Hey Folks....due to all the available Podcasts and streaming these days, I'm discontinuing the Blog....thanks for following for the past 10 plus years...it's been fun!
Monday, March 1, 2021
Wednesday, March 18, 2020
Another Iditarod Coming to a Close
A few surprise shuffling of the 6-10 spots into Nome made for an exciting end to the top ten:
Millie Porslid just came in 15th....its been a while since a woman won the Rookie of the Year Award...was Jessie Royer the last one way back in 2001???
My friend Aliy will be placing in 18th this year....she knew early on she didn't have a competitive Team, so I hope she enjoyed the scenery on this trip!! She always gives her best, usually with a smile on her face! I will wait to see her arrival under the Burled Arch before heading to bed.
Thanks for following along this year....please take care and hopefully the world will be in a better place next year at this time. We can only hope!
Millie Porslid just came in 15th....its been a while since a woman won the Rookie of the Year Award...was Jessie Royer the last one way back in 2001???
My friend Aliy will be placing in 18th this year....she knew early on she didn't have a competitive Team, so I hope she enjoyed the scenery on this trip!! She always gives her best, usually with a smile on her face! I will wait to see her arrival under the Burled Arch before heading to bed.
Thanks for following along this year....please take care and hopefully the world will be in a better place next year at this time. We can only hope!
Top 5 are in.....next 5 are close!
As expected, Waerner took the 2020 Crown, followed by Mitch in an awesome coastal run with lots of speed to capture 2nd. Then it was Jessie, Sass and now Burmeister.
The next 5 are coming in quickly....here is what it looks like from the Tracker:
Ulsom and Paige are within a mile of each other, 3 miles from the finish!
The next 5 are coming in quickly....here is what it looks like from the Tracker:
Ulsom and Paige are within a mile of each other, 3 miles from the finish!
Tuesday, March 17, 2020
To the Finish!
Thomas Waerner pulled the snow hook in White Mountain and will be in Nome sometime tonight. There is nothing to stop him now....he will be the 2020 Iditarod Champion!
There will be plenty if racing in this last 72 miles to Nome for the rest of the top ten.....here they are in the order they came into White Mountain. Each one will have to serve out 8 hours of rest and then the race to the top 10 in ON!
Places 6 - 10 will be especially fun to watch! Minutes separate these placings into White Mountain....Ill keep you posted all day tomorrow because I took the day OFF!
There will be plenty if racing in this last 72 miles to Nome for the rest of the top ten.....here they are in the order they came into White Mountain. Each one will have to serve out 8 hours of rest and then the race to the top 10 in ON!
Places 6 - 10 will be especially fun to watch! Minutes separate these placings into White Mountain....Ill keep you posted all day tomorrow because I took the day OFF!
Waerner Pushes on to White Mountain - Seavey Speeds into 2nd Place
In a surprising realization this morning, I see Mitch Seavey got into Elim before Jessie Royer and Aaron Burmeister! He knows he can not catch Waerner….but wow, he can certainly catch some of the other front runners.
Thomas is about halfway to White Mountain, where he will enjoy his last 8 hours before heading to Nome and winning the 2020 Iditarod. He rested 2 hours in Elim, before checking out prior to Mitch arriving.
Here is the Tracker.....my girl Aliy is getting off the ice in Koyuk…..go Aliy!
Thomas is about halfway to White Mountain, where he will enjoy his last 8 hours before heading to Nome and winning the 2020 Iditarod. He rested 2 hours in Elim, before checking out prior to Mitch arriving.
Here is the Tracker.....my girl Aliy is getting off the ice in Koyuk…..go Aliy!
Monday, March 16, 2020
And here they come!
Jessie leads the charge, followed by Burmeister and the rest. Interviews in Koyuk reveal their acknowledgement Thomas Waerner is out of reach....each placing themselves in a good position with a rested Team to pounce in case something goes wrong for Thomas.
Burmeister says the crossing of the Norton Sound was HOT....and the snow was like mashed potatoes....slow going....4 to 5 mph in the heat. Six snow machines passed the chase pack, they were caribou hunters....their sleds softened the surface and it could not harden in the heat....leaving the chase pack to slog through Norton Sound......it was foggy and the air was stifling....the dogs were not happy, and the Mushers were not either. Some like Paige and Sass pulled over and rested in the sun, while the others continued the slog to Koyuk. Right before they arrived, Waerner pushed out of Koyuk. He needs to be careful.....the hills out of Koyuk are long and steep...doing this in the heat may zap the dogs energy. Its happened before.....even in this race Richie Diehl had a problem with getting his dogs to leave Nulato….today he scratched. Aaron Peck also scratched....so catching Waerner would take a catastrophic hiccup in his Team. But he will have plenty of time to give them rest in Elim with a 22 mile lead over the chase pack. Easy Thomas....don't blow it now!
Here it is from the Tracker:
Burmeister says the crossing of the Norton Sound was HOT....and the snow was like mashed potatoes....slow going....4 to 5 mph in the heat. Six snow machines passed the chase pack, they were caribou hunters....their sleds softened the surface and it could not harden in the heat....leaving the chase pack to slog through Norton Sound......it was foggy and the air was stifling....the dogs were not happy, and the Mushers were not either. Some like Paige and Sass pulled over and rested in the sun, while the others continued the slog to Koyuk. Right before they arrived, Waerner pushed out of Koyuk. He needs to be careful.....the hills out of Koyuk are long and steep...doing this in the heat may zap the dogs energy. Its happened before.....even in this race Richie Diehl had a problem with getting his dogs to leave Nulato….today he scratched. Aaron Peck also scratched....so catching Waerner would take a catastrophic hiccup in his Team. But he will have plenty of time to give them rest in Elim with a 22 mile lead over the chase pack. Easy Thomas....don't blow it now!
Here it is from the Tracker:
Waerner the Ghost Musher
"Don't ever let the competition see ya....leave town right before they get in....it will demoralize them."
This has been the mantra of Mushers in the lead for decades....if I were to guess, the chase pack has run out of chase, and is resolved to hand this over to Waerner without challenge. Why? Because they know their Teams, and don't want to push their Teams to a point where they wont want to go (Brent Sass 2016). Or perhaps they know they cant catch him, and will strategize for a placement in the top 5.....after all, they can see and size up those Teams. For whatever reason, there does not appear to be any Musher who is willing to run after him....so he is gone.....like a ghost.
This has been the mantra of Mushers in the lead for decades....if I were to guess, the chase pack has run out of chase, and is resolved to hand this over to Waerner without challenge. Why? Because they know their Teams, and don't want to push their Teams to a point where they wont want to go (Brent Sass 2016). Or perhaps they know they cant catch him, and will strategize for a placement in the top 5.....after all, they can see and size up those Teams. For whatever reason, there does not appear to be any Musher who is willing to run after him....so he is gone.....like a ghost.
As Waerner Rests his Team in Koyuk.....
Here is the first wave of the chase pack.....will Waerner leave Koyuk before Jessie and Burmeister make landfall?
Cat and Mouse Game Continues Up the Coast
Thomas Waerner ran to Old Shaktoolik, the makeshift resting area (not a checkpoint) outside of the main village. Here he rested until the chase pack lead by Jessie Royer got within 4 miles of him, up and gone in true cat and mouse fashion.
Brent Sass apparently stopped and rested 10 miles out of Unalakleet, allowing for the chase pack to move beyond him. He is apparently setting up for a long massive haul, no stopping at Shak, across Norton Sound in pursuit of Waerner. All but Sass took a 3 to 5 hour rest in Unk, but he did rest....just on the trail.
Here is how the GPS looks at 6:15 Monday morning. Ill update with quick screen shots through the day as I practice more social distancing!
Brent Sass apparently stopped and rested 10 miles out of Unalakleet, allowing for the chase pack to move beyond him. He is apparently setting up for a long massive haul, no stopping at Shak, across Norton Sound in pursuit of Waerner. All but Sass took a 3 to 5 hour rest in Unk, but he did rest....just on the trail.
