We are about 200 miles into this race, with the trail getting better each mile up the Alaska Range. The wind had packed the new snowfall down and its turned into a wonderful trail for both Mushers and dogs. The wind was in their faces as they crested the range through the pass, and the temps on the other side are quite cold (-25) but with wind jackets on the dogs that is perfect. I'm not hearing any treacherous stories from the Teams going down the Dallzell Gorge....so all is well on the Iditarod Trail!
I have to give a shout out to Lance Mackey.....its got to feel great for him to be out in front. Right now he is resting in Rohn, but was in the lead pack into the checkpoint. Hopefully he will have plenty of hand warmers to assist with his Raynauds Syndrome...last year he had devised a sheltered cockpit for himself to get him though the cold areas but I don't think he used it. With 25 below temps on the backside of the range I hope he has something to help him keep warm!
Most Teams look to be passing through Rohn to camp out on the 80 mile stretch to Nikolai just to break up that long run...Lance, Richie, Kaiser, Beals and Burmeister got in there first and stayed in Rohn for 4 to 5 hours before heading out to Nikolai. It will be interesting to see of these guys stop on the trail of make one big monster run to the next 80 mile distant checkpoint.
Right now here is the rundown of Teams on the way to Nikolai:
Jessie Royer resting at mile 209
Thomas Waerner resting at mile 209
Joar also resting at mile 209
Diehl just passed these resting team and now is in the lead heading to Nikolai
Mitch and Paige are running together at mile 205, but I suspect they will pull over to rest soon
A rested Kaiser is running at mile 203 and will be trying to catch Diehl
Michelle Phillips is running at mile 203
Aaron Peck running at mile 201
Aliy running at mile 200 (race stats have her still at Rohn 20 miles back, but she is on the trail!)
Lance looks to be up and running after his rest at mile 200
Burmeister is right behind him at mile 199
Now with the Alaska Range behind them, the Teams will begin to think about where to stop to take their mandatory 24 hour rest. A favorite checkpoint for this is in Takotna....but last year Aliy continued to the midway checkpoint of Iditarod (Cripple this year) and claimed the halfway prize. Unfortunately the trail set up better behind her for the chase pack, but it was still a bold move! Who will push their 24 hour rest to the halfway point of Cripple in 2020? Time will tell!
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