While Jeff is going to have dinner soon, Martin Buser, Aliy Zirkle and Robert Sorlie are on their way over. Upon leaving Cripple  it started getting windy. Nothing real bad, but enough to start drifting in the trail. The first team I came upon was Robert Sorlie, who has consistently posted the fastest runtimes. He only rested 3 hrs in Cripple, time will tell what that does to his speed, plus the drifted snow. Then next up I passed ” Spiderwoman ” Aliy Zirkle, double poling away. I had a hard time passing her without getting swallowed in the deep snow. After the the trail passes through the old mining town of Poorman. Equipment of profitable decades long gone by line the trail. From here on out the trail was getting better and faster by the mile. Some challenging patches of overflow are waiting. About 20 miles out I passed Martin Buser, he was the only of the three mushers who was not working. He waved me to go on by when the going was good.

I assume Robert will try to go all the way to Ruby. Probably in under 10 hrs. Aliy who had not stopped in Cripple carried straw and will camp out My guess is in the range of 3 or 4 hrs. Martin was already too close to Ruby to stop, so he will come all the way. 

He could be here about 6.30 p.m. Even if he takes his 8 hr rest, he then could leave at 2.30 a.m. That is 5.5hrs before Jeff King can leave after taking his 24 hrs layover. Robert Sorlie is running 4 hrs behind Martin. So even Robert is a few hours ahead of Jeff King if he comes all the way. Depending on how long Aliy stays on the trail, she is right there. 

Long term, I think the teams who are breaking up the run from Takotna to Ruby in 3 runs and are camping      ( Aliy Zirkle, Mitch Seavey, Hans Gatt ) will be benefiting from that down the trail. Especially Mitch knows the outcome of doing those 2 big runs, as 2 years ago, his team never quite bounced back after that. Of course with Sonny Lindner and Jeff King getting a long 24 hr break here, their teams will be ready to charge down the Yukon even more.

It is here in Ruby, that the different strategies converge. My guess for leaving is: Martin, Robert, Aliy, Sonny, Jeff…. again my guess….time will tell.

Here some shots from the Trail.

Robert Sorlie

Aliy ZIrkle

Spider woman Aliy

glaciers

Martin Buser enjoying the run

Martin in the afternoon sun

Another one of Martin

Into Ruby

And the Yukon River is waiting in all its grandeur