Meghan crossed the line at 2.32pm with Viper and Scruggs in lead, Clyde and Willie in swing, Beemer running solo, Mac and Outlaw then Izzy and Biscuit in wheel.
L-R: Scruggs is pleased with himself; Clyde, Willie and the rest of the team wait while officials check Meghan’s sled for her mandatory gear
Josh caught the moment when the team crossed the line then they enjoyed a some cool water and kibble! I imagine they are all (Meghan included) enjoying a nap now.
Fantastic job Meghan, Scruggs, Clyde, Beemer, Willie, Viper, Mac, Outlaw, Biscuit and Izzy! We’re really proud of you. Woohoo!
They pushed hard at the end and you know Meghan will have been working hard behind the sled, kicking and poling, to help the team along and try to catch Jean-Denis’ team. She will possibly have been able to see them for miles! Was it just me or did you yell at the tracker too?
Congratulations to Crispin Studer, the defending Champion, William Kleedehn, Gerry Willomitzer and Jean-Denis Britten who finished 1st – 4th respectively (awaiting official confirmation for 2nd and 3rd).
Photos from the finish as soon as we can and we can’t wait to hear all about it from Meghan! Yay team!
The Red & Blacks have pulled into Fortymile on their return journey and according to the tracker they are continuing on through to Dawson. As I write this they have about 48 miles to go to the finish!
With the trackers not updating for a few of the racers around them it is going to be difficult to know who is where in the final stages so keep an eye also on the Percy’s Facebook Page and the Race Updates page. It’s going to be an exciting finish!
Around the time the team left Eagle I got up and looked out the window (mainly to try to quiet a puppy barking as some shadows!) and noticed a spectacular aurora show so I checked the UAF Geophysical Institute’s Aurora Forecast page to see if it was happening over in the Yukon too. It’s likely they had the same show overhead so it must have been stunning to mush down the Yukon River with nine dogs stretched out in front and the lights above.
Meghan and the R&B team have pulled into Eagle at 10.05pm (local time) where they see out their six hour mandatory layover. They made up three places on this run and arrived in 7th position. They will be able to leave at 4.11am at the earliest (if my calculations are correct).
During these six hours Meghan will snack, water and feed the team before massaging muscles and tucking them in for a long rest. She will also try to get some sleep herself as she will be leaving at a time when most of us should be asleep! She’ll feed the team again about an hour before they leave then repack her sled, bootie and go!
Meghan and the R&Bs have rested at the first checkpoint, Fortymile (which is actually almost fifty miles from Dawson) and are now on their way to Eagle. They spent about two hours there although I don’t have any official checkpoint in and out times yet.
According to the tracker they are sitting in 9th position currently. They will see out their mandatory six hour layover in Eagle where they also make up their time differential from the staggered start.
Thanks to Josh’s multi-tasking abilities we have some pics and video from the start. Josh said the dogs were mellow and focused until teams started leaving and then they got a little excited! In a last minute change Meghan led off with Clyde and Scruggs.
Josh now has to sit tight until the end of the race; the checkpoints are not on the winter road system and handlers are not able to get to Fortymile or Eagle.
L-R: Mac, Outlaw, Izzy and Biscuit ready to start; Meghan booties Mac
Meghan and her nine teammates are off and running in the Percy DeWolfe Memorial Mail Race. You can follow along with their great live tracker (click here for the link.)
Meghan has drawn bib #11 for the Percy which starts tomorrow (Thursday) morning. She will leave the chute at 10.20am local time. She told me the dogs look great, they travelled well and are ready to race tomorrow.
On the way to Dawson on Tuesday they stopped at Kluane Lake, near Burwash Landing and Destruction Bay in the Yukon, to give the dogs their dinner – it’s a gorgeous spot!
Meghan is taking a great team with her to Eagle and back!
SCRUGGS and BEEMER will lead the team out of Dawson followed by CLYDE and WILLIE in swing, VIPER will run solo, MAC and OUTLAW follow with BISCUIT and IZZY in wheel. Click here to see the team roster page to learn more about the athletes.
Clyde and Willie
