 time back to back champ forever.
SO.....what is my fantasy finish for Iditarod 45? Mitch slipping up without any damage to his Team, then Nick passing Dallas to come in 1st. That would be my fantasy finish....but the likelyhood of that happening is pretty small. So the next thing I would hope for is Mitch in 1st, Nick in 2nd, and Dallas dropping to 3rd. The worse scenario would be Mitch slipping up, and Dallas edging out Nick to win it....thus crumbling Lance's and Ricks iconic status as "the only". Really anything can happen out there....but lets just hope no iconic reputations fall in this last 77 miles of the race!
Ulsom has come in 4th to White Mountain, but really doesn't have a chance to catch up with Dallas and Petit....unless, unless, unless....
Still on their way to White Mountain are:
Jessie Royer at 894 (and yes, with 16 dogs!)
Wade Marrs at 862 (he stopped to rest in Elim)
Still on their way to Elim are:
Ray Redington at 848
Aliy Zirkle at 844
Kaiser at 842
Phillips at 838
Gebhardt at 825 (not sure where the hell Paul came from but nice to see you Paul!)
Diehl at 821
Johannessen at 820
Lars Monsen at 812
The next pack is resting in Koyuk, mile 808...this includes Jeff King and John Baker. Buser, who was showing a strong start has slowed way down and is not yet into Koyuk at mile 764.
More or Less a Battle for 2nd
OK.....Mitch is nearing White Mountain (mile 902) now.....here are the GPS stats:
Mitch at mile 897
Dallas at mile 880
Petit at miler 879
Joar Ulsom at mile 858
On the way to Elim (mile 856)
Wade Marrs at mile 850
Jessie at mile 848 with 16 dogs
All others of the chase pack resting at Koyuk (mile 808)
Mitch at mile 897
Dallas at mile 880
Petit at miler 879
Joar Ulsom at mile 858
On the way to Elim (mile 856)
Wade Marrs at mile 850
Jessie at mile 848 with 16 dogs
All others of the chase pack resting at Koyuk (mile 808)
Monday, March 13, 2017
The Insider Scoop
Mitch is in Elim (mile 856) now....last stop before White Mountain. Petit is trying to make a move and is at mile 852...will he go straight through to White Mountain? He might try that. But Mitch and his Team is fast.....and if Nick moves forward to White Mountain....I'm sure Mitch will take chase. This is the last chance to try to challenge Mitch before White Mountain where a mandatory 8 hour rest awaits all the Mushers. Dallas is at mile 841...Joar at mile 831...Marrs now on the move at 812 after a rest in Koyuk...and Jessie....well she has been interviewed and will make the full run with 16 dogs from Koyuk all the way to White Mountain nonstop.....maybe a 12 hour run....and she is good with that. She hopes to catch at least Wade.....maybe Joar.
16 dogs....that's awesome. Jessie is a good candidate for the Leonard Seppala Award for exemplary dog care. To be this competitive with all 16 dogs still on the tug line...that's quite an accomplishment! You go Jessie!
Mitch is reportedly being nagged by an aching back. And Dallas is reported to be switching up his dogs, trying to find the right mix, but is still falling short of making any real time on his Dad. I so hope the ITC outlaws their dog hauling strategy....have them come back and run this race like Jessie, Joar, Nick, Aliy and the rest of them. Lets see how well they can really do without dog hauling gimmicks. But for now, Dog Hauling Dallas Daddy Mitch is in the lead. How I would love for Nick to beat him to White Mountain....or to have Mitch's dogs lay down and say "No Dad.....we want to stay in Elim for 3 or 4 more hours please". His is red lining the team...10 to 12 mph at times. Some are saying how impressive this is....I find it disturbing and not at all normal. These dogs have essentially been carried to this point to sprint. Does the race really need this? Anyhow.....that is the snapshot of the front runners....for now.
There is quite a large group of Teams making their way across Norton Sound right now....Ray Redington and Aliy lead the way and are a little more than halfway across, with Kaiser, Johannessen, Philips, Baker, Vergnaud and Jason Mackey stepping onto the ice. Must be nice with little to no wind....everyone is talking about that oddity.
I'll update again when we get some movement out of Elim on the way to White Mountain.
16 dogs....that's awesome. Jessie is a good candidate for the Leonard Seppala Award for exemplary dog care. To be this competitive with all 16 dogs still on the tug line...that's quite an accomplishment! You go Jessie!
Mitch is reportedly being nagged by an aching back. And Dallas is reported to be switching up his dogs, trying to find the right mix, but is still falling short of making any real time on his Dad. I so hope the ITC outlaws their dog hauling strategy....have them come back and run this race like Jessie, Joar, Nick, Aliy and the rest of them. Lets see how well they can really do without dog hauling gimmicks. But for now, Dog Hauling Dallas Daddy Mitch is in the lead. How I would love for Nick to beat him to White Mountain....or to have Mitch's dogs lay down and say "No Dad.....we want to stay in Elim for 3 or 4 more hours please". His is red lining the team...10 to 12 mph at times. Some are saying how impressive this is....I find it disturbing and not at all normal. These dogs have essentially been carried to this point to sprint. Does the race really need this? Anyhow.....that is the snapshot of the front runners....for now.
There is quite a large group of Teams making their way across Norton Sound right now....Ray Redington and Aliy lead the way and are a little more than halfway across, with Kaiser, Johannessen, Philips, Baker, Vergnaud and Jason Mackey stepping onto the ice. Must be nice with little to no wind....everyone is talking about that oddity.
I'll update again when we get some movement out of Elim on the way to White Mountain.
Update on the Tracker!
Sorry to have slacked off....darn work got in the way. But Im back with a quick update!
Mitch at mile 852 and running
Petit at 829 and running
Dallas at 823 and resting
Joar at 812 and running
Marrs and Jessie are at Koyuk, mile 808 and resting
I will puruse all the videos and new and will post again shortly with any sight...but first...dinner!
Mitch at mile 852 and running
Petit at 829 and running
Dallas at 823 and resting
Joar at 812 and running
Marrs and Jessie are at Koyuk, mile 808 and resting
I will puruse all the videos and new and will post again shortly with any sight...but first...dinner!
Dallas Slips Up for a Moment
Apparently when Dallas switched his dog hauling sled for a regular sled, he forgot to switch over his snowshoes from the old sled to the new sled...that was mandatory gear he had to return to get.
Sleep deprivation rears its ugly head on even the most mechanical of Mushers. Stupid mistakes can mean everything right now. Will Mitch make any errors going forward...time will tell!
Sleep deprivation rears its ugly head on even the most mechanical of Mushers. Stupid mistakes can mean everything right now. Will Mitch make any errors going forward...time will tell!
Dallas Leaves Shaktoolik....Mitch also pulls the hook
This is interesting.....Dallas blows through Shaktoolik and a half hour later Mitch pulls the hook in pursuit. Quite likely Dallas is going 12 miles to a shelter on the shore of Norton Sound, while Mitch will no doubt venture onto the ice and trek across the frozen Norton Sound to Koyuk. OR, will Dallas make a move to go out onto the sea ice too....that would be a monster run if he tries something like that. In any event, Mitch heading out with a rested Team still gives him the advantage...watch this closely!
I got to go to work darn it.....I hate Mondays! 4.5 years till retirement!
I got to go to work darn it.....I hate Mondays! 4.5 years till retirement!
Mitch Still In Shaktoolik....Chase Pack is just Approaching
Mitch did the run to Shaktoolik in 4 hours and 36 minutes. According to some research I did that is the fastest time ever. Mitch did rest on the trail outside of Unk before he sling shotted around to Shaktoolik, but stilll...that is impressive!
Right now we have the chase pack approaching....the GPS looks like this:
Mitch resting at 758 (Shaktoolik)
Dallas at 756
Joar at 749
Petit at 748
Marrs at 746
Royer with 16 dogs still at 731
Aliy just hit Unk and is resting at mile 718
It will be interesting to see if Mitch leaves right before the Teams pull in. That is a mind game the Mushers play at this point....the leader likes to be considered a dream....vapor....dont let them see ya. Its somewhat demoralizing to think you have caught up with the leader, just to have him slip away....with a well rested Team at that!
