Aliy and the Red Team have left Unalakleet at 10.59pm having spent just under five hours resting. Dallas Seavey, Aaron Burmeister and Mitch Seavey left the checkpoint in front of them. Sebastian reported the trail was windy leaving Unk but “the further away we got from Unk, the calmer the conditions were” so they will be pleased to get out of the wind!
From Donald Bowers Jnr’s notes “The first 25 miles cross a mix of woods, taiga, open areas, and exposed ridge tops; the last 12 miles are completely in the open on the barren coastline. The trail leaves Unalakleet northbound and runs just in from the beach, turning inland after five miles to pass behind rocky 850-foot-high Blueberry Point. It comes almost back to the shore at the fishing camp of Egavik before climbing up the Blueberry Hills, reaching the thousand-foot summit at the 18-mile point. At the top the trail turns west and makes a three-mile drop back to the beach, then follows a slough and the dune line northwestward for the last 12 miles out to Shaktoolik.“
The Blueberry Hills is one of Aliy’s favorite parts of the trail and there are a couple of “Aliy Cams” from the area in 2013 and 2012.
Terrie Hanke wrote a great piece about Aliy in Unk with a very cute story about a young girl and a Starburst candy. Read it here.
Drop Dog Update: We see she has dropped one of her team mates but at this stage we don’t know who it is. It could be some time before we get that information so we appreciate your patience and we’ll let you know as soon as we know.
Aweeee for the day! What a sweet starburst story and great remembering the prior two trips across Blueberry Hills. Hang in there Aliy and dogs through that blustery wind. Pulling and thinking about you for a safe journey!
Queen of Hearts all the way to Nome! For her dogs and for the people on the trail! Your running a great race Aliy! Good job dogs! Hoow!
Holly Freeman
Yes, that starburst story/clip was sweet!! Hope Aliy's trip over the Blueberry Hills is more pleasant than last year! Winds are reported to have calmed somewhat so that is a good sign. Safe travels along the coast Red Team!
Good dogs, woof, woof, woof!!!
Go Red Team!!!
The sun is coming up in CT on the day – GO RED, GO BLACK!!!
Absolutely beautiful post!!! In our hearts, you have already won the 2015 Iditarod Aliy and pups!!!
All right Aliy! Exciting race to watch. Cheering for the Red Team. Go dogs!
The video of the little girl unwrapping the starburst and feeding it to Aliy was so cute.
🙂
What a wonderful story about the girl & starburst. Just shows the awesome Aliy. Thanks for the 2 videos of prior Blueberry Hills. What a beautiful part of the trail. Thanks for the post. Great race Aliy, keep to your plan.
Beautiful trail I can see why you love this section so much. Thank you sooo much for sharing your race, your kennel, your mushing life. I am living my dream vicariously though you Aliy. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Go Team Red, SB Kennels!