Chicago is known as the “Windy City,” but it doesn’t have anything on Bethel, Alaska, and the 2016 Kuskokwim 300! The winds are blowing and the dogs are running, but word from the trail is that some drivers are having to lead their teams to stay on the trail. The river stretches before the trail heads overland were especially slippery and Teams weren’t too keen on turning into the 30mph winds that would lead them to better trails.
Looking at the Tracker, though, shows teams making good time now that they are on overland trails. The 50 mile stretch between the Start and Tuluksak will lead Teams overland North of Akiachak and then Northeast towards that checkpoint.
The 2016 Start was pretty cold, but not as bad as some years. The wind was the issue and the polished ice of the Kuskokwim River that makes up the Starting Line was especially slick. All teams left with Snowmachines in tow to keep the Teams settled down and on the trail. This is standard practice and about a mile or so out of town, Teams release and are underway.
Friends, Sponsors, and well wishers stopped to watch Pete and the Team get set to go. In the -20 windchill Team Kaiser fans still make their way down to send them on their way! Thank you so much for your support! Don’t you worry, Team Kaiser noticed each and every one that stopped by.
As luck would have it, the truck trail is good enough to go, so we are headed to Tuluksak to watch the Teams as they enter the checkpoint. We won’t have any updates until the morning, but hopefully we’ll get a few good shots for you!
Mushing Weather for this evening:
KUSKOKWIM DELTA- INCLUDING...BETHEL... 349 PM AKST FRI JAN 15 2016 .TONIGHT...MOSTLY CLEAR. LOWS 5 TO 10 ABOVE. NORTHEAST WIND 15 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 40 MPH. WIND CHILLS 5 BELOW TO 20 BELOW.
Here are the photos from this evening’s festivities:
