FINAL DAY #14 IDITAROD SATURDAY MARCH 16, 2024

There were two teams left to finish: SEVERIN CATHRY and JEFF REID.

Of the two, SEVERIN CATHRY, a rookie and also a Veteran was next to last to come in. He is from AIROLO, SWITZERLAND. His time was 12 days 6 hours 35 min and 4 sec. He said the wind today was intense BUT his is from a cold windy place so he is used to it. He said it really wasn't bad at all. He said you never really know how your team will respond to the weather, terrain, schedule etc but he was so pleased with how they "showed up". His wheel dog was a powerhouse. SEVERIN has a very thick accent and at times difficult to understand him.

JEFF REID, a rookie and also a Veteran (a Navy Seal!!!) came in last place, RED LANTERN. He was talking about one of the "low spots" for him and his dogs in the race. That was out of NULATO into KALTAG. The cold set in at -45 and 25 mph winds. His dogs looked at him as if saying ok what now?They seem to be counting on him to get them out of this. He said he was looking at them thinking, I'm counting of YOU to get ME out of this. Seemed to last forever but it really wasn't very long. Working together they got out of that "low point" and then everything seemed to click into place. The dogs were hungry and very energetic. He said it was a LONG JOURNEY but he wanted to thank the people in SAFETY particularly. He said they were GOOD PEOPLE!!! JEFF showed his "commitment to the last mile".

The RED LANTERN, last place, comes with its own prestige. It celebrates the mushers perseverance and commitment to completing the IDITAROD. He receives $1, 000 and has the honor of extinguishing the widow's lamp. The widows lamp dates back to when roadhouses were used in Alaska and extinguishing the lamp was a signal that no other mushers were out on the trail. 

The IDITAROD is an amazing role model for building relationships. It's one of the few cultures where friendships form instantly, dogs melt your heart on an hourly basis and the wide open landscapes of ice, snow and mountains take your breath away. Lasting memories form with each day. 

After 12 days of excitement the 2024 IDITAROD is in the books. It was a very interesting race and helps to make me look forward to next year. 

Thank you to my blog readers. I hope you felt like you were THERE at times and understand the intensity of a race where Mother Nature sometimes isn't on your side and when she is the abundance of beauty is immense;

the landscape, the dogs, the mushers, the fans and volunteers and the excitement.

HAPPY ST. PATRICKS DAY. Till next year.

 DAY #13 FRIDAY MARCH 15th PICTURES:

SEAN WILLIAMS

ISAAC TEAFORD 

NOT A GOOD IDITAROD YEAR FOR THE AURORA

JOSHUA ROBBINS COMING INTO NOME

 DAY #13 IDITAROD FRIDAY MARCH 15, 2024

NEARING THE END OF THE RACE:

SEAN WILLIAMS (r) was one of the  6 teams that had to be rescued from WHITE MOUNTAIN during a dangerous storm in 2022. He was about 70 miles from NOME at that time. This time, he had been running far behind in the race for some time and the authorities decided that SEAN was not making the progress he should be by the time he was in ELIM.That warranted his decision to scratch in ELIM. TWICE he was so close to the finish but had to scratch. The IDITAROD AIR FORCE came to pick him up and transport him to NOME.        

JOSHUA ROBBINS had been running last for quite some time and it was thought he would be the RED LANTERN (last to finish in the race). He had to still have his 8 hour rest in WHITE MOUNTAIN. There were two teams in front of him, SEVERIN CATHRY and JEFF REID. 

