Pete was out of Nikolai at 4:15 with 12 dogs in the Team. Pete reported to the Insider crew that he’s got dogs in heat that has been a bit challenging. Picture your teenager at about 15 when they just figure out what the opposite sex is about. Pretty much in La La Land – Can’t think straight – Just one thing on their mind and they don’t even know what it is. Well put 12 of those teenagers together and that’s what Pete has on his hands at this point. Add in the full moon and he has a Team that can’t focus and isn’t in prime form.
After all that though, Team Kaiser is still positioned very well towards the top.
At the front of the pack, the Insider crew also reported that Jessie Royer and Richie Diehl are having a great race and that their Teams looked very, very good.
Mushers are looking forward to a waiting 24 hour layover at the end of this day. It will be a welcome reset for Pete and the Team. Get reorganized and hopefully let the romantic juices subside just a bit, get some rest in the sun and get ready for round 2.
Comparing a boxing match to the Iditarod, the 24 hour marks the end of the first round. Back to the corner and get ready for the next one. In this case, Round 2 will be the run up onto the Yukon River and into Kaltag for another break, shorter, but still significant.
Tonight Pete and the Team have another 35 miles to go until they can put their mind to rest.
It should be a pretty enjoyable time and should put them into Takotna before it gets too cold. Forecast for their visit is clear and cold during the evening and warm tomorrow. Timing is just perfect as they will arrive late, go to bed and have a full day off and then return to the trail in the evening while the trail is cold and fast.
In terms of the outlook, this may be the last of the cold weather for the race. The outlook for the Yukon and the Bering Sea coast is for temperatures reaching into the mid 20’s and 30. There is a huge storm on the North Arctic coast, but it shouldn’t affect the race unless it moves southward which would mean strong winds as Teams reach the Nome area.
Go Team Kaiser!
