At just after 11am Alaska time on Sunday morning, Anna and Kristy mushed their way into Koyukuk, race mile 564. They had each dropped a dog in Huslia, leaving Kristy with 13 dogs on the line and Anna 11. They were reported in 37th and 38th place upon arrival. They spent just over 17 hours on the 86 or so mile run from the prior checkpoint. The twins are keeping good company in their current ranks, sharing the 30s with the likes of Jeff King, Hans Gatt, Jodi Bailey, and Martin Buser - all 'mushing names' for those who follow the sport. The top 8 teams are reported out of Kaltag, roughly 70 miles ahead of the twins, and the back of the pack is out of Galena, giving us a lead-lag spread of some 230+ miles. Rookie Ryan Anderson scratched in Galena, leaving 68 teams on the trail.
I don't expect the twins to stay long in Koyukuk, probably just long enough to give the vets a look at the dogs and grab some supplies. They only have a 22 mile run to Nulato, where they plan to take their 8 hour stop required at a checkpoint along the Yukon. As I scan the leaderboard on Iditarod.com, it strikes me that the vast majority of teams have already completed both 24 and 8 hour stops, so I will be curious to watch the race unfold from here and also ask the twins later if this was good or questionable strategy.
After their 8-hour in Nulato, they'll probably make short work of the run to Kaltag and again stay in checkpoint only briefly. If you follow their GPS trackers, expect them to stop a ways out of Kaltag for a rest at Tripod Cabin. If they keep moving it is a sign things are going great and they're pushing on for a camp closer to Unalakleet.
I don't expect the twins to stay long in Koyukuk, probably just long enough to give the vets a look at the dogs and grab some supplies. They only have a 22 mile run to Nulato, where they plan to take their 8 hour stop required at a checkpoint along the Yukon. As I scan the leaderboard on Iditarod.com, it strikes me that the vast majority of teams have already completed both 24 and 8 hour stops, so I will be curious to watch the race unfold from here and also ask the twins later if this was good or questionable strategy.
After their 8-hour in Nulato, they'll probably make short work of the run to Kaltag and again stay in checkpoint only briefly. If you follow their GPS trackers, expect them to stop a ways out of Kaltag for a rest at Tripod Cabin. If they keep moving it is a sign things are going great and they're pushing on for a camp closer to Unalakleet.
