Mitch is in Shaktoolik. We came through there a few hours ago. It was a windy. Specially the last 15 miles along the spit. A strong north wind blew, nothing severe by Shaktoolik standards but nevertheless a challenge for the mushers.

Looking at the rest times, Jeff King is doing another surge to stay closer with the front runners, resting 1.5 hrs shorter than Mitch and Aaron. He is eating up their lead big time, a total of 3.5hrs along from Kaltag, with also running 2 hrs faster. Jake has dropped a few places and Joar Leifseth Ulsom sure took advantage of that, now sitting in an amazing 5^th place. He also rested less than 4 hrs and thus is aggressively staying in the front. In general I always say, a dogteam should be ready to go after 4 .5 hrs of rest, or about 2.5 hrs after they are fed. Whatever 4.5 hrs can not fix, usually longer rests can not fix neither. But going below 4 hrs, sure is a short stop. But, looking at Joar’s team arrive, they looked very animated, matter of fact speeding into the checkpoint.

It is noticeable, that the 2 front runners, who did the big push into Unk in one long run, both paid for it with their dog numbers, as Mitch dropped one dog and Aaron dropped 2 dogs. The ones who stayed at Old Woman and banked some rest, also left with the dogs they had arrived with. The rumor mill has it, that Jake boasted in Kaltag, how much his dogs ate, like 30 lbs of Kibble and 20 lbs of meat. That is 2 lbs of kibble a dog and more than 1 lb of meat per dogs. THAT is a lot and the diarrhea he was experiencing on the run, might have something to do with it. Still he left with 15 dogs and has lots of horse power available, if they get healthy. Sonny did a nice jump into 8^th place and is on the move to Shaktoolik also.  Mitches runtime of 6 hrs and 7 minutes is very respectable, considering how windblown the trail was.  From Shakoolik to Koyuk it is as straight of a shot as I have seen it. Very good and flat trail also. Not pressure ridges this year and depending on how long Mitch rests, we expect him here about 6 a.m. at the earliest.

windy in Blue Berry Hills

looking over the sea ice, or better said water, no ice to be seen westward. But no worries the trail does not go there

one of the trail breakers catching up, after fixing his machine in UNK

On the Coast

Shelter Cabin before crossing Norton Sound

Peaceful evening on the other side in Koyuk

The trail goes a bit different this year, more overland, but it is as good as I have seen it in years. No jumble ice

Getting Koyuk ready in a hurry. Lots of helping hands

Koyuk comms, typing on the Oil monitor

Curious kids arriving

Karen Ramstead, who is a judge, commented on how much work it is to set up a checkpoint, and that it might be just easier to run the race again next year

The Dodge Lodge. Caused some frustrations to set up.