Team on the River from a Previous Race

As expected, Pete’s rest on the trail allowed him to blow through Nulato and head directly for Kaltag. This section of the race is pretty fast generally and it should be a beautiful run down the river.

Pete’s strategy has seemed to be to keep his trail speed up as high as possible by injecting rest periods more frequently. We have watched races where he has run very long runs and I think we may still see some of them. At this point his trail speed is pretty fast and although there are many teams on the trail, there aren’t many that are traveling as fast.

Looking for a 4 hour run into Kaltag before an afternoon rest and then head out over the portage to “the Homeland” of the Ryan and Unalakleet crowd.

Go Team Kaiser!

In spite of all of of the tragedy on the trail over the evening, Pete may not even have an idea of what transpired with Jeff King and Aliy Zirkle and the attacks they withstood. He has been on the trail since before this happened and has no way of knowing any of the details yet. I’m sure once he learns of this he will have a heavy heart along with the rest of us. Competitors such as Aliy and Jeff are what make this race what it is and many of our Team have a bloodline related to Jeff’s kennels. Seeing what happened this morning is like losing a member of your extended family and I’m sure Pete will be very much affected by this horrible situation.

In Pete’s mind right now though, he is looking towards Nome, and to that end, it appears that he may have a different set of cards up his sleeve for the 2016 Iditarod. After a 4 hour break in Galena, the Team left at 1:20am. Sticking to a 6/4 Run/Rest schedule, instead of mushing all the way to Nulato, he stopped the Team right after 5 hours and 30 minutes and took a 3 hour break. Many Teams passed him and the Team as they rested, but the strategy appears to be to make the run all the way to Kaltag before another break and then the Portage to the Coast.

Pete and the Team are having a very fast race and it appears that he is resting to maintain speed rather than the convenience of a checkpoint. Basically breaking a 3 leg trail into 2 legs. This should work well for Pete and the Team because as they should arrive into Kaltag before the “heat” of the day.

Weather this morning on the trail is the coldest of the trail. Sebastian Schnuelle reports that it has been about 5 below and its the first time he’s seen mushers with icicles in the entire race.

The race is about to heat up in terms of racing and this last section from Kaltag to the Finish is easily the most exciting time for Musher, Team, and of course, the Fans!

Mushing Weather for today-

LOWER KOYUKUK AND MIDDLE YUKON VALLEYS-
INCLUDING...GALENA...NULATO...KALTAG...
340 AM AKST SAT MAR 12 2016

.TODAY...MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGHS IN THE UPPER TEENS TO MID 20S. LIGHT
WINDS. 
.TONIGHT...MOSTLY CLOUDY. LOWS 2 TO 7 ABOVE. NORTHEAST WINDS TO 10
MPH.

Karen Ramstead with Iditarod in Nulato reassures fans that this incident in no way affects the relationship between Nulato and the Race. Aliy Zirkle has returned to the trail and Jeff is expected to do the same after he completes his 8 hour layover.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 12, 2016

Iditarod Trail Committee
2100 South Knik Goose Bay Road
Wasilla, Alaska 99654 907.376.5155 (voice)  907.373.6998 (facsimile)

www.iditarod.com

Zirkle, King and their teams purposefully hit by snowmachiner

Anchorage, Alaska – Early  this  morning,  as  Aliy  Zirkle  (bib  #13)  was  making  her  way   towards  the  Nulato  checkpoint,  a  snowachiner  repeatedly  attempted  to  harm  her  and   her  team.  One  dog  received  a  non-­life  threatening  injury.

Upon  arrival  at  the  Nulato  checkpoint,  Zirkle  reported  the  incident  to  race  officials  and  a   report  was  filed  with  the  Alaska  State  Troopers.  Contact  was  also  made  with  the  village   police  officer  in  Nulato.

Jeff  King  (bib  #61),  who  was  behind  Zirkle,  experienced  a  similar  incident  12-­miles  prior  to   his  arrival  at  the  Nulato  checkpoint.  This  incident  resulted  in  the  death  of  Nash,  a  three-­ year-­old  male.  In  addition,  Crosby,  a  three-­year-­old  male,  and  Banjo,  a  two-­year-­old  male,   received  non-­life  threatening  injuries.  King  requested  and  received  medical  attention  at   the  checkpoint.

The  suspect  has  been  identified  by  the  village  police  officer  in  Nulato,  and  authorities  are   conducting  an  investigation.

Regrettably,  this  incident  very  much  alters  the  race  of  the  two  mushers  competing  for  a   win;  however,  both  are  going  to  continue  on  their  way  toward  Nome.

Media contact:

Bri  Kelly,  Thompson  &  Co.  Public  Relations   Email:  media@iditarod.com

Phone:  907.903.9350

###

Alaska State Troopers dispatch, via spokesperson Megan Peters:

AK16018057

Location: Nulato

Type: Assault

Kaiser Notes- Interesting to Note this Trail Description from the Iditarod Trail Notes Galena to Nulato:

Past Koyukuk the river runs west for five miles, heading directly for a thousand-foot ridge dead ahead, then makes a 90-degree left turn to the south to run along the base of the ridge. There is a liquor store at the northwest corner of the bend that is frequented by villagers from up and down the river. Unfortunately, you may have to watch for discarded bottles and cans and inebriated snowmachiners.

Yessir, it’s been a barn burner from Ruby to Galena for 4 of the Mushers who left just around 4pm today. Pete left in the company of Paul Gebhardt, Michelle Phillips, and Ray Redington, who have been racing since they left Ruby. It’s hard to say what really happened, but the Tracker shows them all running neck and neck for the whole way.

Presently the group is just out of Galena and should have one of the faster trail times over that section of the trail.

I’m anticipating a short snack and then out and back to the trail for one if not all of them.

Go Team Kaiser!!