Once Again, What a Differance a Day Makes!

Jeezum Crow...right when you think there is a clear lead, something happens!

Mitch is reporting his dogs are down ever since the Yukon River.....their speed is slow, and seem to labor going uphill.....when its level, hard and fast, they are ok.....but climbing or deep snow....no go.

Joar is doing great, his dogs still have pep and he is also in high spirits. 

Petit is the star of the show in Unalakleet.....and for most of the morning (EST) he spent in a shelter cabin on the edge Norton Sound....there is a great video of him bedding down his dogs using the cabin as a wind break, and then going inside and eating trail food with a wooden stake since he lost his spoon! He has been writing messages on trail markers to encourage his fellow mushers along.  Nic is a bit of an anomaly....he appears playful and non-chalant....you cant help but like this guy!

Then it happened.....Nic left the shelter cabin after Mitch arrived there....and took his rested Team down the trail, taking a hard right towards the shore......did I mention the wind was howling.....hard! After Nic leaves the shelter cabin, Joar arrives....and tries to sneak past the shelter cabin without being noticed, but someone (Mitch) shines a headlamp onto him....shucks, so much for a stealth passing!

Meanwhile Nic is out on the ice, finding the shoreline to take the over land trail....but the thing is....he is off the trail.....so he doubles back and finally finds the trail....it has been written that he lost 1.5 hours in this critical mistake in the ground blizard conditions.  Videos from Koyuk tonight show a Nic Petit that is upset with himself....for letting his dogs down. 

As Nic was lost on the ice, Joar, not knowing Petit is confused and lost, passes him as he follows the marked trail.  The going is hard for Joar too, but when he pulls into Koyuk he has no idea he is first, thinking Petit is far ahead of him!  What a surprise! 

As of 7:40 pm (EST), Joar and Nic rest up in Kaltag, and Mitch is only 1 mile out of the checkpoint, no doubt ready for a big rest!