Here is how the GPS looks at 6:15 Monday morning. Ill update with quick screen shots through the day as I practice more social distancing!
Sunday, March 15, 2020
12 miles of Separation
Brent Sass was the only musher who blew through Unalakleet to chase down Waerner….he stayed 7 minutes....just enough time to resupply and continue the chase.
But the gap remains....12 miles. Brent rested on the trail to Unk….but Waerner also got to clock in 5 hours of rest before disappearing down the trail before Wade Marrs pulled into the checkpoint....thus locking in that 12 miles of separation between his Team and the nearest chase pack.
The location of Mushers from here until Koyuk will only be known by GPS...so check into IditaDacks often for updates!
But the gap remains....12 miles. Brent rested on the trail to Unk….but Waerner also got to clock in 5 hours of rest before disappearing down the trail before Wade Marrs pulled into the checkpoint....thus locking in that 12 miles of separation between his Team and the nearest chase pack.
The location of Mushers from here until Koyuk will only be known by GPS...so check into IditaDacks often for updates!
Classic Iditarod Move....Waerner Leaves Checkpoint Before Chase Pack Arrives
In a classic cat and mouse Iditarod move, Thomas Waerner slips out of Unalakleet BEFORE the first chase pack Musher Wade Marrs arrives to the checkpoint.
Well played Thomas, well played! Its good to know the next 300 miles will be a good game of cat and mouse....catch me if you can....no body better sleep tight or risk an old fashion Elim slip (you snooze (Jeff King), you loose)….wow.....get ready for some racing folks!
Also, fresh off Face Book it looks like the locals fixed up an abandoned building outside of town, complete with a porta john outside and a wood stove inside! At least Mushers will have a place to dry out and warm up out of the elements before heading out on the frozen Norton Sound!
Well played Thomas, well played! Its good to know the next 300 miles will be a good game of cat and mouse....catch me if you can....no body better sleep tight or risk an old fashion Elim slip (you snooze (Jeff King), you loose)….wow.....get ready for some racing folks!
Also, fresh off Face Book it looks like the locals fixed up an abandoned building outside of town, complete with a porta john outside and a wood stove inside! At least Mushers will have a place to dry out and warm up out of the elements before heading out on the frozen Norton Sound!
Waerner First to the Coast....Who the Heck is Waerner?
Sorry to all my Office Iditarod Players....I did not have Waerner on my top 20 picks....my bad. HE was not on my radar as he has only run 1 Iditarod (2015) and came in 17th....Rookie of the year....but I missed the big clue.....and I SHOULD have known better, I was there at the Iditarod Start in 2015 and saw the Robert Sorlie, 2 time Champ from Team Norway seeing Thomas Waerner, his protégé off on his first Iditarod. I should have had him in my top 20 picks....so no bonus points got awarded on the board for Waerner making it to the Alaska Coast....sorry bout that!
OK....back to the race. As Thomas enjoys the relative Social Distance silence in Unalakleet….the entire chase pack took a long rest at Old Woman Cabin, about 15 miles from where Thomas was resting in Unalakleet. Look for these Teams to blow through Unk….perhaps leaving any dogs if they show signs of fatigue at that checkpoint, and on to the next 90 mile these folks will go. Right now it looks like Wade Marrs is leading that charge:
Now that I am back from my own trek with Team Adirondack....I will be sure to post through the night as the race up the coast heats up!
OK....back to the race. As Thomas enjoys the relative Social Distance silence in Unalakleet….the entire chase pack took a long rest at Old Woman Cabin, about 15 miles from where Thomas was resting in Unalakleet. Look for these Teams to blow through Unk….perhaps leaving any dogs if they show signs of fatigue at that checkpoint, and on to the next 90 mile these folks will go. Right now it looks like Wade Marrs is leading that charge:
Now that I am back from my own trek with Team Adirondack....I will be sure to post through the night as the race up the coast heats up!
Closing in on the Coast.....non-stop racing!
Wow....looks like the top teams are just running straight to Unalakleet, with only short snack breaks. This is probably due to the fact Shaktoolik is no longer a checkpoint....so it looks like they are running this 90 miles pretty much non-stop....and then quite likely will all take another big rest at the Unalakleet checkpoint before taking on the next 90 mile leg all the way to Koyuk with no place to bench a dog before heading over the frozen Norton Sound.
