Pete Kaiser – 2022 Iditarod 5th Place Finisher

Howdy Kaiser Race Fans!

Finally I have the photos and more from the Finish! Ron and I made our way into Nome yesterday afternoon and it wasn’t long before we were watching Pete and the Team cross the Finish Line. It was a special evening for all of us as we watched Pete and the Team make their way towards Nome and briefly stop at a road crossing that we usually stop and say hi. As Pete approached he waved over his two kids Aylee and Ari to give them a big hug after 9 days away. As Ari was backing away, Pete told Ari, “Get on!” Ari was hesitant at first, but joined his Dad on the sled and off they went. What a special moment for all of us, but especially Pete and Ari. Not often that a Dad can share such a great experience with his son!

We all piled in vehicles and raced to the Finish Line to join a pretty huge crowd of Team Kaiser fans! I tossed Lucas Salzbrun a camera (yeah, I know– scary Haha!) and we all watched as Pete and Ari and the 9 dogs in harness crossed the Finish Line at 9:45:15 pm for a total elapsed time of 9 days 6 hours 45 minutes and 15 seconds.

Pete signed in and Race Marshal Mark Nordman gave him the Microphone. In honor of the 50th anniversary of the Iditarod and in honor of the first winner, Dick Wilmarth who passed away recently, Pete was carrying a small vial of Dick’s ashes along the trail as well as a Dick Wilmarth trading card. Wilmarth won the first race in 1973 and was from the Kuskokwim area. It was a special moment not shared often on the trail or the Finish Line. Thanks to the family for allowing us to honor Dick and the 50th running of this great race!

After all of the Finish Line festivities it was off to the dog yard to have vet checks, food for the Team, and urine tests. We let Pete get some rest as I took off my photographer hat and jumped in to help Ron with whatever dog duties he needed. The Team looks outstanding and even this morning ate voraciously were totally spunky as we walked them around the yard this morning.

Thank you to all of our great sponsors, fans, and family and friends. It is because of all of you that this is possible.

Go Team Kaiser!!

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Passed the blowhole- Safety in Sight

Howdy Race Fans! The Kaiser pit crew is officially reporting from Nome!

I am always amazed during the flight to Nome about how quickly we can do what Teams during the Iditarod do in 9 days. It is a beautiful day on the Norton Coast this evening as we wait for Pete and Richie to make it to the Finish Line.

Pete left White Mountain 11 minutes behind Richie on their duel to the finish. As they are approaching Safety at this point with Pete just about a mile in front of Richie.

Dallas Seavey made the run from White Mountain to Safety in 6 hours 28 minutes. He then made the run into Nome in 2 hours and 33 minutes.

Pete and Richie just made that same run to Safety in about 6 hours flat. This means we may see a Finish before 10pm!

GO Team Kaiser!

 

 

 

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Final Morning of the Iditarod

Good Morning Race Fans! The Last wake up of the 2022 Iditarod and CONGRATULATIONS to Brent Sass on his first Iditarod Win. Brent and Pete have competed many times in races and in a very close finish of the Kuskokwim 300, had there been another mile of trail, he might have overtaken Pete to win the K300! Many congratulations to a fine team and an amazing race. Brent led much of the way earning virtually all of the trail awards.

It’s been a long trail for Pete and the Team who at this hour are resting nicely on their 8 hour mandatory layover in White Mountain.

Last night’s action was a bit more that our hearts could bear as Pete decided to continue on from Elim put some distance between Team Kaiser and other Teams near him. As we watched, Pete came up on Richie Diehl, Dan Kaduce, and Jesse Holmes. It looked like they might be well matched, but alas the Teams of Kaduce and Holmes are a bit faster and ended up an hour in front of Richie and Pete.

Kaduce had an amazing run into White Mountain with a quick time of 5hrs 26min.

Pete arrived 11 minutes after Richie into the checkpoint at 5:01am. After an 8 hour layover, Pete and the Team will be able to return to the trail at 1:01pm for the final 77 miles of the 2022 Iditarod. Listening to his interview, it is apparent that Mushers are pretty tired and this last section is a welcome sight for all.

Looking at the Leaderboard Dallas Seavey, this year’s second place finisher, made the run from White Mountain in 9 hours and 1 minute. That’s a really fast time, but totally doable. I’d guess that Kaduce and Holmes will match it. If Pete and Richie race for the finish they may have fast times as well. Especially after an 8 hour break. Given all of this action, I’m guessing a Finish for Pete and Richie between 10pm to Midnight tonight.

We will be there to get all of the photos and video for you, so stay tuned to the tracker!!

Go Team Kaiser!

 

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Headed West to White Mountain at Sunset

Good Evening Race Fans!

As the sun sets on day Day 8 of the 2022 Iditarod, a leader heads for a the burled arches and a flock of Teams head for White Mountain.