This is Mitch's race to loose....he has about 50 miles on the lead pack.....with time running out for the chase pack to make a move. With absolutely no wind in the forecast along the coast.....Mother Nature cant even play into the outcome like in 2014. Unless Mitch gets lost in the fog, he is in command.
Right now we have the chase pack approaching....the GPS looks like this:
Mitch resting at 758 (Shaktoolik)
Dallas at 756
Joar at 749
Petit at 748
Marrs at 746
Royer with 16 dogs still at 731
Aliy just hit Unk and is resting at mile 718
It will be interesting to see if Mitch leaves right before the Teams pull in. That is a mind game the Mushers play at this point....the leader likes to be considered a dream....vapor....dont let them see ya. Its somewhat demoralizing to think you have caught up with the leader, just to have him slip away....with a well rested Team at that!
This is Mitch's race to loose....he has about 50 miles on the lead pack.....with time running out for the chase pack to make a move. With absolutely no wind in the forecast along the coast.....Mother Nature cant even play into the outcome like in 2014. Unless Mitch gets lost in the fog, he is in command.
Sunday, March 12, 2017
Mitch Blows Through....Dallas Resting
That supprised me.....I thought for sure Dallas and Mitch would blow through...but only Mitch did...hmmmm.
From the GPS Tracker:
Mitch at mile 732
Dallas, Wade and Nick resting in Unk at mile 718
Royer at mile 697
Ulsom at mile 696, resting
Aliy at mile 664
From the GPS Tracker:
Mitch at mile 732
Dallas, Wade and Nick resting in Unk at mile 718
Royer at mile 697
Ulsom at mile 696, resting
Aliy at mile 664
Wade Marrs - 1st to the Coast!
Welcome to the Coast Wade!!! What a nice job this 29 year old is doing! Bet he will enjoy those prizes. I believe it involves some gold of course! Nick Petit came in 3 minutes behind Wade.
Mitch and Dallas stopped to rest along the trail and both Petit and Marrs passed them. I don't think Mitch or Dallas had the Unalakleet prize in their minds....they are probably focused on the big prize, and how to get there ahead of each other! I anticipate they will both continue on to Shaktoolik shortly after they arrive in Unalakleet to once again make this a Seavey versus Seavey Race!
Mitch and Dallas stopped to rest along the trail and both Petit and Marrs passed them. I don't think Mitch or Dallas had the Unalakleet prize in their minds....they are probably focused on the big prize, and how to get there ahead of each other! I anticipate they will both continue on to Shaktoolik shortly after they arrive in Unalakleet to once again make this a Seavey versus Seavey Race!
First to the Coast Award Up for Grabs!
GPS shows:
Wade Marrs at mile 705
Nick Petit at mile 701
Dog Hauling Dallas Daddy Mitch at mile 698
Dog Hauling Dallas at mile 698
Joar Ulsom at mile 696
Jessie Royer at mile 667
Unalakleet on the Golden Coast is at mile 718!
Both Mitch and Dallas stopped to rest on the trail over to Unk....look for them to slingshot past Unalakleet while the others will stop to rest.
Wade Marrs at mile 705
Nick Petit at mile 701
Dog Hauling Dallas Daddy Mitch at mile 698
Dog Hauling Dallas at mile 698
Joar Ulsom at mile 696
Jessie Royer at mile 667
Unalakleet on the Golden Coast is at mile 718!
Both Mitch and Dallas stopped to rest on the trail over to Unk....look for them to slingshot past Unalakleet while the others will stop to rest.
Race to the Coast!
Sorry Folks....I went ice fishing this am and been out of touch....I'm back now and this is whats happening. Dallas has traded in his dog hauling sled for a regular REAL sled, so no more dog hauling for him and Mitch. This is the moment they revert into REAL, regular looking fair play mushers with no gimmicks hidden in their specially made dog hauling sleds. But the truth be known...they got here by exploiting a strategy that in MY opinion is unorthodox and not good for the sport. Its my Blog so I can say that! I'm still hoping Nick or Wade or Jessie can hold them off.
I absolutely LOVE seeing Aliy in 6th right now on the trail...her Team was really slowed by that intestinal bug but as she said herself, they are eating well and "in the hunt". You go Aliy and the SPK Red Team!!!
Most of you can see by the race stats that the lead Teams are on the trail.....so let me fill you in on what the GPS is posting:
Dog Hauling Dallas Daddy Mitch at 689
Dog Hauling Dallas at 680
Wade Marrs at mile 672
Nick Petit at mile 667
Joar Ulsom at mile 663
Aliy Zirkle at mile 643
Jessie Royer at mile 634
Jessie had ALL 16 dogs on the line.....a HUGE contrast to the Seavey Dog Hauling strategy where they essentially pack away dogs to be used later! Her dogs have experienced every bit of the trail...you go Jessie....lets see what this Team of 16 elite athletes can do on the last 3rd of the race!!
I absolutely LOVE seeing Aliy in 6th right now on the trail...her Team was really slowed by that intestinal bug but as she said herself, they are eating well and "in the hunt". You go Aliy and the SPK Red Team!!!
Most of you can see by the race stats that the lead Teams are on the trail.....so let me fill you in on what the GPS is posting:
Dog Hauling Dallas Daddy Mitch at 689
Dog Hauling Dallas at 680
Wade Marrs at mile 672
Nick Petit at mile 667
Joar Ulsom at mile 663
Aliy Zirkle at mile 643
Jessie Royer at mile 634
Jessie had ALL 16 dogs on the line.....a HUGE contrast to the Seavey Dog Hauling strategy where they essentially pack away dogs to be used later! Her dogs have experienced every bit of the trail...you go Jessie....lets see what this Team of 16 elite athletes can do on the last 3rd of the race!!
Arriving in Kaltag
Mitch now has some company in Kaltag (mile 633)...Wade Marrs pulled into the checkpoint, taking a half hour longer to do the run than Mitch did it. Dallas just got to the checkpoint as well taking a mere 2 minutes longer than Wade to make the run from Nulato. These are the main front runners. Not to say the rest of the chase pack cant challange them....there still is a lot of miles yet to go and anything can happen.
The rest of the moving teams look like this:
Petit at 621
Joar at 614
Redington at 586 (resting)
Jason Mackey at 585
Jessie Royer at 583
Johannessen at 576
John Baker at mile 566
Aliy at 563 (just leaving Koyukuk)
The trail from Huslia to Koyukuk was reportedly like an eggshell.....a very thin crust on top, but if you broke through it was bottomless sugar snow. That is tough going for a dog team. Jessie Royer explained that when she passed resting Teams the trail would get ever so slightly better, so I'm sure they many teams out there right now are struggling a bit, unless the trail set up some overnight. The teams appear to be moving a little faster in this area now, so its likely the trail is a bit better. From Koyukuk to Kaltag the trail is traveled by the locals and is packed down....so once the Teams get back on the Yukon its much easier going.
As much as I hate to say it....but look for Mitch and Dallas to "put the hammer down", as Mitch phrased it in an interview. This is when they take out the dogs they have been resting along the way and allow them to actually race. I'm not sure what the trail to Unalakleet is like...other than its an ancient portage route used by Athabaskan's to the east to trade and travel with the Inupuit peoples along the Bering Sea Coast. Its about 90 miles long and has a couple of shelter cabins along the route. From what I have read, there is not much snowmobile traffic between the 2 villages of Kaltag and Unalakleet through the winter, so this section of trail may have just a thin crust much like the trail from Huslia. If that is the case it will deteriorate with every passing of a Team when the temperatures rise through the day with a high of 25 degrees forecasted with lots of sun...not overcast like it has been. As they approach Unalakleet the temps are not as hot, but still over optimum mushing temps.
