It’s 11.30pm Sunday night.
The handler crew has arrived into Nome after a day of travelling. Front Street is all lit up and ready for the mushers to arrive!
RED TEAM UPDATE
Aliy and team are on their way to Unalakleet (Unk). After spending 5 hours 20 in Kaltag they ran to their camp spot just before Old Woman Cabin where they spent around 3.5-4 hours resting. They are now 15 miles out so we expect them to arrive roughly around 2am.
Aliy will be updated about Allen when she arrives into the checkpoint.
She will be pleased to hit the coast. The trail from Unk to Shaktoolik (Shak) includes one of Aliy’s favourite parts of the trail – the Blueberry Hills. There are several “Aliy Cams” from the area… here’s just one of them from 2016. This is what she said about it:
“I look forward to the Blueberry Hills because it really grabs me with the realization that we have crossed the entire state of Alaska by dog team. It’s the first time that I can see the Bering Sea from my sled runners. That’s a far distance from the downtown streets of Anchorage. Thus, this spot is often a ‘Holy Cow’ moment.
This spot is also special because I stopped here – on the highest hill – in the year 2002. Back then, I left a small memento of a deceased friend who had introduced me to long distance racing. So every year since then, I speak to him when we mush by. I usually tell him how it’s going: great, good, poor, so/so, etc. Over the years, I have told him a lot of different things!”
To view more go to the top right and hit the search icon – type “Aliy Cam” to find them all.
BLACK TEAM UPDATE
Bridgett has spoken to Allen a few times today. He is feeling pretty good and his temperature is coming down.
He said the dogs are going crazy – they really want to be back on the trail and are getting annoyed at having to stay put. They are busting a gut to get moving so we expect their run times to be pretty good once they start.
Allen will get more sleep through the night and make a plan in the morning.
RETURNED DOG UPDATE
Cayenne and Commando are enjoying “Midnight’s Returned Dog Hotel” (Midnight is Linda’s poodle). And, do you recognise the dog on the left on the walking picture? That’s Chica! Rodney, Five, Scooby, Ginger and Ernie’s Mom. Leslie and Don helped walk Cayenne and Commando today.
Adorable – and sooooo good to see Chica along with another favorite – Commando.
Glad to hear Allen is feeling better and will be able to get back onto the trail with his string of highly energized and well rested sled dogs! We will look forward to seeing his bib number turn green and moter on down the trail on the tracker!
Ah, the Blueberry Hills…..the Aliy cam is always running in this section. What a feeling of accomplishment indeed….across the entire BIG state of Alaska by dog team….how cool is that AGAIN! Probably never gets old to these veterans of the trail. Have a great ride through the Hills there Aliy!
Nice to see Chica again!!!! Good girl….enjoy that retirement….you deserved it!
DITTO
WOOF WOOF WOOF
Chica looks great!!!
Thanks ever so much for keeping us informed about these details and health updates of 2 and 4 leggeds.
I’m so happy to see Chica doing well! And such good news about Allen! I’m looking forward to watching them speed up the Yukon today
Glad Allen is feeling better. Dogs sound like they will take off like a rocket! Take Care!
I remember Aliy loves the Blueberry Hills. It sound like a beautiful place!
Go SPK! Nice pictures of Chica & Commando! Good retirement to you Chica!!
P.S. Chica, your off spring if doing you Proud!
I’m happy to hear that Allen is feeling better and that his dogs are ready to go. His dogs will definitely have good speed after being well rested! I’m glad the Red Team is doing good and I’m happy they have reached the coast! It must be amazing to have a dog team pull you across the huge state of Alaska! How wonderful and incredible that must be!
Those pictures are adorable!
Glad the current news is 99% good. SPK is the Best. So neat to see Chica as the Surfivers are very special to me since I saw them as barely eyes-open pupsters in Aug 2014! Sad Ginger had to drop but thrilled for Five and Rodney making the Big Ones!! Have a great retirement Chica!
The Blueberry Hills videos are some of my favorites. Seeing the Bering Sea from that view is beautiful on video so it must be breathtaking to see it for real. And what better way to see it than behind the awesome SPK dogs. Go Aliy and Allen, we are with you in spirit!