Rohn-Nikolai-McGrath

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Re: Rohn-Nikolai-McGrath

Postby elsietee » Tue Mar 07, 2023 4:55 pm

does that trend continue through Thursday and will the Ophir to Iditarod get the same warm trend?

If so, better to 24 in Ophir and let others break trail through the fluffy stuff?
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Re: Rohn-Nikolai-McGrath

Postby elsietee » Tue Mar 07, 2023 5:08 pm

Dog teams arriving in Nik:

  • Ryan - dogs maybe a little sedate? but still pulling well as he moves to his camp.
  • Kelly - dogs loping efficiently, pulling hard to move to their camp
  • Richie - look like big dogs. Gets a hug from the checker. Dogs barking like mad and pulling v strong to go to camp
  • Brent - has twigs stuck to his big woolly sweater... twigs? not a good sign when it's supposed to be snowy? Drops a dog. Gives the checker something wrapped in plastic (can't tell what) and says "this is in condolence for your loss. Thank you guys so much for all the support of the race and everything, we really, really appreciate it". Checker (native lady) burst into tears and Brent hugs her "thank you for being out here for us". Dogs barking and lunging to go.
  • JessieH - gives the checker a hug "good to see you". Asks if anyone has left yet, is told Brent is going through. Says he's going through but doing to drop a dog. Dogs pulling well.
  • Pete - nice drone footage of his team coming off the river into the check
  • Eddie - similar drone footage. Dogs loping along, look great.
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Re: Rohn-Nikolai-McGrath

Postby elsietee » Tue Mar 07, 2023 5:26 pm

Richie - seemed like a good trail - one of the better ones that he's done. There were some bare spots, but it wasn't icy and there was a little snow which gave you traction to slow the dogs down. Has not declared his 24 or 8. Has a couple of 24 options and he'll figure out what he's going to do on the way to McGrath.

Eddie - doesn't have anything to compare the trail to. It was a bit moguly - felt like a boat in rough seas, smashing every single bump. But more annoying that anything. They weren't insane. Says if he stops in Tak, he'd be leaving there at 8 pm after his 24 and then could run all the way to past Ophir, so that would be good. But at some point they all have to run in the daytime... "If you want to win" says Heister. Eddie laughs. "Winning is a little far of a stretch for him. Rookie of the year may be a closer goal". Heister jokes to the camera "Hey Aaron - are you sure you wanted to give this team up? Have you seen where Eddie is??" (Eddie is tiny compared to Heister).

Hunter - has been perfect the whole way. Has been behind a great team to be partying with. Trail has been really good the whole way. Had a great run over to Nik and the dogs were rocking and rolling. Wants to 24 in Tak - will need to take a short rest along the way to get there, though. Shows off his lead dog, Senior. Says he has been running Raymie Redington's dogs for three years and Senior has never stepped foot off leading a race. Is always up there. Has a bit of a goofy, half-lope gait, but he sets the pace and gets them where they need to go. In checkpoints he's the quietest calmest dog, but on the trail he's magic - all business. He smooches the dog "He likes to chew on my beard".

Ryan - normally rests 4 hours, but this year has been resting 4:40, but still moving really well. Broke his sled but should be able to get over to McGrath for his spare sled. Will rest a little there, then either 24 in Ophir or ID. Although he has stuff in Tak, with his broken sled, he'll have to stay longer in McGrath, so it doesn't make sense to stay in Tak.

Matt Failor - typical spots - the buffalo tunnels were lots of mud and rocks, glacier was jagged rocks... then a lot of snow in the burn. Best he's seen it in 10 years - nicely hard packed. THere have been many years where it was bare ground, but this year it had nice snow. Says his feet are still vibrating from standing on the drag brake because the trail was so hard - that's a good thing. Says he wiped out on the last Happy Step. Interviewer tells him he's in 10th - Matt is surprised and says he didn't even realise. "That's pretty cool"... thought he was more like 15th place. Gives a little bit of confidence. But he knew he'd be up there because he's taken less rest than usual. Going to let the dogs rest in the sun.
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Re: Rohn-Nikolai-McGrath

Postby elsietee » Tue Mar 07, 2023 5:38 pm

Nic - didn't have a plan as to where he was going to stop. When he arrived in Nik he looked at the weather and decided now was a good time to stop, since he came all the way from Rohn - 100 mile run. Didn't want to do another. Says his sled was like a time machine - the trail was just like 2014 all over again, with rough first part, jagged jumbled up rocks, dirt, more rocks, dirt.

[my take: it was time for Nic to take a break - everyone else was really upbeat about the trail]

Kelly - first part of the trail was a little slippery, but always is. The dogs got off trail one time and he had to put them back. Next 5-7 miles was mud on the uphills and snow on the downhills - so at least snow on the downhills so you could slow them. Then 50 miles of moguls, but the last 10 miles was really good. Says someone said the moguls were like that last year. Says it might be because Iron Dog goes through there twice and really tears it up - like outside Kaltag going to UNK, it's always really bad there too - and they go over that section twice also. It was a rough ride. Going to rest 30 mins longer than usual to let them recover from the rough ride. Doesn't want to be too far into the top ten, but is running to schedule and the dogs look good and are eating well.