THEN the evening excitement (for the insider fans for sure!!!) began. We saw where CATHRY and REID left SAFETY, ROBBINS still there. THEN.....CATHRY and REID turned around and headed back to SAFETY. No explanation why. Well for many hours the fans created hundreds of random theories -very funny at times---sitting in the sun, having a farewell drink in the bar, hooking up together and coming in tandem cross the finish line. This went on and on for hours. THEN JOSHUA ROBBINS began his 2 hour mush from SAFETY to NOME, coming under the burled arch in 27th place --12 days 5hours 27 min and 33 sec. JOSH was the leader of a sniper team in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Being a Veteran, the VFW in NOME came out with flags to welcome him.There were many finishers there to greet him.  Speaking of the last leg of the race, he said after leaving SAFETY and going over the second big hill he saw the ocean and marveled at how beautiful it was. He said he hadn't really planned to be the fastest, being his first IDITAROD, he just "put one foot in front of the other" not fast but continuous. He marveled at his team and only changed lead dogs during a bad snow storm. He praised his team.

HENRY you asked what happened to Aily Zirkle and her husband Allen. I understand they moved to FLORIDA!! Thats some change---ALASKA IDITAROD--FLORIDA BOAT RACING?????

As of 12:30 am EST there are only 2 teams left to finish and they are both in SAFETY, 43 miles from NOME. Perhaps they are resting there?? We don't know but believe they will be in NOME in the morning. Who will be the Red Lantern (last place)?  There is also prestige in this position. The courage, endurance and will to FINISH what they started and trained for. 

AND SO>>>>>> the 2024 IDITAROD will come to an end tomorrow--in time for ST. PATRICKS DAY and the AWARD  BANQUET on Sunday. 

Pictures to follow:  Nite💤

 DAY #12, MARCH 14, 2024 PICTURES

? WHO THIS IS--SORRY

GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF THE STANDINGS

TOP 20 FINISHERS

JOSI THYR LOVING HER PUPS

ANNA BERINGTON ARRIVES IN NOME

MATT HALL UNDER THE BURLED ARCH

 DAY # 12 IDITAROD THURSDAY MARCH 14, 2024

Rookie BRYCE MUMFORD was trailing last for some time. Snowmachiners were dispatched to check on his progress. After discussion with IDITAROD snowmachiners and MUMFORD, it was decided he could make it to UNALAKLEET from KALTAG. He did make it to UNALAKLEET and scratched, in the best interest of the team. The 12 dogs were all in good health. BRYCE said it would go well for a distance then the dogs didn't want to go further for no particular reason. This can certainly happen. This was slowing him down so he was lagging behind. Sad for BRYCE and his team.

Few musher comment after finishing the race in NOME:

WILL RHODES finishing 22nd said for him the Coast was great. There wasn't a lot of ice and wind at the time he went thru. The BURN was the worst for him as it was dirt and rocks. There also was a lot of dust and it was difficult breathing all that in. 

MATS PETTERSSON finished  20th with 11 dogs in 10 days 14 hrs 5 min and 6 sec. The BLOW HOLE area wasn't as bad for him as in the past. The cold and wind at night was tough.

JESSICA KLEJKA finished 19th in 10 days13 hours 49 min and 41 sec.The BLOW HOLE area for her also wasn't so bad at the time she went through. She seemed to go thru it very quickly, then there was a white out, clear then white out for a short time. Her favorite part of the race was from KOYAK to ELIM as it was just gorgeous!! She was happy to get into NOME and see her husband and 2 year old. She also is pregnant (whew!!) so she said she took it a bit slower and rested more. WOW!!

There are 8 teams left to finish in NOME possibly tonight ---8:30 EST. 5 in ELIM, 1 in WHITE MOUNTAIN and 2 in SAFETY. Then one JOSHUA ROBBINS, a rookie, in last place. He is in ELIM so he has WHITE MOUNTAIN to get to then an 8 hour rest and on to SAFETY and NOME. He'll be awhile.

I believe within the next two days or less we will see all the teams in NOME. I hope they will be there for the St. Patrick's Day Parade. It really is a hoot. Anyone in the community or from anywhere can participate including pets---dogs, cats, rabbits, fish---whatever!!! Lot of green, corned beef and beer!!

