Drop Bags Await Mushers at Puntilla Lake, Rainy Pass Checkpoint (2006)

Nicolas Petit led all mushers down through the Dalzell Gorge and on to Rohn.  After taking a good rest at Finger Lake, Nic found his way down the Happy River Steps and on to Rainy Pass.  Nic told the Rainy Pass checker that he was going through and on to Rohn.  The run between Rainy and Rohn took Nic 3 hours and 57 minutes.  Dallas Seavey rested between Finger and Rainy Pass.  He too went on through Rainy to Rohn

Ryan Redington and Richie Diehl went on through Rainy Pass as well but they took straw and supplies with them.  GPS Tracker showed them camped near the top of the pass.  I can only imagine the scenery they were surrounded by!  Petit and Seavey passed by the campers.

Insider caught up with Aliy Zirkle who was just packing up from camping along the trail.  Zirkle prefers to pass through checkpoints and camp in quiet spots along the trail.  She feels it’s better for her dogs and better for her.  She folded and stashed a ground cloth then followed suit with her sleeping pad.  Aliy commented that as she travels she’s taking time to assess how the trail will lay out for the return run to Deshka.

DeeDee Jonrowe Resting at Finger Lake During the Heat of the Day (2006)

Sled dog wisdom says it’s best to run in the cold and rest during the heat of the day.  That’s exactly what was happening on Puntilla Lake and up in Rainy Pass.  Resting in the warm sun gives both mushers and dogs a change to stretch out and use the heat to relax.  Dogs and musher far prefer to be active in colder temperatures. 

Most of the mushers are sleeping on the straw with their dogs.  There are tents available for the mushers to use but with the warmth of the day, they find greater comfort in soaking up the sun with the athletes.

Finger Lake Checkpoint (2006)

Throughout Monday, the hot spots of activity were Finger Lake and Rainy Pass.  Currently all teams have departed Finger Lake except for Hal Hanson and his Mitch Seavey puppy team.  Six teams are between Finger and Rainy and thirteen teams are resting in Rainy.  As Tuesday progresses the whole field will be in the Interior leaving Rainy Pass and Finger Lake empty like post gold rush ghost towns.  Everyone will have passed down the Happy River Steps and the Dalzell Gorge and can be thinking about the return run.

Insider also caught up with some of the rookie mushers on the trail.  Each wore an ear-to-ear grin and said something like, “The Trail has been a BLAST!”  Chris Parker said he’s been considering doing Iditarod for 6 or 7 years and aside from the crowds near Deshka he feels like he’s just running dogs.  Chad Stoddard said Iditarod has been a dream since he first discovered dog mushing.  Joanna Jagow said her team is doing great, the trail is really beautiful and it’s super exciting to be out here.   Brenda Mackey said it’s really nice being on the trail, it’s well marked and I’m enjoying it.

Cindy Gallea scratched earlier today at Skwentna.  Gallea became ill (non-COVID-19-related) and scratched in the best interest of her dog team.  At 69, Cindy was the oldest musher in the field.  In 16 Iditarod attempts, Gallea has finished 12 races.  She has announced her retirement more that once but changes her mind and returns because she loves running her dogs across the great state of Alaska and can’t get enough of the spectacular scnery.  Being from Minnesota, Cindy was planning to drive to Alaska prior to the race but was held back due to COVID border restrictions.  She quickly changed gears and flew herself, her dogs and all her equipment to Alaska.  The 2021 race has been quite a challenge for Cindy.

Prior to the race start on Sunday Chugiak musher Sean Williams scratched due to non-COVID-19-related family health concerns.  Sean was a rookie running Martin Buser’s B-team.