MARCH 10, 2022
I already spoke about the heavy snow in MCGRATH and the tough trip they had from ROHN. MARTIN BUSER said he dumped his sled with things going everywhere in every direction. He spent some time retrieving everything. He did lose his electronic bag that someone found and gave it to him in OPHIR. ANJA REDANO scratched out of NIKOLAI after a 16 hour trip from ROHN. She scratched in the best interest of her 12 dog team. Haven't heard any more about it.
From MCGRATH to OPHIR it has been windy, with a misty rain that is now a freezing drizzle at 35 degrees. There isn't much in OPHIR although some mushers took there 24 hr. mandatory rest there. To pass the time many were taking the dogs for "walks", as Bruce Lee put it--it looks like a dog park up here!!For not having much here ,one night they served the mushers a king crab dinner, next night prime rib. Not bad for a remote area. I did want to mention my favorite place TAKOTNA where Hank and I spent quite some time as volunteers cooking and serving the mushers. As I have said, this was a very favorite place to do their 24 hr. rest and for the great food. This year it is not a checkpoint as they are afraid of COVID. What they did do was to make and wrap up sandwiches which they handed to the mushers as they passed by. Nice people there. I miss them.
Many of the mushers are taking their 24 hr. mandatory rest in OPHIR. It was snowing early this am here but clearer now but windy. Many are resting in the spruce forest. This is not really a community but a checkpoint. BRENT SASS was first into CRIPPLE--got in early to take his 24hr rest. It's a sheet of ice now after the cooler temp and drizzle. HUGH NEFF was one of the fastest (3rd) into CRIPPLE. DALLAS SEAVEY still has to take his 24 hr and is going about 7-8 mph. As of midnight (EST) the standings are:BRENT SASS,RICHIE DIEHL, DALLAS SEAVEY, HUGH NEFF,RYAN REDINGTON,MITCH SEAVEY,AARON BURMEISTER---All in CRIPPLE. DALLAS, HUGH, RYAN, MITCH still have to take their 24 hr layover--others in this group have taken it. The rest of the pack are in MCGRATH and OPHIR. After they take their 24 they feel that's when the race begins!!!! We'll see!!!
First dog pic looks like my kids right when it is morning…ready to go!
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