TILL TOMORROW and a few pictures: Not coming out so I will do another page😢

 MORE PICTURES MARCH 13th

DALLAS INTERVIEW (red hat man his GrandFather ---Hank befriended DAN SEAVEY)

WALLY ROBINSON COMING INTO NOME

SANTA EVEN IN NOME TO WELCOME DALLAS

FRONT ST. TO THE FINISH LINE-LEFT BERING SEA

MATHEW FAILOR IN NOME

LIZ FAILOR AND BABY WAITING FOR DAD

LIZ AND HUSBAND MATHEW FAILOR

 DAY #11 WEDNESDAY MARCH 13TH  ---- PICTURES

WHITE MOUNTAIN CHECKPOINT

AARON BURMEISTER'S SLED IN UNALAKLEET--BEFORE HIS SCRATCH

GREG HEISTER LT. AND BRUCE LEE RT. COMMENTATORS THROUGHOUT THE RACE

ON THE BERING SEA ICE TRAIL

DALLAS SEAVEY COMING OFF THE ABOVE ICE DOWN FRONT ST INTO NOME

DALLAS COMING IN

WINNING CHECK $55K--not bad

DALLAS WITH 2 OF THE WINNING DOGS

 Day #11 IDITAROD WEDNESDAY MARCH 13 2024

Let there be sound and there was sound. Took time today to catch up with video's that I missed when my sound went out. All's good.

DALLAS SEAVEY'S  1st to NOME was his 6th win. He was previously tied with RICK SWENSON (5 EACH)for most victories, DALLAS now has SIX. DALLAS did this in 9 days 2 hours 16 minutes and 8 seconds. His average speed 4.42.

These will not be in order of finish: I will list the names of the 10 top finishers in order but for now:

TRAVIS BEALS, in 6th place, reached NOME in 9 days 14 hrs. 39 min and 12 sec.He has beautiful looking gloves on--beaver??He praised his dogs. He said the BLOW HOLE - after WHITE MT. was the worst for him--snow and wind yet the dogs perk up with this weather.

MILLE PORSILD, in 7th place, reached NOME with 11 dogs in 9 days 17 hrs. 23 min and 43 sec. Her average speed was 4.13. AMANDA OTTO had the fastest time SAFETY TO NOME, 2 hr. 37 min 7 sec.---faster than DALLAS and everyone, so far.

Maybe it the moon or????--should check with DANIKA!! BUT another incident!!! A snow machine made contact with BAILEY VITELLO'S team between KOYUK and GOLOVIN. The driver of the machine fled the scene but Troopers identified a person of interest based on the description of the snow machine and info provided by the musher. BAILEY was not injured but contact was made with one of the dogs on BAILEY'S team. The dog was uninjured and is still running. The Alaska State Troopers investigation is active and ongoing. 

PETE KAISER, who has won before, came into NOME in 9days 18hrs 30 min and 50 sec. He had a bit of a scare when he was caring for one of the dogs and another one took off running. When the dog stopped for a "bathroom break" thats when he caught him. 

WALLY ROBINSON came into NOME 11th. He has run before but not for 23 years. His children are now racing. His daughter has won the JUNIOR IDITAROD. He filled in for a musher who couldn't compete at the last minute so he was not as familiar with these dogs. He would camp past a checkpoint where he would rest on the straw with the dogs, talk with them etc and get to know them better.

MATHEW FAILOR reached NOME with 13 dogs in 10 days 2 hrs 35 min 27 sec. He called NIC PETIT his SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR as NIC left WHITE MT before MATHEW. When NIC reached the warming cabin, before SAFETY, it was really blowing hard so he waited for MATHEW and they went together thru the BLOW HOLE with the battering winds. MATHEW was carrying the dog ANGEL'S ashes with him to spread along the trail. He spoke of ANGEL as a very special dog. He really was raised by MARTIN BUSER, all time IDITAROD WINNER.  MATHEW got him from MARTIN and loved this wonderful dog. His family loved him as well. After his death,  MATHEWS' MOTHER and FATHER wanted him to spread ANGEL'S ashes along the trail. 

