Thinking of that old classic Willie Nelson song, On the Trail Again… Pete and the Team took 4 of their 6 mandatory rest hours last night in the Kalskag checkpoint. They arrived into Kalskag at 4:52am in 6th position. The K300 requires 6 hours of mandatory rest in the checkpoints of Kalskag UP-Aniak-Kalskag Down, BUT it can be taken in any combination of full hours at those checkpoints. Here’s where the strategy and gaming takes place and makes it like no other race in the world. Mushers will choose wisely their rest times to come up with their “Winning” combination.
At this hour, Pete and the Team are back on the trail after a four hour break. Expect them to take an hour in Aniak and another hour in Kalskag on the way down for a total of 6 hours. Knowing that he will have to snack his dogs anyway, Pete will use his rest time “On the Clock” so to speak, to put that time on the mandatory clock time. It is 34 miles up to the Aniak checkpoint and then another 53 miles back down to Kalskag.
Each Team has a different strategy and over the years weather, trail, and other factors have changed the game after a Team has chosen their strategy. In this race, weather isn’t as much of a factor. Yes it’s cold and windy, but nothing like many of them have seen in other races or this race before.
Once the Teams leave Kalskag on the way down, we will know the true leader, but I am thinking a good long break and then a return to racing will be a good play in this race. Go Team Kaiser!
Here’s your K300 Mushing Weather forecast– A beautiful day of mushing ahead!
LOWER KUSKOKWIM VALLEY- INCLUDING...ANIAK... 434 AM AKST SAT JAN 16 2016 .TODAY...MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGHS 5 TO 10 ABOVE. NORTH WIND 5 TO 15 MPH. .TONIGHT...MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH SCATTERED SNOW SHOWERS SOUTH OF ANIAK AND ALONG THE ALASKA RANGE. LOWS ZERO TO 5 BELOW. NORTH WIND 5 TO 15 MPH.
Here is a breakout of the teams sorted by arrival time into Kalskag-
