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Tuesday Sunrise In UNK with Al Eischens' Sled

Sunrise and sunset in Unalakleet provide beautiful unique light for photos.  This morning was rather well-baked, I'd judge zero or a little below and the wind was calculation just a picayune wind chill.  Information technology was a slap-up time to be on the ice at the checkpoint.  Teams who'd come in over night were snuggled in their coats on beds of straw recharging equally sled dogs are so efficient at.  Mushers just arriving where bedding dogs downwardly and feeding. A team was preparing to leave just every bit the sun peaked above the Dragon'due south Back that serves every bit the horizon from the perspective of the teams and mushers.

But arriving at the checkpoint was Noah Pereira and Ryne Olson.  They both went to work making their dogs beds and breakfast.  Vets checked over both teams, made notes and signed off the vet books proverb the dogs all looked good.

Noah institute that insulated coolers don't work as well equally one might promise in cold conditions.  He'd prepared a meal at his last rest thinking he'd be able to feed Instantly upon arriving in UNK and parking.  Well it was pretty cold on the portage trail between where he last camped and Unalakleet.  The food he'd prepared was slightly frozen.  He speedily began heating water and in the mean time passed out snacks which his dogs devoured.  He commented on the departure in the temp on that department of the trail compared to the warmth dorsum in McGrath.

Ryne Olson arrived with a very dainty looking squad.  She bedded and fed and then started working her squad over like an experienced athletic trainer.  She knew every dog'southward needs exactly and went through a massage routine specifically designed for each private dog.  Ryne said she isn't "trained" in canine athlete massage but has gotten many tips from experienced mushers and vets.  One of the vets happened to be standing around and nosotros had a conversation about the employ of massage therapy, who uses information technology and its great advantages.

Al Eischens was preparing to depart for Shaktoolik.  He's a big guy and was wearing two heavy fisherman's sweaters while he prepared the team.  Al began describing the incredible aurora brandish from last night.  He gave a very complete rundown of the colors and how they danced across the sky.  To him, it seemed that the lights burst from a single spot in the mountains.  They rose and split into multiple fingers and circled over the mountains.  Close your optics and try to imagine what Al described.  Ryne and Noah joined in calculation their account of the incredible aurora.  Fifty-fifty the checkers who were out checking teams in were talking about the spectacular lights of last night.

Up in the checkpoint, Becca Moore was dressing to come out and set up for the miles to Shaktoolik.  Becca is a seasoned musher having run both the Iditarod and the Yukon Quest.  She was donning her preferred human foot wear of Neos and felted wool liners.  Every musher has the system that works best for them.

Also in the Checkpoint, Sarah Stokey was simply waking upwardly.  She filled a plate with Middy Johnson sour dough pancakes and crisply fried bacon.  Equally she ate nosotros talked nigh her run.  She's running a young team forth with a couple of older experienced dogs.  Her young dogs are doing very well and learning a great deal virtually the trail.  As Sarah covers the miles and learns the trail she's thinking near next year when she'll be racing this squad.  She'south putting together a program as she sees the trail.  With the goal of "educating" the young dogs and making sure they have fun, she'south taking many eight hour rests which are longer than her runs or the typical run 6, residue six schedule most mushers adhere to.  You lot could compare these young dogs that started the race in Willow to kindergarten students and when they brand Nome they are middle if non loftier school graduates.

Looking up front to Nome, Wade Marrs has a mathematical pattern going in his favor.  He's finished 32nd, 16th, 8th and this twelvemonth 4th.  I'chiliad sure he'd actually like to keep that blueprint.  Reb Hanson, the cook at the Unalakleet bunk house pointed that out to me.