Hi Boys and Girls,

Hope you are enjoying the race.  It looks the the mushers are starting to take their 24 hour mandatory rest.  We won’t see too much action during this time.

TIME: 12:32 Alaska time

Yesterday’s answer: It’s known as Military time, 24 hour time and a few other names.  It’s used when it’s very important to know if something happened in the AM or PM.  From 1:00 AM to 12:59PM the time reads the same.  Starting with 1PM the time is called 1300 hours.  So the time of 15:17 is really 3:17 PM.  So… What time do you think  17:46 is?

LEADERS: #1 Robert Nelson in Ophir, #2 Trent Herbst in Ophir, #3 Cim Smith in Ophir, #4 Kelly Griffin in Ophir, and #5 Martin Buser in Takotna.  It appears the mushers may be taking their 24 hour mandatory rest.

WHERE ARE THE MUSHERS: The leaders are in Ophir and the back of the pack is in traveling between Rohn and Nikolai with the current red lantern James Bardoner traveling between Rainy Pass and Rohn.

WEATHER: Ophir and Takotna are reporting 23 degrees and clear, Nikolai is reporting 21 degrees and clear, and McGrath is reporting is reporting 23 degrees and clear.

SCRATCHED: Paul Gebhart in Nikolai based on the best interest of his team

Jessica Hendricks scratched in Nikolai based on the best interest of her team

Bob Storey- scratched in Rainy Pass due to his team’s ability to continue up the trail.

Gerry Willomitzer  scratched in MaGrath and made his decision after assessing his team overnight.

FAN QUESTION: A 3^rd grade class in Maine wrote “We are still confused about the different starting times between the mushers and how that time difference is made up throughout the race? You mentioned the mandatory 24 hr. layover, but if everyone has to take it, how is the time adjusted/fair? Thanks, love reading your blog in Maine! “

The answer may be a little confusing.  There were 62 mushers who started the race.  They all left the start line 2 minutes apart.  Only musher #62 has exactly a 24 hour layover.  Musher #61 will have a 24 hour and 2 minute layover.  2 minutes is added to each musher all the way to the first one who left.  This is called the start differential.

Hope you are enjoying the race.  I have really enjoyed reading all your comments and questions.  Check back tomorrow for another update.

Until tomorrow,

Gypsy