The rest of the moving teams look like this:
Petit at 621
Joar at 614
Redington at 586 (resting)
Jason Mackey at 585
Jessie Royer at 583
Johannessen at 576
John Baker at mile 566
Aliy at 563 (just leaving Koyukuk)
The trail from Huslia to Koyukuk was reportedly like an eggshell.....a very thin crust on top, but if you broke through it was bottomless sugar snow. That is tough going for a dog team. Jessie Royer explained that when she passed resting Teams the trail would get ever so slightly better, so I'm sure they many teams out there right now are struggling a bit, unless the trail set up some overnight. The teams appear to be moving a little faster in this area now, so its likely the trail is a bit better. From Koyukuk to Kaltag the trail is traveled by the locals and is packed down....so once the Teams get back on the Yukon its much easier going.
As much as I hate to say it....but look for Mitch and Dallas to "put the hammer down", as Mitch phrased it in an interview. This is when they take out the dogs they have been resting along the way and allow them to actually race. I'm not sure what the trail to Unalakleet is like...other than its an ancient portage route used by Athabaskan's to the east to trade and travel with the Inupuit peoples along the Bering Sea Coast. Its about 90 miles long and has a couple of shelter cabins along the route. From what I have read, there is not much snowmobile traffic between the 2 villages of Kaltag and Unalakleet through the winter, so this section of trail may have just a thin crust much like the trail from Huslia. If that is the case it will deteriorate with every passing of a Team when the temperatures rise through the day with a high of 25 degrees forecasted with lots of sun...not overcast like it has been. As they approach Unalakleet the temps are not as hot, but still over optimum mushing temps.
As Mitch serves 8 hour rest in Kaltag, Wade, Dallas and Petit Battle it out on the way
With Mitch safely in Kaltag at a blistering pace, here comes the chase pack!
Wade Marrs at mile 594
Dallas at mile 589
Petit at mile 575
Ulsom at mile 570
This is it....and by way of the videos Petit's team looks FAST.....Wades team looks awesome as well! I didn't see all of Dallas's Team since he had some stuffed in the mobile kennel....but that's Dog Hauling Dallas for ya!
Wade Marrs at mile 594
Dallas at mile 589
Petit at mile 575
Ulsom at mile 570
This is it....and by way of the videos Petit's team looks FAST.....Wades team looks awesome as well! I didn't see all of Dallas's Team since he had some stuffed in the mobile kennel....but that's Dog Hauling Dallas for ya!
Saturday, March 11, 2017
Mitch pushes through Koyukuk and Nulato with sights on Kaltag for 8 Hour Rest
So far, it appears Dallas and Wade are serving out their 8 hour rest in Koyukuk....but Dog Haulin Dallas Daddy Mitch left Koyukuk after 3.5 hours rest and has now blown through Nulato on his way to Kaltag. Its only 22 miles from Koyukuk to Nulato, and from Nulato its 47 miles to Kaltag. The trail between these villages is hard packed and traveled by snow machine by the locals all winter. Its reportedly FAST and an easy pull for the dogs.
The insider crew is reporting freezing rain is moving into Kaltag....I'm not sure how that will affect the trail, but its another wild card.
The Top Teams look like this on the GPS:
*Dog Hauling Dallas Daddy Mitch at mile 589
*Dog Hauling Dallas resting in Koyukuk at mile 564
*Wade Marrs also resting in Koyukuk at mile 564
*Joar Ulsom also resting in Koyukuk at mile 564
Petit also resting in Koyukuk at mile 564
Royer nearing Koyukuk at mile 555
*Diehl at mile 540
*Kaiser at mike 539
Aliy at mile 535
Baker at mile 533
Redington at mile 524
Mackey at mile 524
Johannessen at mile 523
The insider crew is reporting freezing rain is moving into Kaltag....I'm not sure how that will affect the trail, but its another wild card.
The Top Teams look like this on the GPS:
*Dog Hauling Dallas Daddy Mitch at mile 589
*Dog Hauling Dallas resting in Koyukuk at mile 564
*Wade Marrs also resting in Koyukuk at mile 564
*Joar Ulsom also resting in Koyukuk at mile 564
Petit also resting in Koyukuk at mile 564
Royer nearing Koyukuk at mile 555
*Diehl at mile 540
*Kaiser at mike 539
Aliy at mile 535
Baker at mile 533
Redington at mile 524
Mackey at mile 524
Johannessen at mile 523
Front Runners in Koyukuk led by Wade Marrs
Wade Marrs made it into Koyukuk first....but not by much. Within the next 30 minutes he was joined by the father and son "Dog Haulin" duo Mitch and the Dallas. All 3 Teams have shut down for 8 hours and will be ready to go an hour before sunset....perfect timing to avoid the heat!
Joar Ulsom will be the next into Koyokuk and he too will shut it down for 8 hours. He should be there in about an hour.
Further up the trail the GPS Tracker shows the following:
Petit at 537
Royer at 525
*Dielh at 519, resting
*Kaiser at 519, also resting
Redington at 516, resting
Phillips at 515
*Ken Anderson at 513
Jason Mackey at 511
Buser at 509
Aliy at 508 (she just finished a good rest)
Baker 508
Smith 506
More in a bit!
Joar Ulsom will be the next into Koyokuk and he too will shut it down for 8 hours. He should be there in about an hour.
Further up the trail the GPS Tracker shows the following:
Petit at 537
Royer at 525
*Dielh at 519, resting
*Kaiser at 519, also resting
Redington at 516, resting
Phillips at 515
*Ken Anderson at 513
Jason Mackey at 511
Buser at 509
Aliy at 508 (she just finished a good rest)
Baker 508
Smith 506
More in a bit!
King sporting some new "creature comfort" equipment
King probably left this back in Galena when the temps began to rise....but he fashioned a sleeping bag into a parka so during those colder than cold runs he was wrapped up in a winter sleeping bag but still able to drive his team. Pretty inventive Jeff!
We also noticed he is wearing eye protection that is a little different than your normal goggles or safety glasses.
Being one of the older competitor Mushers in the race, Jeff is dialed in to his own comfort....after all it was Jeff who designed the "old man" sit down sled that I believe nearly everyone is now using. He also was the one who introduced dog hauling in trailers....I'm glad that was outlawed.
Over the years Mushers have created innovations to assist on the trail to get the edge on their competitors. For a few years there, Buser would actually erect a sail when he hit the Yukon to take advantage of the constant wind. Jeff once had wheels he would fashion onto his sled so when he hit the snow less Farewell Burn he could roll on through. Both of these innovations were outlawed by the Trail Committee. Innovations in human comfort on the other hand is always evolving and isn't considered for outlawing since its comfort and not speed that is affected. New fangled cookers to heat water while on the move seems to be another innovation many have been trying out. From a safety standpoint that one is a little iffy....if a sled ever caught fire from an on board cooker it could be disastrous....but so far the Trail Committee has not outlawed this tactic. Jeff King again was the first to start doing that with his heated handlebar that also doubled as a hot dog cooker....and eventually a mitten burner as well. Needless to say he doesn't have that innovation anymore!
I can see in the future the Iditarod Trail Committee will have to make a ruling if hauling healthy dogs for rotation is something they want to keep allowing to happen. If they do allow for it, I would think they would set some parameters in regards to how much space a resting dog must have. I myself believe healthy dogs should be on the tug line and hauling dogs should be outlawed altogether.
If only I made the rules huh!!! Besides....its a lot of typing to say "Dog Haulin Dallas" and "Dog Haulin Dallas Daddy Mitch" on this blog....imagine if they all started hauling dogs....Id never be able to finish a post before my hands cramped up! But seriously guys....just Mush like normal would ya!!! Hats off to all the Teams this year that are doing it "old school" and still kicking butt out there!
We also noticed he is wearing eye protection that is a little different than your normal goggles or safety glasses.
Being one of the older competitor Mushers in the race, Jeff is dialed in to his own comfort....after all it was Jeff who designed the "old man" sit down sled that I believe nearly everyone is now using. He also was the one who introduced dog hauling in trailers....I'm glad that was outlawed.
