IditaProject Forum

by **Domer** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 3:22 pm

If you build it they will come...

by **tilstede** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 3:24 pm

Ruby to Galena
by Donald Bowers, Jr.

Quick Overview
This leg is all on the Yukon River and is generally easy running. The trail follows the main snowmachine route from Ruby to Galena. Plan on five to eight hours, depending on how long you want to rest your dogs, or if you do it during the heat of the day. Your biggest problem may be getting your dogs to go on the huge expanse of the mighty Yukon, which is a mile wide at Ruby and up to two miles wide downstream. More than a few teams have balked at starting down the river.

It is absolutely critical that you do not get off the marked trail on the Yukon. Like most big rivers in Alaska in the winter, the Yukon has spots and stretches of open water, some no more than a narrow leads a few feet long, some big enough to float a good-sized boat. There can also be overflow on a massive scale just under unbroken snow. When snowmachines pack down the snow and expose the overflow, it freezes quickly into a hard surface, while just off the trail you can go in up to your waist. Needless to say, the threat of thin ice is always present if you go exploring.

by **Happy2BeHere** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 4:57 pm

And Lance is on his way!

by **Breeze** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 5:31 pm

Go DOGGIES GO

It is what it is , if you have the team running for ya, go there. You'll know. when the gas tank is empty.

Breeze

by **Happy2BeHere** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 5:33 pm

He got his full 8, so he's got all the "check marks" as well as rest. Going out in the early evening. About Three hours ahead of the pack. He's in a nice place!

by **Another UK Fan** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 5:44 pm

Very nice place. So what now?

It'll all be clearer in the morning - off to sleep now 1.45 am here......can't put the snoozing off any more

by **flowerpower** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 9:37 pm

Mmm...according to tracker, Lance is moving about 2 mph slower than Jeff. Was listening to an interview on aprn earlier, and Lance said at Ruby the dogs still weren't eating well, still had some diarehea, and he was having to lead them out of checkpoints. The forecast looks to be for slightly cooler temps along the coast, but not by much. Wonder if the YQ and warm temps have drained his tank a little too much? Looks to be interesting....

by **Heidi** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 12:36 am

Lance Mackey into Galena at 10:38 pm and out just 7 minutes later! Still has 14 dogs.

by **MotorWerk** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 12:50 am

This is Lance's race now, for sure. Both to win and to lose. We don't know how hard he has pushed his team, but I think pretty hard. In many ways it reminds me a bit of the first year Robert won.

I wonder why the 8 hrs box isn't ticked off for Kjetil at the official stats...? He clearly did 8 at Ruby.