Its 9pm Friday evening.
Well, I guess a lot happened while I was driving home! I love to immerse myself in the tracker while the race is going on but sometimes it is good to step away – but what a day to step away!
For those that haven’t heard: Eagle Island checkpoint is not open for business as usual. The winter weather meant that the Iditarod Airforce was not able to get the mushers’ resupply bags there so they have been delivered to Grayling instead. Teams will need to take all their supplies with them to get to Kaltag. They have reclassified Eagle Island as a “Hospitality stop” and there will be a vet there (so they able to drop a dog if need be) and there will be fuel to make water. Otherwise, there is not an actual checkpoint.
This means essentially they will have 120 miles of unsupported trail.
For those of you that follow the Yukon Quest with us will know that 120 miles of unsupported trail sounds quite familiar… our teams are well used to carrying supplies for that long (and, indeed, longer) and enjoy camping out where there is no checkpoint, so I don’t expect Aliy or Allen will be phased by this change at all. It might even work in their favour.
Insiders, make sure you watch the video from Greg Heister and Bruce Lee as they discuss the implications of this change.
RED TEAM UPDATE
Since I last posted, Aliy and her 14 team mates completed their eight hour Yukon River mandatory rest in Shageluk. They now have two green ticks next to their name. Once all the mushers have two ticks we can really see the lay of the land. They are currently sitting 11th on the leaderboard.
In a recent Insider video Aliy says that her dogs look great, they are healthy and happy, but they are just lacking a bit of “zip”. She doesn’t want to “nag them” or “rally them up” for nine days because that doesn’t sound fun, for her or the dogs. She is going to let them run their race and see where it all ends up. We are really proud of that call. At the end of the day, if they dogs are not having fun and Aliy is not having fun then why would they even do it?
She left Shageluk with Kodiak and Commando in lead, Chipper and Dutch in swing, Spark and Five, Junior and Champ, Rodney and Clyde, Driver and Nomex with Violet and Scooby in wheel. She is mixing it up a bit with the line up to make it interesting and different for the dogs. Sometimes having someone new beside them or in front of them can spark a dog up a bit.
As I write this they have hit the Yukon River and moved through the checkpoint of Anvik (actually, I only presume they have, the standings are not updated but the tracker seems to show them out the other side). They will go straight to Grayling checkpoint where Aliy will take time to resupply, pack her sled and rest her team mates.
The weather forecasts for the area call for winds of 10-20 miles/hr which could, coupled with snow, blow a trail in somewhat. We will all just have to wait and see what happens at the other end.
BLACK TEAM UPDATE
Allen and his 13 team mates are currently resting in Iditarod checkpoint. It is about this time of the race where none of us actually have any clue about how long Allen will stay at a checkpoint. He has figured out what his team is capable of and his race plan is very fluid. Honestly, your guess is as good as mine but I would suggest any rest stop would be at least four hours and could be as much as eight or more.
One thing I know Allen loves about doing both the Quest and the Iditarod is to travel the trails and visit the villages that have an interesting story. Iditarod has such a colourful history from the gold rush times and Allen will be picturing and honouring those that went before. There is a really wonderful article by Dorothy Olmstead on the Iditarod website that tells all about it.
RETURNED DOG UPDATE
The weather that is causing issues down the trail is also slowing down the return of dogs from the trail. Cayenne is still enjoying the hospitality of the vets and volunteers at Iditarod. She may find her way back to Anchorage tomorrow or they may deem it safer to leave them where they are, with plenty of food, shelter and attention.
The other four are home at the kennel. Everyone, except Ginger, is happy to be back at their house after a tremendous adventure. Ginger is wondering why she is back at her house and not laying on Barbara’s couch.
Leaving Shageluk, the Red team looked plenty peppy. It looked like Violet tripped on the fast turn, but everyone must be doing well, because headed into Grayling, they are within one mile of Aaron Burmeister who left Shageluk 38 minutes before Aliy’s Red team.
Go SPK Red team. We’re pruod of you Aliy Kodiak, Commando, Chipper, Dutch, Spark, Five, Junior, Champ, Rodney, Clyde, Driver, Nome, Violet and Scooby.
Go SPK Black team. Get those youngsters to Nome Allen.
Ginger LOL. It’s not couch potato time yet girl. You have an amazing future ahead of you at SPK.
🙂
Ginger!!! Spoiled girl!!! LOL…there are “up” sides for leaving the trail early!
Glad Aliy is having fun and will just place where she places….no pressure. I always feel anxious for Aliy heading into the Iditarod, and envy Allens position because it sounds so much fun to hit the trail with the young dogs to teach them what 1,000 miles is all about. I don’t have a competitive bone in my body, so I always envy how Allen ends his season. I’m glad to hear Aliy is just going to have fun and run her Team without the pressures of being up front. Let the dogs place where they will…no nagging required!
Thank you, Moira. The comments from Aliy are exactly why Lisa&I, and I would venture to say many, many others, support SPK. While Aliy certainly has a competitive streak, she also makes this about the dogs and not about the victory (but who knows, yet, right?) or the money. I couldn’t be prouder to say that I am an SPK supporter. I’m interested to see how “my guy Five” will do a little bit up on the line and with Spark instead of Rodney beside him. Hopefully Aliy will comment on that when you do your post-race wrap up. In the meantime, know that we are still “cheering from Erie!” Cheers, The Straw Ladies
Thank you for the update on the Red and Black Teams. Hopefully the weather will get colder so the teams can enjoy running more. I know Aliy will do what’s best for the dogs. They are doing amazing though, despite the warm weather! They are passing team after team! 🐕🐕
GO SPK!!!😃
As I am writing this Aliy just left Grayling. My 2 cents is that not only her but a few others
maybe struggling as well. It has been a slow trail for sure. Lots to do about when you hit
it and the weather. I think she is respectable and the dogs is all that matters. Ginger–you
got a bit spoiled. Cayenne may have something to say to you when she gets home!
Go Aliy! Allen is the master and will do well also!
Looks like maybe early retirement for Ginger. I’d be happy to make her my couch dog:) Sooo proud of SP kennel. Loving all the insider videos of the team. They have some great ones this year.
Godspeed SPK!!
Yes, or yup, that’s what is so cool about SP Kennel. No pressure – if these dogs decide to make it to Nome first, they could, but for what? They can’t drive the prize truck anyway!!! WOOF