Author Archives: tundratech

Bethany drove up to Aniak to meet Pete and the Team last night. The “trail” is actually a well marked road this year and it must have been such fun. Thanks to Emerie for the place to stay, Aylee and Beth were there to welcome Pete and the Team into Aniak. Here are the Photos! GO Team Kaiser!

Aniak

Kalskag

Tuluksak

Pete, Richie, and Father Alexander are out of Aniak on the trail to Kalskag. What at first I thought was a 2-2-2 strategy in terms of rest is out the window and I’m seeing something not only exciting, but really cool in terms of strategy.

Consider this: Teams left the Starting Line last night and mushed 100 miles to Kalskag. These three Teams took 2 hours and then returned to the 37 mile trail to Aniak. In Aniak they took 4 hours and are off this afternoon back towards Kalskag.

What I am thinking is they are splitting the race into 4 sections:

Section 1 – Start to Kalskag – 100 Miles – 2 hour break

Section 2 – Kalskag to Aniak – 37 Miles – 4 hour break

Section 3 – Aniak to Tuluksak – 100 Miles – 4 hour break

Section 4 – Tuluksak to Finish – 50 Miles

This is new, but very cool. Pete and Richie have been doing long runs in training and this really seems to be the strategy from my viewpoint.

This Race seems to be inline with the 2019 Race in that Teams are into Aniak in the mid morning. That year, Matt Failor crossed the Finish Line at 7:02am. Not predicting anything quite yet, but conditions are absolutely wonderful.

Weather in Aniak at this hour is -2 with very light North wind. Skies are clear and it is a brilliant day out there. Absolutely perfect weather. Looking at trail times from the tracker shows the trail to be fast as well. What a great day for mushing– On the sled or in the armchair or out in your vehicle on the river.

The Race is ON!! Go Team Kaiser!!

Aniak Morning

Aniak Morning

Aniak Morning

Three Teams into Aniak before 10am! What a Race!

Fr. Alexander Larson was into Aniak at 9:29 with Richie Diehl and Pete Kaiser in hot pursuit. Richie arrived just 6 minutes later at 9:35 with Pete just behind at 9:37. Pete and the Team have the fastest elapsed time into Aniak at 3:04. Though Pete and Richie are best friends and joined at the hip in terms of dogsled mushing, they are fierce competitors and this is truly a race for them. Last night as we spoke to Pete briefly on the phone, he asked,”Where’s Richie?” The two Teams are well matched and along with the local Teams have lots of Kuskokwim experience. It’s going to be so fun to watch today!

It is also fun to watch these local Teams move into the Kuskokwim 300 and realize the dream of Race Organizer Myron Angstman. Traditionally the local Teams have run the Bogus Creek 150, but last year, with the Bogus on a different weekend, a few Teams stepped up to the longer race. Fr. Alexander, a Russian Orthodox priest from Napaskiak had an amazing run last year and it looks like this year is another great run. We have Teams competing from Akiachak (John Snyder) and Kwethluk (Jason Pavila) to show off some real Yupik dog mushing tradition. With the Bogus Creek separated into a different weekend it has encouraged Teams to participate and keep this sport going! Great Job!!

Good Morning Race Fans

As I smell the coffee this morning after a night out on the trail to Tuluksak, the 2022 Kuskokwim 300 is well underway with Teams making their way towards Aniak.

Last night I got a call from Ron. “Hey! Let’s Rally up to Tuluksak and watch the Teams!” Well, who could turn down a request like that? With Ron at the helm and Ari as co-pilot we made our way up to see the Team go through. It was a late return but very fun on one of the best river roads I’ve seen in years.

This morning looking at the stats I am seeing some interesting and exciting things happening.

Jason Pavila was first into Kalskag as he was last night into Tuluksak. A beautiful Team lead by Kwethluk’s own, 19 year old High School Senior musher, was into Kalskag at 3:52 this morning. The Bad River Kennel’s Team made it into Tuluksak last night with an elapsed time of 4:02!! Amazing!

Jason took another hour in Kalskag while other Teams such as our own Team Kaiser took two hours. This juggled the Leaderboard and until Teams leave Kalskag we won’t have a handle on the True Leader. Teams must take 6 hours of rest between all three checkpoints, Kalskag up, Aniak, and Kalskag down.

In Kalskag the differential time is added to each Team. Pete and the Team, leaving last had no differential. Other Teams have minutes added so every Team, as they leave Kalskag will be on the same interval. Teams may take differing rest, but they are all now on the same sheet of music, so to speak.

Speaking of conditions, the weather is cold but beautiful. Teams couldn’t ask for better conditions in terms of weather. The hard trail will be problematic for lesser trained teams. Every condition has its challenges and hard packed trail means watching for shoulder problems making sure foot care is, as always, at the forefront.

Here are some stats to play with as well as a live spreadsheet.

On the way to Tuluksak, it was all Jason Pavila. Upon arrival into Kalskag, although Jason arrived first, Matt Failor had the fastest enroute time at 5:04.

As we look at the Leaderboard, keep in mind the rest times which skew the positions. Matt and Jason took three hours, while Pete and Richie took two.

Click Here to view the live spreadsheet!