8 AM Nulato—Dallas Seavey into Nulato—takes break—not ready to make move by Joe Runyan
—Early morning in the arctic with winter pastel pinks and soft blues on the eastern horizon, the Yukon a singular white palette, framed by thickets of willows and alders.— The sun has not risen, but the turn of light, that transformational period when dogs run the best, is now.
Zirkle is a phantasm moving towards Kaltag. If all goes her way, her reality will become theoretical for her competitors. In mushing circles, the triumph for a leader is to silently slip out of a checkpoint before the contenders can see you. If she can get a rest ahead, she may never be seen until the finish, a powerful psychological advantage.
Dallas Seavey arrives—analyzes state of affairs
Dallas Seavey arrives Nulato and immediately states that he is staying for a break. While he quickly parks and distributes straw, the media badgers Dallas, wondering why he doesn’t pursue another 40 miles to Kaltag.
Dallas in after 40 below on the river
Continuing to move up and down the line of his parked dogs, Dallas delivers a cogent tutorial, arguing that his decision to rest is a good decision. “I have a surplus of energy, a lot of rest. This gives me choices to make moves. If I take my dogs to Kaltag (which result in a Yukon river run of 90 miles) I’ll have a tired dog team, and no options. I am not prepared to do that now.” Later, when I ask if he has a shot at catching her, “I have a game plan. By no means does she have us beat. By tomorrow afternoon, the race may be different.” And then adds, “Aliy is not the only musher. You can’t build a game plan around one musher when you have guys like John Baker still driving a strong dog team.”
Dallas lines out dogs in checkpoint rest area, quickly distributes straw, snacks, and checks booties.
In minutes, with impressive alacrity and efficiency, the team is resting, already having consumed large slices of salmon as snacks, an introduction to a hot meal of kibble and meat.
Dallas provides valuable insights. Noting that the temperature was close to -40F on the river, he comments that the frost and debris frozen on the runners has slowed the team. Further, he wants to inspect all the booties to make sure that fine crystals of snow (the abrasive kind that can sore dogs feet) has not migrated inside the boots. Hydration , given the dry cold air, becomes a priority, and further rationalizes his decision to prepare a thick hot meal with water.
King on approach to Nulato
Jeff, mirroring Dallas’ conservative strategy, is the fastest on the trail—according to my contacts with the patience to study the gps positions at the Insider—and due in at 3rd position. Check the Insider for the exact time.