The Tracker right now looks like this:
Waerner is keeping about a 11 to 12 mile lead over Royer and Burmeister.....speeds are about 6 mph on the average. The Teams will encounter more snow as the get closer to the coast.....probably more wind too. Waerner is breaking trail, but the trail becomes blown in behind him, so Royer and Burmeister are also having to break the trail again. Burmeister is notorious for not breaking trail and following someone who is actually doing the work. It appears he is using this tactic with Jessie on this leg. Its not a very sportsmanship stance to take....normally there is an agreement the teams will take turns. Back in 2013 Jeff King toyed with Lance Mackey by dogging him all the way down the coast....making him break the trail. Back in the 80s and early 90s Rick Swenson was also notorious with setting the snow hook right behind Susan Butcher....forcing her to break the trail. In this race Burmeister was in an interview stating he looked at the trail and decided someone else can break it as he continued to rest his Team. Anyhow, just thought Id point that out. Don't look to Burmeister to help doing any of the trail breaking.
As I write this both Jessie and Burmeister are stopped.....probably snacking their dogs....or perhaps Jessie is saying to Burmeister "after you.....do your part of trail breaking".
The Tracker right now looks like this:
As I write this both Jessie and Burmeister are stopped.....probably snacking their dogs....or perhaps Jessie is saying to Burmeister "after you.....do your part of trail breaking".
Race to the Coast!
Finally everyone out in the front of the pack have taken their mandatory rests....so apples to apples....its all about the balance between strength and speed.
As Royer and Sass served out their 8 hour rest in Kaltag, Thomas Waerner got in and rested his Team about 5 hours before being the first one to head down the ancient portage trail between interior Alaska and the Coast. Its a 90 mile trek, so most Mushers break this up into 2 or 3 chunks. There are 2 shelter cabins along the way that I'm sure the Mushers will have in their strategy to use. Here is a screen shot of the Teams out on the portage trail:
Thomas Waerner out in front, with Burmeister and Royer right next to eachother, followed by Marrs, Sass, Redington, Ulsom and Seavey in that last cluster.
If you are wondering where Richie Diehl is, his Team had a difficult time leaving Nulato, so they returned for a longer stay. Richie was not quite sure what happened, he mentioned there was an interest in one of his female dogs so it could be a heat thing....or it could be Richie played too closely to the line of asking his dogs to do more than they could do. The remedy....more rest and don't push it!
The weather is now the issue....last I heard 6 to 8 inches of new snow had fallen, and Thomas Waerner is now breaking the trail for the chase pack. This is always an issue on the trail....some pull over in hopes a snow machine comes along to break a new trail (the official trail breakers have already been through and do not return to re-groom the trail). There are many village folk who travel the trail by snowmobile, and also you have tourist groups on snow machine too. Its a public trail, so there is no way to reserve it for the race. Right now, it does not appear to be a great trail, as everyone is traveling about 6 mph, even after a 8 hour rest!
I will post snap shots of the lead pack throughout the day to keep you all informed of what is going on.
On another note, Aliy has made it through that portion of the trail between Galena and Nulato where she was attacked by the snow machine in 2016. She did this portion of the trail in the daylight and was with a good group of other Teams, which I am sure she found solace in being there with them.
As Royer and Sass served out their 8 hour rest in Kaltag, Thomas Waerner got in and rested his Team about 5 hours before being the first one to head down the ancient portage trail between interior Alaska and the Coast. Its a 90 mile trek, so most Mushers break this up into 2 or 3 chunks. There are 2 shelter cabins along the way that I'm sure the Mushers will have in their strategy to use. Here is a screen shot of the Teams out on the portage trail:
If you are wondering where Richie Diehl is, his Team had a difficult time leaving Nulato, so they returned for a longer stay. Richie was not quite sure what happened, he mentioned there was an interest in one of his female dogs so it could be a heat thing....or it could be Richie played too closely to the line of asking his dogs to do more than they could do. The remedy....more rest and don't push it!
