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. 

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