Howdy Race Fans!
It has been a long run in from Unalakleet as Teams holed up in Shaktoolik over the night because of brutal winds. The net effect is that the whole leaderboard is thrown into a jumble as Teams all grouped together in the checkpoint last night.
Pete and the Team arrived into Shaktoolik at just after 2am and camped out for 6 hours before returning to the trail this morning at 8:00am. Now running with 9 dogs in the Team, they are moving nicely across the ice to Koyuk.
Brent Sass was first into White Mountain and a mandatory 8 hour layover at 11:05 am this morning. He will be able to leave at 7:05pm for the 77 mile run to the Finish Line.
The weather is still pretty windy. Although Koyuk is only showing 6mph wind, it is in a secluded area compared to ice trail which is showing winds 25-35 mph at times.
From Koyuk it is about 100 miles to White Mountain and the 8 hour layover. Then another 77 miles to the burled arches of the Finish Line.
It took Brent Sass about 16 hours to reach White Mountain from Koyuk.
If I was predicting a finish for Pete right now, here is my calculation:
Koyuk Arrival- 1:00pm
2 Hour Break- 3:00pm (Pete would never take a 2 hour break, I see other Teams getting ready to feed and with a 100 mile run in front of them, I’d predict a longer break)
16 Hours to White Mountain- 7:00am
8 hour layover- 3:00pm
10 Hour run (Very Fast) to Nome: 2:00am
My Team Kaiser Finish Prediction- 2:00am – 4:00am Wednesday Morning.
Weather on the Norton Sound today:
Koyuk-
This Afternoon- Sunny, with a high near 10. North wind 15 to 20 mph.
Tonight- Areas of blowing snow. Mostly clear, with a low around -5. North wind around 25 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph.
White Mountain-
Tonight-Mostly clear, with a low around -3. North wind 20 to 25 mph.
Tuesday-Sunny, with a high near 6. North wind 15 to 20 mph.
Nome-
Today- Sunny. Highs in the mid to upper teens. North winds 10 to 20 mph.
Tonight- Mostly clear. Areas of blowing snow after midnight. Lows around 4 below. North winds around 20 mph.
Tuesday- Sunny. Highs around 9 above. North winds 10 to 20 mph.
Tuesday Night- Mostly clear. Lows around 4 below. North winds 10 to 20 mph.
Wednesday- Sunny. Highs in the lower to mid teens. North winds 5 to 15 mph.