The weather is now the issue....last I heard 6 to 8 inches of new snow had fallen, and Thomas Waerner is now breaking the trail for the chase pack. This is always an issue on the trail....some pull over in hopes a snow machine comes along to break a new trail (the official trail breakers have already been through and do not return to re-groom the trail). There are many village folk who travel the trail by snowmobile, and also you have tourist groups on snow machine too. Its a public trail, so there is no way to reserve it for the race. Right now, it does not appear to be a great trail, as everyone is traveling about 6 mph, even after a 8 hour rest!
I will post snap shots of the lead pack throughout the day to keep you all informed of what is going on.
On another note, Aliy has made it through that portion of the trail between Galena and Nulato where she was attacked by the snow machine in 2016. She did this portion of the trail in the daylight and was with a good group of other Teams, which I am sure she found solace in being there with them.
Saturday, March 14, 2020
Shaktoolik no longer a checkpoint...why this is critical....
When I first heard Shaktoolik was no longer a checkpoint I thought "so what, its not like their drop bags, HEET fuel for cook stoves and straw for dogs wont be available, that will still be accessible 2 miles out of the checkpoint". But after looking at a map and listening to Jessie Royer talk in Nulato….and knowing what the weather has in store for the next 24 hours, it hit me. The Teams will have to travel 90 miles without shelter....with 35 mile winds and snow...and half of that distance is over the frozen Norton Sound.
The word harsh doesn't do this justice.....this can be brutal, disorienting, cold.....you must have a Leader in the Team that will work with their Musher to assure the Team they can do this. Mother Nature wants her say....and we must listen when she speaks!
The trail is reportedly slow....grabby....sticky. Its snowing, making it punchy for the dogs. This is what the tracker is telling me:
Royer at mile 619
Sass at mile 610
Both must take their 8 hour rest in Kaltag, mile 629
Waerner is running at mile 601
Kaiser is at mile 597 (still needs to take 8 hour in Kaltag)
Burmeister at mile 593
Marrs at mile 591
All the other top teams are in Nulato still resting.
Its quite likely Teams will pass Royer, Sass and Kaiser as they take their mandatory 8 hour rest in Kaltag. But this may be good for them....Teams will be breaking the trail to Unalakleet, making it easier for them to chase for the lead after their 8 hour rest. The storm is suppose to rage until 4 pm tomorrow...gusty winds and all....hold now, check in with IditaDacks often, and enjoy the socially distant coverage from HOME!
The word harsh doesn't do this justice.....this can be brutal, disorienting, cold.....you must have a Leader in the Team that will work with their Musher to assure the Team they can do this. Mother Nature wants her say....and we must listen when she speaks!
The trail is reportedly slow....grabby....sticky. Its snowing, making it punchy for the dogs. This is what the tracker is telling me:
Royer at mile 619
Sass at mile 610
Both must take their 8 hour rest in Kaltag, mile 629
Waerner is running at mile 601
Kaiser is at mile 597 (still needs to take 8 hour in Kaltag)
Burmeister at mile 593
Marrs at mile 591
All the other top teams are in Nulato still resting.
Its quite likely Teams will pass Royer, Sass and Kaiser as they take their mandatory 8 hour rest in Kaltag. But this may be good for them....Teams will be breaking the trail to Unalakleet, making it easier for them to chase for the lead after their 8 hour rest. The storm is suppose to rage until 4 pm tomorrow...gusty winds and all....hold now, check in with IditaDacks often, and enjoy the socially distant coverage from HOME!
Sass and Royer leave Nulato!
Looks like both Sass and Royer will be serving their mandatory 8 hour rest in Kaltag, as they have both left Nulato (mile 582).
Brent left first and pulled over to rest on the trail at mile 592....Jessie is closing in at mile 585. Both of these Mushers will have to rest in Kaltag for 8 hours before continuing. Kaltag is a strategic 8 hour rest spot due to the long 90 mile trek from the interior of Alaska to the Coast of Alaska. There are no checkpoints along that area, so both Brent and Jessie will leave Kaltag with probably more rest than their competitors.
