MARCH 7, 2022 RAINY PASS TO ROHN TO NIKOLAI TO MCGRATH

 MARCH 7, 2022

Now it's getting busy with the race really getting into gear. Can't believe it but I am unable to send 

the photos from the race. I will just do commentary and if it gets corrected, I will send the photo's tomorrow.

By 9pm (EST) all mushers were out of RAINY PASS on their way to ROHN . This is the trip thru the Denzel Gorge that I explained yesterday.JOAR ULSOM and AARON BURMEISTER said there were areas of blown snow where you could see dirt. They said it was a rough ride. MITCH SEAVEY and JEFF KING did "crash and burn" in the gorge area. They were fine as well as the dogs, tough mushers!!!RICHIE DIEHL said he took quite a tumble but was ok. Apparently there are a lot of moose around but no problems yet. MITCH SEAVEY said his dogs were eating well indicating they weren't stressed---like people!!!By RAINY PASS no one had scratched and there were very few dropped dogs (6). Mushers drop dogs for a variety of reasons---ill, not performing, to mention a few.

They are taken care of by the vets until they fly them out to Anchorage--Millennium Hotel--then the vets there care for them until the end of the race when the musher comes to pick them up.

 

From RAINY PASS to ROHN. ROHN has a Roadhouse Safety Cabin but not much else. No satellite communication or any utilities there. It is considered one of the most beautiful checkpoints on the trail. It is on the National Register of Historic Places. It was a stopover for many travelers from gold miners to mushers. *I have a nice picture of it but unable to transfer it to my blog. I will do that, hopefully, tomorrow. Many of the mushers checkin here and go through, on to NIKOLAI which they know will be a rough ride. Usually there is blown snow with a dirt trail and a lot of "bumps". 

Proved to be the case this year as well. 

From ROHN to NIKOLAI it is 75 miles taking most of the mushers 13 hours!! WHEW!!!They have to go through the Buffalo Tunnel, aptly named as a wild herd of Buffalo roam there.  Only last week there was 4' of snow and after the winds swept thru some areas are a dirt trail. 

Most mushers are in NIKOLAI. The standings are:

BRENT SASS, DALLAS SEAVEY,( They have left for MCGRATH) AARON BURMEISTER,

RYAN REDINGTON, RICHIE DIEHL, MILLE PORSILD, MITCH SEAVEY, MICHELLE PHILLIPS, HUGH NEFF, PAIGE DROBNY. 

The rest are all in ROHN. 

The dogs go at a pace of about 10 mph. The Alaskan Husky dog is bred for this race due to their endurance and conformation.The commentators said you look for smooth running dogs--all at the same pace. Many people say they wonder if the dogs are forced to run, NO, they WANT to run. REMEMBER: You can't push a rope!!

NIKOLAI was in the 20's with cloud cover. The sun is good BUT it softens the snow and heats the dogs--both not good. Cloud cover is preferred. 

BRENT SASS and DALLAS SEAVEY, pushed on to MCGRATH. No one knows their plans from there. Now they are thinking of where to take their 24 hour mandatory rest. It could be MCGRATH. 

So sorry about the photo's hope the problem is solved by tomorrow.