Over the years Mushers have created innovations to assist on the trail to get the edge on their competitors. For a few years there, Buser would actually erect a sail when he hit the Yukon to take advantage of the constant wind. Jeff once had wheels he would fashion onto his sled so when he hit the snow less Farewell Burn he could roll on through. Both of these innovations were outlawed by the Trail Committee. Innovations in human comfort on the other hand is always evolving and isn't considered for outlawing since its comfort and not speed that is affected. New fangled cookers to heat water while on the move seems to be another innovation many have been trying out. From a safety standpoint that one is a little iffy....if a sled ever caught fire from an on board cooker it could be disastrous....but so far the Trail Committee has not outlawed this tactic. Jeff King again was the first to start doing that with his heated handlebar that also doubled as a hot dog cooker....and eventually a mitten burner as well. Needless to say he doesn't have that innovation anymore!
I can see in the future the Iditarod Trail Committee will have to make a ruling if hauling healthy dogs for rotation is something they want to keep allowing to happen. If they do allow for it, I would think they would set some parameters in regards to how much space a resting dog must have. I myself believe healthy dogs should be on the tug line and hauling dogs should be outlawed altogether.
If only I made the rules huh!!! Besides....its a lot of typing to say "Dog Haulin Dallas" and "Dog Haulin Dallas Daddy Mitch" on this blog....imagine if they all started hauling dogs....Id never be able to finish a post before my hands cramped up! But seriously guys....just Mush like normal would ya!!! Hats off to all the Teams this year that are doing it "old school" and still kicking butt out there!
30 miles from Koyukuk - GPS Tracker Update
The front runners are on their way to Koyukuk and at the present time are about 30 miles from the checkpoint. I believe Dallas is playing some head games with Wade, as he has consistently been staying directly behind him nearly the whole way. Here is how it breaks down:
*Wade Marrs at 534
*"Dog Haulin Dallas" at 533 (see what I mean)
*"Dog Haulin Dallas Daddy Mitch" at 531
*Ulsom at 518
Petit at 499
Ray Reddington at 498
*Diehl at 498
*Kaiser at 498
Aliy at 497
Royer at 488
*Gebhardt at 487
Strath at 481
*Ken Anderson at 479
* Means 8 hour break still needs to be served. All the other teams can come and go as they please, and quite likely will rest shorter, like an 4, 5, 6 hour rest anywhere they please while the others must serve all 8 hours in a checkpoint.
The temps right now in Koyukuk is 7 degrees...by noon it will be 17 degrees with a saving grace of being mostly cloudy.
Curious on King and Buser....they have not left Huslia yet and don't appear to be taking advantage of the coolness of the morning before it gets too darn hot. Not sure of their strategy, but they know what their dogs need.
*Wade Marrs at 534
*"Dog Haulin Dallas" at 533 (see what I mean)
*"Dog Haulin Dallas Daddy Mitch" at 531
*Ulsom at 518
Petit at 499
Ray Reddington at 498
*Diehl at 498
*Kaiser at 498
Aliy at 497
Royer at 488
*Gebhardt at 487
Strath at 481
*Ken Anderson at 479
* Means 8 hour break still needs to be served. All the other teams can come and go as they please, and quite likely will rest shorter, like an 4, 5, 6 hour rest anywhere they please while the others must serve all 8 hours in a checkpoint.
The temps right now in Koyukuk is 7 degrees...by noon it will be 17 degrees with a saving grace of being mostly cloudy.
Curious on King and Buser....they have not left Huslia yet and don't appear to be taking advantage of the coolness of the morning before it gets too darn hot. Not sure of their strategy, but they know what their dogs need.
Kaiser, Diehl, Reddington, Aliy and of course Petit leave Huslia!
The GPS is showing both Kaiser and Dielh have left Huslia and are now in pursuit! They have yet to take their 8 hours but quite likely want to take advantage of the cool morning temps and kept going. Ray Reddington is doing the same, as well as Aily Zirkle. Remember, both Aliy and Ray have taken all of their mandatory rest.
Petit is also back on the trail with a fresh rested team after finishing out his 24 in Huslia. Look out front runners....the chase pack is in pursuit!
From the tracker:
Mitch 522 and resting
Wade 518 and running
Dallas 517 and running
Joar 508 and resting
Petit 480 and running
Kaiser 480 and running
Diehl 480 and running
Reddington 480 and running
Aliy 480 and running with HAPPY HEALTHY Huskies!!! Must be they are feeling better!
And I haven't even had a cup of coffee yet this am!
Petit is also back on the trail with a fresh rested team after finishing out his 24 in Huslia. Look out front runners....the chase pack is in pursuit!
From the tracker:
Mitch 522 and resting
Wade 518 and running
Dallas 517 and running
Joar 508 and resting
Petit 480 and running
Kaiser 480 and running
Diehl 480 and running
Reddington 480 and running
Aliy 480 and running with HAPPY HEALTHY Huskies!!! Must be they are feeling better!
And I haven't even had a cup of coffee yet this am!
Mitch Out in Front
"Dog Haulin Dallas Daddy Mitch" passed both Dallas and Wade as they rested their Teams.....Wade and Dallas are now moving at mile 512 and 511. They are right together...Wade in front and the Dog Hauling Dallas literally nipping at his heels! Joar Ulsom was also passed by Mitch and is still resting at mile 508. And Mitch....he is at mile 522. Remember.....no one in this front group has taken their 8 hour rest.
The first wave of chase pack Teams are no doubt packing their sleds back at Huslia, mile 478 and getting ready to leave. Nick Petit will be the first to pull the snow hook.
The second group of Mushers who have reached Huslia AND who have taken all their mandatory rest are King, followed 20 minutes later by Buser, then a hour and a half later by Mats Pettersson, Rookie Sebastian Vergnaud and Veteran Ketil Reitan are also in Huslia about 2 and a half hours behind the leader (King) if this chase pack. Somehow I missed these last two in my earlier post. Ray Reddington Jr and Aliy Zirkle are approaching Huslia as I write this at mile 476 mile and mile 475. Scott Smith is just behind them at mile 472.
This should be an interesting race as really anything can happen with half a race to go yet! Will Mitch be able to hold off Dallas and Wade? Will Petit or Jessie with 16 strong dogs be able to show those 2 front runners that dogs are at their best ON the tug line instead of hauled in the sled and rotated through? I am hoping for the later, but there still is a lot of race left to go! We will just have to wait and see!
The first wave of chase pack Teams are no doubt packing their sleds back at Huslia, mile 478 and getting ready to leave. Nick Petit will be the first to pull the snow hook.
The second group of Mushers who have reached Huslia AND who have taken all their mandatory rest are King, followed 20 minutes later by Buser, then a hour and a half later by Mats Pettersson, Rookie Sebastian Vergnaud and Veteran Ketil Reitan are also in Huslia about 2 and a half hours behind the leader (King) if this chase pack. Somehow I missed these last two in my earlier post. Ray Reddington Jr and Aliy Zirkle are approaching Huslia as I write this at mile 476 mile and mile 475. Scott Smith is just behind them at mile 472.
This should be an interesting race as really anything can happen with half a race to go yet! Will Mitch be able to hold off Dallas and Wade? Will Petit or Jessie with 16 strong dogs be able to show those 2 front runners that dogs are at their best ON the tug line instead of hauled in the sled and rotated through? I am hoping for the later, but there still is a lot of race left to go! We will just have to wait and see!
Wade Marrs, "Dog Haulin" Dallas, and Joar Ulsom Blow Through Huslia
Teams out of Huslia as of 2:08 am in the Adirondacks:
Wade Marrs is at mile501
Dallas Seavey is at mile 497
Joar Ulsom is at mile 485
NONE of these Teams have taken their 8 hour rest yet.
Soon Mitch will leave Huslia in hot pursuit after serving his 24 hour plus start differential.....he too has yet to serve his 8 hour break.
Mitch will be followed by a group of contenders coming off their 24 hour rest in Huslia...and these folks have already served their 8 hour rest....this includes Petit, Royer, Phillips, Johannessen, Jason Mackey and John Baker.
On the way to Huslia, we have the 2nd chase pack who have finished all of their mandatory rest....they include:
Ray Reddington Jr at mile 461 (presently resting)
King at mile 461
Buser at mile 459
Aliy at mile 453 (presently resting......she left Galena with 14 dog....lets hope they kicked that stomach bug!)
