DAY #6 MARCH 11, 2023. SHAGELUK/ANVIK/ GRAYLING/EAGLE ISLAND/KALTAG
Busy day today. Started the day with sad sad news that BRENT SASS, front runner and Veteran, had to scratch in EAGLE ISLAND. He felt he couldn't care for his team due to current concerns with his periodontal health. KELLY MAIXNER is a Dentist and was at EAGLE ISLAND at the time so we think he had some excellent advise on his condition. An abscess can eventually cause infection to travel in your body and cause dangerous concerns. We are all saddened by this but know it is best for him. He was flown to UNALAKLEET, with his dogs for further treatment. We wish him the best. He had 11 dogs who were in excellent health. On our chat line, I was chatting with someone originally from the Hudson Valley and is now a handler in Fairbanks for BRENT'S team. Sad day for her as well. Another "chatter" was trained as a wilderness medic and learned you never ignore infections as they can quickly get out of control especially in the back country.
The temperatures are getting cooler which means teams are running faster and now seem to have more energy.
TEMPS: SHAGELUK: 23 day time 5 at night clear ANVIK:27 day time 8 at night some snow GRAYLING: 25 day time 7 at night snow EAGLE ISLAND:early am was -15 then up to 25 some snow
All 5 top runners are in KATAG going more than 8 mph as the cooler temps and light wind is favorable
RYAN REDINGTON
RICHIE DIEHL
PETER KAISER
JESSIE HOLMES
KELLY MAIXNER
MATT HALL said coming into the YUKON it was 25 below on the river and up to 12 below off the river. He said it now seems that the "real" race is beginning and he can feel the importance of moving ahead.There are 9 teams within 20 miles of each other. Now we'll see some of the leap frogging. The PUSH is on.
RYAN REDINGTON has moved up front unleashing the power of his team. He felt he was holding them back until now. BRUCE and GEGG said he seemed so different this year--much more relaxed and calm and not experiencing the sleep deprivation in past years.
NIC PETIT. Don't count him out when you see him behind as he has different rest periods and once in the back of the pack and then close to the front. His timing and schedule seem different from the other teams.
From KALTAG/UNALAKLEET to SHAKTOOLIK there will be some difficult topography to content with. Tussocks, lot of up and down, changing weather, sea ice, possible open water etc.
*** ITS NOT THE FASTEST TEAM THAT GETS TO NOME FIRST--ITS THE BEST TEAM!!!
PHOTO'S on the next page:
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