The trail over from Elim to White Mountain is in near perfect shape. It is the ” old ” normal route for the first 7 miles out of Elim on the sea ice, which was very smooth. Climbing up in the hills the scenery of Walla Walla is just spectacular, one of the nicest stretches on the whole race trail. 

The first team I passed was Joar Leifseth Ulsom.  He was one ridge before Little Mckinley. He is currently in 7th position.

The next team was Peter Kaiser who had just dropped onto Golovin Bay.  He is in 6th place. Of course Pete wanted to know how far back Joar was. I do not think Pete has to worry about Joar catching him, but I can very well see Pete reeling in Wade Marrs who was right at the end of Golovin Bay, trying to hang on to a personal best finish of 5th place.  Golovin Bay can be very windblown, even down to polished ice. Not so this year; it is a perfect trail, with no drifts all the way to White Mountain, hence the fast runtimes we have seen.