Matt Failor and Matt Hall are both having their debut in the Top 10 in Iditarod. Both mushers have spend a lot of time working on the glaciers in South East Alaska for Alaska Icefield Expediton. Keeping dogs in Top shape is what also got me into glacier tours a long time ago. Once fall training rolls around, the dogs who spent all summer running tours on the snow, are already well conditioned. Where this is Matt Failors 8th Iditarod Start ( and he ran one Yukon Quest if I am not mistaken ) this is only Matt Halls second start in the last great race. But he has plenty of Quests under his belt, so over all, both mushers have about the same experiene level. Matt Hall is a Yukon Quest Champion, Matt Failor is the 2019 Kuskokwim 300 Champion, Heck, come to think of it,…. Matt Failor made about the same prize money in 2 days on the Kusko, than Matt Hall made in 9 days on the Quest. But for those mushers it is not about money, it is about spending time with their dogs, and spending time on the trails! 

When talking to Matt Hall, he joked about a repeat from last year. Both Mushers have been leap frogging each other along the coast last year too. In the end Matt Hall came out ahead with not stopping in Elim. He said that is unlikely to happen again this year with Matt Failor now driving a more mature team. Well, time will tell. They are both tough and savy mushers. Matt Failor pulled in at 23.30 with 11 dogs and Matt Hall pulled in at 23.34 with 9 dogs.

Aliy Zirkle and Jessie Holmes are up and about in the checkpoint, They soon will head out the door, to ready their teams. Onwards…

Matt Hall in Unk

Matt Failor arriving in Unk