Technology is a wonderful thing. One of my dreams is to have a webcam at every checkpoint. Not live video, just a once every couple of seconds or so webcam like the old days. It would be efficient, cheap, and we would, how do they say it, luv luv luv it!
In any case, the FAA has webcams all over the State of Alaska. They are very useful for pilots to see actual conditions of destinations. Today the webcam caught our own Pete Kaiser into Shaktoolik! Cool!!
Pete and the Team followed Wade Mars and his Team into the Checkpoint at 2:04pm after a 9hour and 9 minute run. Whooee baby! That’s a long tough time for this stretch of trail. I’m sure this will be a very good tale once we get it, but for now, we are glad to see both Teams safe and sound in Shaktoolik.
After such a struggle, I’m expecting a short break here. The thing on Pete’s mind, though, is Ken Anderson and Jason Campeau who are burning the trail up behind them. It will all be about the Team I’m sure, but it has to be looming in his mind.
At the front of the pack Aaron Burmeister was passed by Dallas Seavey who arrive into Koyuk at 12:34pm. Aaron arrived just 3 minutes later, but Dallas had made up an hour and 20 minutes since Shaktoolik. An arrival at this time today puts an evening finish tomorrow as my latest prediction and a finish for Team Kaiser in the early morning hours of Wednesday morning.
Pete is holding a solid 9th at this point, which has to satisfy him to some extent, but the ordeal on the trail is something that he will have to push from his mind and drive on up the trail to Koyuk and beyond.
Go Team Kaiser!
Current weather isn’t too bad actually. It is partly cloudy , temperatures have risen, and winds have subsided. It should be a fairly pleasant trip up to Koyuk. There is a chance of more wind later today as a front moves through, but hopefully it will remain at bay.
Shaktoolik Weather- Temperature 16F – North Winds at 10knots – Partly Cloudy Skies
Koyuk Weather- Temperature 16F – Northwest Winds at 7knots – Partly Cloudy Skies
Mushing Weather Forecast:
EASTERN NORTON SOUND AND NULATO HILLS- INCLUDING...UNALAKLEET...STEBBINS...ST MICHAEL...ELIM...KOYUK... SHAKTOOLIK 512 AM AKDT MON MAR 16 2015 .TODAY...CLOUDY. PERIODS OF SNOW THIS MORNING. SOME FLURRIES AFTER NOON. AREAS OF BLOWING SNOW. SNOW ACCUMULATION AROUND 1 INCH. HIGHS IN THE TEENS. NORTHEAST WINDS 15 TO 25 MPH. LOCAL GUSTS NEAR 40 MPH.