On the Ice to Koyuk

This morning has Pete and the Team on the Ice bound for Koyuk.

They are the faster team and have moved up in positions over the night to 12th place. They passed both Aliy Zirkle and Lance Mackey. GPS shows the Team 31 miles out of Koyuk.

They were in and out of Shaktoolik the morning at 05:01 with no drop dogs. Having a good team of dogs is really going to pay off on this last stretch to the north. This stretch over the ice has got to be one of the worst at this time of the day. If he was seeing things on the Shageluk trail, who knows who he’ll meet on this desolate Bering Sea ice.

If the temperature is right, he’ll see mirages of Koyuk as it appears out of the ice. Temperature inversions can make you think things are closer than they appear. Stick to the trail markers and they’ll get you there.

Go Man Go!

On the Baker Front- John is maintaining the 8 mile lead with Ramey Smyth not giving much ground. They have an 8 hour mandatory layover in White Mountain and then it’s a shootout to Nome and Smyth has the faster sprint team.

From Alaska Dispatch Joe Runyan Description of Trail-

This crossing to Koyuk is, however, a challenge even without bad weather. The trip can be beautiful beneath expansive skies, but numbing in the monotony of the sea ice, and the white. The temptation to doze as the sled rocks like a cradle over windblown hard pack on a generally straight-arrow trail is a constant struggle.

At night, the musher must keep his headlight scanning the trail to be absolutely sure the lead dogs do not wander onto an errant snowmachine track. The trail is well marked but occasionally a blast of wind can take out a section of the carrot-topped, reflectorized Iditarod markers; or the ice can shift to break the thread of the trail. Then the musher must move cautiously from marker to marker, using his or her headlight to scan for a reflection in the dark. The dog driver best look back, too, just to make sure he hasn’t wandered.

About 30 miles shy of Koyuk, the lights of that village finally become visible, but they are like stars. The dogs trot for hours still and the village on a hill overlooking Norton Bay never seems to get much closer. “When will we get there?” is the thought that goes through a musher’s mind as he fights to stay alert in the dark and the white.

 

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Team Kaiser Out of Unalakleet

Pete just left Unalakleet bound for Shaktoolik. It is unofficial, but GPS shows him 2 miles out.

He is leaving in 14th place with 12 dogs.

The run up to Koyuk is about 12 hours mushing with a break thrown in, Pete should get up there after lunch tomorrow.

See Ya in the Morning!

Weather for tonight’s run up the coast:

EASTERN NORTON SOUND AND NULATO HILLS-
INCLUDING...UNALAKLEET...STEBBINS...ST MICHAEL...ELIM...KOYUK...SHAKTOOLIK
.TONIGHT...CLEAR. LOWS ZERO TO 5 ABOVE.
NORTHEAST WINDS 10 TO 20 MPH.
.MONDAY...SUNNY. HIGHS AROUND 15. NORTHEAST WINDS 10 TO 20 MPH.

 

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GPS Slow this evening

GPS is only updating every 15 minutes or so right now. That’s 4 times an hours which is excruciating if you are trying to keep track!! Pete is still in UNK. John Baker should be in Koyuk by now. Lance Mackey is out of UNK.

Spring has sprung forward, so it’s almost bedtime for the webmaster.

Be here til Pete hits the trail.

 

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Sven Haltmann Out of UNK

Pete followed Sven Haltmann into Unalakleet. He was about 45 minutes behind Sven. Mackey has not left yet, so the possibility exists that Pete may be able to pick up another position. Several mushers are down to just a few dogs and that will begin to take its toll. Neff has 9 dogs and Redington has 8. Mackey arrived into UNK with 9. Pete will be leaving with 12 dogs which has to be a good thing. Aliy Zirkle didn’t rest in UNK, so she has to stop at some point. She rested on the trail from Kaltag, but I think Pete has an advantage on her.

Think of starting the K300 with 9 dogs. They don’t have quite that far to go, but it is still a stretch of ground from Unalakleet to Nome and every dog counts as well as every hour of rest.

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We were right and Pete IS the King!!

Iditarod just fixed the time. They put down the wrong time for Mike Jr.

Mike still has a respectable time from Kaltag and the third fastest across that section of the trail. Good Job Mike!!

Just got word from Andy that they are having a bit of issue with their camera, but Photos ARE on the way. I’ll be here!

John Baker is halfway across the ice to Koyuk. His lead is gaining. Definitely the Team to beat.  Kotzebue must be in a fever pitch! John has put in the hard work over the many years. In the old days, I started the K300 website and John was one of the first mushers I put on the site. It will be alot of fun for him if he can put this last 200 miles to bed.

Pete got into Unalakleet at 17:30, so here in the not to distant future I expect him back on the trail. Good Luck Pete!

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GPS musta been wrong

Iditarod Standings show Mike Williams Jr. getting into Unalakleet 4 minutes in front of Pete and the Team. The GPS must not have been right as I had him behind Pete. A bit odd how that played out or the Standings aren’t correct.

Sorry Folks – Still nothing out of Unalakleet.

Bev Hoffman talked to Andy who said that Pete would be in UNK for about 4 hours, drop a dog, and head back to the trail.

On the lead lap, John Baker has increased his lead to 8 miles on Gatt and 12 on Smyth. Go Man Go!

We’ll keep you posted.

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Photos Coming- Pete in Great Spirits!

Word from Unalakleet is that the Team looked GREAT. Andy Angstman and Lee Ryan went out to meet him and Pete and the dogs were in great spirits. When the got to the checkpoint, the dogs looked ready to go right then. They are taking a rest period before heading out on the trail.

The guys are sending photos soon as they can and I’ll be posting them for you!

Martin Buser got into Unalakleet 30 minutes after Pete. He took 3 hours longer on the run. I am sure he is disappointed, but knowing Martin, he’ll be smiling and enjoying just being with the dogs. And you couldn’t have had a better day to be out there!

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