There’s plenty of action to summarize from today but first things first!  On behalf of the entire Iditarod Nation I want to send well wishes to Aliy Zirkle.  Aliy, you are the Queen of our Hearts!  We wish you a complete recovery from your unfortunate injuries sustained near Rohn.  For the part of the healing process that just takes time, we wish you patience and perseverance.  Honestly, you already announced your retirement.  Weren’t the race Gods listening?  Enjoy retirement and be well.

Aliy Zirkle Arrives at Unalakleet in 2014

Now if I could just share this one little Aliy story from Unalakleet from a few years back.  Aliy was first into the checkpoint and received the Gold Coast Award.  She was cooking for her dogs and taking booties off.  A ton of fans were on the slough watching her every move.  A little girl, who obviously adored Aliy, stepped forward and Aliy paused her dog chores to talk to the girl.  The young fan had only one question for her hero, “Do you like Starbursts?”  Aliy’s eyes lit up with a definite yes.  The girl opened her mittened hand that contained a wrapped Starburst and said, “This is for you.”  With her hands full of well-used dog booties, Aliy asked the little girl to unwrap the treasure and put it in her mouth.  Ever so gently that’s exactly what the young fan did.  Aliy gave her a hug and went back to tending to her dogs. Aliy loves her fans as much as they love her!

Back to the Interior and the race.  As of late Tuesday Rick Casillo remains in Rohn.  There are twenty teams between Rohn and Nikolai with Anna and Kristy Berington in the lead.  Thirteen teams including Redington, Burmeister, Petit, Aaron Peck and Wade Mares are on the ground in Nikolai.  Brent Sass leads 8 other teams in the march to McGrath.  Dallas Seavey is in McGrath.

Spirit of Iditarod Award Presented by Alaska Air Transit

Dallas Seavey received the Alaska Air Transit Spirit of Iditarod Award.  Alaska Air Transit presents this award to the first musher to reach the checkpoint of McGrath.  Seavey was presented with a pair of beaver fur and moose hide musher mitts handmade by McGrath resident Loretta Maillelle.  Seavey also received a beaver fur and beaded velvet musher hat handmade by Lucy Egrass of McGrath.  Alaska Air Transit has been an Iditarod sponsor for three years.

For Insider subscribers, take a ride with Jessie Royer down the Dalzell gorge.  Earlier today, Insider posted two video clips of Royer and team descending into the interior of Alaska via the famed Dalzell Gorge.  Jessie’s point of view becomes your POV when watching these clips.  As you watch and note the trail remember the teams will be climbing up and out of the gorge in only a few days!

Insider talked with Mille Porsild of Denmark in Nikolai.  Mille praised her entire team and gave extra praise to Phoenix, a leader who really stepped up on guiding her team down the gorge.  Mille commented on the burn.  Last year in her rookie run there was a ton of snow but this year there was lots of bare ground and large rocks.  The trip out to Nikolai was uphill and challenging.  The trip back will be downhill and even more challenging.  Mmnnn, wonder what type of runner plastic Mille will use going back through the burn?  The insider guys who snow machined through the burn to reach Nikolai offered much the same assessment of the trail with emphasis on little snow and bare ground.

Dakota Schlosser With Dogs at Jr. iditarod Vet Check in 2016

Liz Raines talked with Dakota Schlosser in Rainy Pass.  Dakota says his dogs are happy and running well and things are going along as planned.  Schlosser said he had two plans drawn up and he’s still operating on the first one.  His team is made up of 7 year old and 3 year old dogs.  The three year olds are part of his candy bar litter – Butterfingers, Snickers, York, Hershey, 100 Grand and Joy.  Like himself, none of his dogs have competed in Iditarod before.  His goal is to finish the race and gain experience for himself and his dogs.  Schlosser is a Jr. Iditarod veteran.

Schlosser Chose the Theme of Candy Bars for Pups Born in 2018

The teams are approaching day three of the race and have covered almost one-third of the trail.  Normally, teams would be going through McGrath to rest in Takotna or staying in McGrath for the long 24-hour rest.  Takotna is out of the equation this year so if teams plan to rest beyond McGrath, it will either be at Ophir or Iditarod.  There is a large warehouse/hanger available in McGrath for musher use.  In traditional races a few teams would opt to go to the halfway point of the trail at Iditarod for the 24-hour break.  As the next day plays out, we’ll see teams declare their 24-hour break.  Will it be McGrath, Ophir or Iditarod?

Come back tomorrow for more Poyzer photos, more exciting Insider video and Insider interviews and check the GPS tracker to see how fast your favorite musher is moving or where s/he is resting.  It’s an exciting race with as many different strategies as there are mushers.