Unalakleet is a busy place right now. People are exited to have the Iditarod in town. In Kaltag, we didn’t have internet in the checkpoint and always had to run to a building a few blocks down the road to get a connection. Unalakleet is a bit easier…. we even have a big screen TV right inside the checkpoint.  That helps.

Race Judge Donna Russell Swope in the UNk Checkpoint

Notes to mushers on the pool table

Pete Kaiser was the 2nd team to arrive in Unalakleet to a big crowd cheering him in. He dropped 1 dog and continued with 10 dogs. Next up was Joar Leifseth Ulsom. He also only spent minutes here, quickly grabbing some supplies out of his food drop bags. Jessie Royer followed with her 13 dog team and pulled up right behind Joar. Asked by the veterinarians how her dogs were doing, she was very content with her team. She grabbed some fish from her drop bags and continued down the trail. Fish has the highest water content of all of the food. Fish give perfect hydration in these above freezing temperatures. Next up as far as travel are the blueberry hills. Nicolas Petit has a 15 mile lead over his chase pack of 3. 

Here some unedited shots: