New day, new weather conditions. From UNALAKLEET to SHAKTOOLIK it was 40 miles then from SHAKTOLIK to KOYUK its 50 miles. Many of the mushers will go the 90 miles maybe resting along the way. This is a tough route to KOYUK as they will be on the Bering Sea ice and it is very windy. Leading, still, is DALLAS SEAVEY and his Dad is right behind him--2 minutes difference.
Are they competing against each other? Well, maybe to some extent but it is always nice to have someone nearby on these runs--maybe comforting.This is when DALLAS shines---he is a fast finisher. Its about 94 miles to WHITE MOUNTAIN with checkpoints in between--ELIM and GOLOVIN BUT the thought has always been whoever is 1st out of WHITE MOUNTAIN is usually the winner without any extenuating circumstances like last year when a huge storm came up and created a bit of choas changing that theory.
The lineup now is DALLAS, MITCH, BRENT SASS, ALIY ZIRKLE. Don't sell WADE MARRS short, he is strong and still in the mix.
Just a note: someone asked about moose causing damage on the trail. Only one incident, years ago ,with SUSAN BUTCHER but none since. The concentration of moose are usually from MCGRATH to TAKOTNA. As I now remember, Hank spotted a moose on the lawn where we were staying. He came up to the window and spent quite some time in that area where Hank enjoyed taking pictures--up close and personal!! He and a few moose friends were around the area most of the time we were there.
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