Category Archives: 2016

Wow! What a Great Run!

Pete and the Team are into Elim in just over 5 hours– A full hour faster than the Teams ahead! That is really cruising for sure! It’s a beautiful day on the Southern Coast this morning and it must have been a sight to behold to see the Team in full Race Mode. If its anything like yesterday in Nulato, Team Kaiser is chompin’ at the bit for more!

The question of the day is whether Pete will head on out for White Mountain or rest a few in Elim. Competition is tight and a mandatory 8 hour layover awaits in White Mountain. It’s hard to say what will happen! Stay Tuned!

Go Team Kaiser!

After a bit over 3 hours rest in Shaktoolik, Pete and the Team are headed North for an evening trek up to Koyuk.

This section of the trail is probably the most mental challenging section of the race. Once Pete and the Team head out onto the ice, it may as well be the ocean. Once Teams leave the trail onto the ice it is 25 miles until they reach the other side. It can feel like a treadmill as the coast just doesn’t seem to move or come closer.

For Pete, it will all happen as the sun sets this evening. It should be a beautiful ride, but it will also be a bit chilly and very windy.

Pete is leaving out our Skaktoolik in 6th position.

In terms of expectation this evening, Mitch is going to have the fastest time to Koyuk from Shaktoolik thus far at between 6:30-7:00 hours. A similar speed from Pete and the Team should put them into Koyuk between 2:00am and 3:00am tomorrow morning.

One of Pete’s funnier trail stories came on this run several years back. Pete and Mitch had left out of of Shaktoolik on the way to Koyuk during the night. Pete tells that he could see Mitch’s light in front of him in the distance for hours. Then all of a sudden the light was gone. “Hmmm…” he thought, “Wonder where he went.” So he runs into Koyuk and no Mitch. A bit later Mitch comes into Koyuk and after they meet up later, Mitch tells Pete, “I hollered Hello, and you went right on by.” Pete had been TOTALLY ASLEEP! Totally missed it!

Sebastian Schnuelle heard the story and in his accent laughed and laughed. “Oh boy! It’s pretty bad to get passed in the middle of the night. But it’s REALLY bad to be passed by someone totally asleep!”

I smile every time I think of this story and this trail.

Current Conditions-

Shaktoolik-
Temperature: -12°C (10.4°F)
Winds: N (010 degrees) at 33.4 mph (29 knots: 14.9 m/s)
Visibility: 10 mile(s)

Koyuk-
Temperature:-13°C (8.6°F)
Winds: N (010 degrees) at 12.7 mph (11 knots: 5.7 m/s) gusting to 21.9 mph (19 knots: 9.8 m/s)
Visibility: 10 mile(s)

Mushing weather for this evening-

EASTERN NORTON SOUND AND NULATO HILLS-
INCLUDING...UNALAKLEET...STEBBINS...ST MICHAEL...ELIM...KOYUK...
SHAKTOOLIK
626 PM AKDT SUN MAR 13 2016

.TONIGHT...PARTLY CLOUDY. AREAS OF BLOWING SNOW. LOWS 5 BELOW TO
5 ABOVE. NORTHEAST WINDS 15 TO 25 MPH. LOCAL GUSTS TO 35 MPH. 
.MONDAY...SUNNY. AREAS OF BLOWING SNOW. HIGHS 5 TO 15 ABOVE.
NORTHEAST WINDS 15 TO 25 MPH. LOCAL GUSTS TO 30 MPH.

Host Families RULE! Thank You Bob, Josie, Doug and Everyone that has Hosted Kaiser Racing!

Tomorrow the Team Kaiser pit crew will head up to Nome to cheer Pete and the Team across the Finish line. Every time we make this journey I think about the kindness of the folks that open their homes for mushers and crews.

For us, Bob Madden and his wife Sherrie have made our home away from home for the last several years. This year we add the kindness of Josie Stiles for a place to stay as we overloaded Bob and his wife. When Pete and the Team are near Anchorage, Doug Dorland’s place becomes Kaiser Central. Over the years Pete and the Team have stayed with so many nice folks that have helped out and really made their places our Homes Away from Home.

Folks– Bottom line is that we can’t begin to express how thankful we are for allowing us to camp out in your corner. I don’t know how many times I heard Bob tell me, “Make yourself at home.” He whips up some big meal or another that is always delicious. One year I remember especially, it was about 3:30am or so and Bob says, “I’ll have breakfast on at 4:30.” I was thinking. Really? Well– REALLY! A monster meal of homemade biscuits and gravy, crab, eggs– The works! Last year it was Bob’s famous beans and home smoked ham. Each year we move in and get in people’s way and stay up late waiting for Pete and the Team and Bob and Sherrie keep on smiling!

Each year after the Willow Restart, we feast on Home-Made pizza and all kinds of goodies that Doug has whipped up for the occasion. It’s become really another time of the year we look forward to.

Each year as we get ready to make our move to Nome, I can’t help but get a bit excited to see old friends and just wanted to take a moment to say “Thanks!” in advance! We really truly appreciate your kindness!

Go Team Kaiser!