I took a quick dinner break and all hell breaks loose!
UPDATE- I just got off the phone with Shane Iverson with KYUK, who, as it happens, was the snowmachiner. (Read His Story)
Here’s where we left the story of the 2014 Kuskokwim 300:
Jeff King left Kalskag with about a 10 minute lead. Right on his heals was Rohn Buser who, in the first part of the story, was applauded by Jeff for his trailsmanship.
As luck would have it, things didn’t go so well in the first mile of the trail out of Kalskag.
The K300 Trail Markers were down in several areas and Jeff and Rohn were out on the river trying to figure out which way to go. A snowmachine came upon them and signaled them that they were both off the trail and told them where to go. Unfortunately for Jeff King, Rohn was closer to the trail and quickly made his way back on to it. Jeff, however ended up losing his 10 minute lead and in the end is now about 3/4 of a mile behind Rohn Buser.
In mushing, nothing is done until you cross the finish line and this is one of those moments. Apparently Jeff isn’t pleased, and rightly so, but that is mushing for you. He probably isn’t upset with Rohn, just the situation, but when circumstances out of your control affect your position, you aren’t happy. Shane said he thanked them as he mushed away.
More soon as this story is far from over I am sure. Nothing like a little excitement!!
Trail marking is another challenge that the K300 Committee is facing presently as there are parts of the lower trail that have markers down as well. The Committee is searching out folks to help them with this new dilemna. Trail crews were able to repair the problem section before the next mushers went through the area out of Kalskag.
Stay tuned…
Will Petersen gives the play by play as Jeff King leaves Kalskag. As Jeff was passing Rohn, Rohn did everything he could to let Jeff by and Jeff “hasn’t seen such etiquette by another Musher in a very long time.” Nice story. Glad to hear good things like this from the trail.
Also on the file the latest from Aniak. Sounds like its getting a bit windier and cold up there. (But cold is relative– Hard to think cold at 30 above zero)
Listen to it here!
Careful watching the Tracker too long. Take a break now and then!
Trackers seem to be a bit inconsistent from Aniak to Kalskag. Looks like a battery change is necessary. They have several mushers stopped, but they aren’t really. In any case- It’s going to be a long night of excitement- Rest Your Eyes!!
Hot Tip for you Trackers out there! Press the Start Replay button and then watch the action. Fun to watch. You can slow it down with the minus (-) button.
They need traffic cops in Aniak right now as the Community is hopping! Teams are arriving and departing in this flurry of activity at the Aniak Checkpoint.
Jeff King is leading the race, but for all intents and purposes it is a REALLY close race. Factoring in rest, the top 10 Teams are within 90 minutes. In fact 9 teams left in just over 45 minutes and they all had completed their mandatory rest period. The top 3 Teams are ahead, but they must rest an hour. Now this will most likely not be a true factor as Teams will most likely stop to water and snack before heading South to Tuluksak. This strategy for King, Buser, and Gebhardt will mean that their snacking will be on the layover clock, while the others will be snacking on Race Time. Hmmm… The Arctic Fox is at it again?? (King)
Race Weather for Tonight-
KUSKOKWIM DELTA- INCLUDING...BETHEL 400 PM AKST SAT JAN 18 2014 .TONIGHT...MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH SCATTERED SNOW SHOWERS IN THE EVENING...THEN PARTLY CLOUDY AFTER MIDNIGHT. LOWS IN THE LOWER TO MID 20S. SOUTH WIND 20 TO 35 MPH. .SUNDAY...PARTLY SUNNY IN THE MORNING...THEN SNOW LIKELY IN THE AFTERNOON. PATCHY FOG IN THE AFTERNOON. LITTLE OR NO SNOW ACCUMULATION. HIGHS AROUND 30. EAST WIND 15 TO 30 MPH.
Listen to the Aniak Report-
4pm Aniak Checkpoint KYUK Report
Pete looks like he will stay an hour and head back on the trail. Other teams have had a tough time of it with Joar Ulsom dropping 4 dogs in Aniak. Expect Pete to be back on the trail soon.
[mejsaudio src=”http://kaiserracing.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/aniak11.mp3″]
Check out the Kaiser Super Dogs in Mushing Magazine!
