The lead four bikers made a strong overnight push through a cold headwind to arrive in the coastal village of Unakaleet around 3am. They walked up the wooden steps to Peace on Earth Restaurant and were greeted by Bret Hanson and the familiar scent of hot, freshly baked pizza. The Hanson family, Bret and Davida, have been running the popular restaurant since 1996; serving up familiar comforts to travelers of the trail who have been subsisting on freeze dried meals, candy and granola bars for days. It is now tradition for mushers to receive a small stack of pizzas called in by fans from around the country. Alaska Public Media shared this story in 2025 of friends, family and fans making sure mushers knew they were cared for and cheered on. Our intrepid racers also had hot pizza ready and waiting for them.

Photo of the four lead bikers taken by Bret Hanson at Peace on Earth.

Bret in 2023 with his tracking system for keeping track of orders for mushers and ITI racers. Photo taken by Leah Gruhn.

After four short hours of sleep the bikers in Unakaleet carried onwards to Shaktoolik in order to work across the Norton Sound before the north wind kicks in later this week. To get across the sea ice in the most favorable weather window, the four lead bikers have put in a couple of very long days of 75-80 miles each. The persistent sub-zero Fahrenheit weather and Velcro-like trail have taken a physical and emotional toll on the racers. While leaving Peace on Earth this morning Kendall stated, “It feels like a race now.” The four aren’t racing each other as much as they are racing the ever changing Alaskan weather.

Though it might look like Mayella Krause and Ryan Wanless have been left behind in Unakaleet, they are with Kendall Park and Erick Basset. Maya plans to get a new tracker in Shaktoolik, and Ryan’s tracker was having battery issues. Keeping electronics functioning in deep cold is tough and we appreciate the efforts put in by the racers and race directors to keep their dots moving.

Troy Szczurkowski spent the night at the Tripod Flats safety cabin and should arrive in Unakaleet tonight. He’s currently experiencing 20mph winds whipping across the tundra as he makes his way past the Alukuk Hills. No doubt he’s looking forward to a warm dinner at the end of his arduous day.

Photo of the Tripod Flats cabin by Mayella Krause.

Gavan Hennigan made his way across the Kaltag portage today starting at a bright 8 am. He noted earlier that the cold really burrowed in early in the morning and just as the sun began to rise. He is surely maximizing his time in the sun to give him energy to keep his steady pace. At the time of writing, he is nearly to the Tripod Flats cabin, where he may take a short break and then carry on 15 more miles to Old Woman cabin for a sleep.

Old Woman cabin is so named for Old Woman Mountain which looms over the cabin. It is said that the spirit of a woman who died in an avalanche on the nearby mountain lingers in the area. Visitors to the cabin are encouraged to leave an offering of food to hope for good luck on the rest of their journey. Read more about this historic cabin in this 2011 article from Anchorage Daily News.

A stretch of the Kaltag Portage, taken by Kendall Park.

Today’s update written by Amanda Harvey

Thanks to Wild Winter Women - Kari Gibbons, Amanda Harvey, Faye Norby, Jan Redmond Walker, Jessica Roschlan, Laura Wiesmann Hrubes, Allison Carolan, Leah Gruhn, Lynn K Hall, Madeline Harms, Rashelle Hintz, Rebecca McVay-Brodersen, and Sarah Bergstrom.

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