DAY # 6 IDITAROD FRIDAY MARCH 8, 2024
Weather is now changing. Getting much colder and windy. The cold is much better for the dogs. They eat better and rest better with these temps. Also with colder temps the trail will get faster and packed down as opposed to the soft snow that the teams have been experiencing.
There are four parts to the Iditarod race: The Alaska Range, The Interior, The Yukon and The Coast. They all have their own special challenges and beauty.
NIC PETIT, the lucky one, was the first to The YUKON. His award is a delicious one!!! The chefs, from Anchorage, come to prepare a 7 course meal for the winner. A few of the delicacies were a big beautiful steak and a delightful looking creme brule, to mention a few. I don't know how you can get up and go after that!!!
From CRIPPLE to RUBY its 70 miles. Now the logistics and plans are starting to be realized. Teams seem to be preparing for their trip on The Yukon. It is a very flat, windy, cold and boring part of the journey. When dogs are rested, well fed, and prepared they can do well on this stretch. Of course, no one can predict the weather.
I hear RYAN REDINGTON did fall asleep and fell off his sled. PAIGE DROBNY came along and gave RYAN a ride to help find his team. They did find them and they all got to the checkpoint no worse for the wear.
JASON MACKEY is in the top 10 and took 11 hours from CRIPPLE to RUBY. He said there was a lot of hill climbing so he did take stops to rest the dogs and feed them.
JESSIE HOLMES is in RUBY. He said he will put coats on his dogs when he leaves RUBY. This is to keep the dogs muscles warm.
MATT HALL was going through RUBY and possibly taking his 8 hr. mandatory rest by GALENA.
It is now time to decide where, within these next few checkpoints, to take that mandatory 8 hr. stop.
The two commentators BRUCE LEE and GREG HEISLER were in RUBY reporting and interviewing. They thought TRAVIS BEALS' team looked great. TRAVIS' dream, since childhood, has been to win the IDITAROD. BRUCE said he thought TRAVIS pushes the edge. That seems to be the mantra of the top contenders. One has to step up both physically and mentally and push just a bit further than everyone else. He thinks thats what makes the contender/champion. Then again, you can't "push" too soon or the dogs and the musher may loose that edge those last difficult 200 miles. YOU NEED A PLAN!!
BRUCE LEE, commentator, is an experienced musher who has won the YUKON QUEST and has been very competitive in the IDITAROD. He passes a lot of his knowledge and experience on to all of us (couch contenders).
KALTAG is reporting temps of -20 and 30 mile an hour winds!!! Ouch!!
Standings at 11pm EST are: TRAVIS BEALS (in to GALENA), MATT HALL, DALLAS SEAVEY, PETE KAISER, JESSIE HOLMS, PAIGE DROBNY, RYAN REDINGTON are all out of RUBY. NIC PETIT, HUNTER KEEFE and JASON MACKEY are IN RUBY.
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