Looking at the tracker, the chasers are on the move. AIiy out first, than Mitch and Jessie Royer. After that with a small gab Aaron Burmeister and Joar Leifseth Ulsom. I can see why they are leaving the checkpoint early as they do, trying to make it to Kaltag before the heat of the day. Specially warm as it already is, it is even more important to be sensitive that that. Martin Buser has been on a daytime- middle to the night run schedule. That sure is not helping his speed. Naturally during the heat of the day, the dogs go slower. But also during the dead of the night, it is harder for the musher to stay awake and the dogs sure feel some of that too. Earlier on when Gerd’s headlight disappeared behind me once again, my first thought was, oh no… now he is stuck in overflow. But a few minutes later he caught up and said :” I had to drink a few 5 hr energy’s to stay awake “. I was sure glad to have some good old ACDC going in my earbuds to me going while riding up to Kaltag.
Here some scenes from Eagle Island. Time for a nap, Gerd just got the fire going in the community hall where the mushers will rest and I head over there too. Currently sitting in the Kaltag school, I never even knew was there.
Nicolas Petit feeding his dogs in Eagle Island
Jessie Royer in Eagle Island
Nice setup OFF the River, nicely sheltered in the trees
Mushers taking care of their teams in Eagle Island
Dirsko VonPfeil, long time vet
Some of Jeff Kings dogs
Joar Leifseth Ulsoms’s leaders
Mitch Seavey feeding his team, and boy did they chow down well
Mitch is glowing green!
Aaron Burmeister looking tired.
Lots of calories packed in there, and Aaron gang devoured it!
Jake Berkowitz being very pleased with his team and he has every reason to.
SOLO! I ran him in 2010 when I leased dogs from Jon Little, who Jake bought out
Hopper next to Solo, who at age 5, has run 8 or 9 1000 Miler! Lots of depth in Jakes team
Mushers favorite pose…. bend over massaging, bootying, feeding…
Aaron Burmeister next to his sled!
