Northern Breed Dogs are well Equipped for the Weather
Mother Nature continues to keep everyone guessing as Iditarod moves through the interior on toward the coast. I’m remembering a couple of days ago somebody at the checkpoint here in McGrath commented that 39 degrees was warm here but it was even warmer in Anvik.
I’m looking at some of the headlines for video posted by the excellent Insider crew last night. Here are a few that will help create a picture for you. 1) After going through rain to Grayling, Paige Drobny laughs it off, 2) Jessie Royer discusses her trip from Anvik to Grayling and how her team handled the warm wet weather, 3) Joar’s arrival into Grayling was mixed snow and rain but he still made great time.
Northern breed dogs are well protected from the elements. Think of it this way, they are wearing a fleece for insulation next to their body; then as an outer layer they have a breathable raincoat for protection from the elements. You can bet the mushers have their rain gear handy!
A quick look at the race stats reveals that 31 of the 51 teams are heading north on the Yukon River toward Kaltag. Thirty teams are spread out between Ophir and Anvik. All teams have departed Ophir. Marcelle Fressineau is the lone team needing to complete the 24-hour layover.
A rookie pack has formed in the later half of the race. Richi Beattie, Ed Hopkins, Jessica Klejka are resting in Shageluk. Niklas Wikstrand, Sebastien Dos Santo Borges, Martin Apyauq Reitan, Ryan Santiago and Blair Braverman are in Iditarod. From Hopkins to Braverman, the rookies hold 34th through 41st position. Alison Lifka in 47th position and Victoria Hardwick in 49th position are out of Ophir and on the way to Iditarod.
At this point in the race, Ophir and Iditarod will soon return to ghost towns, just like they became after the big gold rush. The boomtown of Ophir was named for a nearby Creek that supported placer mining. The name is a reference to the Biblical Ophir thought to be the source of King Solomon’s Gold. Iditarod was once a bustling community of 10,000.
Shageluk has a population of 83. The name is Ingalik Indian name meaning “village of the dog.” When Iditarod passes through, that is most certainly true. Anvik with a population of 79, is the first checkpoint on the Yukon River. The church bell signals the arrival of the first musher. Grayling has a population of 189 and is the last village on the river until the mushers reach Kaltag. Eagle Island is a tent checkpoint.
The first musher to reach Kaltag will receive the Bristol Bay First Fish Award. Stay tuned!
