Allen arrived at Central at 3:25 pm AST, happy and healthy! I can’t tell you how elated I was to get Bridgett’s call. She said that the team actually look better arriving in Central than leaving Circle.
The trail was as bad as we had heard! Allen and Kelly Griffin worked together to get through the deep overflow and blown trail. The key to getting around the overflow? Necklines for the dogs. We don’t usually use them and only have them on the Quest because they are required gear. Also, Allen put bags over his boots. It actually kept his feet completely dry. It was key that he went through the worst during daylight hours.
Sebastian Schnuelle’s Boot at Central
after Rescueing Hans Gatt
By the Yukon Quest
From Official Yukon Quest Flickr Page
He is planning to give the dogs a good long rest in Central before heading for Eagle Summit. Allen said that it was “near whiteout conditions 7 miles out of Central, so ahead must be bad.” The road to Circle and Central was closed for several hours today. It was completely blown in. The road is less than a 1/4 mile from the trail’s summit. Eagle Summit is extremely tough at good times. It will be VERY challenging now.
Allen will be dropping Viper in Central . We don’t know why yet. Aliy and Ryne are on there way to Central now. They really want to see Allen and the Dog.
Great news that the food drop bags are done and now the rest of the crew can get out there for the last section. All thoughts and prayers are with you and the team, not to mention the rest of the mushers. This has been a challenging time.
Man, what a crazy race. It seems at one point, anyone in early on could have won it.
Here is my prediction, since Allen is not in a hurry, for finish order.
…Anderson, Schnuelle, Seavey in some order
…Sass
…Moore, Griffin in some order
…Bailey,
…Ellis, Dalton in some order.
And now, one of the 6-pack and my pick is Tamara Rose!
Ask Allen to reset his Spot if he can.
There are some good photos of Allen entering Central on the Quest website. Superb job all in some pretty awful conditions.
You probably already know, but there are more great pictures on the YQ website.
What are necklines, and how did they help in this instance?
Allen and Aliy have big fans in Ontario, Canada! We read the spkenneldoglog every day during mushing season!
Necklines are lines that connect the dogs collar to the main gang line. In this case, they helped because the dogs could work together easier and not fight in different directions. It made them a unified force.