Temperatures Hard on Northern Dogs
As of 9:30am this morning, the temperature on the trail for Aliy was 38 degrees above zero. That is VERY warm for our Interior Alaskan Huskies. She will have to stop more often to hydrate them. Snacks like fish and chicken are mostly water and will be one of the main sources of fluids for the dogs on the trail. Huskies don’t tend to drink plain water, but when she stops, she will make them a soupy broth – excellent for these higher temperatures. It does look like it will at least drop to below freezing as she approaches Nikolai.
Aliy is right in the patch of front mushers and still has all 16 dogs. She is between Rohn and Nikolai. Her speed should pick up a bit when the temperatures lower.
Allen is into Rohn at a bit before 5am this morning. He should be getting ready to leave as I write this or possible out already. He dropped another dog yesterday at Rainy Pass and is now running with 14. The first dog dropped at Finger Lake was Mouse. Due to the temperatures, she was a bit dehydrated. She is fine now, back in Anchorage. The youngster Spot was dropped last night with a sore triceps. He is also back in Anchorage and eating like a mad man – like normal.
Allen’s times are still right on target. Fourteen dogs is a powerful “engine”.
Hopefully the temperatures will begin to drop this afternoon. I don’t want to wish to hard. All we need is for it to drop to -40 degrees below zero!!
