Day 25: The Milestones Diminish
For nearly a month now we’ve been watching our racers cross milestones that feel like a box checked but in reality, this journey of theirs has been relentless. Leading up to the arrival at one river, cabin, or landmark can feel almost desperate, but once reached, is quickly left behind. This is where people start saying things like “Run the mile you’re in” and “Live in the moment” but when conditions are extremely cold, and the trail feels like velcro, being aware of one's situation is impossible to ignore, and the next landmark is an obsession.
Milestones like traversing the Alaskan Interior, crossing the Kaltag Portage, to now, and the crossing of Norton Bay. This crossing can feel like strategy but can also come down to raw luck. In 2020, the Unalakleet 8 were born, as the sea ice broke up early and there was no way to continue. At a mere 234 miles to the finish, their race was over, Alaska decided. Their story is here: https://itialaska.com/updates/2020/3/29/the-unalakleet-eight
It wasn’t that long ago, 2024 actually, that athletes were coming into Koyuk through inches of sea water flooding in over the ice, spring eager to start. When it comes to making this potentially harrowing crossing of the sea ice, timing is everything and the wind can tell you what to expect. A headwind is often brutal but can be a comfort as it often will signify the ice is going to stay solid. If it is blowing from the south however, water may follow. There is one option for shelter on this otherwise completely exposed 42 mile stretch, a humble in every sense of the word, safety cabin called Little Mountain. After a short 12 miles from Shaktoolik, it can barely be seen jutting out of the landscape on a small peninsula, slowly the racers will get closer but the cabin always seems to stay small, its only choice against the backdrop of the sea ice. Often devoid of wood and any real comfort, Little Mountain can still be a godsend when the conditions are truly challenging.
We have watched the Iditarod Dog Sled racers bypass this safety cabin, which can be an indicator of either good conditions on the trail or bad conditions in the cabin. It was no surprise then when Mayella, Kendall, Ryan (his tracker is out but he is most likely with them), and Erick made the same move. They had spent the night at the school in Shaktoolik to hit the trail at 6:30 am AK time, after a brief “tour of the town” – that's the nice way to say, trying to find the trail – they were on their way and were greeted with -20 degree temperatures and a lucky break from the wind. Shaktoolik is no stranger to the high winds of the Bering Sea, and the town itself has been pushed back twice by rising sea levels. But as cold and relentless is the wind, the warmth of the people make up for it.
Further back down the trail, after approximately 8 hours rest at Old Woman Cabin, Gavan left around 8 am AK time to head for the coast, where he will soon get some much needed rest in a warm place as well as the world famous pizza. When talking about Gavan, the same words keep being said, “He’s the best of us.” Meaning, if anyone can do it, Gavan can. While it is true that he is very good at walking fast for long periods of time, this constant compliment is all encompassing to who he is. He is still raising money for local communities affected by the storm last summer, follow the link to donate: ITI Intrepid Path: https://www.givengain.com/campaign/iditarod-trail-invitational He also builds up those around him in a way only Gavan can, genuinely supporting and encouraging women out on the trail, and if you are lucky enough to be in his orbit, he’s cheering you on, too. We are all watching him hit these milestones on the trail, still it must be lonely out there, now that the dogs have gone through and the bikes have moved on. I hope he knows we are rooting for him to do what he came here to do, on his terms.
So much has transpired from when the 6 left McGrath, some 400 miles ago. Being able to head into the Interior after several days of waiting for the trail breakers was a huge testament to their will and ability to continue. These 6 out of 25 were the only ones who could continue. Some could not go on due to illness, or massive fatigue from the huge push over Rainy Pass in extreme conditions, some could not continue strictly due to not having enough time off of work! It is remarkable that they have all made it this far, still we all felt a shock when we saw Troy Szczurkowski’s tracker sadly mark him as a scratch in Unalakleet. The former catwalk model (you read that correctly) has an extensive ITI resume that includes 10 starts, 2 Mcgraths, 6 Nomes, and 2 scratches (now 3 I hate to report). He states that his races were always on the bike “but collectively I've probably walked to Nome twice.” Well done Troy, we’ll be talking about this year for a long time.
We’ll tuck in tonight knowing our racers will all soon be enjoying a rest at the school in Koyuk, and Gavan is at Peace on Earth Pizza. For the bikers, that leaves 150+ miles to Nome, the milestones will diminish in number but not in intensity. But that is for another day…
Today’s update written by Kari Gibbons
Photo credit of Mayella- Kendall Park
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.