I arrived at Meier’s Lake Checkpoint and was a bit surprised to find Aliy’s team there. I quickly learned that the CB300 website updates were inaccurate, and there’s no telling which data is right and which is wrong. I can certainly appreciate the difficulty of getting good intel from the far reaches of the course, so we’ll just have to bear with it.
As per plan, both Allen and Aliy were taking their mandatory 8 hour rests in Meier’s Lake. All 12 of Allen’s dogs were in great shape, eating and resting well. Aliy dropped Huey back in Sourdough due to some generic front end soreness. Dr. Mike Davis was at the checkpoint and explained to me that the dogs aren’t bad off, they just won’t be very helpful to Aliy through the rest of the race. As is typical for Aliy, she dropped both dogs rather than risk any kind of serious injury.
Here you can see Aliy feeding her dogs, all of whom gobbled it up.
In addition to giving the dogs multiple feedings, Allen and Aliy have both had a little time to eat something and get some rest. Here they are at the diner counter of the Meier’s Lake Roadhouse.
Meanwhile, Ray and Bob are taking a break of their own as they wait for Bridgett to arrive. Keep in mind that it’s about -30 with the wind chill and they’re happy to have a straw bale to sit on.
Bridgett arrived a bit ahead of her schedule, took only a few minutes to snack her dogs, check booties, etc., then headed down the trail.
I expect to see her here soon and will report ASAP… Provided, of course, the internet here at the Paxson Lodge holds up… Stay tuned!
I'm glad Bridgett made it to ML. The CB300 site does not list her as checking in, muchless checking out.
Thank you for the update!
Jeff King is looking really good as well: 8 hour lay over complete, 4/10 complete, in and out of Paxson, last two runs over ~10.0 .. assuming the data HQ has is accurate. It's really hard to tell, though, until everyone has completed all mandatory hours and stops.
Mac, I am sure Aliy will be so happy with that picture. She looks tired. And what is that pipelike looking thing Allen is holding? Thanks again for all the updates Deb in Ketchikan
Yep… Aliy will just LOVE that photo… I might get fired… Allen is sipping through the long straw on his thermos… made that way so it can sit in his sled bag and he can drink from the straw on the run… Allen in consuming vast amounts of liquid to try to stay hydrated…
Re. Jeff King… Yeah, screaming hot time from Soudough to Meier's Lake… that's what an 8 hour rest will do for you… Allen's strategy of taking 8 in Meier's Lake was to have his dogs raring to go for the run through Paxson to Chisto… note that his time was faster than Jeff from ML to Paxson…
We'll have to wait and see times into Chisto, but I can tell you that Allen is ahead of his plan by over a half hour and is on a tear… this could be a GREAT finish… especially if Jeff stays ahead of him and Allen gets to run him down… Allen LOVES having someone in his sights!