It feels odd not sitting on Bob Madden’s couch as Pete and the Team roll into White Mountain. While I fully understand and support the social distancing that will hopefully lessen the blow of this pandemic to our families and friends, I can’t help but have a gnawing feeling I am in the wrong place. Bob and Sherrie’s home has been my Nome/Home away from home for many years and not seeing them or standing at the ready to cheer on Pete and the Team just feels strange. I’m a little Nomesick to be honest!
Pete and the Team were into White Mountain and the 8 hour hold at 7:18pm. It’s been a long hard run in from Elim over the ice. The warm soft trail must have been pretty challenging as it took 7 hours to complete. Although Pete had been traveling with Nicolas Petit, after leaving Elim, Nic chose to return to Elim for more rest. Interesting looking at the archives, though as last year it took 7 hours 24 minutes for Team Kaiser to make that same journey. Pete’s speeds on the tracker seem to be slower, but it took less time– Interesting…
This final 8 hour stop in the Iditarod is to allow the veterinarians to give each Team their final check over and allow mushers to get a bit of rest as well. The last 77 miles can sometimes be the most brutal, and realistically it’s the last village before Nome. Safety is just a cabin, so taking a break here is a good deal for a Team that has been on the trail for so many days and miles.
Unless something out of the ordinary happens, Thomas Waerner will cross the Finish Line between Midnight and 2:00am. A good fast Team can make the run in 10 hours, but with the warm conditions I’m thinking about 10:30. He left at 13:30, thus my thinking.
This is the first time a musher that is part of a larger “Team” similar to a Nascar race Team will have won the Iditarod. Joar Leifseth-Ulsom, Dallas Seavey, and Thomas Waerner make up the QrillPet race Team. They have had a real nice run and have beautiful dog Teams. Thomas has also had a very good race and good luck. All ingredients to a Race Win– Luck, Skill, and a beautiful dog Team. Congratulations will be order if his luck continues.
Pete will be able to leave White Mountain at 3:18am. After about 11 to 12 hours I am thinking a Kaiser Team finish between 2 and 4pm tomorrow. Darn! A daylight finish!!! (For a photographer they can be the best!) Ron and other Kaiser Fans will be waiting at the finish, but we will also be able to watch live. So make sure to Tune into Iditarod Live tomorrow afternoon!
Unfortunately the weather is supposed to warm more tomorrow, so I’m sure Pete ready to get this underway and to the Finish before it warms up too much.
Go Team Kaiser!!