Mille - would really like to know what to do... may be leaving Nik shortly... or may stay... it's hot. Heat is not in their favor. Did have a plan about where she was going to 24, but is now making it up as she goes along. When she arrived in Nik she had a dead set plan about what she was going to do... and now she's completely up in the air. Didn't expect it to get quite this hot. [judging by her demeanor, I'd say it was time for a break... but she seemed scattered in Willow before the start, so this may just be how she is. But she does look hot and sweaty]
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Re: Rohn-Nikolai-McGrath

Postby elsietee » Tue Mar 07, 2023 5:58 pm

On the way to McGrath:

Brent - says he had a rough 24 hours carrying dogs, but now things are better - the remaining 11 dogs are healthy (sounds like he has a cold, though). They are where they want to be - everything going good, resting in the sun, and letting Jessie lead the way (laughs). Asked about the dogs: one had a tricep injury, another a shoulder injury - all coming down through the gorge - and the last one was a young dog who overheated last night and locked up - a furry guy who "hasn't bin there and done that", so had to carry him from about 10 miles out of Rohn all the way to Nik. "That was no fun". But they didn't lose much time. Hates dropping dogs and doesn't have to very often, but these ones needed to be dropped for their health. But on the bright side, he now has three less dogs to bootie, carry food and straw for... So the sled will be lighter and maybe they can move a little faster. The remaining 11 dogs are all his veterans. The main effect was it was a bit more challenging and taxing on his dogs, having to carry the extra weight. Going to push on to Ophir and look then. Planned to 24 either in Ophir or ID, but given that the dogs had a bit more stress carrying the dogs, and he's a little tired also, he'll probably stop in Ophir. Says he hasn't slept at all really yet, so it might be time for a good long nap in Ophir., but will make that call when he gets there. Highlight of the trip was Rainy Pass - a blue bird day - reminds you why you're out there. Rested at the perfect time in the middle of the day - same as today - resting at the perfect time.

[I'm always amazed at how coherent the mushers are, functioning on no sleep since Sunday]

JessieH - trying to get as close to McGrath as he can, so he can run all the way to Ophir. Pondering about the heat - may rest longer because of that, to "keep the fire in the dogs". Had an extra hour of rest this morning, knowing that it would let the competition get a jump on him, but also knew it was the right thing to do for the dogs. They ate really good and were throwing him all over the place on the twisty, mogully trail. Was very refreshing to make it through the burn and the gorge without issues. Doesn't have a spare sled on the trail, no where near as strong as he was last year (presumably because of his injuries), so huge sigh of relief to get here. Doesn't necessarily think that being out front is significant - lots of good teams behind him. Had to drop a dog in Nik - always a bummer - the dog had a sore wrist which was getting better - but the rough trail stopped that. And he might have to drop another one - but should make it to Ophir with 12. Says he busted up his knee last night wrecking the sled on some rocks in the burn, but took some Advil, put the liniment he uses on the dogs on it, massaged it, took a nap, and it was alright. When it happened he could hardly walk on it - but still had to run and pedal uphill and that inflamed it pretty bad.

So in conclusion - these two may be in front, but they both feel pretty battered at this point - much more so than the cheery mushers still back in Nik.
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Re: Rohn-Nikolai-McGrath

Postby elsietee » Tue Mar 07, 2023 7:17 pm

Bruce Lee, talking about the teams going through Rohn last night:

All the front runners in race mode.

Was marvelling over Pete Kaiser's team - "Man, that team looked great last night!" Dogs looked hands above everything else that he saw.

Jessie H - another really strong looking team.

Kelly M - those three teams really stood out.

Richie's team also looked really nice - all of them looked really impressive.

Says we'll really see how things shake out when they get to the river in a couple of days.

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Looking at the stats - of the top ten, they dropped 8 dogs in Nik - maybe because of the moguls.

Pete, however, still has all 14 dogs.

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Freezing rain and snow in the forecast for tomorrow, which may halt the camera crews because they can't fly. Heister and Bruce headed to Tak, and will have a crew in Ophir. If they can fly, Heister and Lee will try to fly out to Iditarod.
Liz Failor has left RP and is now in position in McGrath.
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Re: Rohn-Nikolai-McGrath

Postby elsietee » Tue Mar 07, 2023 7:47 pm

KattiJo in Nik:

Bruce was praising her "old school technology" in fixing her sled and she said "Oh! I did not do it! This guy in RP did if for me! Thank god he was there [volunteering as a checker]. The guy was *McGyver*!!".

Turns out her saviour had worked for "an older man in Nome who had dogs and runs a trapline" - and because the guy's sleds were older, things were always breaking and he'd done it a million times. So the guy spent two hours fixing up her sled in such a way that it was more flexible, so less likely to rebreak. KattiJo said she asked him about hose clamps, but the guy said this way was better. And she's now driven it through the gorge and the burn. Said lots of mushers have offered her their spare sled if they don't need it.

Bruce says the fix is old school and very effective and that the sled will likely get her all the way to Nome.

KattiJo then tells that last night in the burn she hit a tree and snapped her gangline - can't believe she got the 'double whammy'.

Unfortunately the video ends before she gets a chance to explain about the broken gangline. Maybe they'll upload that story later.

Can't believe how upbeat she is, though - great lady and so fun to watch.
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Re: Rohn-Nikolai-McGrath

Postby Pippiroo » Wed Mar 08, 2023 4:24 am

Thanks for posting all the recaps of the videos! I'm curious (and don't know...) how the RP volunteer could fix Kattijo's broken sled- is that or isn't that outside assistance? Glad she was able to get it fixed :)
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Re: Rohn-Nikolai-McGrath

Postby Moose » Wed Mar 08, 2023 10:21 am

Petit took his 24 plus an additional 50 minutes in Nikolai. Planned strategy, or was he having issues of some kind? Anyone know anything?
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Re: Rohn-Nikolai-McGrath

Postby Another UK Fan » Wed Mar 08, 2023 11:07 am

I'd like to know the answer to that too - and know nothing!

He made Rohn to Nikolai in 8 hrs 35 mins. Pretty quick in comparison to other teams. Maybe he just needed to rest the team after a long fast run?
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