The Trail into Koyuk is going a bit more overland this year during the last few miles. Mushers climb somewhat over a little spit, some high point in the bay, thus giving us some early arrival signs. It is unusually nice and calm out in Koyuk and the temperatures have for the first time in this race dropped below 0 F. It is minus 11 F out and I am sure mushers and dogs are very happy about that.
Often times, at this point in the race, it is a big push for positions. Mushers tend to skip Shaktoolik. Not so this year, despite the good conditions all of the first 7 teams have taken a break in the coastal town. The shortest of about 2 hrs 45 minutes both by Ray Redington and Joar Leifseth Ulsom. A sure sign, that those 2 mushers have by no means given up. They are in the hunt. Notably Jeff King had to drop 2 dogs and also is running 11 dogs now. The whole front pack, with the exception of Jake Berkowitz who is still running 15 dogs, is traveling with the same team sizes between 10 and 11 dogs. That is a very comfortable number at this point in the race. More dogs mean more maintenance and depending on the shape of the dogs, also more worry. Although Jake posting a faster run time to Shaktoolik than the 6 mushers he is traveling with. he rested relatively long, only Mitch Seavey rested a few more minutes.
The chance for „ big moves „ are getting less and less. Last year Ramey Smyth did a monster run on the coast, with skipping Shak and Elim, and only resting 2.5 hrs in Koyuk. Time will tell if any of the challengers, which I now call the teams from place 8 on, will try to repeat a similar strategy. So far all Dallas, Dee Dee and Sonny appear to be stopped in Shak. And that despite the fact that they still saw Joar, Aily and Jake in Shak, right before the left. Often, and I have caught myself with that in the past, seeing a team you were not expecting in a checkpoint, can change a mushers strategy and have them tempted to make a bold move. But as it looks Dee Dee, Dallas and Sonny resisted that temptation. Dallas with his 9 dog team has so far posted the fastest time to Shaktoolik with 5hr 41 Minutes. Or should I say 10 dog team….. as I am sure he is poling, peddling or running along most of the way. Dallas is FIT.
Internet, is slow here in Koyuk and once people will start piling in, access might be questionable, so please have patience if the updates are slow. Right now is the calm before a big influx of Mushers. The village kids are still sleeping and in general the checkpoint is quite. That will soon change, and it should be a steady stream of teams all day.
It appears to be a very tight race for the front, where in my opinion all first 7 teams still have a shot at a big win! Jeff King is on the move right now, already having passed Aaron Burmeister and he appears to be gaining on Mitch Seavey also. It once again shows, how much patience is required in this game, as Jeff was 12 hrs off pace in the halfway town of Iditarod. Ever since he has been steadily gaining, now sitting in 2nd place.
This is run to Koyuk can be demoralizing, yet it is one of the most beautiful. Being on the sea ice, with a 360 degree view, during a star filled night, is sure going to be a very nice run. But with the trail being such a straight shot this year, and visibility great, ” those lights ” from Koyuk seem not to get any closer for the mushers.
You need some imagination… the two dots between the electrical wires are 2 head lights