Diehl, Kaiser and Drobney have been in Nulato and might be serving their 8 hour rest if they dont get itchy and make a break to Kaltag like Sass and Royer did.
Also in Nulato is Burmeister and Waerner who can leave at any time since they already served their 8 hour rest.
Coming into Nulato any moment now is Mitch Seavey and Michelle Phillips....neither of them have served their 8 hour rest.
Further down the trail we have these 4 Mushers who have taken their 8 hours and can leave any checkpoint whenever they want...
Ulsom at mile 577
Ryan Redington at mile 576
Wade Marrs at mile 568
Lance Mackey at mile 563
Once we get the 8 hour rests done we can start comparing apples to apples to once and for all figure out who is in the lead. I have a feeling things are going to remain close.
Brent left first and pulled over to rest on the trail at mile 592....Jessie is closing in at mile 585. Both of these Mushers will have to rest in Kaltag for 8 hours before continuing. Kaltag is a strategic 8 hour rest spot due to the long 90 mile trek from the interior of Alaska to the Coast of Alaska. There are no checkpoints along that area, so both Brent and Jessie will leave Kaltag with probably more rest than their competitors.
Diehl, Kaiser and Drobney have been in Nulato and might be serving their 8 hour rest if they dont get itchy and make a break to Kaltag like Sass and Royer did.
Also in Nulato is Burmeister and Waerner who can leave at any time since they already served their 8 hour rest.
Coming into Nulato any moment now is Mitch Seavey and Michelle Phillips....neither of them have served their 8 hour rest.
Further down the trail we have these 4 Mushers who have taken their 8 hours and can leave any checkpoint whenever they want...
Ulsom at mile 577
Ryan Redington at mile 576
Wade Marrs at mile 568
Lance Mackey at mile 563
Once we get the 8 hour rests done we can start comparing apples to apples to once and for all figure out who is in the lead. I have a feeling things are going to remain close.
Nulato and Beyond.....
Jessie Royer was the first into Nulato…..around 10:00 am Eastern time.....the stats have not updated yet, but it looks like Richie Diehl has just gotten into Nulato….that would be about 1.5 hours after Jessie.
Nulato is at mile 582....and the Mushers between here and Galena are running like this...
Thomas Waerner is approaching Nulato…..he HAS already taken his 8 hour rest, so technically he is in the lead, as Jessie and Richie have not yet taken their 8 hour rest
Brent Sass is running at mile 582
Pete Kaiser at mile 581
Paige Drobney resting on the trail at mile 578
Aaron Burmeister at mile 576 (he has taken his 8 hour rest)
Mitch Seavey at mile 571
Michelle Phillips at mile 570
Ryan Redington at mile 566 (he has taken his 8 hour rest)
Joar Ulsom at mile 566 (he has taken his 8 hour rest)
Wade Marrs still resting at mile 559??? (he has taken his 8 hour rest) I wonder if his GPS fell off
Mackey at mile 553
Nulato is at mile 582....and the Mushers between here and Galena are running like this...
Thomas Waerner is approaching Nulato…..he HAS already taken his 8 hour rest, so technically he is in the lead, as Jessie and Richie have not yet taken their 8 hour rest
Brent Sass is running at mile 582
Pete Kaiser at mile 581
Paige Drobney resting on the trail at mile 578
Aaron Burmeister at mile 576 (he has taken his 8 hour rest)
Mitch Seavey at mile 571
Michelle Phillips at mile 570
Ryan Redington at mile 566 (he has taken his 8 hour rest)
Joar Ulsom at mile 566 (he has taken his 8 hour rest)
Wade Marrs still resting at mile 559??? (he has taken his 8 hour rest) I wonder if his GPS fell off
Mackey at mile 553
Jessie Leading the Pack!
