The scene in Unalakleet has changed over the past hour. While Mitch came and went from Unalakleet his closest competitors rested. Dallas stayed for 3 hours and 51 minutes. He left with 12 dogs. He and his Dad are even in the dog power department.

Dallas Seavey Departs for Shaktoolik

Joar Leifseth Ulsom arrived in UNK at 20:38, dropped two dogs, snacked and headed off to Shaktoolik ten minutes after arriving. Joar’s dogs were raring and ready to go. They came in with tails flagging and stood leaning into their harnesses while he took care of business here. They left with as much energy as they arrived with.

Joar Leifseth Ulsom Comes and Goes from UNK

Nicolas Petit vacated his parking spot at 21:11 after five hours of rest. He departed with 15 dogs. Wade Marrs departed right on his tail at 21:13 with 13 dogs after resting five hours.

Things are close but as you consider the stats page, make sure you look at the rest taken in the checkpoints and look at the rest taken outside of the checkpoints. Joar didn’t spend anytime in Unalakleet but he rested a few miles up river. The same for Mitch Seavey. Also, take a look at the number of dogs left in each team. Joar is down to 10 dogs. It doesn’t make any difference that he’s down to ten as long as it’s the right ten.

Jessie Royer is resting up river from the checkpoint and will probably roll right on through. Aliy Zirkle rested midway on her run from Kaltag. I would expect her to take some rest here before pushing on to Shaktoolik. She and Jessie Royer should make the coast before midnight. Jessie Royer is still driving a team of 16 dogs.

Joar’s Dogs Weren’t Interested in Parking in UNK

There are twenty-one teams on the trail between Kaltag and Unalakleet. Most of those teams will take a rest somewhere along the 90 mile trail. The traffic out of Kaltag has been pretty steady, a couple teams out every hour. As the night progresses here in Unalakleet, the checkers will be busy down on the slough. I would expect that teams will be coming and going through the night and all day tomorrow.

In the back of the pack, Cindy Abbott and Roger Lee are in Huslia. Ellen Halverson is out of Galena heading to Huslia. Three mushers have scratched from the race. Ryan Anderson, Mark Selland and Mark May. All three scratched for the best interest of their race team.