MATHEW'S wife LIZ was the commentator last year (she was familiar to all of the IDITAROD fan base). She delivered a baby boy after the IDITAROD last year so she stayed home with him this year. She and the baby were in NOME to welcome DAD!! That is the reason KATIE JO was commentating this year, she replaced LIZ. They both are excellent!!!

MATS PETERSON was leaving WHITE MOUNTAIN as I started writing. Just a little history I found interesting on MATS. He is from SWEDEN--VEEEERY far north of the Arctic Circle where they have 11 months of snow on the ground!! This must be a piece of cake for him and his team.

This is my story for today. We will have quite a few teams coming into NOME tonight. I will let you know about them tomorrow. 

First 10 into NOME: DALLAS SEAVEY --winner---MATT HALL, JESSIE HOLMES, JEFF DEETER, PAIGE DROBNY, TRAVIS BEALS, MILLE PORSILD, AMANDA OTTO,  PETE KAISER AND PETE KAISER.  

TILL TOMORROW and a few pictures. NITE💤

 cont'd DAY # 10 TUESDAY MARCH 12th---PICTURES

HANDMADE 'PARKA' ON GIRL FM. WHITE MOUNTAIN

TRAIL FROM SAFETY TO NOME

VET CHECK OF DALLAS' DOG AT WHITE MT.

RESTING DOG

WHITE MOUNTAIN CHECKPOINT

CHUTE DOWN MAIN ST. IN NOME TO FINISH

FINISH LINE IN NOME

 We are still on Day #10 TUESDAY MARCH 12th

DALLAS SEAVEY, being the first to WHITE MOUNTAIN won the Northrim Bank Achieve More Award. He received a check for $2,500 and a trophy.

Going backwards:  WE HAVE A WINNER-- DALLAS SEAVEY!! I am not as excited as I should be as of about 2-3 hours ago all my sound went off from the race. A few other people had the same problem. Then the picture went off but I KNEW they would have everything back, in NOME esp, when the winner came in. NO, DIDN'T HAPPEN. There was a lot of footage of interviews, DALLAS speaking etc and I don't know what that was. I have lost a little spirit. NOW I see I can't even get on to any other part of the race. I will just have to tell you what I know.

ANOTHER sad situation today. CALVIN DAUGHERTY'S dog HENRY, a 3 year old male ,collapsed on the trail 10 miles before SHAKTOOLIK checkpoint. DAUGHERTY administered CPR but was unsuccessful. A necropsy will be performed. This is incredible--3 dogs in one race dying of the same thing?? Maybe not after the tests are in. Such a tragic situation for CALVIN and his team, friends, family and supporters AND the IDITAROD. So sorry. CALVIN had to scratch the race.

The TEACHER ON THE TRAIL , KATE NEWMEYER , has lessons for the kids to learn in math, science, writing, creative arts ,to mention a few areas, and make it fun and an adventure and relate that subject to the IDITAROD. I'll mention a few of these programs. Learning multiplication , anatomy, role playing etc. while introducing them to the role of Vets and Vet checks. Kids take on a role of an IDITAROD Vet and complete a series of challenging word problems as they make their way down the trail. On the way, they learn about sled dog anatomy as well as making use of information in books relating to the subject. Another subject is grafting. Students create a bar graph to compare the population of checkpoints along the IDITAROD route. They will also investigate changes in population, for ex. in NOME, as they continue to master bar grafting skills. 

KATE also is interesting in including areas for teachers to consider. KATE was asked if she wanted go on a flight tour of the area. She had not had any sleep for a long time as she was keeping up with the race and her students. She considered not going BUT did say yes. IF she had taken a nap instead she would have missed the magnificent aerial views of the trail, a pilots tour of an old gold mining area, views not to be seen from the ground and the exhilaration of the area.  She pointed this out to the teachers. For ex. taking a chance on a field trip or a crazy student idea instead of sitting at a desk for learning, PIVOT, like the IDITAROD. If one idea isn't working to its potential then PIVOT and try something else. Say YES to a new responsibility as she did when she took the flight tour instead of, PIVOT, taking a nap. 

