MARCH 9, 2020

FIRST FULL DAY OF THE RACE:

Few odds and ends: JEFF KING went to the dinner the night before the race and started having
severe abdominal pains. He was rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery for a perforated intestine along with an incarcerated hernia. As he was already to race he chose 28 year old
SEAN UNDERWOOD to fill in for him. SEAN helped train the team and had been working
with JEFF so it made sense. JEFF is always a real contender so I'm sure its a big disappoinment for him but he is confident sending SEAN out with his team. GET BETTER JEFF!!

ZOYA DENURE withdrew from the race due to personal health reasons. This was before the race had started SO her husband a musher JOHN SCHANDEMEIER took over for her. Usually you can't substitute mushers BUT you can in case of emergency and approved by the Race Marshall and this was prior to the race start. GET BETTER ZOYA!

The head of the "pack" are now at RAINY PASS. The consensus is that there is so much snow the trip so far has been slow but uneventful and a "good ride". From WILLOW on they had 20" of new snow to deal with. LANCE MACKEY said the STEPS were even a little boring. USUALLY the STEPS are anything but boring. Quite a few moose have been on the trail which slows the teams down.

PETE KAISER was the first to RAINY PASS. Some will take a few hour rest here and enjoy this weather. No snow just sun and not too cold. BUT......they will prepare for going over the other side of the mountain where it is -20 degrees!!!

 MONICA ZAPPA leaving WILLOW

JESSIE ROYER (one of my favorites) taking with the Race Marshall

Leaving WILLOW with a big fan sendoff

Snowing hard in WILLOW!!