Let the Games Begin!!

The Iditarod Trail Race is like a poker game once Teams reach the Unalakleet area. Mushers strategize for 11 months of the year to come up with ways for a winning hand. They generally have several strategies up their sleeve and friends like Pete and Richie talk about them often during the year.

We see this playing out today in full force. Several strategies are playing out and really the games began once Teams left Kaltag.

Nicolas Petit made the run from Kaltag to Unalakleet in one long run. Expect to see him take a good long break in Unalakleet. He is in a really good place because he has one of the fastest Teams in the race and will know what Teams are doing once they reach the checkpoint. Some Teams are not going to stay and run up the coast to Shaktoolik.

Mitch Seavey stopped about half way between Kaltag and Unalakleet. He may break or he may head North.

Joar Ulsom stopped about 22 miles from Unalakleet and so did Pete and Richie. Will they head for Shak? I’m thinking they will because it will just be another 60 mile run. Since Ophir they have been doing a lot of 60 mile runs. Ophir to Iditarod, Grayling to Eagle Island, and Eagle Island to Kaltag. This latest 60 mile run is just another leg. And guess how far Shaktoolik is?? 60 miles…

Wade Mars pulled a fast one as did Ray Redington. They kept on going just out of sight of Pete and Richie. It will be a bit of a mind game for them as they’ll be wondering if those Teams kept running for Unalakleet. Both Wade and Ray will be able to keep tabs on Pete and Richie because if they leave early, they’ll have to pass Wade and Ray who can pull up stakes and be off in fairly notice.

It’s always a lot of fun to start watching the Gamesmanship happening. Long time fans will remember the Lance Mackey/Jeff King game in Shaktoolik when Lance snuck out of the checkpoint after acting like he was going to stay. King lept to take off after him, but Lance had totally pulled a fast one and went on to win the race.

Weather is much the same as it has been– Temps in the 20’s, light winds, and cloudy skies.

Go Team Kaiser!

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Setting Goals, by Pete Kaiser

One of our Major Sponsors, Donlin Gold, asked Pete if he could do a video series on Life as a Musher and his “Keys to Success.”

We jumped at the opportunity to bring a positive message to folks! Visit Donlin Gold Facebook for the full story.

Here is the first one – Setting Goals and Reaching Them. Thanks to the fine folks at Donlin Gold for making this possible!

https://www.facebook.com/DonlinGold/videos/2082821531733385/

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Early Morning Westbound!

Good Morning Race Fans!

It’s always a bit tough to get up after a time change, but while we’re whining about an hour missed of sleep, Pete and the Team have been on a sleep deprived schedule for almost a week now!

During the night, Pete and the Team arrived into Kaltag at 1:13am with 11 dogs in harness and one in the sled. They are back on the trail after a 5 hour nap and bound for Unalakleet over the 85 mile portage trail to the coast. The Insider Video of Pete and the Team coming into Kaltag was just amazing! The Team looked Great!! Pete looked a bit tired for sure who could blame him.

This race has been challenging for Teams when you consider the trail from Ophir to Iditarod to Shageluk, and then the Grayling to Kaltag stretch being unused trails. From Kaltag to Nome the trails should be a little better as they are used by villages to travel for subsistence hunting and also were used by the Iron Dog snowmachine race.

Pete had to drop another member of the Team this morning when he left this morning at 7:30 with Richie Diehl and Ray Redington.

This is really a close race! Following in the next 30 minutes were Wade Mars, Matt Failor, and Travis Beals, all who have real nice Teams as well. This is going to be a nail biter to the finish to see who will be in the top 5! Better get the tracker on speed dial!!

It’s going to be a long day on the trail, so grab a cup and follow along!

Go Team Kaiser!!

Weather this morning is really pretty nice for mushing.

Unalakleet and Kaltag Currently- Temp-9F, light winds from the South and partly Sunny.
Unalakleet Forecast Today
Partly sunny, with a high near 17. South wind around 5 mph becoming east in the afternoon.
Tonight
A 10 percent chance of snow after 4am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 9. East wind around 10 mph.

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Northbound for Kaltag

Pete and the Team are off their way North to Kaltag. They pulled over at Eagle Island after a 7 hour run and took a 5 hour break. That is an EXCELLENT time considering that the Team was pulling a few extra pound of food and supplies. In 2013, Mitch Seavey, who won that year, did that run in 7 hours 13 minutes. Very Impressive Mr. Kaiser and the Team (Of course!)

