DAY #4 MARCH 5th TANANA to RUBY
Sorry to report BRENDA MACKEY scratched in TANANA with 14 dogs all in good health. We don't know the circumstances yet.
The trail from MANLEY to TANANA had some difficulties. ANNA BERINGTON reported going through a sand storm. The winds were intense and as there wasn't snow, sand was the problem. She lost sight of the trail markers and therefore got off the trail and was lost!! Using her GPS helped her find a marker but wasn't sure which direction to go so took a chance and it turned out it was TOWARDS TANANA not away. Her lead dog also helped her find the trail--hopefully you have a lead that is astute at times like this. She had sand in her eyes, hair and teeth!!! Her dogs were fine. She was very grateful to arrive in TANANA. SAMANTHA LALONDE met ANNA just coming into TANANA and went thru the same storm but it wasn't as intense as it was for ANNA. She also had sand in her hair, eyes and teeth!!! This area where the sand storm occurred is not uncommon for intense winds. It is 10 miles before TANANA--just a fierce blow hole!!
QUINCE MOUNTAIN (love the name!!) had a dog in heat that was causing a problem and had to "drop him" at the checkpoint. If he put the dog at the end of the line, all the dogs in front were turning around and distracted. If he put him in the front he was turning around all the time to catch the eye of those behind him. It was a problem- the reason to leave him behind. When a dog is "dropped" that is not a bad thing. Jodi likened it to the check light in your car. Nothing is really wrong but you take it to the repair shop just to make sure and you don't have problems in the future. A dropped dog is left at a checkpoint with the VET there. They are then flown (the Air Force supplies small planes for the Iditarod use) to Anchorage into the hands of a VET there and picked up by the owners when possible.
Leaving TANANA to RUBY they now will travel to the confluence of the TANANA and YUKON RIVER. The Yukon usually is windy and of course is flat ,creating different strategies for the mushers to consider.
Many will be in RUBY tonight.The temperature during the day today was 35 degrees!!!BUT I just read where snow is predicted tonight 60% 1-3" going down to 23 degrees. We'll see.
I know PAIGE DROBNY is close to RUBY. She may be the 1st in. I do hope so!!
I will find out who the top five are right now and show you some pictures on the next page.
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