Jeff crosses the finish line in Nome!

At this point, Doug has a hefty lead that resembles previous years. It appears that his team ran from Kaltag to Unalakleet without a stop at Old Woman cabin, about 40 miles from the coast. A friend was at Old Woman when Jeff stopped there for a rest. My guess is that Linwood made the run in similar fashion to Doug which hopscotched him ahead of Jeff about one hour. Can Jeff make up that time? We'll have to wait and see!

We are excited to head to Nome today. It is always great to connect with all of our friends there. There's no place like Nome.

Jeff called yesterday from Eagle Island. He was tenuous about the run to Kaltag with the memory of the last trip he took down that trail in 1999. It was a long, difficult trip which included several miles of snowshoeing. The dogs enjoy going fast just as much as Jeff does so a slog can be hard on the mental attitudes. Doug's team was coaxed back on the trail from Eagle Island about 2:00pm and Jeff left almost 4 hours later.

The hopes were that Jeff would make up some more time on Doug on the run to Kaltag. Doug rested almost 6 hours there and left over a hour after Jeff arrived. Jeff will take 4 to 6 hours rest as well before heading down the rather snowless trail to Unalakleet, the first coastal village along the race route.

Reports from Unalakleet are that the trail is truly snow free in both directions. Generally speaking, if the ground is fairly smooth, the dogs have no trouble running on that sort of surface but it is a challenge to bounce along behind on the sled. In addition, more energy is needed to propel the sled forwards. We should be seeing teams arrive there this afternoon.

It looks as though Jeff is taking his 8-hour mandatory rest in Grayling and should have left this morning at 4:50. He is several hours behind Doug at this point, but his team is traveling faster and the weather is brewing. There is so much of the race left that one has to be very careful about predicting anything....especially with the (myriad) of variables. I heard from a friend in Anvik last night by phone just after Jeff went through. The report was that his team is looking great. There are many Iditarod fans that are rooting for Jeff at this point. It gets a bit redundant for everyone, except by the specific people involved, to see the same victor too many years in a row. The interest in the race is heightened by new surprises and variations. Maybe that will be the case this year. The most exciting finishes have been when the weather changes the predicted outcome or the teams are neck and neck heading for the finish line.

It is very difficult to assess the exact positioning of the front running team due to the differing schedules. Linwood still must take an 8-hour rest... Kaltag?... but now that Jeff is off his, we will be able to see clearly how he and Doug play their cards. The point in the race that tells the most is the arrival order and times into Unalakleet. That should be late tonight or Sunday.

Doug left with 12 and went right through Shageluk. He is running pretty much the same schedule he ran in 1999 so he will impress us with his long run times. Jeff took almost 8 hours in Iditarod and it put him on a perfect time schedule. He should arrive into Shageluk around noon and I suspect he will rest there. Time will tell. Rick Swenson is still looking very strong. He doesn't travel as fast as Jeff but he is very consistent and a brilliant musher. Rick is traveling with a team of 15 dogs which could be an advantage.

Mark Nordman, the race marshall, called this morning and reported that the weather is remaining much the same and that there are no fronts moving that direction. As the teams enter the Yukon River in Anvik, there are required to rest 8 hours at one of the checkpoints on the River (Anvik, Grayling, Eagle Island or Kaltag). The front runners will not go to Kaltag for the mandatory rest so that leaves the other three choices. Doug will likely take his rest in Eagle Island. I'm guessing Jeff will stop in Grayling or Eagle Island.

Down the trail, there is a change the teams will keep in mind. Due to
consistently warm temperatures this winter, there is less sea ice to travel on over Norton sound. The trail will hug the coast between Shaktoolik and Koyuk which will add mileage to the run. Depending on the weather, that could add a new twist.

So, we are glued to the computer watching the stats as they, sometimes too slowly, change. The race it at the halfway point and the excitement is now ahead of us.

I spoke with Jeff twice yesterday and he is in great spirits. He is frustrated about having to send some of the crew home, certainly, but is feeling very good about the team. Romeo was sent home from Rainy Pass and Vicki from Rohn, both two year olds. In both cases they had that questioning look on their face like, "What are we doing???". Crossing the Farewell Lakes, the surface described by Jeff to be like polished glass, Grace slipped and sprained a wrist. Jenna had her gate change going into Nickolai. Kanga has been absolutely awesome, but a roughness in her breathing in Takotna had her on the next plane to Anchorage.

So, Jeff left with a hearty team of 11 just behind Martin and just ahead of Rick. Rick has a very strong team and he is a brilliant racing musher. Several reports from the trail agreed that Jeff and Rick's teams are the strongest looking.

Jeff shared a story with us about his departure from Rainy pass. He was only about 100 yards away from his camp spot on his way out of the checkpoint when he met three horses on the trail. The largest, hairy draft horse was only 20 feet away when it put its head down and charged the team. As the leaders and swing dogs began to panic and back up as best they could, the horse barreling down on them, at the very last second, a photographer who was positioned just off the trail about equal to the leaders, jumped out and stood over the leaders as the horse's face stopped inches from his own. The media is warned never to interfere with what's happening along the trail. They are supposed to be invisible by-standers. In this case, this gentleman used his head and we are very thankful for that!

My best guess is that Jeff has stopped in Takotna for his 24 hour mandatory rest. Before the race, he had discussed remaining flexible on this decision but it was most likely that Takotna would be the spot. The standings show him arriving fourth into this checkpoint with the fastest travel speed from McGrath. Doug's time was much the same as Jeff's and Doug is probably headed for Iditarod for his long break. It is great to see Linwood Fiedler doing so well. He has a lot of trail experience and will enjoy a good finish, I'm sure.

Jeff should be calling in today during his rest to fill us in on the
details of the trail so far. The next few days will set the scene for the temperature of the race.

Now teams will be contemplating their 24 hour break locations. Takotna has become a favorite the last few years and certainly one of Jeff's. The race is running a bit ahead of previous years, so it is likely we will see teams taking their 24 farther down the trail. In the 1999 race, Doug rested in Iditarod and was able to get ahead of some weather. This will be a very interesting part of the race for us spectators. The time the teams enter their 24 hour rest will have to watched carefully beause of the time adjustments from the starting positions. Jeff's early start position certainly had its advantages but the challenge will be scheduling this long, mandatory rest. Within the next two days, most of the teams will be off their long break and it will become much easier to assess the musher's racing positions.

Jeff usually calls home from the 24 hour break (his will be about 26 hours and 14 minutes), so I will receive a good report of how he and the dogs are feeling about the race. Stay tuned!