Fast into Kalskag – It’s Anyone’s Race!

Good Morning Race Fans!

A beautiful trail up the river has Teams closely packed together we all slept last night.

Jeff King checked into Kalskag first at 4:02 with only a 6 minute lead over a group of 4 mushers only a minute apart. The fastest time over the 50 mile route was Joar Ulsom with 4hrs 56 minutes, but the top five times are only separated by 5 minutes in those 50 miles with Pete and Aaron Peck only one minute behind.

Check in Times

Kalskag Check In Times

Kalskag Enroute Times

Kalskag Enroute Times

Considering that checking in 10 Teams at once doesn’t allow for a real accurate picture of the trail times, I’m considering a virtual tie among the top 5 Teams. There’s just not much distance between them. As Andy Angstman reported to K300.org, Teams were like a “Train” coming into the middle river checkpoint.

Comparing the race to last year, the times are very close, but a bit slower. Last year Jessie Holmes made the run in 4:28 with the top five teams under 4:45. Still a very fast race.

This year the trail route will head overland through the Whitefish Lake loop towards Aniak. This 50 mile trail routes up through the tundra and towards the Aniak River before heading into the Aniak Checkpoint. I’d guess that Teams will be taking 4 hours of their 6 hour mandatory rest before heading out. The race differential, which accounts for the staggered start times also will be added to rest in the Kalskag checkpoint.

Weather is just great. It’s cold, but clear and not so windy. Winds haven’t been a factor so far, so cross your fingers!

Go Team Kaiser!!

 

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