As of 10:00 pm EST these are the top 10 standings. 

DALLAS SEAVEY - into NOME                                                                                                                            MATT HALL and JESSIE HOLMES - by SAFETYCheckpoint                                                                  TRAVIS BEALS, JEFF DEETER, PAIGE DROBNY, MILLE PORSILD, JESSIE ROYER,           AMANDA OTT  and PETE KAISER----all in WHITE MOUNTAIN

There will be more coming into NOME tomorrow and I hope I have sound by then.                                       

I will include some pictures on the next page.........Nite💤
                                                                                    

 DAY #10 IDITAROD TUESDAY MARCH 12, 2024

DALLAS SEAVEY was first to WHITE MOUNTAIN where everyone has to have an 8 hour rest. DALLAS said "I always start with where I want to end up and work backwards from there", when asked about any plans on his next stops. On the way to WHITE MOUNTAIN, with the unknown terrain and the cold temps he decided to break it into 4 legs. The last run 10 miles past GOLOVIN then WHITE MOUNTAIN. This was the first time, in this race, he noted some fatigue in one of his top dogs, SEBASTIAN,. He said he is one of the best dogs on the team. We'll have to see how that goes.                DALLAS (that son of a MITCH--get it??!! love it) still holds same 15-20 mile lead since UNALAKLEET.

MATT HALL (9 dogs) is on his way to SAFETY. He left WHITE MOUNTAIN in 2nd place at 11:03AST (thats Alaska Standard Time) with his main leader DYEA in single lead.

DALLAS is now at mile 922, almost out of the TOPKOK HILLS and back to the coast . When he left he was 24 miles ahead of MATT HALL.

It's been a long  tough race to watch but the finish is just over 100 cold windy miles away for the leaders.

PETE KAISER just finished his ocean cruise and beached in KOYAK in 9th. Another fast run. He's been resting his team well so we'll see if he uses that stockpile to make a move up a few spots.

JESSIE HOLMES and MATT HALL have been running together for awhile, now at mile 844 about to hit ELIM.

HENRY: MILLE is still staying strong at #7. I have a pic of her....

This is in the late afternoon here in New York so there is still a lot of daylight to go.

The prediction is DALLAS SEAVEY will be in NOME at approx 5:30 AST 9:30 EST tonight!!!

MILLE PORSILD coming into UNALAKLEET

DALLAS COMING 1st INTO WHITE MOUNTAIN

IF everything goes well: dogs, weather, terrain, and on and on and on.......

TILL THIS EVE:👀👋👋

 DAY #9 IDITAROD MARCH 11TH : PICTURES

JESSIE HOLMES resting in UNALAKLEET - check the height of the snow

MILLE PORSILD coming into UNALAKLEET

This changes every hour but may help to visualize

PEACE ON EARTH--Pizza place in UNALAKLEET--where Hank and I were going to sleep- perhaps on a table???

PIZZA and MUSIC in UNALAKLEET

 DAY #9 IDITAROD MONDAY MARCH 11, 2024

To catch up : some UNALAKLEET news: I explained about people sending orders for pizza to give to their favorite musher when he arrives. Last year, MATT FAILOR was very popular and his MANY fans sent him pizza's. One can only eat so many so he brought them to the next checkpoint to share.

On to Monday: Little sad news today. HUNTER KEEFE scratched as his 4 year old male dog GEORGE collapsed on the trail about 35 miles out of KALTAG en route to UNALAKLEET. Attempts to revive him were unsuccessful. A necropsy will be performed. So so sad. 

