Seeing Double pulled into Rohn Sunday evening in 22nd and 23rd place. Both Kristy and Anna had 10 dogs each in front of her sled and they made good work of the preceding 75 mile stretch from Nikolai, camping once along the way. I expect they'll rest in Rohn, and if they keep their rest time there to a 4-hour handle, I'll take that as a good sign that they're not just traveling, but racing.
The front of the pack is certainly racing, and this year's champion will almost certainly come from one of the first few teams into the final 8hr rest checkpoint of Swkentna - 67 miles from the finish. Or the start?! This must be a most unusual race for Iditarod veterans. Dallas Seavey and Aaron Burmeister look to be the ones that will battle it out at the wire. Unless something goes a little sideways, as the next closest musher, Brent Sass, has a 2 hour gap to close.
It could be a photo finish, and Iditarod.com says to look for a 4am Alaska time answer to this days-long question. Someone could literally win by a nose, as it is the musher who's lead dog's nose crosses the line first claims the ultimate mushing prize. Assuming the musher can produce all the race required gear to officials at the end.
That, of course, will by no means be the end of the 2021 Iditarod. The twins will be covering a lot of treacherous trail after the leave Rohn, and I will be watching their GPS trackers closely to see how they're moving along. The glacier out of Rohn and clambering back up the Gorge until they hit Rainy Pass, the highest point in the race as it crosses the Alaska Range. And then back down the other side, which includes a return trip through the Happy River Steps.
If their run up the mountain goes well, they may only make a quick stop in Rainy Pass before running on to camp in Finger Lake. Finger to Skwentna will be a manageable 40 mile jaunt, where they will also take their final 8hr mandatory rest.
Stay tuned for more updates! I also highly recommend the Iditarod Insider videos of the twins first mushing into McGrath and then a longer detailed interview before they caught naps during their 8hr.
A few screenshots to give you a taste.
The front of the pack is certainly racing, and this year's champion will almost certainly come from one of the first few teams into the final 8hr rest checkpoint of Swkentna - 67 miles from the finish. Or the start?! This must be a most unusual race for Iditarod veterans. Dallas Seavey and Aaron Burmeister look to be the ones that will battle it out at the wire. Unless something goes a little sideways, as the next closest musher, Brent Sass, has a 2 hour gap to close.
It could be a photo finish, and Iditarod.com says to look for a 4am Alaska time answer to this days-long question. Someone could literally win by a nose, as it is the musher who's lead dog's nose crosses the line first claims the ultimate mushing prize. Assuming the musher can produce all the race required gear to officials at the end.
That, of course, will by no means be the end of the 2021 Iditarod. The twins will be covering a lot of treacherous trail after the leave Rohn, and I will be watching their GPS trackers closely to see how they're moving along. The glacier out of Rohn and clambering back up the Gorge until they hit Rainy Pass, the highest point in the race as it crosses the Alaska Range. And then back down the other side, which includes a return trip through the Happy River Steps.
If their run up the mountain goes well, they may only make a quick stop in Rainy Pass before running on to camp in Finger Lake. Finger to Skwentna will be a manageable 40 mile jaunt, where they will also take their final 8hr mandatory rest.
Stay tuned for more updates! I also highly recommend the Iditarod Insider videos of the twins first mushing into McGrath and then a longer detailed interview before they caught naps during their 8hr.
A few screenshots to give you a taste.