Awesome Aliy!

Aliy Zirkle made a bold move....she didn't stop in Ophir....she is going all the way to Iditarod for her 24 hour rest!  Everyone is talking about all the snow coming down, and that the trail is really going to be a slog....but so far that hasn't been the case, and Aliy wasn't put off by the reports....commonly you will hear her say "its the Iditarod, what do you expect!" She is no stranger to tough trails! 

Currently, Aliy is resting at a BLM Cabin at mile 388, even equipped with an outhouse!!!  This cabin is located 44 miles from Iditarod....so she will no doubt rest here for 3 hours or so before making her last push into her 24 hour rest.  As I write this she has been there for a little over 2 hours. 

Nic Petit decided to 24 back in Ophir and can set out again in about 8 and a half hours.....Joar is back one checkpoint in Takotna and will soon pull the hook in about 2.5 hours to start the chase....expect some leap frogging to happen still with these two.  The big question is, how will the trail be to Iditarod....will it set up over night, or will it be bottomless sugar snow?  If the wind picks up it could create a ground blizzard.  Aliy wasn't afraid to venture forth and find out, and right now she is the only one who knows the answer to that question....soon the chase pack will have to find out too.  Last year Joar got ahead of a ground blizzard doing exactly what Aliy is doing now....so Mother Nature can be a player in the game too.

The rest of the chasers are serving their 24 hour rest in either Takotna or Ophir..once everyone gets back out on the trail after their 24 hour rest we can talk "apples to apples" about Mushers and their placement. 

For now Id like to give a HUGE shout out to Aliy and her Team.....you go girl....get as much time and space in between you and that chase pack....rest up and enjoy all the quiet in the Alaskan wilderness....just you and your Team!