Kristy and Anna are currently enjoying a stop at Rainy Pass at race mile 136. They are reported in 39th and 40th places. After about a 4 1/2 hour run from the previous checkpoint of Finger Lake, I would expect them to stop for at least 4 to 5 hours before pressing on to Rohn. Kristy pulled into Rainy Pass with all 16 dogs, but it looks like Anna dropped a dog in Finger Lake. I should find out more about the dog soon, but in the meantime rest assured that it is most likely a minor ailment that led her to leave a dog at this checkpoint.
And it was probably a smart move on Anna's part to drop a questionable dog at Finger Lake before heading on to Rainy Pass. This is a tough stretch of trail that takes teams up and down a ravine, through a series of wooded benches, and then finally down the dreaded Happy River Steps. This series of steep switchbacks lined by trees is notorious for causing teams trouble. A dog with a sore shoulder or wrist would not have faired well in this stretch, and, if it needed to be put in the sled basket, would make things a lot harder for the rest of the dogs.
The next section of trail will take the twins on to Rohn, but only after they have braved the notorious Dalzell Gorge, a 200-foot hill dropping down to the Tatina River.
And it was probably a smart move on Anna's part to drop a questionable dog at Finger Lake before heading on to Rainy Pass. This is a tough stretch of trail that takes teams up and down a ravine, through a series of wooded benches, and then finally down the dreaded Happy River Steps. This series of steep switchbacks lined by trees is notorious for causing teams trouble. A dog with a sore shoulder or wrist would not have faired well in this stretch, and, if it needed to be put in the sled basket, would make things a lot harder for the rest of the dogs.
The next section of trail will take the twins on to Rohn, but only after they have braved the notorious Dalzell Gorge, a 200-foot hill dropping down to the Tatina River.