AARON BURMEISTER came out of musher retirement to run this year. He had a good team. They were on fire in training BUT in UNALAKLEET he had been noticing that the team was "flat"-- not having fun, missing something, not themselves. Difficult to pull dogs out of that. He decided the best thing for his team was to scratch and let them rest. That he did as its about THE DOGS and their mental and physical health!!

DEKE NAAKTGEBOREN also scratched in NULATO with 10 dogs. No reason given.

We are now down to 32 teams. 

HENRY: MILLE is still in 7th and holding steady. Wishing her all the best.

In an interview with DALLAS SEAVEY, in UNALAKLEET, there were a lot of questions about how he was doing and some of his strategies . He said "take the path of least resistance". Stay with other mushers, don't let them get ahead of you but take no risks. Think about what you and your team are better at than that competitor at your heals. He thinks that he and JESSIE HOLMES are quite evenly matched. JESSIE has the speed but DALLAS has the staying power. Some try to reduce rest time but all it does is wear the team and musher out. Maybe reduce a rest time of 4 hours to 3 hours. He doesn't worry about competitors if he can't SEE them. If they are in the checkpoint together he can worry but if they are 10 hours behind him he won't worry about them.  He thinks RYAN REDINGTON will make a play as they come to WHITE MOUNTAIN. He also thought that at the UNALAKLEET checkpoint it was important how the team came in. If they looked strong, excited, ate well etc that was the sign of a good team. He also said this team he has now is not his strongest team as in the past but THEY think they are THE BEST so THEY ARE!!!

DR JODI GUEST interview: JODI became interested in the IDITAROD as her DAD was a Vet here in '07. She then volunteered and in '09 she worked with the IDITAROD AIR FORCE. By profession, she is an Epidemiologist which deals with incidence, distribution and possible control of diseases and other factors relating to health. Coincidentally COVID hit!!! She was then put in charge of seeing that the communities that could be exposed by the IDITAROD was averted. She was also in charge of the teams' health. This year she is promoting, thru the IDITAROD, the IDITA HEALTH INITIATIVE. She is working with the communities 1-5 school grade children. She has a game for them that is an IDITAROD game with health related behaviors. 5 questions are asked each day--ex. did you brush your teeth today, did you have a healthy meal, did you drink water etc. --you gain points. They may seem like parochial questions yet these kids live in area where water, for example, is not always available or plentiful. She has included input from the kids. They thought if they could color booties for the dogs when you get a certain number of points. This point system is done in the fall. Then before the IDITAROD their points get them to move up and down the trail. You gain points and build your team. This is all in the planning stage. Any suggestions please pass them on to DR. JODI GUEST.

As of 11:45 pm EST the top 10 standings are:

DALLAS, JESSIE, MATT HALL, TRAVIS BEALS are all out of ELIM.                                                      JEFF DEETER, PAIGE DROBNY, MILLE PORSID, JESSIE ROYER, PETE KAISER and Amanda Otto are all into KOYUK. 

ITS A RACE. TILL TOMORROW!! NITE.

DAY #8 SUNDAY MARCH 10th: PICTURES

MUSHER COOKERS

KALTAG CHECKPOINT

MESSAGE ON PIZZA BOX

AURORA OUTSIDE KALTAG

 DAY #8 IDITAROD SUNDAY MARCH 10, 2024.  11:30 pm EST

Sadly three mushers have scratched (disqualified). ISAAC TEAFORD, a rookie, scratched in NULATO with 13 dogs. 200 feet outside the NULATO checkpoint his 2 year old male dog BOG collapsed. He was immediately administered to for 20 minutes but he never recovered and died. A necropsy will be performed.So sad. CONNOR MCMAHON, a rookie, scratched in GALENA with 11 dogs. No report why. ERIN ALTEMUS, a rookie, scratched in RUBY with 12 dogs. Again, no report.

HENRY: MILLE PORSILD is now in 8th place. She is moving up!!! She is now resting in UNALAKLEET.