Jessie is still leading the pack into Nulato….she is currently at mile 575...followed by:
Richie Dielh at mile 570
Pete Kaiser at mile 567
Brent Sass at mile 566
Thomas Waerner at mile 565 (has taken 8 hour rest(
Paige Drobney at mile 563
Aaron Burmeister at mile 560 (has taken 8 hour rest)
Wade Marrs resting at mile 559 (has taken 8 hour rest)
Mitch Seavey at mile 555
Michelle Phillips at mile 553
Ryan Redington at mile 550 (has taken 8 hour rest)
Joar Ulsom at mile 550 (has taken 8 hour rest)
Everyone else is still in Galena, probably serving their 8 hour rest.
Please listen to the IditaPod podcast for reactions of the Mushers hearing about the pandemic as they have been out on the trail. Another podcast giving updates is Dog Works Radio...they do a decent job with the race.
Also check the radar....its snowing ALOT in Alaska....probably explains the decreased speeds on the trail to around the 6 to 7 mph range.
Richie Dielh at mile 570
Pete Kaiser at mile 567
Brent Sass at mile 566
Thomas Waerner at mile 565 (has taken 8 hour rest(
Paige Drobney at mile 563
Aaron Burmeister at mile 560 (has taken 8 hour rest)
Wade Marrs resting at mile 559 (has taken 8 hour rest)
Mitch Seavey at mile 555
Michelle Phillips at mile 553
Ryan Redington at mile 550 (has taken 8 hour rest)
Joar Ulsom at mile 550 (has taken 8 hour rest)
Everyone else is still in Galena, probably serving their 8 hour rest.
Please listen to the IditaPod podcast for reactions of the Mushers hearing about the pandemic as they have been out on the trail. Another podcast giving updates is Dog Works Radio...they do a decent job with the race.
Also check the radar....its snowing ALOT in Alaska....probably explains the decreased speeds on the trail to around the 6 to 7 mph range.
Cororna Virus and a Snow Storm....what next?
While the Teams make their way down the Yukon River, they are learning about changes to the race due to the Corona Virus....not only have they canceled all festivities in Nome, but now the checkpoint of Shaktoolik is no longer going to be a checkpoint. The Mushers will be able to pick up cooker fuel (HEET), drop bags and straw about 2 miles out in "Old Shaktoolik", and there will be no race officials there.....why? Corona Virus....the village of Shaktoolik does not want all the media, mushers and hoopla in their village this year. You cant really blame them....these villages have health facilities only...no hospitals....so their health facilitates could very well be inundated with just a few cases....so they are taking this very seriously. Other checkpoints that remain are not allowing the Mushers to use their facilities, like schools and Rec halls to sleep in, which is a bummer for the Mushers.
And then there is the impending storm....yes....wicked winds and about a foot a snow is predicted...its already snowing on the coast and its moving east into the Yukon River area. This is a game changer....wind and snow can really mix things up. Many Mushers have continued their trek down the River and will opt to take their mandatory 8 hour rest at the last checkpoint in Kaltag….Teams who have stopped at Ruby for their 8 hour rest may have just allowed the storm to get closer to them instead of taking advantage of a trail without a ton of new snow on it. We will soon find out how the storm will impact progress of the Teams.
A look at the Tracker has Brent Sass resting on the trail midway to Nulato at mile 558
Jessie Royer is running at mile 557
Richie Diehl is running at mile 552
Wade Marrs is running at mile 549 (has taken his 8 hour rest)
Pete Kaiser is running at mile 547
Thomas Waerner running at mile 546 (has taken his 8 hour rest)
The rest of the top Mushers are resting in Galena....possibly taking their 8 hour mandatory rest, or just a shorter rest before heading down the trail to Nulato.
Fan favorites Nic Petit is running at mile 520, and my girl Aliy is at mile 517.
Tim Pappas (running Martin Busers A Team) is running at 495
Sean Underwood (emergency step in for Jeff King) is running at mile 461
John Schandelmeir who was an emergency step in for his wife Zoya Denure is running at mile 454
And then there is the impending storm....yes....wicked winds and about a foot a snow is predicted...its already snowing on the coast and its moving east into the Yukon River area. This is a game changer....wind and snow can really mix things up. Many Mushers have continued their trek down the River and will opt to take their mandatory 8 hour rest at the last checkpoint in Kaltag….Teams who have stopped at Ruby for their 8 hour rest may have just allowed the storm to get closer to them instead of taking advantage of a trail without a ton of new snow on it. We will soon find out how the storm will impact progress of the Teams.
