Getting exciting now huh?
Both teams are now on the trail heading towards Mendeltna Creek Lodge checkpoint after six hours rest. This is the longest leg of the race and, as Macgellan said, this is where the fitness and motivation of the dogs and mushers becomes the critical factor.
We understand Allen has dropped one dog but this stage we don’t know who that is. As soon as we find out we’ll let you know. Thanks for your patience as we try to get this information.
This leg skips across a number of lakes including Middle Lake, Fish Lake, Crosswind and Lake Louise before it starts to climb up again, following Lake Louise Road for a time. After that it is down hill to the final checkpoint at the Lodge.
We will hopefully hear from the handler team soon as they drive back through Glennallen to get to the checkpoint. We got a quick text from them saying that the pace of the race is such that they are not getting much rest themselves!
Keep hitting refresh, keep sending good vibes and maybe we could all start yelling now!
Go Allen & Aliy and SP Dogs!! Have you on the GPS every 15 min.
Run-Run!!
Woo Hoo Red and Black teams!!!! Go go go!!!!!
Yep – here on the east coast it's not Saturday night that I lose sleep (too early to worry). It's definitely on Sunday night that I start spending way more time than I should glued to the tracker. Monday at work is pretty much a wash – between being tired from staying up too late and then sneaking peaks at the tracker, CB300 page, and SPK DogLog all day I don't really get much done. But right now it seems that I can safely step away and save my screaming voice for a little bit longer. That will be a relief to my 2 coonhounds who are patiently (ha! ha!)waiting for me to take them on a walk.
Go Dogs! Go Allen! Go Aliy!
Thanks to the whole SP Kennel crew for the fabulous updates.
Woof, woof, woof!!!
Do Red Team!!! Go Black Team!!!
Pretty dang exciting
It appears Matt, Allen and Ryne are maintaining their blistering pace!!! Nic and Aliy hanging in there close behind them.
If they can keep it up, it looks like a crazy exciting launch from Mendeltna tomorrow…Matt with a head start on just a few hours rest. Allen and Ryne leaving close together, with a bit more rest for the final push.
I'm already seeing Allen and Ryne elbowing each other for second, lol.
But anything can happen, right?
(I was hoping one of Matt's dogs would find a member of Sebastian's team irresistible when they passed. It didn't work, darn it, ha ha.)
GO SPK!!! Looking great, and learning tons, I'm sure. I bet all the pups know how to eat and sleep at a moments notice after this grand adventure.
🙂
Looks like one more small peak to climb and it's "all downhill" according to the elevation plot. C'mon SPK Red Team and Black Team….looking awesome!!!
Denali 🐾🐾 and l are yelling hard from Australia 🇦🇺 for the Red & the Black ! Go SP Kennels !