Yukon River Parade!

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!