Jeff King 2nd Team into Shaktoolik

Posted by Sebastian Schnuelle
Date: March 9, 2014 4:54 am

We can see a few more lights in the distance. That is not always the case here especially if it is blowing like this outside. SImply there is not much snow left to blow around. In a way that is a very good thing, as otherwise that would make conditions harder than they already are. Jeff King and Martin Buser pretty much left Unalakleet together and Jeff is moving quite a bit faster. Martin predicted that in UNK. He was not that confident that he could hang on to his 2nd place, after his lead had already been taken by Aliy Zirkle. Number- wise, most teams in the front of the pack are pretty equal with driving between 10 dogs for Dallas Seavey and 13 dogs for Sonny Lindner. Although 10 dogs for Seavey means 11 dogs as count the tireless working Dallas as at least another dog…..

Seeing the teams on the trail gives me glimpse of what is going on, how well they look when they are moving, that is IF they are moving. And Jeff was sound asleep when I saw him near Tripod Flat Cabin. 8 mushers are currently en route to Shaktoolik. Martin Buser’s team looked real nice to me when I passed him, so at the time in UNK, when he stated his concerns of hanging on to 2nd place, I thought they were unfounded. Well, Jeff King pulling away on Martin as he is currently doing, shows that Martin knew something I did not see. Then again, Jeff King has been posting some of the most incredible runtimes all along. Aliy Zirkle sure has her work cut out with having Jeff’s team right behind her.

And you Aliy Zirkle fans. No she did not go way off course. Not sure what is going on with her tracker, if it currently is blowing down the trail, but I can assure you Aliy is right behind the building here taking care of her beautiful team.

Here is Jeff King coming in, he made 14 minutes on this run over Aliy Zirkle. Jeff 12 dogs. Aliy 11 dogs. Tight, very tight!