Scott Smith at mile 445 (presently resting)
Cody Strath at mile 446
Kaiser, Diehl, Ken Anderson and Gebhardt are all in there too....but they have not served their mandatory 8 hour yet.
Once Teams reach Koyukuk they resume onto the original Iditarod Trail (northern route). It will be an epic battle to Kaltag and then to the coast....we can now see the front runners developing and the groups of chase packs growing with each mile. The weather is now a big factor....watch for Teams to run in the coolest times of the day if it fits their schedule. If it doesn't fit their schedule, the sun may play a big part in paring this chase pack down to the elite front runners whose schedules jive with Mother Natures.
Wade Marrs is at mile501
Dallas Seavey is at mile 497
Joar Ulsom is at mile 485
NONE of these Teams have taken their 8 hour rest yet.
Soon Mitch will leave Huslia in hot pursuit after serving his 24 hour plus start differential.....he too has yet to serve his 8 hour break.
Mitch will be followed by a group of contenders coming off their 24 hour rest in Huslia...and these folks have already served their 8 hour rest....this includes Petit, Royer, Phillips, Johannessen, Jason Mackey and John Baker.
On the way to Huslia, we have the 2nd chase pack who have finished all of their mandatory rest....they include:
Ray Reddington Jr at mile 461 (presently resting)
King at mile 461
Buser at mile 459
Aliy at mile 453 (presently resting......she left Galena with 14 dog....lets hope they kicked that stomach bug!)
Scott Smith at mile 445 (presently resting)
Cody Strath at mile 446
Kaiser, Diehl, Ken Anderson and Gebhardt are all in there too....but they have not served their mandatory 8 hour yet.
Once Teams reach Koyukuk they resume onto the original Iditarod Trail (northern route). It will be an epic battle to Kaltag and then to the coast....we can now see the front runners developing and the groups of chase packs growing with each mile. The weather is now a big factor....watch for Teams to run in the coolest times of the day if it fits their schedule. If it doesn't fit their schedule, the sun may play a big part in paring this chase pack down to the elite front runners whose schedules jive with Mother Natures.
Friday, March 10, 2017
Wade Marrs Pulls Ahead of Dallas / Buser in Hot Pursuit
It doesn't appear the warmth of the day is stopping some pretty fast Teams.....we have Wade Marrs out in front of Dallas at mile 438, and Dallas at mile 425. But one to really keep an eye on is Buser at mile 408. Out of those 3, Buser is the only one who has taken all of his mandatory rest....both Dallas and Wade need to serve out their 8 hours somewhere before leaving this Yukon River/Huslia portion of the trail. Buser has set a blistering pace ever since he got off his 24 back in Ruby!
No one has yet to leave Huslia....so I guess my prior prediction of some of the chase pack to up and leave in the morning hours has come and gone. That said, it looks like they have decided their dogs need the rest and will enjoy the hospitality of Huslia for their 24 hour rest. Mitch and Nick have the best window for heading back out on the trail in the nighttime hours after their 24 hour rest. Others will be leaving around daybreak....hope it doesn't heat up quickly tomorrow for those mushers.
Jeff King , Ray Reddington and Aliy will all be coming off of their 24 hour break in Galena at a good time to take advantage of the night temperatures on their way to Huslia, 82 miles away.
Please put some healing thoughts towards Aliys Team, as they have been fighting a stomach bug for a awhile now. Those SPK dogs are some of the best out on the trail, but with a bug to fight off they just cant perform to the best of their abilities....I'm sure the 24 hour break has been very beneficial for them as they try to kick this thing! Hang in there Aliy!!
No one has yet to leave Huslia....so I guess my prior prediction of some of the chase pack to up and leave in the morning hours has come and gone. That said, it looks like they have decided their dogs need the rest and will enjoy the hospitality of Huslia for their 24 hour rest. Mitch and Nick have the best window for heading back out on the trail in the nighttime hours after their 24 hour rest. Others will be leaving around daybreak....hope it doesn't heat up quickly tomorrow for those mushers.
Jeff King , Ray Reddington and Aliy will all be coming off of their 24 hour break in Galena at a good time to take advantage of the night temperatures on their way to Huslia, 82 miles away.
Please put some healing thoughts towards Aliys Team, as they have been fighting a stomach bug for a awhile now. Those SPK dogs are some of the best out on the trail, but with a bug to fight off they just cant perform to the best of their abilities....I'm sure the 24 hour break has been very beneficial for them as they try to kick this thing! Hang in there Aliy!!
Hustle and Bustle in Huslia!
Huslia, population of about 275 is getting a lot of visitors right about now! As you know Mitch got there first last night (aka "Dog Hauling Daddy", as Mitch has also rebuilt a sled to haul dogs on the race just like his son "Dog Hauling Dallas"), but there has been a steady stream of Mushers making their way into the Checkpoint. No one has yet left Huslia, and its unclear at this juncture which of the chasers will also take their 24 hour rest here. Nonetheless.....its important to remember Mitch is the only one in Huslia right now who still needs to take his 8 hour rest in addition to the 24 hour rest he is now serving.
SO.....who is there with Mitch? We got Petit of course, who made the 82 mile run to Huslia a full hour and 20 minutes FASTER than Mitch. Then Jessie Royer, who did the run 4 and a half hours SLOWER than Petit....and Michelle Phillips who did the run with a lot of rest built in along the way taking nearly 6 hours longer to cover the 82 miles .
I would venture to guess none of the above mentioned chase Teams will do 24 hours in Huslia since it will put them back on the trail too close to day break tomorrow, when its predicted to be even warmer than the high of 18 degrees today. Petit may however do this since he did the haul to Huslia in one big push, so perhaps he will stay for 24 hours in Huslia...he came in at 2 am so a 24 hour rest will still allow him to leave in the cool of the night. The most efficient in regards to warm temps of course is to pull the hook right when the sun is setting to take advantage of the 24 hour rest your dogs have to run them through a long cold night as happy huskies! Mitch however is doing his 24 hour rest in Huslia and will leave shortly after 10 pm Alaskan Time. That's a fairly good set up for Mitch.
As they head south to Koyukuk the temperatures only get warmer....into the 20s today! With warmer temps on tap for the rest of the race, weather will play into the race strategies more and more. King has already noted his change in run/rest to assure he doesn't overheat his team. I suspect others, to stay competitive with happy healthy teams, will be forced to do the same.
Wade Marrs and "Dog Hauling Dallas" are both off of their 24 hour rest....Wade stopped to rest in Galena, while Dallas opted to blow threw and camp along the trail. Wade set out after him shortly thereafter, and the GPS tracker shows Wade now within 4 miles of the resting Team of Dallas.
SO.....who is there with Mitch? We got Petit of course, who made the 82 mile run to Huslia a full hour and 20 minutes FASTER than Mitch. Then Jessie Royer, who did the run 4 and a half hours SLOWER than Petit....and Michelle Phillips who did the run with a lot of rest built in along the way taking nearly 6 hours longer to cover the 82 miles .
I would venture to guess none of the above mentioned chase Teams will do 24 hours in Huslia since it will put them back on the trail too close to day break tomorrow, when its predicted to be even warmer than the high of 18 degrees today. Petit may however do this since he did the haul to Huslia in one big push, so perhaps he will stay for 24 hours in Huslia...he came in at 2 am so a 24 hour rest will still allow him to leave in the cool of the night. The most efficient in regards to warm temps of course is to pull the hook right when the sun is setting to take advantage of the 24 hour rest your dogs have to run them through a long cold night as happy huskies! Mitch however is doing his 24 hour rest in Huslia and will leave shortly after 10 pm Alaskan Time. That's a fairly good set up for Mitch.
As they head south to Koyukuk the temperatures only get warmer....into the 20s today! With warmer temps on tap for the rest of the race, weather will play into the race strategies more and more. King has already noted his change in run/rest to assure he doesn't overheat his team. I suspect others, to stay competitive with happy healthy teams, will be forced to do the same.
