Time 8.00am Race Mile 629
After spending a fraction under five hours at Nulato, Aliy and her 12-strong team continued down the Yukon to the checkpoint at Kaltag where they arrived at 4.21am this morning They will see out their eight hour mandatory rest here to collect their second ‘green tick’ next to their name on the Current Standings. The earliest they can leave is 12.21pm. Expect a bunch of teams to pass them as they see our their eight hours but remember they will be well rested so hopefully can make up some places once they are back on the trail.
We’ve been somewhat starved for pictures of the team so we were happy to see Sebastian’s updates from Nulato last night. He posted this pic of Princess QT asleep at the checkpoint. It appears she has her own special royal bed and has pink precautionary wrist wraps on. She looks comfortable and the warmth of the afternoon meant she didn’t need a blanket. Thanks Sebastian!
His words about Aliy: “Nicolas Petit and Jessie Holmes were grabbing a bunk, right when Aliy Zirkle got up from her nap. She had not really planned on stopping here, but did so due to the slow conditions. Finding this nice and cozy cabin, definitely lifted her mood a bit.”
I found some video from 2017 of the team coming in to Kaltag at around the same time of day.
After Kaltag, teams travel the Portage trail from Interior Alaska to Coastal Alaska. Don Bowers Jnr describes it thus: “This leg follows the ancient Kaltag portage, a relatively straight valley angling southwest through the coastal mountains; the route has been used for millennia by Natives. It is normally a well-used snowmachine highway. It marks the major transition from the inland river environment to the Bering Sea coast. Conditions can be vastly different at opposite ends of the portage, and wind is a constant threat on the western half.”
This video from 2018 shows the team travelling a section of that trail:
Normally I might suggest taking a break from the tracker this morning but it is such a fascinating race up front I’m not sure I’m able to resist.
Thanks ever so much for this post!!! WOOF WOOF WOOF
We did a graphic from one of the snaps (with “pizza box”) from Nulato – hopefully the link will work!
http://www.aboutweston.com/artpizzanulato.jpg
Saw that picture too Margaret! Go Aliy Enjoy!
On the trail again and Go Girl and Red Team Dogs! Sure the dogs are barking with excitement!
Cute Margaret!
I love that picture–Sebastian really captured Aliy.
LOL A break from the tracker? No, there will be no breaks, except when I head to work tonight, and then Aliy finishes. I’m not counting passing out from sleep deprivation.
QT is quite precious in her pink leggings.
I so appreciate Sebastian Schnuelle. It’s super nice to have a neighbor out there.
Thank you for this awesome update and the great video links. <3