DAY #7SUN. MARCH 12, 2023 KALTAG/UNALAKLEET/SHAKTOOLIK/KOYUK
TEMPS TODAY: UNALAKLEET: -2 AM -7 EVENING. PM SNOW
SHAKTOOLIK: -6 AM -8 EVENING WITH SOME SNOW
KOYUK: -7 AM -15 EVENING SNOW
The photo above is of KATTI JO DEETER and HUSBAND after she arrived in EAGLE ISLAND. This is her 2nd year as a rookie after she had to scratch last year. She was one of the mushers who were aided by snow machine in getting to a safety cabin to shelter after being affected by the infamous BLOW HOLE STORM. Caught between WHITE MOUNTAIN and SAFETY in horrendous winds. She was one of 3 mushers who were taken by snowmobile to safety. After needing the outside help this eliminated the three who had to be rescued from the race. BUT>>> after the storm subsided, KATTI JO was one who mushed the rest of the way to NOME. She has the unique distinction of mushing all the way to NOME but not being an official finisher. Let's hope she finishes this year without incidence.
Anyone can send a MUSHERGRAM to your favorite musher on the trail. They are sent to ANCHORAGE and then taken to the requested checkpoint. TEACHERS: This is a very favorite activity for students. They can send their favorite musher a note on the trail.
RYAN REDINGTON won yet another award for being first to KALTAG: see photo of FIRST FISH AWARD. He's going to need a truck to get all his awards home.
BRUCE LEE AND GREG HEISLER spoke from UNALAKLEET this morning at 5:30AM!!! They saw RYAN REDINGTON fly through UNALAKLEET. Why wouldn't everyone want to stop here, have a slice of pizza from PEACE ON EARTH (where Hank and I stayed for a week) or sourdough pancakes and bacon with lots of goodies prepared by the locals??? Guess he's in a hurry!!! They said he looked calm, confident with a good looking team.
From UNALAKLEET TO SHAKTOOLIK there are some very challenging areas like BLUEBERRY HILL with many "up and downs", big climbs. Therefore, UNALAKLEET is a point where you want to lighten your sled. If you have any dogs showing signs of slowing down or having any problems this is the place to drop them. Any "extras" in your sled can also be left here to lighten your load.
There are 2 rookies in 6th and 7th place coming into UNALAKLEET. There have never been TWO rookies so close to the top and being more than 1/2 way to NOME. They are EDDIE BURKE JR.and HUNTER KEEFE. Good going guys.
Denmarks' musher MILLE PORSILD is from a mushing family. She is now out of UNALAKLEET in 8th place. In 2020, her rookie year, she came in 15th place and received ROOKIE OF THE YEAR AWARD. In 2021 she came in 5th and 14th place in 2022. She has spent more than 1,000 hours in a tent on sled dog expeditions. GO MILLE!!!
LIZ FAILER spoke with DALLAS SEAVEY not racing this year but a 5 time champ. This is his year off and just watching everything from different checkpoints. He is now in UNALAKLEET, traveling by snow machine. He said there are 5 great teams on the run. RYAN and PETE seem very strong. RYAN, he said, has the speed. If he can make it all about the speed he has a chance to win. PETE is an hour behind RYAN but DALLAS said he put his money on PETE. He doesn't have the speed of RYAN'S team but he has a longer range that RYAN does not have. Both of these mushers have to be careful not to be too aggressive as that may just wear the team out as well as themselves. Steady and Strong!! DALLAS said you have to do a sustaining pace and do it indefinitely!!This part of the race was DALLAS' favorite. This is where the REAL race is. You have to let the team "go"knowing every decision is critical.
Right now the Standings are:
RYAN REDINGTON,PETE KAISER,RICHIE DIEHL,MATT HALL and KELLY MAIXNER then 6th and 7th the two rookies. The top five are in SHAKTOOLIK.
From SHAKTOOLIK to KOYUK is where you find the sea ice. BRUCE said it looks like they can travel on the ice but at GOLOVIN BAY they may have to be overland. It is much easier to go on the flat slippery surface of the ice compared to ups and downs and ruts of overland.
lt is getting colder and windy from KOYUK being on the Northside of NORTON BAY. That north wind is now in the mushers face.
There are many challenges ahead but a lot of excitement in the air!!!
PHOTO'S on the next page.
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