JESSIE HOLMES was the leader early this am at mile 681 with 294 miles to go. JESSIE left OLD WOMAN CABIN, one of the cabins between KALTAG and UNALAKLEET. As it is a distance of 85 miles, with the wind blowing so hard and the temps so low, most of the teams may stop along the way. They can warm up in the cabin and take a quick rest. JESSIE took a 3 hour rest with 32 miles to go to UNALAKLEET. DALLAS, also in the cabin, left in second place after resting here for 4 hours. He is 4 miles behind JESSIE. There were 7 mushers in OLD WOMAN CABIN, bit crowded. They are usually planning out different strategies for runs and rest patterns. 

JOSI THYR, a rookie, had been traveling with GABE DUNHAM (they have run together before).They were in KALTAG. Only one of JOSI's dogs had been in the IDITAROD before the rest had not and this is her first time as well. As a first timer, she is learning her dogs better and this challenging terrain. 

GABE DUNHAM was on her way to KALTAG and saw spinning light in the far distance. Being tired and taking her attention away from the team, she was checking the time when she fell and did a face plant in the snow. Her dogs kept going. When she "woke up", dogs gone but not too far she ran after them. Luckily she wasn't far from the KALTAG checkpoint where they caught the team. 

PAIGE DROBNY also stopped at OLD WOMAN CABIN early this am and was surprised to see many others there. Speeds (now slower) have changed on this stretch due to the windblown trail and the cold temps. 

JESSIE HOLMES was the first into UNALAKLEET winning the Ryan Air Gold Coast Award. A hand carved loon by a community artist and $1,500 in gold coins. He was very grateful.

DALLAS wasn't far behind into UNALAKLEET, 7:30 pm EST. He went through. Some would rather stop outside the checkpoints as it is quieter, dogs aren't distracted and its easier to think and make plans without all the hustle bustle at the checkpoint. There is a cabin just past UNALAKLEET in the BLUEBERRY HILLS. They can then skip SHAKTOOLIK and go all the way to KOYUK. Its a haul!! May also be difficult with these winds and temps. From UNALAKLEET to SHAKTOOLIK is 38 miles and normally a good trail. The view around BLUEBERRY HILL is breathtaking. You are viewing the Bering Sea, looking out on the ocean and then drop out of the hills on to the flat tundra where SHAKTOOLIK sits. The area is flat with wind tunnels. Not pleasant!!

Another favorite place for me is UNALAKLEET. Hank and I spent 5 days there. There is no place to stay but DAVIDA HANSON, the owner of PEACE ON EARTH--pizza place--- said we could stay in the restaurant on the couches. Wasn't a problem BUT at the last minute a room they do rent out was being vacated and they gave it to us. We had dinner that night at their house. First time eating BLUBBER!!!An experience. They are the nicest family and as JESSIE HOLMES said he loves UNALAKLEET as they are so welcoming. Many families or friends of the mushers order pizza from here to pick up on their way in. Many fans also do this and  have them write a message on the box top. Its a PIZZA STOP and a checkpoint. 

STANDINGS as of 11:30 pm EST: TOP 10

DALLAS SEAVEY at mile 749 with 226 to go is out of UNALAKLEET.  He is running.                             Three teams are out of UNALAKLEET--JESSIE HOLMES, MATT HALL and TRAVIS BEALS. The rest of the top 10 are INTO UNALAKLEET. PAIGE DROBNY, RYAN REDINGTON, JEFF DEETER, MILLE PORSILD, JASON MACKEY and PETE KAISER.    

TILL TOMORROW:💤          Few pictures to follow                                 

 (cont'd) pictures DAY #7 MARCH 9th

BIKERS RIDE-- big tires

Sunbathing in GALENA

TRAVIA BEALS on the YUKON

TRAVIS BEALS KALTAG AWARD

MAP of teams positions 

DALLAS SEAVEY coming into KALTAG