The run to Kaltag is another 60 miles. There are 7 teams pretty much traveling together behind the front 3 of Petit, Ulsom, and Seavey. Pete and Richie and Ray seem to have the speed advantage, but a small mistake at any point or a sore ankle in any Team could be costly as Teams head up this last section of unused trail. 

Presently Kaltag is showing sunshine and winds from the Southwest at 8mph. A Low is headed up the coast and Sunday may prove to be weather challenging.

Mushing Forecast for tonight and tomorrow
(Remember to SPRING FORWARD tonight- YAY!- One more hour of playtime after work!!!):

Kaltag Area- Tonight
A 20 percent chance of snow after 3am. Cloudy, with a low around 2. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Sunday
A 30 percent chance of snow, mainly before 9am. Cloudy, with a high near 22. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Unalakleet Area – Sunday Night
A 30 percent chance of snow after 3am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 10. East wind 10 to 15 mph.
Monday
Snow, mainly after 9am. Areas of freezing fog after 3pm. High near 26. East wind 5 to 15 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Monday Night
Snow likely, mainly before 9pm. Cloudy, with a low around 16. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
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Approaching Eagle Island

Although there won’t be any drop bags waiting for Teams, apparently there may be heater fuel at the traditional Eagle Island checkpoint. It isn’t a checkpoint now, but Mitch Seavey and Joar Leifseth Ulsom stopped over there for a break.

Pete, along with Richie and Ray Redington are approaching the spot and I’d guess that they will be stopping to break the Teams at that point.

Weathercams in Grayling are showing sunny skies, but Kaltag looking South and Unalakleet looking East show clouds. The good news is that from all reports, winds have died down dramatically. It is cold, so there won’t be a “heat of the day” thing to worry about, but after running today with extra gear, it will be a good break and Pete will know that the Team will have a lighter load as he moves North.

Ray Redington is leading the trio, so that helps out the mental energy of the Team to some extent by providing a trail to follow. Eagle Island is halfway to Kaltag, so after a break, there is light to the end of the tunnel of the southern route for 2018.

It won’t be long before Eagle Island will be a flurry of activity as there are still quite a few Teams following closely to Pete and the guys. It’s going to be exciting to the end!

Have a good break boys! Go Team Kaiser!

Currently Anvik- 4 degrees, light winds from the south. Partly cloudy.

Today
Mostly cloudy, with a high near 18. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Tonight
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 2. South wind around 5 mph.
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Live from Grayling

Gonders Hoffman and Steven Boney drove 280 miles to see Team Kaiser in Person– Those are REALLY Super Fans!!

Leaving Bethel they drove up to Aniak and then overland to Holy Cross and stayed the night. This afternoon they headed out for Shageluk just in time to see Pete get ready and take off for Anvik. The duo leapfrogged to Anvik where Pete was only in the checkpoint for a minute and then made for Grayling to wait and watch Pete and Richie stop for their break.

According to Steve, Pete is preparing to bring extra supplies for the run, but after he snacked and bedded down the Team, he made for a bit of shuteye himself as tonight is going to be a long one.

Here are photos from Steven and their adventures today in Shageluk and Grayling.

Thanks Men!

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Bad News on the Yukon

Just read a report that there are no supplies in Eagle Island and Teams will have to carry food and supplies for the trip from Grayling to Kaltag because the weather has been too poor to fly.

That isn’t the best news I’ve heard…

The saving grace is that all Teams will be having to do the same thing, so there’s no real advantage to an Team. In fact the Teams with the advantage are the ones that might take their 8 hour in Grayling. Mitch Seavey and Joar Ulsom are now taking their 8 hour break, so they will have a bit more rest for the journey.

I’m sure there will be a bit of grumbling in the Grayling Checkpoint tonight, but it is what it is…

I’m not sure why the Iditarod didn’t send up supplies by snowmachine as they have in the past, but they must have their reasons. I want to say I remember supplies being moved up to Cripple Creek on the Northern Route by snowmachine.

Well, not much to do about it except rest up. Pete will have to try and figure what will be the best supplies to take and try to pack light for the trip through a trail that isn’t well used, if used at all.

I spoke to Steven Boney who, with Pete’s father by the law, Gonders Hoffman, were up in Shageluk and Anvik and are now in Grayling. He said that Pete was in a pretty good mood and that the Team looked awesome. He said the trail had been pretty nice between the villages, but that wind was going to be a factor and it was right in their face. There are sections of the trail that pass high cutbank hills that can cause the wind to channel right down the river. It’s going to be a tough night on the trail tonight!!

Go Team Kaiser!

 

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