2020 Yukon Quest

[Heidi]

I can't get to sleep tonight, so am reading here. Look what I found on face book, good news. I copied it from their fb site.

"Way to go Jim and Northern Whites!!!
HurricaneDave Rush is at Northern Whites Kennel - Jim Lanier.
7 hrs · Chugiak, AK

This just in: Jim Lanier and the Northern Whites WILL be allowed to mush in the Iditarod this year! Jim finished his qualifying races with flying colors and got the word this morning. Many thanks to everyone who signed and circulated our petition last fall. And thanks to CEO Rob Urbach for hearing us out and helping create a pathway for Jim to qualify. "

YES!!!

[braider]

WOW! Go Michelle! ...in the lead by a good distance.
Or, who knows, only following tracker. grr!

[emwcee]

It seems that Michelle's tracker isn't updating. Wonder where she is now.

[fladogfan]

Michelle and Brent are both in Stepping Stone Hospitality.
The leader board on the tracker has Michelle in at 7:14:58, Brent got there a bit earlier at 7:14:07. Those two are having a race

Speaking of races, Cody got to Scroggie Creek Drop at 7:04:10, Allen at 7:05:47, Torsten is there also at 7:15:19. Torsten still there but back on the trail is Allen at 655 and Cody at 668.6.

[fladogfan]

Michelle on the move 35.1 miles to Pelly Crossing.

[braider]

Go Michelle Go! gotta root for the underdog - particularly if it's a woman. Has a woman ever won the Quest? I don't think so. I think she has some time/rest advantage, too. There's still lots of race to go ...over 200 miles.

[mira]

Aliy Zirkle became the first woman to win YQ in 2000!

Michelle is resting on trail (or so it seems), Brent appears to have passed Michelle with 5 miles.

Looks like Cody is a bit ahead of Allen, but we have two races in the front

[emwcee]

Brent and Michelle are having quite a race. Looks like Brent is breaking trail now, but Michelle is right there. I'm cheering for Michelle this year. It would be nice to have a woman win again.

[flowerpower]

Me too! Run Michelle, Run!

[elsietee]

Brent is four miles out from Braeburn... with Michelle a little less than 4 miles behind. I have a feeling - given that her team is a little faster than Brent's - that she'll be able to catch him on the last leg after their upcoming long rest (which would be cool for another lady to win... but ... Brent's my favorite... [torn]) .

It may depend on conditions (anyone know weather? Deep snow? Can she use her speed?). Brent's team were the quietest of the front four teams coming into Dawson - which could be temperament, but could also be that they're working hard. Cody's team looked amazing, but I suspect he as the musher is struggling.

Going to be fun to watch this one play out (with a lot of page-refreshes in between).