Cripple Checkpoint #1

[SuldalsXpressen]

Right, I'm off to bed. When I wake up, this thread will be filled with interesting news on who made it, who's resting, and so on...
American friends: You're it!


Eskil

[tilstede]

Leg recipe:

Ophir to Cripple
by Donald Bowers, Jr.

Quick Overview
This is now the longest leg of the entire race on either the northern or southern routes. The new distance is approximately 105 miles for the 2000 race. It will probably not run less than the posted mileage and will seem to take forever. It will now be necessary for most teams to camp for several hours along this leg. The trail generally runs along the Innoko River, crossing it three times. It then runs northeast away from the river, crosses the North Fork of the Innoko, and then runs along ridges on the east side of Poorman Creek. The terrain is mostly wooded with some open stretches in the river valleys. Expect 12 to 18 hours for this run. The trail has some rolling hills in the section between the North Fork of the Innoko and the Poorman airstrip. There are no unusually tricky sections and most of the run can be a fairly fast trail if conditions are right and the fast-moving Iron Dog snowmachines haven't bumped up the trail as they did in 1998.

The trail runs west from the checkpoint past the old townsite and along the runway, crossing the river twice in the first six miles. The river then makes a sharp bend to the north and the trail runs along the west side of the valley until about 31 miles out of Ophir, then crosses to the east side. The site of the old Cripple checkpoint is about 20 miles past this crossing, where the trail comes within about 50 yards of the Innoko River. From the old checkpoint site, the trail runs north along the east side of the Innoko River valley for about 5 miles, then cuts northeast along the flank of a series of low wooded ridges for about 30 miles to the North Fork of the Innoko. Then the trail follows the valley of Poorman Creek north for another 10 to 15 miles to the Poorman airstrip, near the old ghost town of Poorman Scattered overflow is common all along the leg, as are short glaciered and drifted sections.

It's a safe bet you won't have the faintest idea where you are for much this leg. Even if you sneak a GPS along with you it won't help much because every hill and creek seems the same as the one before and the one ahead. There are a few recognizable river and creek crossings, but precious few hills and prominent landmarks. At night you will be collapsed into your own little world and the trail will seem to go forever. At least much of it is along an old cat trail, so there's not much chance to get lost.

The trail will generally be well-marked and well-traveled on this stretch, since the Iron Dog snowmachine race uses the same trail on its way from Anchorage to Nome two weeks before the Iditarod. If past years have been any indication, a hundred or more fast-moving Iron Doggers will have thoroughly pounded the trail in many places.

[tilstede]

Hehe ... the trail breaker squadron situated in Cripple has started to move ... GEBHARDT IS ON HIS WAY

[Another UK Fan]

Aha! thanks Til.

Things always get interesting just as I'm off to get sleep.....tis the way of things

[MotorWerk]

Good morning. Any news regarding when we can expect Gebhardt, Neff, Steer and the others into Cripple?
*yawn* Gotta get some coffee.

[aren]

Hey motor and good morning. Go the good morning thread. Lots of waffels and coffee to be found there..

[Skip95]

What's up with the info "black hole" right now. Can't find any updates on check-in/out times, most of the GPS look down, and it's hard to tell who is where.

[sbd]

No problem as far as I can see. Last GP-update from Kjetil is just 5 minutes ago.

[Luna]

Only Ken Andersons GPS there is a failure with.

[Skip95]

You're right, looks like those others are working....should have specified that Ken is the guy I'm following, went to high school with him.

E