now you see it in action, norwegian torch made from giant spruce burl warms spectators at checkpoint takotna

Burmeister makes dramatic entry to Takotna at 848 PM and sets the bar for the competition.  Aaron asks the checker “Where can i park,” to which she replies, “you are first in and can park anywhere you want.”    After a lengthy conversation with her and some volunteer handlers, it is decided to lead the team, with lots of help around to the back side of the community center/checkpoint where the dogs are away from human and snowmachine traffic (no vehicle traffic in the winter as it becomes impractical).  Protected and out of the wind, Aaron is satisfied that this the place to rest for his declared mandatory 24 hour rest.

Quickly he lays down straw, occassionally stomping a big bowl in the snow for a good bed, and then goes back up the line of dogs to offer a small handful of commercial kibble.   The dogs eat the kibble like popcorn at a movie, which, according to Aaron, stimulates their appetite.  Now, Aaron is ready to offer a cooler of snacks consisting of very fatty turkey skins and a special meat and fat mix which is said to be about 4,000 cal per pound.   The cooler has 12 pounds of special mix, so we can generally say that the 15 dogs will consume 3,000 calories in the first feeding episode.

Aaron’s team first into Takotna after run from Nikolai to McGrath to Takotna, and note little black leader which was put ahead for run mc grath to takotna

A crew of four veterinarians assembled at the dogs.  “Are you ready for us to work?”   Aaron replied, “Yes, please start going through them and if we can, make it very thorough.” 

Relaxed to be located for his 24 hour rest, Aaron is willing to think out loud while working.   He reports that groups of snowmachiners could potentially skew the trai.  For example, one group went by him as he led in the Dalzel.  the paddle track machines dragging big sleds broke the solid crust.  Aarons dogs were running at about 8,6 miles an hour.  “Immediately after the machines went by, my traveling speed went to7.1, and it happened immediately.”   Again, the next day he was leading the pack from Rohn to Nikolai.  The same machines went by again, “I was really irritated.  The trail was firm, but they broke the crust and I went right back to 7 miles an hour.” 

In total, Aaron could have lost an hour just because the quality of the trail was altered by snow machines.   The Iditarod machines are set up to disturb the trail less, and in addition they drag wide sleds which effectively groom the trail.  Also, the Iditarod guys on snowmachines will often travel slow tocompact the trail.  Tonight, for example, our guys are going out well ahead of the pack so that the trail hardens up in the cool night air.

Finally, check out the little black leader in photo.  Aaron changed out the leaders on the last little jump to Takotna.  As she is inclined to speed the team up, this was a good way for Aaron to analyze the entire team at a slightly faster speed.  Basically, he was testing the team to see how they felt.  “They had plenty of bottom.  If I wanter to, I could go to Iditarod, no problem.”

Thinking about it on the trail and crunching the numbers, Aaron figures Martin Buser will have about 4.5 hours on him at Takotna, but he thinks the math will work out in his favor after he launches after 24 hrs rest from Takotna with a fresh dog team.

Aaron arrives with team to Takotna

super place to park for 24 hour mandatory—Aaron’s choice of the lot

While Aaron is getting settled, 45 minutes later a commotion by the checkers energizes fans.  Aliy Zirkel and Lance Mackey create a traffic jam.  The checker sorts it out and yells to some kids from Takotna who helping park dogs, “She is going to stay and Lance is going to go.”   I see this flash go by that is aliy’s team led to a parking spot for a 24 and Lance pulls the hook and moves the team just even with the community center. 

Knowing that Aliy is staying and already parking,   I go to Lance who is already stripping boots from the dogs (should mention that almost every dog and every foot is booted for every run) and spreading straw.  He is in motion as he goes up the line offering slabs of salmon snacks.  Burmeister is feeding very hi calorie feed, while Lance is feeding a relatively low calorie dense food.  Maybe he is just trying to get a little moisture in them and excite their appetite?

Everyone notes his cooker, which is instantly in action heating water bottles for Lance.  Remember, he always has to have a water bottle to sip.  If he cannot sip water it is as if he cant swallow.  This puts him in a big predicament and he has to drop everything to get a drink.  Asked once about eating snow, he replied, “the snow is like dust, with a dry mouth I could inhale powder snow into my lungs.”  He has to be careful.

 With cooler in hand, he goes twenty feet to the drum of hot water for dog”s soup. 

Aliys team with handler, and Lance in background at the check in.

Lance is quick motion to lay out straw. He intends to stay four or five hours, then move in direction Iditarod checkpoint, a distance of about 100 miles

Lance’s cooker doubles as a seat, but also insures he will easily available water bottles for himself, and thawed meat for the dogs. It can operate on the run

another view of lance’s cooker and seat mounted securely to the sled runners

Surprised to learn that he has been driving the fastest team on the trail, lance said he was shocked, assuming the steady 9 miles an hour of his team was average.  He emphasized again that speed could be temporary and he was handling the team with caution, making sure not to lose some of the magic.

Mitch Seavey arrived ten minutes after lance, and quietly parked in the area normally reserved for long term parking.  He is probably taking his 24 in Takotna.

The New Dynamic

Burmeister stays in Takotna.  His dogs are inhaling calories and seem unfazed by the pace of the race.   Mackey is parked in front of the community hall resting his dogs and intending to continue for at least a hundred miles to iditarod.  He has indicated his sights are set on Anvik on the Yukon, which would be 185 miles distant.

AT the same time, Martin Buser is resting short of Nikolai after a monstrous 20 hour run to Rohn, a strategy intended to gain him a six or eight hour lead (if his team still has good traveling speed.)

BUT FLASH, JAKE BERKOWITZ JUST CHECKED INTO TAKOTNA AND EXITED IN DIRECTION OPHIR at 10:42 PM.   Jake is now our new race leader vaulting past Lance to the front.   A word on Jake.  He is a top ten finisher, young, experienced, tough, and battle ready.  He ran the 1000 mile Yukon Quest three weeks ago and like his dogs, hardened to the trail.   Jake has been posting very good traveling times and is a clear threat to the established order.  He isn’t showing anyone his cards about his final destination for a 24 hour mandatory.  One thing is clear, Jake is motivated.

Using the great tools available at the Insider, check out the flow of mushers streaming in and out of Takotna.