Wade Marrs and "Dog Hauling Dallas" are both off of their 24 hour rest....Wade stopped to rest in Galena, while Dallas opted to blow threw and camp along the trail. Wade set out after him shortly thereafter, and the GPS tracker shows Wade now within 4 miles of the resting Team of Dallas.
Mitch First into Huslia (halfway) as Wade Marrs comes off his 24 hour rest 132 miles behind him!
Mitch Seavey claims the halfway prize as he slips into Huslia....meanwhile, 132 miles behind him Wade Marrs hits the trail after serving his mandatory 24 hour rest. Dallas will soon leave right behind Wade after his 24 hour rest is completed. In a suprise move, Martin Buser pulled over in Ruby to also serve out his 24 hours. Martin will be the only Musher that will have both mandatory rests behind him as he heads down the trail. Jason Mackey is 50 miles ahead of Marrs at this point, resting in Galena. So that is the drama unfolding down the Yukon at this time.
There are a number of Mushers that have chased Mitch into Huslia, and are still heading his way as he shuts his Team down for 24 hours rest. This chase pack has already served out their 8 hour break and will slingshot past the resting front runner in Huslia (mile 478) to claim the "physical" lead. These mushers include Petit at mile 436, Jessie Royer at mile 428, Michelle Philips at mile 425, Johannessen at mile 422, Jason Mackey at mile 419, John Baker at mile 417 and Burmiester at mile 416. Remember, Mitch has yet to serve his 8 hour rest as well. He will quite likely do that at the last checkpoint on the Yukon River in Kaltag, just about 150 miles down the trail from Huslia.
What about "Dog Hauling" Dallas? He will be hot on Marrs trail after serving out his 24 hour break plus start time differential. There was a video posted that showed Dallas has a swollen arm that he says is from fatigue of the trail on the river. In the interview he mentions "vibrations" of the handlebar that may have contributed to the fatigue. Hmmm....that new sled of his does vibrate....you can hear it on the videos and he has mentioned it makes a drumming noise. That may need to be fixed in the next iteration of this sled, along with fixing the built in cooker, which he says is melting apart from the intense heat. He has another sled at the next checkpoint, so he will quite likely be glad to see a new sled. I would be willing to bet his new sled is actually his old sled and not another new fangled dog hauling sled made of carbon fiber and kevlar. But I could be wrong at that....time will tell.
Temperatures are rising. Many Mushers are pulled over in Galena to serve out some mandatory rest during the heat of the day.....like Kaiser and Ulsom. They will quite likely do their 24 hour rest and serve their eight in Kaltag.
Its always interesting to watch the strategies unfold....but its really hard to tell who is in front until everyone is done with their mandatory rests. I will be watching Buser as he finishes ALL of his mandatory rests...he will be the Team with the most flexibilty going forward.
There are a number of Mushers that have chased Mitch into Huslia, and are still heading his way as he shuts his Team down for 24 hours rest. This chase pack has already served out their 8 hour break and will slingshot past the resting front runner in Huslia (mile 478) to claim the "physical" lead. These mushers include Petit at mile 436, Jessie Royer at mile 428, Michelle Philips at mile 425, Johannessen at mile 422, Jason Mackey at mile 419, John Baker at mile 417 and Burmiester at mile 416. Remember, Mitch has yet to serve his 8 hour rest as well. He will quite likely do that at the last checkpoint on the Yukon River in Kaltag, just about 150 miles down the trail from Huslia.
What about "Dog Hauling" Dallas? He will be hot on Marrs trail after serving out his 24 hour break plus start time differential. There was a video posted that showed Dallas has a swollen arm that he says is from fatigue of the trail on the river. In the interview he mentions "vibrations" of the handlebar that may have contributed to the fatigue. Hmmm....that new sled of his does vibrate....you can hear it on the videos and he has mentioned it makes a drumming noise. That may need to be fixed in the next iteration of this sled, along with fixing the built in cooker, which he says is melting apart from the intense heat. He has another sled at the next checkpoint, so he will quite likely be glad to see a new sled. I would be willing to bet his new sled is actually his old sled and not another new fangled dog hauling sled made of carbon fiber and kevlar. But I could be wrong at that....time will tell.
Temperatures are rising. Many Mushers are pulled over in Galena to serve out some mandatory rest during the heat of the day.....like Kaiser and Ulsom. They will quite likely do their 24 hour rest and serve their eight in Kaltag.
Its always interesting to watch the strategies unfold....but its really hard to tell who is in front until everyone is done with their mandatory rests. I will be watching Buser as he finishes ALL of his mandatory rests...he will be the Team with the most flexibilty going forward.
Thursday, March 9, 2017
Mitch Seavey and Joar Ulsom First Mushers to Bolt Outta Ruby
We presently have 2 Teams that opted not to take any mandatory rests and cut lose from Ruby after 4 hours rest (Mitch) and 3 hours rest (Ulsom). They are presently at mile 356 and 351 with Mitch in the lead.
So far, no one else is leaving Ruby and is quite likely staying to knock off one of the mandatory rests....either the 8 hour or the 24 hour rest.
Remember that group that already took their 8 hour rest back in Tanana....well they just hit Ruby. Reddington leading the pack with Jason Mackey 3 minutes behind him and Buser a mere 2 minutes behind Jason! King is still out on the trail into Ruby about 14 miles to go to the checkpoint. This is the group to watch....Mitch and Joar are physically leading, but this group here will easily overtake them once they finally stop to serve out some mandatory rest. Then again, its a balance, because these teams too will have to log in some rest....but their rest is more flexible. No one, not even this group, has yet to serve out there 24 hour rest. Dallas and Wade Marrs did declare they are staying for 24 hours in Ruby....but Dallas seemed to waiver on that....he might break out after just serving his 8 hours and then do his 24 hours further into the race.
I'm glad I am off tomorrow, as the race really gets exciting in regards to strategy in the next few days! Weather will be a factor coming up....as some fairly warm temps are about to raise some havoc with the trail. This may spell trouble for Teams further back, as well as spell trouble for the "Dog Hauler" Dallas and his Father Mitch. Hauling dogs may prove too heavy for the soft trail to handle. Awe....they might have to just run their dogs on the tug line instead of boxing them up in the sled!
Next checkpoint is Galena 50 miles down the trail, presently at -17 degrees but the mercury will rise to 14 above today. Mushers will quite likely start running their dogs at night as these kind of temps will zap a teams strength quick. By Friday the temps in Galena and Huslia will be 18 to 22 degrees above 0...good for Mushers but bad for dogs! Talk about extremes! First 40 to 50 below and now this warm up? Oh, and it may even rain....yikes!
So far, no one else is leaving Ruby and is quite likely staying to knock off one of the mandatory rests....either the 8 hour or the 24 hour rest.
Remember that group that already took their 8 hour rest back in Tanana....well they just hit Ruby. Reddington leading the pack with Jason Mackey 3 minutes behind him and Buser a mere 2 minutes behind Jason! King is still out on the trail into Ruby about 14 miles to go to the checkpoint. This is the group to watch....Mitch and Joar are physically leading, but this group here will easily overtake them once they finally stop to serve out some mandatory rest. Then again, its a balance, because these teams too will have to log in some rest....but their rest is more flexible. No one, not even this group, has yet to serve out there 24 hour rest. Dallas and Wade Marrs did declare they are staying for 24 hours in Ruby....but Dallas seemed to waiver on that....he might break out after just serving his 8 hours and then do his 24 hours further into the race.
I'm glad I am off tomorrow, as the race really gets exciting in regards to strategy in the next few days! Weather will be a factor coming up....as some fairly warm temps are about to raise some havoc with the trail. This may spell trouble for Teams further back, as well as spell trouble for the "Dog Hauler" Dallas and his Father Mitch. Hauling dogs may prove too heavy for the soft trail to handle. Awe....they might have to just run their dogs on the tug line instead of boxing them up in the sled!
Next checkpoint is Galena 50 miles down the trail, presently at -17 degrees but the mercury will rise to 14 above today. Mushers will quite likely start running their dogs at night as these kind of temps will zap a teams strength quick. By Friday the temps in Galena and Huslia will be 18 to 22 degrees above 0...good for Mushers but bad for dogs! Talk about extremes! First 40 to 50 below and now this warm up? Oh, and it may even rain....yikes!
