It’s 4.45am. Feeling: Beyond excited to see the team soon but always a bit wary of the ‘Blowhole’.
Aliy, Mismo, Spark, Dutch, Bruno, Decaf, Five, Jefe, Nomex, QT, Rodney and Violet left White Mountain right on time at 3:47am. They have one more run before they are home to Nome and we can hardly wait to see them. We expect them mid-afternoon.
This leg is 77 miles – 55 to the checkpoint of Safety then a final 22 miles to Nome. It is a well travelled snowmachine trail that takes teams on three rivers, Fish River, Klokerblok River and Topkok River. They then climb 500 foot Topkok, descending to the beach and the infamous Blowhole section to Safety.
Aliy took this video this time last year as they passed through the Blowhole. We have everything crossed that this year the conditions are the same!
Once through the checkpoint of Safety (with enough time for Spark to say Hi to sponsor Deb, a checker there) they set off on the Nome-Council Road and up over Cape Nome. The team is likely to be doing this in daylight so won’t spot the lights of Nome but Aliy and seven of those dogs have been there before so will know what is coming. Much has been made of the non-existent sea ice in Nome this year but there is just enough for there to be a safe and mushable trail into town. The final act will be the run down Front Street, into the finish chute and under the Burled Arch.
Julien Schroder of Arctic Mood took this amazing pic of Nome this afternoon. It’s quite a phenomenon – one that no-one is too pleased about. Check out more of Julien’s pics here!
Listen as Allen tells us about the final leg to Nome:
A bunch of us went down to the finish line to greet the new Champion. We are so excited for Pete Kaiser and his family. If it couldn’t be Aliy then we are very happy to see him as the 2019 Iditarod Champ. Check out their excellent website and Facebook page, if you haven’t already. A huge crowd was down on Front Street to greet him and his stellar team and then to see Joar & Co cross the line less than 15 minutes later. Congrats also to Joar, it was a tremendous battle and we enjoyed watching it unfold.
I caught a few snaps and sounds of the finish.
WOW that was close!!!
Congrats to new Champ Pete and awesome race, 2018 Champ Joar!!!
WOOF WOOF WOOF
This part of the trail is so cool…..so close to the finish but always cautious, knowing Teams must go through the ole Blow Hole and on through Safety! Thanks again for the trail narrative of Allens….and the sounds at the finish was a nice touch for this post!
We cant wait for Aliy to get to Nome too….always the favorite part of our “IditaDay!
Congratulations… what an ordeal with too warm of temps…love watching you, cheering you on and seeing your furry workers. It is obvious they live you as you do them. Yeah Aliy yeah team!
Congratulations… what an ordeal with too warm of temps…love watching you, cheering you on and seeing your furry workers. It is obvious they love you as you do them. Yeah Aliy yeah team!
Hooray for Pete and a real push by Joar to make it a true race.
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I think the three behind Aliy had much better weather. The trek to Elim after Koyuk must have been hard since she stayed in Elim longer. Last time I checked, Jessie Holmes had stalled along the trail to Elim after going back to Koyuk and staying there a long time. Seems the first five to cross met with the brunt of the wind storm.
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Still an exciting and interesting race. Matt, another home grown boy, is suddenly on fire. Travis is pushing at him from behind, and look at that Paige! They have reduced the number of miles between Aliy and themselves over the hills. I did some calculations earlier, when I saw them traveling so fast into White Mountain. Averaging absolutely everything else out, he’d have to go 1 mile an hour faster over the 77 miles to be in Nome at the same time.
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Lucky you, hearing all will hear the stories once they are all safely in Nome.
Agreed about that trek to Koyuk. I’m curious to hear more. Mitch was in that too, still there when Aliy and Jesse H went through.
Nice to see Aliy is about half done with her final run. I’m glad the weather has cooled some, since she is running during the warmest part of the day for the finish.
I’m definitely hopeful for a much cooler winter next year for Alaska.
Congratulations Pete, Joar and Jessie. On the Live Broadcast it certainly was a crowd for the first two. I hope many make it out to greet Aliy. It will be wonderful to have Allen there too 🙂
My stomach started to hurt at about 3:55 (Alaska time) this morning, then I realized it had to be a glitch in the tracker. I felt great about ten minutes later.
Allen and Moira thank you for the excellent coverage.
Love SPK, I’m so proud of you!
Awesome job, SP Kennel webmaster!!! WOOF!!!
Thank you Allen for the “blow by blow” description of the last leg of Iditarod Trail – so well done!!!
GO RED TEAM!!!
WOOF WOOF WOOF
Run like the wind Aliy and Dogs! You are doing good!!! Go for it!
Thanks Allen for your excellent commentary on the last leg of race. Very exciting coverage on the insider & SPK. Aliy keep mushing ahead of those 3 behind you. Will be so glad when you get to Nome. thanks Moira for ypur excellent coverage.
Hope Sparkie can do a quick love on Deb with the way Travis is bearing down on the trail. Sheesh! Aliy should be just about to Safety as I write. I’m shoveling snow in my Decaf sweatshirt today! So proud of that little man. Last 22 doggies! You got this. Hang on to the handlebars Aliy. We still got you. Go DOGS GOOOOO
Meant last 22 miles…!
I feel happy for Deb to have Spark and Aliy so long in Safety, but with Travis bearing down on her, I am sorry to see that chance at top 5 may slip away.
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C’est la vie. That is why she is the kind of person running this race and not me (not to mention the physical stamina and strength required – but that is another topic). I don’t have what it takes to put it all together and be sure I am well within myself. I admire each one of those people on the trail, for the choices they make, for their care of the dogs, for their perseverance or their wise decision to stop when the dogs speak to them.
Ditto on the fabulous SPK Dog Log coverage. Thank you Moira, Allen, and anyone else that may have contributed. I also enjoy reading the analysis and perspectives of the dog loggers. I’m so ready and exited to see Aliy cross the finish line, as is everyone else. She is currently stopped in Safety. From Jessie Royer’s comments after her finish, sounds like this last stretch from White Mountain to Nome was difficult….but then they’ve been in “difficult” the entire race. Go Aliy and awesome SPKennel dogs! So proud of you! Just a little ways further. So proud of Commando, Amber and Driver too!
So – you see, I am in complete fret mode now. Aliy is moving, hooray, but Matt and Paige have stopped in the same spot. I saw Matt falter after Travis passed and now I am worried for different reasons.
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Sorry, I get anxious along the Coast until any musher reaches Safety and moves on .. what a race this has been.
Go Aliy! Your almost in Nome! You and your dogs have done beyond amazing in this race! Press toward the finish line!
Watching as Aliy is now only 7 miles for the ARCH !!! What a team !!!!! tremendous coverage of the race this year !
Go Aliy !!! Java is waiting !