In distance, I know there are windmills. Photo evidence isnt that great, but they are there on the horizon

2PM  Jeff King and Jake Berkowitz, followed by Aliy, Ray Redington, and  Joar the Barbarian from Norway, arrive fashionably late to the Seavey/ Burmeister party

Jeff King, driving a very impressive and animated team, followed shortly by Jake Berkawitz’s strong team, parked parallel to our titular leaders Burmeister and Seavey.   King’s team, was noticeably animated, leading many to believe that he could take the lead from Aaron Burmeister and Mitch Seavey on the next move up the coast.  Likewise, Berkawitz appeared strong enough to tail King, as he did into UNK>

I saw Mitch Seavey in the checkpoint  and he said he was so tired he had to sleep for an hour and a half to concentrate on the checkpoint times available for mushers.  (Certain rules limit communication.  For example, mushers can have a gps, but are not allowed to use cell phones on the trail, which could easily be done on the flat profile of the coast trail.)  The last two runs were so tough, he said, that he was watching his team strength very carefully.

Aliy led the train of Aliy, Ray Redington, and Joar into UNK.  Her team has actually gone backwards in the standings, but her supporters point to more rest points which should help her team speed.  Ray Redington looked strong coming in, and his appearance to the front was expected.  WE kept asking, “When’s Ray going to start moving up?” and now he has.

Joar, the barbarian from Norway that’s come her to raid and pillage our poor musher’s  prize money, was solidly in the top five contenders.  I talked to a friend of his who confided that he actually wasn’t a barbarian despite his tall profile and long stride and was still being cautious with the team.   Whatever he is doing, it’s the right thing because his team looked strong enough to vault up in the standings.  Joar,  like Dallas Seavey, hasn’t met a hill he doesn’t like and I suspect if the wind starts blowing trail shut, he will do better still against present competition.

Ray Redington continues to impress. He has been working with a phd physiologist and it appears that he has a clear plan that includes a boxed in set of parameters for his team performance. The looked strong, subjectively stronger than Seavey and Burmeister.  It seems to be working because he has a shot at the lead and a day ago he was down in the standings.

Final thoughts

At the moment,  just an opinion, but supported by others, looks like King could take control of the race with Redington and Joar catching a tail wind.    Aliy is still strong but obviously skewing her schedule to regroup her team momentum.  I saw Mitch in the checkpoint after an hour and a half map and he told me he was to see how the team was doing after a 5 hour rest.  That puts him out about 3:30PM.

Check out the photo from my expensive camera.  Maybe you can see it—squint a little—-and visualize the windmills on the horizon.  “ARE these windmills actually worth it, or are they just subsidized?” to which a local responded, “No, I think they are success.  It saves about 80,000 gallons of diesel for our town generator.”

Jeff King and team loped into Unk. His dogs ate well, were animated, and many think he could be in the lead over time

jake berkawitz wrapping wrists during the checkpoint stop. This is effective, like baskeball players that wrap their knees, for healing sore wrists on the run.

Aliy was so busy I couldnt get a portrait photo quality, but it shows her at work near the team

Ray REdington with team. Ray is driving a strong team and many believe he could continue a climb to the lead pack.