Dallas into Ruby about 40 minutes after Wade
Dallas is in and declares his 24 hour mandatory rest. He looked a little frazzled, and admitted he is indecisive about how long he is going to stay, but he thinks he will stay for at least 8 hours but maybe 24 hours.
It was a long run for both of these Teams.....it will be interesting to see how the others look as they pull into here. Like I mentioned earleir, most Teams rested long on trail....these 2 Teams not so much.
Buser, Mackey and Reddington have the most flexibility at this time, as all those Teams ahead of them will still need to do at least 8 hours of mandatory rest.
Speaking of rest....Im going to bed! Catch ya in the morning!
It was a long run for both of these Teams.....it will be interesting to see how the others look as they pull into here. Like I mentioned earleir, most Teams rested long on trail....these 2 Teams not so much.
Buser, Mackey and Reddington have the most flexibility at this time, as all those Teams ahead of them will still need to do at least 8 hours of mandatory rest.
Speaking of rest....Im going to bed! Catch ya in the morning!
Wednesday, March 8, 2017
Wade Marrs Wins Spirit of Alaska Award and Declares his 24 Hour Rest!
Ya got to love this guy....he pulls into Ruby to a crowd of people and asks "Am I the first one here"? They shower him with gifts and prizes and he is so humble..."cool, this is so nice, I didn't know about this".
Wade is a relatively newcomer to the race but has gradually been working up to the top ten. He is only 26 years old and runs Stump Jumping Kennels on a shoe string budget. He is a small Musher with big dreams...and he just accomplished a big run....way to go Wade!!!
Wade is a relatively newcomer to the race but has gradually been working up to the top ten. He is only 26 years old and runs Stump Jumping Kennels on a shoe string budget. He is a small Musher with big dreams...and he just accomplished a big run....way to go Wade!!!
Yukon River Parade!
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| Parade of Teams Traveling the Mighty Yukon |
Well today it looked like a Yukon River parade. 119 Miles from Tanana to Ruby and it looks as though Wade Marrs is going to beat Dallas into the Checkpoint! Right now Wade is just a few miles outside of Ruby at mile 344, Dallas as 337, Mitch at 331, Nick Petit at mile 323, Ulsom at mile 321, Michelle Philips at mile 316, Aliy and Jesse Royer at mile 313 and Kaiser at mile 312. Wow....what a tight group! You see, there is no Alaska Range to separate the wheat from the chaff here!! The race is on a river.....not much technical about that.....down right cold but, I'm going to say it.....kinda boring.
MOST Mushers break the run up into 2.....but not "Dog Hauling" Dallas. He pretty much did it all in one, with no big break in the middle. You see, "Dog Hauling" Dallas has been rotating dogs to keep them fresh. Wade Marrs I don't believe hauls dogs, and appears to be matching Dallas in speed and endurance without the dog hauling "gimmick"....ya know....I really like this guy Wade! Yup....you go Buddy.....show Dallas how its done "old school" style!
Can you tell I'm not a fan of the dog hauling strategy.....I feel sled dogs should be experiencing the trail, not in a compartment at 2 hours at a time, but ON the tug line doing what they do best.....PULL!
Back to the race.....lets talk mandatory rests shall we? Many Mushers took their 8 hour mandatory rest back in Tanana.....NONE of the Mushers I listed above took their 8 hours yet. Buser has taken his 8 hour break already and could have 20 miles on the leaders if they shut down for their 8 hour mandatory rest in Ruby. Jason Mackey has also taken his 8 hour rest, and is presently at mile 300.....Ray Reddington Junior is another one who took his 8 and is now at mile 296...and King.....mighty Jeff King has his 8 hour already checked off and is presently at mile 286. SO.....the leaders into Ruby should rest lightly, as the chase pack is on the heels and will be there (or beyond) by the time they wake up!
That is IF the stop and rest for 8 hours in Ruby...they could push on, but I doubt it. Time will tell!
GO WADE MARRS!! GO MARTIN BUSER!!! Anyone but Dallas PLEASE!
On the Yukon!
Its Bagel Day for the office since the first Musher (Nick Petit) made it to the Yukon! Nick got to enjoy a huge gourmet dinner and some cash as a prize for being the first one on the Mighty Yukon!
As Mushers checked into Tanana on the Yukon they were asked if they will stay for one of their mandatory 8 hour rests....some will, and some won't.....in fact, 5 Mushers just took off down the trail after about 5 hours rest.....Wade Marrs was first to go, followed closely by Dallas, Kaiser, Mitch and Petit, with Petit actually logging in 7 hours of rest. More Teams no doubt will follow....Aliy said in an interview she is staying for 5 hours...but also said her dogs are still struggling a little with an intestinal bug they picked up on the Quest race a few weeks back. Her dogs are still eating well, and she appears to be holding steady in the standings so let's hope they kick this bug so she can see what this Team of hers can really do!
I would like to give a shout out to Jason Mackey....he is Lance Mackeys brother and appears to be running a really nice team. Jason has never finished in the top 20 and right now is showing some really good promise for a great race! Still lots of miles to go, and he will be giving his Team a full 8 hour rest here, but nicely done Jason!!
It's 119 miles to the next checkpoint of Ruby. Watch for Teams to chunk this up into 2 or 3 runs with some camping along the way to rest. Maybe one of the Seaveys will do it in 1 run since they are resting dogs along the way?? Watch this space!!
As Mushers checked into Tanana on the Yukon they were asked if they will stay for one of their mandatory 8 hour rests....some will, and some won't.....in fact, 5 Mushers just took off down the trail after about 5 hours rest.....Wade Marrs was first to go, followed closely by Dallas, Kaiser, Mitch and Petit, with Petit actually logging in 7 hours of rest. More Teams no doubt will follow....Aliy said in an interview she is staying for 5 hours...but also said her dogs are still struggling a little with an intestinal bug they picked up on the Quest race a few weeks back. Her dogs are still eating well, and she appears to be holding steady in the standings so let's hope they kick this bug so she can see what this Team of hers can really do!
I would like to give a shout out to Jason Mackey....he is Lance Mackeys brother and appears to be running a really nice team. Jason has never finished in the top 20 and right now is showing some really good promise for a great race! Still lots of miles to go, and he will be giving his Team a full 8 hour rest here, but nicely done Jason!!
It's 119 miles to the next checkpoint of Ruby. Watch for Teams to chunk this up into 2 or 3 runs with some camping along the way to rest. Maybe one of the Seaveys will do it in 1 run since they are resting dogs along the way?? Watch this space!!
Tuesday, March 7, 2017
10 Miles Outside of Tanana
It looks like a parade on the GPS Tracker.....lots of Teams approaching Tanana in the next hour. Right now we have:
Petit at 218
Buser at 214
Jason Mackey at 210 (where did Jason come from....bib 64......wow!)
Mitch Seavey at 209
Wade Marrs at 208
Dallas Seavey at 208
Kaiser at 205
Zirkle at 201
King at 200
Ulsom at 200
The next checkpointis at mile 228.
Its been VERY cold at night....but temps should be moderating soon as a warm front moves through. Trail conditions are still ok...especially for the front of the pack. Its a little soft in some areas, but over all its "set up".
I suspect some well deserved resting will be happening once the teams hit Tanana!
Petit at 218
Buser at 214
Jason Mackey at 210 (where did Jason come from....bib 64......wow!)
Mitch Seavey at 209
Wade Marrs at 208
Dallas Seavey at 208
Kaiser at 205
Zirkle at 201
King at 200
Ulsom at 200
The next checkpointis at mile 228.
Its been VERY cold at night....but temps should be moderating soon as a warm front moves through. Trail conditions are still ok...especially for the front of the pack. Its a little soft in some areas, but over all its "set up".
I suspect some well deserved resting will be happening once the teams hit Tanana!
On to Manley Hot Springs
Nearly all the teams are headed to Manley another 90 miles down the route. This is about as long as the longest stretch between checkpoints on the traditional trail, but it isn't the longest stretch between check points for this year....coming up there is a 119 miler from Tanana to Ruby, where this trail will meet the traditional trail. Mushers who run the Yukon Quest will be use to the longer distance between check points. Other Mushers like Jeff King enjoy the creature comforts of a checkpoint to put in his rest. The longer stretches typically require a camping rest somewhere along the trail. Rumor has it Jeff will be using a heated trailer for him to sleep in....but that is just a rumor. He has something up his sleeve but wasn't telling at an interview in Fairbanks. We shall see what Mr. King brings to this race soon enough!
The tracker is looking like this on Tuesday morning in the Adirondacks: Petit doing his typically fast beginning, presently resting at mile 127, King still running at mile 124 after resting some time in Nenana, Ryan Redington moving along at mile 122, also at mile 122, Cody at mile 121 along with Ray Reddinton Jr, Michelle Phlips at mile 119, then Aliy, Diehl, and Vergnaud all at mile 118. Marrs, Buser, Gatt, Royer and Ulsom all all within 4 or 5 miles of them. Its still a tight pack.
Oh, the Seaveys you ask? They appear to be reverting back to a typical Seavey tactic of pulling back the reins some in hopes to have power left in the tank for later....they are both presently at mile 110.
Plenty of racing to be done. It is often the case they really dont start racing until 2/3 of the race is done, and then come on strong at the coast. But as I mentioned earlier, Sorlie grabbed an early lead in 2005 and never gave it up....they let him get too far ahead in the beginning and couldnt catch him.
Now that I have all that written it looks as though some of the front pack may be stopping to rest right were the trail leaves the river to cut off one of its many twists and turns on its way to Manley. In any event, you get the picture....this is just a snapshot in time....if you blink the race order changes in a heart beat!
Off to work now!
The tracker is looking like this on Tuesday morning in the Adirondacks: Petit doing his typically fast beginning, presently resting at mile 127, King still running at mile 124 after resting some time in Nenana, Ryan Redington moving along at mile 122, also at mile 122, Cody at mile 121 along with Ray Reddinton Jr, Michelle Phlips at mile 119, then Aliy, Diehl, and Vergnaud all at mile 118. Marrs, Buser, Gatt, Royer and Ulsom all all within 4 or 5 miles of them. Its still a tight pack.
Oh, the Seaveys you ask? They appear to be reverting back to a typical Seavey tactic of pulling back the reins some in hopes to have power left in the tank for later....they are both presently at mile 110.
Plenty of racing to be done. It is often the case they really dont start racing until 2/3 of the race is done, and then come on strong at the coast. But as I mentioned earlier, Sorlie grabbed an early lead in 2005 and never gave it up....they let him get too far ahead in the beginning and couldnt catch him.
Now that I have all that written it looks as though some of the front pack may be stopping to rest right were the trail leaves the river to cut off one of its many twists and turns on its way to Manley. In any event, you get the picture....this is just a snapshot in time....if you blink the race order changes in a heart beat!
Off to work now!
Monday, March 6, 2017
Race Clock Begins Today in Fairbanks
Now that the hoopla is all done at the Ceremonial Start on Saturday, the race really begins at the Restart today in Fairbanks. It is minus 25 out...perfect for sled dogs during this hyped up time leaving the chute. I was totally over the top thrilled that our SPK Sponsor Dog Chemo lead Allen Moore's Team out with his Uncle Waylon at his side! Here are a few pictures of the restart:
Yeah, thats our boy Chemo....starting his 5th Iditarod!!! Allen runs the "B" Team for the Kennel, so Chemo will be out of the thick of the competition....his job for this race is help Allen teach the younger dogs how to be a sled dog....you know, the usual....like how to run, eat, rest and go, go go!! Chemo is known for his quiet and mellow demeanor, and doesn't get all wrapped up in the glory of being in Lead...he just does his job and does it well. I'm glad to see Allen giving him a chance to be his Lead dog....even if its just for a portion of the race. We absolutely love this dog! And thanks SPK for all the Dog Sponsorship swag....we love our hats and sweat shirts and T Shirts!
As far as the race is concerned...not much to report since its SO early. Many Teams are resting in Nenana as I write this....a mere 71 miles into the 1,000 mile race. Some "big name" Teams like Martin Buser, Mitch Seavey and son Dallas Seavey have moved through Nenana and continue down the river at a pretty good clip. Maybe too fast some may say. Its better to go slow in the beginning....but not too slow. There is a sweet spot and you just have to find it. Robert Sorlie who won this race on this route back in 2005 jumped ahead early and no one could catch him...no doubt Mushers are keeping tabs on eachother....no one leaves without a chaser! Aliy and King appear to be disaplined and are not taking the bait as they rest their Teams in Nenana. There will be plenty of time for a chase after some rest!
I'll post an update in the morning...right now the tracker shows Buser at 90 miles, Mitch at 83, Johannessen at 78, Dallas at 76, and Petterssen at 75.
As far as the race is concerned...not much to report since its SO early. Many Teams are resting in Nenana as I write this....a mere 71 miles into the 1,000 mile race. Some "big name" Teams like Martin Buser, Mitch Seavey and son Dallas Seavey have moved through Nenana and continue down the river at a pretty good clip. Maybe too fast some may say. Its better to go slow in the beginning....but not too slow. There is a sweet spot and you just have to find it. Robert Sorlie who won this race on this route back in 2005 jumped ahead early and no one could catch him...no doubt Mushers are keeping tabs on eachother....no one leaves without a chaser! Aliy and King appear to be disaplined and are not taking the bait as they rest their Teams in Nenana. There will be plenty of time for a chase after some rest!
I'll post an update in the morning...right now the tracker shows Buser at 90 miles, Mitch at 83, Johannessen at 78, Dallas at 76, and Petterssen at 75.
Sunday, March 5, 2017
Ceremonial Start is over - Teams Trek to Fairbanks for the Re-Start on Monday!
The Ceremonial Start is over and now all the Teams are relocating to Fairbanks for the real race to begin! There is no telling what will happen this year, but the speculations are flying.....will the trail be slow and deep? Will the wind on the Yukon blow the trail in, making it difficult for all the Teams to navigate? Will the trail "set up" due to the wind and be just fine? This is the Iditarod, and the only thing we DO know is that anything can happen. One of the things I have concern about is moose.....deep snow + moose is not a good combination for dog teams. Lets hope the moose behave and dont get territorial of any packed down trail being used by the Teams.
Here at IditaDacks, we enjoyed the festivities of the Ceremonial Race cheering on our favorite mushers as they left the starting chute! I was pleased to see our SPK Sponsor dog on Allen Moore's Ceremonial Start Roster!!! YEAH Chemo!!! We will know in the next 24 hours if he makes the Re-start roster for Monday....but as you can tell by the above photo I was jazzed to see him partake in the Ceremonial Festivitites!!!
All eyes are on Fairbanks now. I will try to get out of work early to watch the re-start live. The commentary during the restart is always insightful!
Stay tuned!!!
Friday, March 3, 2017
Iditarod 2017 is here!!!!
Last week I held my 9th IditaLunch at the Marcy Office and I must say, after 9 years the Folks at the Office have turned into some well seasoned ArmChair Mushers!!! The Race for the Iditarod Mug and bragging rights for another year is on the line....I expect over 30 entries will be submitted...all in fun....it really brings everyone in the office together....thanks to all of you for playing along with me for all these years!
Last night Elizabeth and I watched the Mushers Banquet over the Iditarod Facebook page.....how fun was that!! It was a late night for us, as we watched every Musher draw their Bib number and give thanks to their friends, famlies and sponsors. It sure brought memories back to 2015 when we were there in the room....but this was the next best thing! As you can see by the picture I posted above, I have "IditaDacks Armchair Headquarters" all set up for the race!! This is where I pretty much will be living once the race starts!
Tonight here at IditaDacks we welcome our friends to our annual IditaParty...where we will have IditaFun all weekend playing Sled Dog games and analyzing all the pre-race data! So check in often for updates!
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