Aliy and team are now travelling up the Bering Sea Coast having left Unalakleet (Unk) at 5.51pm after resting a little over four hours. She left less than three hours behind the current leader Mitch Seavey and she’s still running with an eleven-strong team.

Several news agencies talked to her while she was in Unk and she has told them that the run from Kaltag to Unk did not quite go to plan but I remember in interviews before the start of the race when reporters asked her about strategy and she said that she doesn’t have just one – she will change it according to weather, trail and, most importantly, how the dogs are doing so we’re not too worried about her having to use “plan C” – she is savvy enough to be able to alter her plans accordingly.


Top Right: Aliy massaging the team; Above Left: Quito and Scout lead the team into Unalakleet; Right: Olivia settling in for a rest. All pictures above from Sebastian Schnuelle.

Allen and team arrived into Kaltag at 6.21pm and have stopped for a rest. They are still running around the middle of the pack which is right where he wants to be. Once he leaves Kaltag it is likely they will camp along the trail, perhaps at Tripod Flats and/or Old Woman Cabins before making their way to the Bering Sea Coast.

Our friend Cody Strathe from Squid Acres Kennel met Aliy in Unk and sent through this wonderful picture of her lovely smiling face!

18 Responses

  • The "Big O" looks like she's getting cozy but she still has her game face on! Great picture of Aliy – how she can be so smiley after so many days in the wilderness and sleep deprived is amazing. Love it. Go Red Team!

  • My 5th graders are rooting hard for Aliy! I enjoy reading the blog entires to them and we will be following the whole week.

  • Great smile and person. My husband had the great pleasure of meeting Aily and Allen on one of the Horizon ships last fall. They hitched a ride from either kodiak to Dutch or anchorage or vice versa. Great people he told me on his return to our home in Vancouver Wa. He is back north again on the horizon Anchorage and very happy to hear Aily and the dogs are doing great in the race. And Allen too. Good luck!

  • Aliy looks SO happy! All those miles, and all that wild weather and she smiles. Cool! I think her plan strategies are wise–go flexible but react with plans as it happens! GGOOOOOOOOO Aliy!
    Now I bet Allen has a plan, too–like he seems very confident,,,UUUMMMMM?
    GGGOOOOOOOO Allen!!

  • Went to bed last night after reading Armchair Musher and seeing the Olivia pic. Go "Big 'O'" -woof!!!

    As it grows colder toward Nome (if the forecasts are correct) the lighter-weight dogs on the Red Team should fly across the snow!!!

    "Don't worry, be happy" – and you wonder why the dogs love to run for Aliy?

    Woof, woof, woof!!!

  • Aly and Allen look so good after such a rough race it is incredible! I'm so proud of them for always making their decisions based on the health and well being of their teams! THANK YOU!! No matter what place you get to Nome, you are both truelly WINNERS!!

  • Great pictures of smiling Aliy, the pups, and of upbeat Allen and his! You guys are really exceptional!!!
    Go to Nome and know you are admired for your dedication to the sport, the love for your dogs,and for the amazing endurance and calm under what must be 'industrial strenght' pressure!

  • Aily–I'm a fairly new fan of yours but I can tell you I am forever hooked on SP Kennels!! I will always be your die hard fan because you run a great race, you're always smiling with a nice attitude no matter what, and you show the world that this great race can be run and done with a true love and partnership with the animals. You are an inspiration to all, especially the coming generations of young people who will look to you to see 'how it's done'. Thank you so much for sharing your trail notes and letting us fans be so much a part of things. I don't think I need to say it but YOU ARE AWESOME!!

  • You go Aliy! Giving you support from Florida! You and the dogs look great!
    Crystal

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