As we close this Iditarod day, Team Kaiser is a bit smaller, but still moving along nicely between Iditarod and Shageluk. Looking at previous runs, Pete was in a similar position in the 2011 Southern Route as well, but finished in great shape. Since Iditarod Team Kaiser has kept the interval between teams following with more dogs, so it is having a minimal effect at this time.
Trail Ahead (From Iditarod.com)
This leg is every bit of its official 65 miles, and its unendingly hilly terrain makes it seem more like 100 at times. You can plan on 7 to 10 hours for it, more if you want to stop and rest somewhere. There is absolutely no human habitation for the entire route—no cabins, no mines, nothing. The people of Shageluk rarely have any need to go over to Iditarod and Flat and vice versa, so this trail is normally only put in every other year, and then only for the Iditarod. Much of the area between Iditarod and Shageluk was burned in a forest fire years ago and some areas still have not grown back. In short, it will be pretty lonely and maybe even a little spooky. This is a good leg to find another driver to run with, just for the company if nothing else.
Mushing Weather Report-
The weather pattern that was looking like it might cause trouble is dissipating and the advisories have been cancelled. Temperatures haven’t cooled like I thought they might, but it is still slightly below freezing.
LOWER YUKON VALLEY- INCLUDING...RUSSIAN MISSION...GRAYLING...HOLY CROSS...SHAGELUK... ANVIK...FLAT 1034 PM AKST THU MAR 7 2013 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS CANCELLED... .TONIGHT...CLOUDY. PERIODS OF FREEZING RAIN AND SNOW IN THE EVENING BECOMING ALL SNOW OVERNIGHT. LESS THAN AN INCH SNOW ACCUMULATION. LOWS IN THE 20S TO AROUND 30. EAST WINDS 20 TO 30 MPH. .FRIDAY...CLOUDY. SNOW SHOWERS. HIGHS IN THE LOWER 30S. SOUTHEAST WINDS 15 TO 30 MPH. .FRIDAY NIGHT...SNOW. SNOW ACCUMULATION AROUND 1 INCH. LOWS IN THE TEENS. SOUTH WINDS 10 TO 20 MPH.
