Time 7.30pm Race Mile 676
Aliy and her 12-strong team left Kaltag at 12:24pm after their mandatory eight hour rest. The dogs will have had a couple of good big meals and plenty of rest while Aliy will have gotten some rest herself. There won’t be much more rest to be had in this race for the mushers.
Unfortunately we didn’t get to see the team leave Kaltag on the live stream, we got to watch some of Thomas Waerner’s sleeping dogs in Unalakleet, which is pretty relaxing and mesmerising I must admit. Perhaps everyone should stop and watch a peacefully sleeping animal for at least 10 minutes a day for their own wellbeing.
The team are currently resting at Old Woman cabin, a BLM cabin 38 miles before Unalakleet. The cabin is at the base of Old Woman Mountain. They arrived there around 7.15pm – 6.75 hours after leaving Kaltag so we expect her to rest the team here for a few hours (I actually have no idea how many hours – we will just have to wait and see like everyone else). You can see from this screen shot below that to get to the cabin the teams leave the main trail and take the right hand fork. Allen described it as a short wooded trail up to the cabin and a really pretty spot to stop. You can see the top of Old Woman mountain from there.
At the time of writing, Mille, Pete, Richie and Nic were also at the cabin.
Waiting for in Unalakleet is not just her drop bags of supplies sent two weeks prior to the race, but also her spare sled with dry boots, some fresh red beanie hats, runner plastics should she need it and other supplies. The sled was shipped on the Monday after race start.
We’ve been seeing stories about how the local communities along the trail are going above and beyond for the race. Due to public health concerns Nulato and Shaktoolik checkpoint are been moved outside the villages, but locals have stepped in to make the temporary checkpoints as comfortable for dogs, mushers and race personnel by readying nearby cabins, shovelling tonnes of snow, opening up a water hole and bringing home-made food for mushers to enjoy. Check out this inspiring Facebook video from Shaktoolik and this ADN article.
Returned Dog Update
Bruno is back at the kennel and is playing with neighbours Cayenne and Scooby. Linda sent through these pics of Bruno and Midnight just before he left to come home.
No word yet on when Kodiak will make it back to Anchorage. He’s still at the checkpoint being well cared for by the vets and race personnel and will be hamming it up large eliciting lots of pets and kisses from anyone that goes by. As much as he would have wished to continue on the race, he is such a social dog he’ll be enjoying the attention of his adoring fans, which in Kodiak’s mind is everyone.
We called in a pizza for her on Unakleet! So excited to see her finish this race strong! Go Red Team!
Dora, you will get hooked on this but what better thing to do! Musher and Dogs are so talented! Go Aliy!!
1st Time watcher for the Iditarod and have really been enjoying Aliy’s team and your post. As a Texan this all seems sooooooo cold. I love learning about the life of a dog musher and the wonderful animals that take them along.
Haha! I watched the sleeping dogs on live feed too. Kids were playing, people talking and taking pictures all around them and they slept through most of it. They work hard on the trail! I couldn’t help but think that I too need to tuck the happenings of the world away for a bit and relax.
Cute pics of Midnight and Bruno! Kodiak, I hope you are having a blast socializing with everyone!
At this moment Aliy is about 12 miles from Unalakleet. Go Team!
Doggies, especially Red Team doggies, are the very best!!!
And this team has grown into a mighty bunch and learned so much – and I am sure they are kicking in with all the rest they’ve saved up from the Red Team leader’s ‘A’ plan, building for the future!!!
WOOF WOOF WOOF!!! GO ALIY!!!
Kari – that is a wonderfully thoughtful gesture. Seeing her leave in 18th from Unalakleet makes me think the pizza was a boost.
Moira – yes definitely, let sleeping dogs lie – and although that phrase meant don’t create trouble if it is simmering down, it can also mean, we benefit from their restful natures. I am looking at Cutter and our youngest (Hopi’s daughter) cuddled up on our loveseat.
Sorry Bruno, so close but best to keep you safe!💕