UPDATE March 12, 2013 Early Edition

Hi Boys and Girls

It’s been a busy night on the trail.  Mitch Seavey is back in lead With the next 3 teams less than 2 ½ hours behind him.  They should be taking their 8 hour mandatory rest in a few hours.  Then there will only be 77 miles left.  What do you think will happen? Who do you think will win?  It’s really a close race.  If you are watching all the teams, they are all moving nicely down the trail.  Trail conditions haven’t always been the best.  The warm weather made the trail punchy and caused some overflow.  That isn’t the easiest trail to run through.  But they have all done well.

Todays picture from Jeff Schultz is of Aily Zirkle arriving in Elim.

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Now for todays update:

DATE:   March 12, 2013  Early Edition

TIME: 1:47 Alaska Time   

LEADERS: 1. Mitch Seavey  2. Aily Zirkle  3. Jeff King 4. Ray Redington  5. Aaron Burmeister. 

WHERE ARE THE MUSHERS: Mitch, Aily, Jeff, and Ray are all out of Elim. The next 6 teams are in Elim. 9 teams have left Koyuk, 4 teams are in Koyuk, 4 teams have left Shatoolik, 1 team is in Shatoolik, 9 teams have left Unalakleet, 3 teams are in Unalakleet, 9 teams have left Kaltag, 3 teams are in Kaltag, 3 teams have left Eagle Island, 5 teams have left Grayling,

RED LANTERN POSITION: Cindy Abbott  who has left Grayling.

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR POSITION: Joar Leifseth Ulsom who is currently in 6th place and is on his way to Elim.

WEATHER:   The weather in Grayling and Eagle Island is 14 degrees and fair. The weather in Kaltag is -8 and fair. The weather in Unalakleet is 1 degree and fair. The weather in Shaktoolik is -2 degrees and fair. The weather in Koyuk is 3 degrees and fair. The weather in Elim is -6 degrees and fair.  Looking ahead the weather in White Mountain is 1 degree and fair.

SCRATCHED: No one

WITHDRAWN:

AWARDS:

Answer to today’s Question:

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Why is there an 8 hour mandatory rest so close to the finish?

Stay tuned during the day.  We’ll be seeing the teams taking their 8 hour rest in White Mountain later today.  Hope you are enjoying the race.  Remember the back of the pack!

Until later,

Gypsy