TRAIL UPDATE

There was a pretty good crowd resting at Yentna Station last night.

For those not knowing, it is a small place with rooms upstairs and a few cabins outside, so no doubt it was cosy!

Many racers have departed from Yentna Station this morning.

UPDATE FROM SHELL LAKE:

Clear weather, -15 F and now wind at Shell Lake this morning. 

Our volunteers Chalyne and Rhende from Minnesota are doing an amazing job there at Shell Lake Lodge, so a big shout out to them.

This is their first time to Alaska and they are thrown in the deep end, running the kitchen, taking care of racers as well as snowmobilers that came through before the race started. 

UPDATE FROM WINTERLAKE LODGE:

Race leaders Tyson Flaharty and Kurt Refsnider departed Winterlake Lodge this morning after 6 hours of rest. They pushed really hard. In past years, race leaders have not rested there this long. That’s a good indication of how much tougher this year is.

The trails between Shell lake and Fingerlake (Winterlake Lodge) are completely blown in and athletes have to contend with knee deep snow from Shell to Fingerlake.

The best surprise of this race edition is Kate Coward, a rookie this year.

Kate is in the top 5 and the first woman to arrive at Winterlake Lodge along with 6-time champ Peter Basinger and Aaron Thrasher. Well done Kate, we are in awe of your tenacity, drive and endurance.

There are 18 scratches so far.

YOU ARE YOUR ONLY OPTION. But team work makes the dream work.