It’s 9.30pm Yukon Time
Today was all about the village of Carmacks. Allen and his 13 phenomenal mates pulled in to Carmacks checkpoint at 2:02pm and stayed almost exactly six hours. They left at 8:03pm.
They all looked fantastic coming in, having rested six hours at McCabe – Allen included. You can see him ski-poling to do his bit and help the team out. It was warm – about 14F.
It was a nice day out for the kids from the local school as they welcomed mushers to their village.
Allen parked the team along the fence-line and immediately got good calories into them by offering the highest fat/protein content kibble we have right onto the ground. By this stage of the race their metabolisms are on fire and they will eat anything so getting high fat and protein into them as efficiently as possible is important at this stage. He also snacked them on beef and poultry skins and they had a big, meaty meal later on, a couple of hours before they set off.
Once they’d snacked Allen massaged some joints then set straw down for the dogs to enjoy a nice long sleep. It is snowing in the area now – snowing a LOT – so having a well rested team is going to be important for the final two legs of this race. Check out the pics in from Braeburn – it sure is snowing.
While the dogs were sleeping Allen set about fixing his sled again. After 18 one thousand mile races, plus several 300s as well, his sled appears to have reached the end of it’s life. Allen wanted to stay in the checkpoint so he could utilise everything he had in his drop bags (rope, string) and the tools he always carries with him to fix it. You might call it MacGyverism – in New Zealand we would say he has a “number 8 wire mentality“.
Aliy gave an interview to KUAC‘s Lex Treinen – they have some fantastic coverage so check it out.
It was a bit dark when they left so instead here’s some pics of the fire drum.
As I write the team is about 70 miles from Braeburn checkpoint so will be running through the night. An eight hour mandatory rest awaits them there. The crew have cleaned up the camp spot and will catch a nap in Carmacks in the spacious gymnasium before heading to Braeburn Lodge. By now, handler metabolisms are also on fire so they’ll ready for the plate-sized burgers and cinnamon rolls.
I could go for one of them cinnamon rolls right now….yummy! Looks like Allen will be building a new sled this summer…glad this one will hold together long enough to get him to the finish! Love the explaination of the number 8 wire mentality….reminds me of a few farmers I know! With Allen solidly in 4th at this juncture, hopefully the head games are few and he can just enjoy the ride to the finish!
Thank you for this update, the video, and pictures. I especially enjoy watching the video clips of the team on the trail.
Go BLACK TEAM!!!!
All 14 team members look great coming in. I have always loved seeing the teams on the river, probably because we don’t get that frozen here in central OK and I’m fascinated by the huge, frozen river! Thanks video taker! And I always enjoy seeing the children with Aliy…such a great role model for them. Dutch, I get it, my shoes are the first to come off when I’m finished with my work. Commando is very appreciative of Allen, so cute. Go team! Waiting and watching until the finish,
Commando looks so cute! I love the pic of him with Allen and the pic of Aliy with the kids.
Allen’s poor sled, it may be time for retirement after this.
Very exciting, at the moment Allen is less than 30 miles from Braeburn, trying to wade through that snow.
🙂
Thankx for keeping all of us updated, down here in the lower 48. Best wishes into Braeburn, and beyond. Team looks great! …….Love what you do…..Work as a team……..Pull your weight….. Howl with your friends.🐺
Go SPK!
Thanks you so much for the great updates. It is a thrill to watch such an amazing team plow forward over the miles. And amazing care is behind it all.
Sending love and well wishes to all of you!
Whoo hoo! 1st off, Decaf as Quest dog of the day…makes me a little more proud than I already am. Good boy! 2nd, that dang sled. I’m all in for a go fund me to get Allen a new racer! 3rd, I really thought coming into Braeburn only 3 miles behind Brent that Michelle had a chance but dang. Brent’s race to lose I think at this point. Good on ya Michelle for making him work for it!
Love the update and pics!! Commando wants to kiss Allen! Team and Allen looks Great!!
Go SPK!!!
I wondered about that fix in Dawson – tell you what, that man has grit, keeping the whole thing going. He hails back to the days when dog sled teams was the only way to get to Dawson from Whitehorse in winter, which according to Ryne’s history post was not all that long ago, 1956.
I loved the photo of Commando and Allen. That’s love right there. And I got a real laugh out of Kodiak doing his part.
Presumably Allen carries duct tape with him — the essential item for repairs! LOL