After a 4 hour break in Koyuk, Pete and the Team were back on the trail with only 177 miles until they reach those arches themselves.

Arriving at half past 1pm, the Team looked excellent and Pete has to be pleased with their performance. Solidly in 9th position, the break in Skaktoolik didn’t seem to change his standing. Others weren’t so fortunate as some Teams fell back and others caught up and are doing well.

The top 10 this year is an amazing group of Teams as is the next 10 Teams as well. Such beautiful weather for a run into Nome!

Brent Sass looks to be the year’s champion if he can keep the blowhole of wind at bay. The entire Norton Coast is a glow of purple and gold as the sun sets tonight.

Tonight’s mushing weather:

Tonight- Clear. Areas of blowing snow. Lows around 4 below. North winds 15 to 25 mph.
Tuesday- Sunny. Areas of blowing snow. Highs around 8 above. North winds 15 to 25 mph.

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Over the Ice and into the Wind to Koyuk

Howdy Race Fans!

It has been a long run in from Unalakleet as Teams holed up in Shaktoolik over the night because of brutal winds. The net effect is that the whole leaderboard is thrown into a jumble as Teams all grouped together in the checkpoint last night.

Pete and the Team arrived into Shaktoolik at just after 2am and camped out for 6 hours before returning to the trail this morning at 8:00am. Now running with 9 dogs in the Team, they are moving nicely across the ice to Koyuk.

Brent Sass was first into White Mountain and a mandatory 8 hour layover at 11:05 am this morning. He will be able to leave at 7:05pm for the 77 mile run to the Finish Line.

The weather is still pretty windy. Although Koyuk is only showing 6mph wind, it is in a secluded area compared to ice trail which is showing winds 25-35 mph at times.

From Koyuk it is about 100 miles to White Mountain and the 8 hour layover. Then another 77 miles to the burled arches of the Finish Line.

It took Brent Sass about 16 hours to reach White Mountain from Koyuk.

If I was predicting a finish for Pete right now, here is my calculation:

Koyuk Arrival- 1:00pm
2 Hour Break- 3:00pm (Pete would never take a 2 hour break, I see other Teams getting ready to feed and with a 100 mile run in front of them, I’d predict a longer break)
16 Hours to White Mountain- 7:00am
8 hour layover- 3:00pm
10 Hour run (Very Fast) to Nome: 2:00am

My Team Kaiser Finish Prediction- 2:00am – 4:00am Wednesday Morning.

Weather on the Norton Sound today:

Koyuk-
This Afternoon- Sunny, with a high near 10. North wind 15 to 20 mph.
Tonight- Areas of blowing snow. Mostly clear, with a low around -5. North wind around 25 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph.

White Mountain-
Tonight-Mostly clear, with a low around -3. North wind 20 to 25 mph.
Tuesday-Sunny, with a high near 6. North wind 15 to 20 mph.

Nome-
Today- Sunny. Highs in the mid to upper teens. North winds 10 to 20 mph.
Tonight- Mostly clear. Areas of blowing snow after midnight. Lows around 4 below. North winds around 20 mph.
Tuesday- Sunny. Highs around 9 above. North winds 10 to 20 mph.
Tuesday Night- Mostly clear. Lows around 4 below. North winds 10 to 20 mph.
Wednesday- Sunny. Highs in the lower to mid teens. North winds 5 to 15 mph.

 

 

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The Bering Sea! Final Phase of the Race

Pete and the Team arrived into Unalakleet at 4:40pm in 12th position. I kind of expected him to continue, but I am now thinking that Pete has another strategy in mind. The win is not the issue, but a good happy Team is really the end game. Which honestly is the prime goal for every race 🙂

It doesn’t appear that weather will be the factor in the race, though at this point the wind from the North is a bit brutal for Teams as they head North towards Shaktoolik and then over the ice to Koyuk.

We have so many memories of this phase of the race that were weather related. A storm in Shaktoolik. A terrible wind storm in Golovin. It’s been the plethora of stories as Teams made their way up towards Nome.

Tonight, as Pete and the Team return to the trail, I’m sure Pete is making sure that the Team is healthy and ready to advance in case another Team may falter. A conservative approach as they head towards the last phase of this race.

Weather tonight will be windy and chilly, but not as crazy bad as we have seen. Visibility will be a factor and the leaders will definitely need to work to stay on the trail, but overall it should be a night of stars and moon as Pete and the Team head towards Koyuk. Out over the ice is a brutal mental experience. Miles of miles of the same trail.  Your mind gets the best of you as you don’t know if you are actually moving forward. One night in a past race, Pete was fully asleep as his Team passed Mitch Seavey in the night. It is a mental challenge to Pete and the Team have seen before, but still will be a challenging run.

Tonight’s weather:
Tonight– Clear, with a low around -11. Northeast wind 5 to 15 mph.
Monday– Sunny, with a high near 4. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph.

 

 

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