Time 11pm Race Mile: 772
Tonight I am thankful this race is still on and we can follow the teams to Nome. All the rest of the world news is unsettling and stressful so to have this to focus on is a blessing.
It’s late Monday night, apologies for radio silence for a few hours. Aliy and her team are currently travelling from Shaktoolik towards Koyuk. When I last wrote the team had just pulled into Unalakleet so they’ve had a busy day of resting and running.
The team spent just under five hours in Unalakleet before mushing out of town and turning right to following the coast line, up and over the Blueberry Hills and down to the sea. They ran this during the daylight so Aliy and the dogs would have enjoyed the views around them. I like to think that the dogs enjoy the view as much as Aliy. Especially the rookies.
Because Shaktoolik became an unofficial checkpoint we have no official in and out times for there but the GPS tracker does ping a ‘Musher Alert’ when your favourited teams’ GPS hits certain mile markers. We have an indication therefore that they arrived there about 15:48 and left again at 20:04 – so had just over four hours rest at the pop-up checkpoint.
Not so long ago Aliy and the team passed over the peninsula to the north of Shaktoolik. The trail then takes them right on the frozen ocean of the Norton Sound. In recent years the trail has had to follow the coastline due to unstable ice conditions but this year it has frozen enough for the teams to safely cross. This also means the route is reportedly 10 miles shorter than it has been.
Here’s an Aliy Cam from 2017 showing that very area
Next stop is Koyuk and we would expect the team to stop there for some hours before pushing on towards Elim. The team right now is 32 miles from Koyuk and appear to be travelling this section with or near Kelly Maxiner and Jeff Deeter.
Our skeleton handler crew have arrived into Nome and will be socially distancing themselves as they wait for the teams to arrive. They took food and books and will have internet and good conversation to keep them busy.
Returned Dog Update
Kodiak is still waiting his turn to hop a plane back to Linda’s house. He will be fat and happy by the time he gets there! I did stop by Linda’s place today – does someone want to tell her she picked up the wrong returned dog…?
Second from me on that blessing.
I was at my son’s, feeding new grandson this evening, with the Iditarod on the laptop in front of the two of us. My son said to my daughter-in-love, “Every sport has been canceled, except my Mom’s Iditarod.” LOL
We are indeed blessed, so blessed too have this to share, enjoy, and focus our attention.
God bless you all!
It is wonderful to see that there is ice on the ocean for the race this year. Great news!
SPK team is 22 miles from Koyuk now, and looking great, moving along nicely right with Kelly and Jeff.
I’m thankful the handler team has arrive in Nome and are careful. Thankfully they are in one of the safest states in our union at the moment. I pray that Alaska will not be impacted by COVID-19, too late for many areas, but it would be wonderful if Alaska’s residents didn’t have to deal with much of this. Hopefully those in Alaska can soon have a big sigh of relief.
If Kodiak isn’t at Linda’s, is another family desperately seeking a pup at Linda’s. or
Wow, that MOOSE!
Thank you for the videos <3
I also am grateful for something to keep my mind busy! Here in Montana all schools are closed and restaurants and bars and movie theaters all closed last night. Trying to limit exposure. After arriving home from my Alaska trip this past Wednesday I have had a cold and on the couch for a few days, and i have been ever thankful for your updates! I’ll be so bummed when I don’t have daily Aliy updates anymore! Im so glad Aliy and the team seem to be enjoying themselves, even without a big W this year! It just goes to show winning isn’t everything! I love the humor you have kept! And love the moose! Thanks for being faithful in keeping your fans informed! Prayers for continued safety for Aliy and pups and the rest of the team in Nome!
Ha! I thought Mismo was big and hard to lift into the truck! Good Luck getting that one into a dog box!!!! -WJB
I am thankful to see Aliy off the ice this am….it was slightly cooler overnight so hopefully the trail was not like mashed taters as reported in the daytime Monday.
We are in strange days for sure. We are keeping the SP Kennel and Crew in our thoughts as this race comes to an end. Stay healthy and safe everyone.
WOW and another WOW!!! MOOSE ON THE LOOSE
Awesome post, Moira!!!
How well I remember that 2017 trip!!!
GO RED TEAM!!! GO ALIY!!!
WOOF WOOF WOOF
Wow! I hope the dogs are safe from the big moose!!! What a picture! In the previous posts
it’s a ditto! All will be well when Aliy and those Red Team Dogs go under the arch!! Thanks
Crew for all you do for SP Kennel. Love and well wishes to you all!! Go Girl!