DAY #2
MONDAY MARCH 4, 2024
I have waited to gather a few stories and with mushers now starting to gain a lead and a few lagging behind, we can see more of the race pattern.
The big story today was a moose on the trail. 14 miles out of SKWENTNA, DALLAS SEAVEY encountered a moose on the trail. This moose became entangled with his dogs and with DALLAS. He was forced to dispatch the moose in self-defense. One of DALLAS' dogs was injured and dropped at FINGER LAKE and airlifted to ANCHORAGE where he was checked by vets. The problem then was a dead moose in the middle of the trail so those behind DALLAS came around the corner, unable to stop or go around the moose, had to go over it. Traumatic for everyone. The authorities then came and the meat will be distributed in the community and certainly not go to waste.
It started snowing in SKWENTNA and continued in FINGER LAKE. The problem now is wind creating wind drifts that make it difficult for the dogs. The snow is deep in parts, soft and sugary as it is warm. Well, 15 degrees is considered warm!!! The problem, as you heard, will now be moose on the trail. It is difficult for the animal to walk in these conditions so when they come upon a nice hard packed trail they don't want to leave it. Very difficult at night as the visibility is compromised.
BAILEY VITELLO#32, a happy guy and his second IDITAROD said the trail from FINGER LAKE is starting to "fall apart" and not easy to stop on. This is when the mushers, behind DALLAS SEAVEY, came around a corner and were suddenly upon the dead moose on the trail. Again,when the conditions are such it is difficult to go off the trail and go around a team or this moose situation. Enough said.....
Mile 112 (from WILLOW) FINGER LAKE checkpoint the commentators GREG HEISLER AND BRUCE LEE said they had some good food and a bon type fire going. Some of the mushers will stop here to rest the dogs and feed them. They would rather travel at night when the temperatures are cooler for the dogs. Then they rest and feed them, usually, during the "heat" of the day. BRUCE LEE talked with some of the mushers before the race and he said JESSIE HOLMES was so fired up but then again he usually is. The teams that caught BRUCES' eye were PETE KAISER and JEFF DEETER. He also thought PAIGE DROBNY looked good as well.
At 11 pm (NY time) many teams were in RAINY PASS. There are approx 20-30 volunteers at this checkpoint. Many of the teams stop here and will rest both the dogs and the musher.
The top 10 standings as of 11pm EST or 7pm Alaska time:
JESSIE HOLMES, PETE KAISER, MATT HALL, WALLY ROBINSON, MILLE PORSILD, DALLAS SEAVEY, MATTHEW FAILOR, TRAVIS BEALS, RYAN REDINGTON.
JESSIE ROYER is in 15th position and ANNA BERINGTON is in 18th position. The first 20 teams are all into RAINY PASS. JESSIE HOLMES is OUT of RAINY PASS and on to ROHN.
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