Pete and the Team rested 4 hours in Nikolai this morning after reaching the Kuskokwim River. The Team looked lively as they returned to the trail at 3:27pm and I’m wondering what he might do as he reaches McGrath. His Pal Richie Diehl was in and out of the checkpoint after a two hour break.
Will Pete do the same? Decisions, Decisions! Team Kaiser will reach McGrath very soon, so we are going to find out shortly!!
Talking to Pete before the race didn’t seem like Ophir was in the cards, but these warmer temperatures and an approaching storm could make it an advantage.
We are just two days into a 9 day race and McGrath and the 24 hour layover just seems a bit soon only 311 miles into the the race.
The thing on everyone’s mind is a heavy snow storm approaching from the Southwest. A massive snow storm is heading right into the path of the Teams and is expected to last until Thursday.
Two decisions– First to hole up in McGrath and let it happen while on the rest clock, or Second, to make a break for Ophir and hope that the conditions will slow Teams after them.
NWS Storm Warning-
Yukon Delta-Lower Yukon Valley-Upper Kuskokwim Valley-
Including Mountain Village, Emmonak, Alakanuk, Kotlik,
Pilot Station, St Marys, Scammon Bay, Marshall, Nunam Iqua,
Pitkas Point, Russian Mission, Grayling, Holy Cross, Shageluk,
Anvik, Flat, McGrath, Nikolai, Takotna, and Farewell Lake
135 PM AKST Tue Mar 8 2022
…Significant Snow South Of Telida and Anvik From Wednesday
Through Thursday…
Heavy snow will develop from Telida to Anvik south on Wednesday
and continue through Thursday. Telida and Anvik can expect 4 to 6
inches of snow, and areas closer to the Alaska Range could see
somewhere between 6 and 12 inches of snow. There is a possibility
of light freezing rain in these same areas on Wednesday and
Thursday as well.