Anvik, Grayling, Eagle Island, Kaltag

[elsietee]

You can kind of see Eddie's mishap on the tracker - some slow-downs/speed-ups, but pretty minor and nothing really outstanding. It looks like his dogs maintained a nice steady pace into Eagle Island - and someone stopped them (or they stopped on their own - maybe they found somewhere someone had snacked?) right before they got to the checkpoint, and then they moved on to the checkpoint.

I really like this guy - he's understated and sounds like a smart musher (falling off the sled notwithstanding )

Here's a nice article about his lead dog:

https://alaskapublic.org/2023/03/11/blu ... ets-tough/

[Breeze]

Still, watching rookies who are in the top ten at Kaltag while the clue bus catches up to them is part of what makes this race for me. We've got some rookies up in the standings that definitely are being noticed !

I do feel badly for Brent. But, GOLLEE GEE WHIZ, what would he have done if that tooth or any other started kicking his dupaa when he was up above the Arctic Circle on one of his guided expeditions ? ( grrrrr) Who ya gonna call, tough dude ?

Ok, now whats going on with Nic, and when is someone at ITC going to realize his sled has been stopped for 13 hours ?

[elsietee]

Eddie just pulled into Kaltag - I like the look of these dogs!! (they look perky, but they are also very handsome dogs - similar markings to german shepherds/Alsatians almost, but look lovely in the low sunlight - makes the brown hues glow).

* * *

And Nic is on the move again. Looked like a slow start - maybe walking in front of the team? - for a mile or so, but then they took off and are now zipping along at over 10 mph. Maybe a minor mutiny that he needed to nip in the bud before it set in solidly? He has gone 5 miles, so looks ok.

* * *

Ryan is out of Kaltag (rested for 4.5 hours), followed just now by Richie - dogs were a little stiff getting moving, but left at a trot, tails up. It looks like Richie took the exact same amount of rest as Ryan.


* * *

Greg Vitello, 4 miles outside ID has backtracked across the little valley he's in - so may be heading back towards ID.

[elsietee]

Pete Kaiser out of Kaltag at 6:52 - love his lead dog loping before the rest of the team were practically off the straw.

All three took 4.5 hours at this checkpoint (wondering if they made a pact while inside getting food?)

[elsietee]

Danny re. Nic:

You've all heard Dallas refer to "building a monster" but what happens if you fail in the building process. That's what Nic's looking at, you try to get them come together on the trail, but if it isn't working, you have to back off and take more rest, or keep going and risk having to call a snowmachine to come get you

[mira]

I note Jason is down to eight dogs..anyone heard something?