Good Afternoon Race Fans!
It’s a long cold run in from Kaltag. Last night on the river in Kaltag it was -40F. Travis Beals who lead Teams into Kaltag with a fair advantage, gave up that position as Dallas Seavey and Jesse Holmes mushed on by in the night with Travis following them to Old Woman cabin where several Teams including Team Kaiser camped out for 4-5 hours each.
Pete and the Team arrived into the campsite a couple of hours after the main group and took a 4 1/2 hour break after arriving at just after 8am this morning. Returning to the trail about 12:30pm, they are moving along nicely.
Jesse Holmes was the first Team into Unalakleet with Dallas Seavey arriving just 26 min later. Dallas didn’t stop and made his way another 10 miles out of Unalakleet where the Team is presently taking another break.
Unalakleet weather at 3pm local time is -7 with light 6mph winds. The next checkpoint, Shaktoolik, however, is reporting -8 with 21mph North winds.
Teams seem to be moving a bit slower and taking longer breaks which leads one to believe that the trail and temperatures are not an easy run and mushers are giving Teams a bit more rest, not to mention the mushers that need it as well. After a week out on the trail, the mental challenge of fatigue, lack of sleep, and the monotony of the trail begin to take effect and the next part of the race can be as much a mental as physical challenge.
Normally I would think that Pete would run right through Unalakleet, but I am seeing Matt Hall and Jesse Holmes both take a short break as well in Unalakleet, so I wouldn’t be surprised if Pete does the same here. Teams that have passed Pete while on break are making much longer runs into Unalakleet, so I’m thinking that they will need to stop longer before returning to the trail. I would expect Pete and the Team to be in the 6th or 7th position upon leaving Unalakleet.
It’s Iditarod Sunday and anything can and will happen. We have already seen the true leader changed over the night. It will be interesting to watch this evening to see things shake out.
There’s not a cloud in the sky, but the windchills are extreme.
Shaktoolik Forecast:
This Afternoon
Areas of blowing snow. Sunny, with a high near -6. North wind around 20 mph.
Tonight
Areas of blowing snow. Clear, with a low around -23. Wind chill values as low as -45. North wind 20 to 25 mph.
Monday
Areas of blowing snow before 4pm. Sunny, with a high near -7. Wind chill values as low as -50. North wind around 20 mph.
Stay Tuned!
Go Team Kaiser!!