A look at the Tracker has Brent Sass resting on the trail midway to Nulato at mile 558
Jessie Royer is running at mile 557
Richie Diehl is running at mile 552
Wade Marrs is running at mile 549 (has taken his 8 hour rest)
Pete Kaiser is running at mile 547
Thomas Waerner running at mile 546 (has taken his 8 hour rest)
The rest of the top Mushers are resting in Galena....possibly taking their 8 hour mandatory rest, or just a shorter rest before heading down the trail to Nulato.
Fan favorites Nic Petit is running at mile 520, and my girl Aliy is at mile 517.
Tim Pappas (running Martin Busers A Team) is running at 495
Sean Underwood (emergency step in for Jeff King) is running at mile 461
John Schandelmeir who was an emergency step in for his wife Zoya Denure is running at mile 454
Friday, March 13, 2020
Jessie Royer First on the Yukon!
Jessie and her 14 Team Mates arrived to the Ruby Checkpoint (mile 495) about 45 minutes ahead of Thomas Waerner and Aaron Burmeister. Brent Sass, who completed his 24 hour break in Cripple came in 35 minutes later. Over 2 hours from Jessie arriving, Richie Diehl, Joar Ulsom and Ryan Redington filed into Ruby one after another. Needless to say no one is running away with this race....its all very close.
Jessie invited all her competitors to share in the gourmet meal prize for being first into the checkpoint! How nice is that!!! The feeling of camaraderie is strong in these front runners.
Waerner has 2 wheel dogs....King and Kong that are very boisterous...and is thinking of taking his mandatory 8 hour rest here in Ruby. No one has left Ruby yet....but I suspect it will be Brent Sass first since he just came off his 24 hour rest 70 miles back in Cripple. Burmeister too will be serving his 8 hour rest here in Ruby. The trail is reported to have a lot of drag on the sleds with some new snow....so Teams need to recover a bit before heading down the river. Wade Marrs and Pete Kaiser finish out the top 9 Teams into Ruby.
On their way to Ruby sets up like this:
Mackey at mile 493
Paige Drobney at mile 487
Millie Porsild (Rooke) at mile 484
Michelle Phillips at mile 484
Jason Campeau at mile 481
Travis Beals at mile 480
Mitch Seavey at mile 475
Jessie Holmes at mile 474
Aaron Peck at mile 471
Ramey Smyth at mile 466
Other Fan Favorites that are not really in contention this year is Nick Petit at mile 445, and Aliy at mile 444.
Once on the Yukon, the checkpoints are about 45-50 miles apart....no real long legs here. They will be on the river for about 150 miles.
Jessie invited all her competitors to share in the gourmet meal prize for being first into the checkpoint! How nice is that!!! The feeling of camaraderie is strong in these front runners.
Waerner has 2 wheel dogs....King and Kong that are very boisterous...and is thinking of taking his mandatory 8 hour rest here in Ruby. No one has left Ruby yet....but I suspect it will be Brent Sass first since he just came off his 24 hour rest 70 miles back in Cripple. Burmeister too will be serving his 8 hour rest here in Ruby. The trail is reported to have a lot of drag on the sleds with some new snow....so Teams need to recover a bit before heading down the river. Wade Marrs and Pete Kaiser finish out the top 9 Teams into Ruby.
On their way to Ruby sets up like this:
Mackey at mile 493
Paige Drobney at mile 487
Millie Porsild (Rooke) at mile 484
Michelle Phillips at mile 484
Jason Campeau at mile 481
Travis Beals at mile 480
Mitch Seavey at mile 475
Jessie Holmes at mile 474
Aaron Peck at mile 471
Ramey Smyth at mile 466
Other Fan Favorites that are not really in contention this year is Nick Petit at mile 445, and Aliy at mile 444.
Once on the Yukon, the checkpoints are about 45-50 miles apart....no real long legs here. They will be on the river for about 150 miles.
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