As the competition heats up between Jeff King and Lance Mackey as well as the other front runners in Unalakleet, the weather is about to do the same.
Predictions for Tuesday are a dramatic warming trend. From the looks for the surface chart, it could happen a bit sooner than that if the High Pressure that has been producing this perfect mushing weather dissipates.

Pete and the team have a 42 mile run into Kaltag, and then one of the longest runs of the race, 90 miles into Unalakleet. He will leave the mighty Yukon and head for the hills as he heads for Unalakleet. By late tonight or early tomorrow morning, the team will be able feeling the winds of the Bering Sea.

At Nulato, he is 351 miles from the finish line and 646 miles from the restart in Willow. So he is 2/3 done with the race, with one of the more difficult stretches below if the weather doesn’t cooperate.

A quick play with statistics shows this:
He left Takotna on 3/11 at Noon. He got into Nulato, 317 miles down the trail at 01:59am and 62 hours later. This gives him an average speed including layovers of a bit over 5mph. (The Ruby mandatory 8 layover would pretty much have matched his run/rest schedule) Now that doesn’t include the Nulato rest period which will make his average a bit slower.

My prediction for his finish is Wednesday late or Thursday early. (Hopefully without storm)

The day ahead:
LOWER KOYUKUK AND MIDDLE YUKON VALLEYS-
INCLUDING…GALENA…NULATO…HUSLIA…KALTAG…RUBY…KOYUKUK
316 AM AKDT SUN MAR 14 2010

.TODAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGHS 5 BELOW TO 5 ABOVE.
NORTHWEST WINDS TO 10 MPH.

EASTERN NORTON SOUND AND NULATO HILLS-
INCLUDING…UNALAKLEET…STEBBINS…ST MICHAEL…ELIM…KOYUK…
SHAKTOOLIK
316 AM AKDT SUN MAR 14 2010

.TODAY…SUNNY. HIGHS 5 BELOW TO 10 BELOW. NORTH WINDS TO 10 MPH.
.TONIGHT…MOSTLY CLEAR. LOWS 15 BELOW TO 25 BELOW.
NORTH WINDS TO 10 MPH.

Nulato to Kaltag

Kaltag Trail

Kaltag 3-14-2010 am

Pete and the team were into Nulato at 1:59am. Expecting he will be back on the trail by 9. (Clocks were “sprung” ahead last night)

Pete was out of Galena at 7:45pm. He is sticking to is run/rest schedule. He rested for 6 hours and is off to Nulato with 12 dogs. Teams have been averaging 6 hours from Galena to Nulato, so I would expect the team in to Nulato by 1:30- 2:00am.

He is currently showing 1/2 way from Galena to Nulato. Current weather conditions are pretty cold at -19 with a 5 mph headwind for Pete and his team. Wind chills are going to be pretty cold tonight. I anticipate a 5-6 hour rest in Nulato for Pete and his team.

Nulato Trail

Nulato Trail

Nulato Village

Pete and his team checked into Galena at 1:34pm this afternoon with 12 dogs.

He is currently running in 33rd place according to the Current Standings and was also the 33rd musher into Galena. He has completed all layovers, but on his rest/run schedule, I anticipate a rest in Galena before heading to Nulato.