Aliy and team made the run from Elim to White Mountain in just under seven hours and pulled in at 5.24, just 13 minutes behind Mitch Seavey. Jeff King arrived almost an hour and a half later. All three are now on their mandatory eight hour layover: Aliy will be able to leave there at 1.24pm this afternoon.
The Insider video of them pulling in to White Mountain shows her frosted but really upbeat! The dogs looked good coming in and I think you can hear her say “yeah, baby!” when she looked at times on the sign in sheet. There is a second video where she spends a little time with Mac, it is a very sweet moment! “Oh my goodness, the rookie comes through! Look at you, you’re so good!” She said he was barking at the people in Golovin which shows he’s feeling good.
During these eight hours the mushers will be trying to let the dogs get as much undisturbed sleep and as many calories as possible. This is Aliy’s first chance at getting some quality rest since her 24 hour break; she can be assured of getting a good five hours rest and get a wake-up call by Race Judges, as can every other musher. Mushers write on a chalk-board what time they wish to be woken.
We can be assured that Aliy will “get light” for this section by dropping as much weight out of her sled as she can while keeping all her mandatory gear!
This is no cake walk! This is the last 75 miles of the Iditarod! Here the team will traverse many rolling hills that seem endless to the musher and dog-team alike. The team starts climbing approximately two hours out of the checkpoint all the way until they come over “Topkok” where she will return to the Bering Sea Coast. They then drops back to sea level running along the beach where they will meet “the blow hole” face-to-face. The blow-hole is known for ground storms with 50-60 MPH winds in the short 3-5 mile section but conditions can change from one minute to the next due to the terrain around the area.
Allen and mates have arrived into Shaktoolik at 4.37am and are resting before heading out on the Bering Sea Coast to Koyuk. This part of the coast is described as bleak, flat, and deadly monotonous. You can see in an Insider video how Allen “got light” back in Unalakleet by taking the back-end of his sled, he wants to make it as easy on this team as he can and dropping weight to go through the hills will help.
Give them doggies some love, get some rest & we’ll see you shortly!
Can you tell us what dogs are going to make this final push?
I believe this is where Aliy's age and fitness difference over Seavey will prevail. 13 minutes is so do-able!
G O A L I Y G O ! ! ! ! !
Someone posted on Iditarod Facebook page
" there's no place like Nome Aliy, there's no place like Nome!" GO GO GO
Aliy always says there is no "quit" in Quito, and this race just goes to show that the "never give up" attitude starts at the top with a great musher and filters right on down to the newest racer. We are rooting sooooo hard for Aliy and dogs to win this thing, but they are already winners in our hearts.
"yeah, baby"… Go, Aliy, Goooooo!!
I hope this isn't a silly question, but would someone mind telling me which dogs she is running? I must have missed the post informing us which dogs were in her (and Allen's) Iditarod lineup…Thanks so much!
GO ALIY GO!!!
Aily you are giving me a heart attack!
I am really hoping for you to come in where you and your gang belong. !first Place. :How very cool that would be. Wish I could be in Nome but the Gods are preventing that.
I will follow the rest of this race. You are doing a wonderful job. ChrisK
Anonymous – Here are the starting rosters:
http://spkenneldoglog.blogspot.com/p/current-race-roster.html
The latest post will help you sort out which dogs are still running on the teams.
Way to go…just awesome ! We heard her say this, as they broadcast it over the radio in the wee morning hours (and yes my head was on the pillow listening 🙂
It's just great ! God Bless this rest for Aliy, Allen & team out there on the trail & all at SPK making it happen. Photos are appreciated & the updates are awesome ~ T.M.
Thanks for the update on the rosters….each time I saw a video I was trying to see who was left! Way to go Aliy and the Red Team….awesome run….just gotta do it one more time! We are keeping the "Go Red Team" spirit alive and well here in the Adirondacks!
Thank you!
You are amazing Aily! U can win this 🙂
Game on! Go Red Team!
I am a newcomer Insider….but have been rooting for you Aliy since Day One…..go Girl go…