McGrath S - N - Rohn - RP - FL - Skwentna

[elsietee]

Dallas arrived in Rainy Pass with a run time of 4.5 hours.

He stopped to put jackets on the dogs, but is definitely in race mode - running up and down the team to hook them out. It took him 16 minutes to sign in, park the team, put the 12 coats on, bed them down with some straw. And now he's lying in the straw, putting goop on their feet.

* * *

He was so interesting to watch in Rohn - only stayed 7 minutes, but dumped his trash (with an efficient underarm throw at the trash pile - nailed it), recollared a dog that had backed out of its neckline, zipped up his sled bag in one easy motion, and set off. He's very good at projecting calm, pragmatism, while at the same time making every second count.

Brent reports that the trail across the Burn was like a "winter wonderland" (esp. by comparison of when they came over it a few days before).

[flowerpower]

Cody, Paige and Ryne all camped at Bear Creek Safety cabin about halfway between NiK and Rohn.

[flowerpower]

A group in McGrath and a group in NIK (or almost, McNeal and Jagow about to pull in) and nobody in between!

[Fool]

Danny Seavey's update of the racing overnight:

"Aaron Burmeister's Back in the Lead, But Dallas' team took over last night!

North, West, Yak, Ace, Canton, Prophet, Gamble, Rip, Mustang, Pecos, Swifter, Viacon and Cobra* got 'er done last night, gaining half an hour on the 3000' climb up the Dalzell Gorge, and giving Dallas a comfortable lead into Rainy Pass. Dallas' made the right move and stopped there and rested, giving his team another nice long break in the middle of the night.

While he was sleeping, Aaron Burmeister came through the checkpoint, and as expected, went right through, with Brent Sass an hour behind. Both now face a difficult decision. They can a) attempt to race Dallas for first, knowing they face long odds, or b) race each other for 2nd. If it was 1st or nothing, they have to make the whole 100 mile run from Rohn to Skwentna nonstop, and hope to somehow stay ahead of Dallas' better-rested team. It's no fun running tired and looking over your shoulder, but as Brent said in Rohn, it's the only move left.

In a more dynamic analysis, there's a high crash-and-burn risk going 100 miles nonstop; they might cost themselves a good shot at 2nd, and a basically guaranteed 3rd by chasing a bad shot at first. So what to do? If they camp before Skwentna, you'll know their answer.

We've got another great race for 4th and 5th between Wade Marrs and Ryan Redington, who've been neck and neck close to 100 miles now.
Behind that Mille Porsild, Richie Diehl, Joar Ulsom, and Nic Petit are going to have one of the best races in the field, and are ready to pick off anyone faltering in front of them.

Further back, Hal Hanson with the Seavey puppies is no longer in last! Well, actually, he might be. But there are now 3 teams all right together in last, so he's technically tied for 2nd from last!!

Dallas is getting a more generous rest than expected in Rainy Pass, so I'm bumping the expected finish time back to 3:30 am on Monday morning.

* We're not sure which of these guys Dallas left in Nikolai.

I'm going to need a nap after all this!

[Fool]

And Aaron Burmeister is in and out of Finger Lake!

[Another UK Fan]

And Dallas has now overtaken him. Dallas one mile ahead of Aaron. Close racing.

[Fool]

Current leaders:

W.PNG

It’s been an exciting night of racing! As expected, Dallas Seavey went all the way to Rainy Pass before stopping for a rest. Aaron Burmeister and Brent Sass both rested for four hours in Rohn before giving chase. Aaron left 3 hours behind Dallas and Brent left 4 hours behind. As expected, both then leapfrogged Dallas in Rainy Pass, where Dallas took a solid 4 hour rest for his dogs and then headed out.

In an Insider video, Brent indicated if his dog team looked good he might try to run straight through to Skwentna from Rohn, a 100-mile run. As of this morning, however, it seems like he’s given up the chase, as he’s camped on the trail a little before Finger Lake.

Aaron Burmeister, however, left Rainy Pass with an hour and a half lead over Dallas. He stopped on the trail for a rest between Rainey Pass and Finger Lake, but as soon as Dallas passed him he grabbed his snow hook and kept on racing. Aaron has wanted this one for a long time, and he’s not letting this year’s race go without a fight!

Sounds like conditions coming back through the Burn and the Gorge were about as good as could be expected with some fresh snow cover from when they first went through--funny how it always seems to work out like that. (Although things could deteriorate as more mushers go through; we’ll have to see what the ride is like for the back of the pack!)

From Finger Lake to Skwentna is roughly 40 miles - it should take teams between 4.5-5.5 hours to cover the trail depending on how fast they’re going.

But this is a race! Coming into Rainey Pass, Dallas’s team looked AWESOME. I suspect they’re going to be hard to catch or pass even if Aaron does manage to keep up all the way to Skwentna. But Aaron’s team didn’t look too shabby either. They were wolfing down snacks when he stopped briefly at the Finger Lake checkpoint. He’s run a great race up to this point, and it would be incredible if he manages to challenge Dallas for the lead at some point between now and the finish line.

Either way, this is going to be a nailbiter for a while! And the race that’s going on behind them is only heating up. Stay tuned...

Expanded view of the field:

1.PNG

[Another UK Fan]

Thanks for those thoughts Fool.

Either way, this is going to be a nailbiter for a while! And the race that’s going on behind them is only heating up. Stay tuned...

Indeed!

By the way - my last post was garbled . . . . meant to say Dallas is keeping ahead of Aaron . . . the excitement is scrambling my thinking

[elsietee]

Hey Moose?

I mismarked the Happy River Steps on my map last night - I just realised they are right where Wade and Ryan are parked now:

HappyRiverSteps.JPG

Suspect there's a reason they are camped there (and that's where Brent stopped for a couple of hours early this morning - he set off right as Wade got to him).

Last night I put them here (just east of Michelle):

NotHappyRiverSteps.JPG

[Another UK Fan]

Thanks elsietee - I had wondered about Wade and Mars resting. And the screen shots marking the happy steps is really helpful. Only had a vague idea of where they are before. So thanks!