DAY #7 IDITAROD SATURDAY MARCH 9, 2024

An upper level trough was expected going towards GALENA and NULATO bringing cold air to Northern Alaska. Overnite temps expected -20 to -40 degrees. On the Arctic Plains, along Eastern Beaufort Sea coast expect -75 to -80 degrees (wind chill). The mushers will have to wear eye protection from snow blindness. The camera in GALENA froze. 

KATTIE JO, commentator, mentioned a rookie meeting in December/Anchorage. Didn't matter where in the world you lived, you had to be there. Some of the veterans spoke and they had talks on what to expect etc. They spoke about THE WALL!!! This is not an actual wall, its a mental wall. Around RUBY--1/2 way point you can have doubts--why am I doing this, should I quit, can I make another 500 miles, questioning your ability. When Kattie Jo was a rookie, she did experience these feeling around this area. She said it's REAL! 

In GALENA: Teams coming in look frosty. All parka hoods are UP!! Can't take your gloves off to work or you may get frost bite. 

The musher has to have the trust of the dogs. This is done with repetitious training. The dogs get the idea that if they work hard their "boss" won't push them any further than they can handle. There will be rest and food after that hard work. If the musher deviates from this the dogs loose his/her trust. 

No injections or meds are allowed for the dogs as this could mask an injury. The dogs are all tested by the vets during the race as are the mushers for any drug use. The common joint injuries, for the dogs, are with the shoulder and the wrist. The musher can use something like emu oil and rub into the muscle. There is a "shirt" with small holes in it where they can put heat packs to keep that muscle warm. 

FYI: There is a bird called the GREY J--or "camp robber". They are all around the checkpoint and are fearless!! They are in the dog food and looking for scrap left behind. Someone said one stole her arctic char off her plate!!! 

NULATO: 350 people live here. Today its sunny but -20 degrees. GALENA to NULATO is 37 miles. Teams coming thru these checkpoints generally go thru or stop for a very short time. Its amazing that there have been no scratched (eliminated) teams so far. There are 16 rookies this year and they are keeping up, not saying they tend to scratch but some do as it wasn't what they expected or they weren't prepared.

LARRY DAUGHERTY is a familiar name in the IDITAROD. His son, CALVIN DAUGHERTY, is running this IDITAROD. This year he also climbed Mt. Everest. (sounds like good prep for the race!!)

This above info was from this afternoon: it is 11:30 pm EST now. NULATO and KALTAG are very busy now. It was sunny here today but again very cold and windy.

NOW the report for the trough has calmed. The temp will not be as exaggerated and the winds not as strong. Good news but it cold change!!!

TRAVIS BEALS was the first to KALTAG and received the Bristol Bay Native Corp Fish 1st Award. He receives 26 lbs of fresh Bristol Bay Salmon filets, $2,000 and a wood burned art piece by artist               Apay'ug Moore.  Bristol Bay is the home of the world's largest wild sockeye salmon fishery. 

There is roughly 143 miles separating the leader from the last team. All teams have taken their 24 hour mandatory rest and there are 13 teams left to take their 8 hour rest.

As of 11:45 EST the standing are:

TRAVIS BEALS (out of KALTAG), JESSIE HOLMES(in to KALTAG), MATT HALL, PAIGE DROBNY, RYAN REDINGTON, DALLAS SEAVEY, PETE KAISER, JASON MACKEY,                WALLY ROBINSON, HUNTER KEEFE (all in KALTAG).

From KALTAG to UNALAKLEET it is 85 miles. I believe on this run is OLD WOMAN'S CABIN where many teams stop to rest, 85 miles is a distance!!!

I'll try more pictures. Think I'll spend this summer figuring out this glitch in my blog!!