Jessie Royer from Montana is still driving a big string of 15 dogs. That is a lot of dogs to take care of and feed. She was cooking a second batch of dog food while resting at Tripod Cabin. Luckily, her team is mainly maintenance free with only 2 dogs having minor sore wrists. That is very little for such a long way into the race. 

Jessie Royer

Gabbing dogs and swapping dog handler stories (plenty of those) I marvel at one of her very heavy coated dogs in her team called Chilcat. She has a couple of brothers in the team too. Come to find out, she is out of the Tetsa and Finn breeding she did back in 2011 when we trained together. Finn is neutered now and a brother of my good old Inuk, also neutered. I saw a chance to get some of that breeding again, only to come to find out she spayed and neutered that litter too, as they are so heavy coated. Chilcat has dreadlocks everywhere. Bummer. No more FInn pups. 

The J team resting at Tripod Cabin

Jessie is very pleased with her race. She is upbeat and does not even look tired. She is running on a nice run and rest schedule and was planning to give her team a nice solid 5 hour rest at the cabin. That might be a very good move, considering how much the wind has picked up here in Unalakleet. It is up to 35 miles an hour now. 

When we passed Mitch, he was still on his way to Tripod Cabin, which he has passed by now: Enjoy the Mitch Seavey shots: