IditaProject Forum

I will post the trail notes later when I get to my laptop but wanted to get the thread open. Stopped it at McGrath instead of Takotna since I think there will be lots of 24s there. Also don’t forget there is a Borealis Broadband WebCam in McGrath That is on top of the captain Snow center and shows exactly where they check in. I do miss that KM that used to be on the side of the building there where we could watch teams resting.

Cant believe they are there already, seems so fast already, it’s only Tuesday, but i guess it’s not far off normally years for the northern route

I suspect that we'll be seeing more leapfrog, more camping between checkpoints and only stops IN CP will be for drop bags and a weather report. Location for 24 may come down to whether or not there's a shower and I think those are going to be rare this year.

I think it makes the race seem to move faster, but how that shakes out between Rohn and the coast remains to be seen. May be that seeming and actual aren't anywhere close.

Was listening to Bruce's live broadcast in Nikolai and he mentioned that Mitch and Jeff were the only ones (so far) that had trouble in the gorge. Said Jeff took a fall and broke his glasses and Mitch just slipped on some ice.

Speaking as an oldster (80) I hate falling and sometimes it's non-preventable. Hope duct tape will fix the glasses and nothing more damaging happens.

Yeah, me too. Took a hard fall in Dec. and cracked my arm. Still recovering, but it hurt!

Brent camped at the foot of the gorge before Rohn, and is now sleeping about 20 miles past Nik. Either he goes to Ophir and takes his 8 there, but more likely, I think, he'll take two runs and 24 at Cripple where it's quiet (he likes quiet).

I'd guess Aaron B and Richie D are very hungry to do well this year (well, Aaron always is, but he might have gotten it right this time, assuming he keeps up his speed).

Doesn't the 8 hour one have to be taken 'on the Yukon'?

Yes, I believe so.

The year Brent messed up (ended up on bad trail which made his mammoth run along the river after his 24 much much longer than expected and meant his team were out in the hottest part of the day) I think that was part of his strategy - 24 close to the river, do some long runs, then take his 8 in Kaltag.

Have to see if he pulls it off this year.

I think I recall him making this stop midway between NIK and MCG before.