Day 30: The Penultimate Trail Day
Gavan Hennigan on the crossing of Norton Bay sea ice (photo: Gavan Hennigan)
Gavan Hennigan (Ireland, foot) is the lone 1,000-mi ITI racer on the trail, currently at the Kwik River shelter cabin on the coast of Norton Bay between Koyuk and Elim. Since the race started over four weeks ago on Feb 22, he has traveled 810 miles, with just 140 miles left to the finish in Nome.
Yesterday, he made a 44-mile (16-hour) push across the sea ice of Norton Bay, from Shaktoolik to Koyuk, starting at 4:00 am. Fortunately, the wind died down for his crossing, and he experienced the warmest day on the trail since the first day of the race.
Ever since the 1,000-mile racers left McGrath (mi 307), they have been in a battle against the weather and a race against the clock. To be an official race finisher in the 1,000-mile ITI, one must arrive at Nome within 30 days of the start, which is tomorrow (Tuesday) at 3 pm AKDT. At this time, Gav would need to average nearly 7 mph (9-minute miles) for nearly 24 hours to make it in time for an official finish. He is driven to reach Nome, but since he won’t move at the speed he’d need to meet the cutoff, he won’t be considered an official ITI finisher this year.
Despite not being an official ITI finisher this year, he will have the satisfaction of knowing he did everything within his control to reach Nome as quickly and efficiently as possible, despite the most challenging circumstances, including the lack of trail and the weather. Gavan’s drive, efficiency, consistency, and commitment to relentless forward progress are second to none.
Early on in the race, he kept pace with Scott Hoberg, who was moving at a 6-day pace (and went on to win the men’s foot 350-mile ITI). After leaving the village of Takotna, there was no trail. He put on his snowshoes and forged a trail through thigh-deep snow. Ultimately, he backtracked to take shelter for a few days until the Iditarod trailbreakers came through, so as not to beat himself down, which could jeopardize his race. Recently, he has been alone from the other ITI racers for over nine days, without the company of others to provide camaraderie or to share camp tasks.
Gavan is a good friend of the WWW, and we love him and have the utmost respect for him. He has the most friendly, upbeat, adventurous attitude. He's literally friends with everyone, and things have to be absolutely awful to get him down. He has the best laugh, and is the most fun to be around. But at the same time, he calls it like he sees it and is realistic about the challenges out there.
Over in Nome, the four cyclists who finished the ITI 1,000-mile race yesterday - Mayella Krause, Kendall Park, Erick Basset, and Ryan Wanless - have spent the day resting and fighting off a stomach bug. Reflecting on yesterday, Mayella said that when they set out from the Topkok shelter cabin in the morning, the northern lights were incredible and “exploding in the sky!” Winds were calm, allowing them to pass through the Solomon blowhole without issue. It turned into a beautiful day, and it was the first or second day of the race that the temperature climbed above 0 deg F.
Maya felt so much adrenaline on the approach into Nome; she said that it was all very sweet and heartwarming. People who didn’t know them were cheering, taking photos, asking questions, and expressing amazement for what they had done. Maya found the experience to be very emotional - she was simultaneously giggling herself silly, and trying not to cry because it was fogging up her goggles. Carol Seppilu (Nome, Alaska, 350 on foot) was there to meet them, livestream the finish, take photos, and give the racers dessert. Maya said that it was very nice to reunite with Carol after seeing her last on the trail. In reflection of the past 28 days on the trail, Maya remarked that she feels that “a lifetime happened in the blink of an eye.”
This year was a good one for the women in the 1,000-mile race. The women experienced a finisher rate of 100%, and the men had an official finisher rate of 9.5%.
Prior to the race, racers were asked for their perspectives on this year’s ITI, and their answers are below.
WWW: Are there any people you want to thank for getting to the ITI 1,000-mile race?
Maya: More than anything, I want to thank my friends and family. Being an immigrant and doing something this big, this far from home, can be lonely. My family is still in Brazil. They don’t fully understand how hard or risky this is, but they believe in me anyway. That means more than I can explain. I have a small circle of friends who really understand what this takes—the logistics, the money, the time, the emotional cost. They know how much I’ve sacrificed to be here, and instead of questioning it, they’ve encouraged me, pushed me, and celebrated it. The month before the race started has been especially hard, and the kindness I’ve received has been overwhelming in the best way. I’m carrying all of that with me to the start line.
Kendall: My husband. Nicholas and everyone from The Bicycle Shop in Anchorage. Rose who stayed up late sewing my ruff onto my (Leah's) parka. WWW community. All the vets who offered me advice and wisdom. All the people who loaned gear. All the kind and generous people encountered on the trail from Knik to Nome.
Erick: I thank my loved ones for what I make them endure.
Ryan: Thank you to all the trail angels, my wife, and my dog Theo.
WWW: What is the first thing you are going to do when you get home?
Maya: Late stage capitalism: I'll go back to work. But first I'll cuddle the absolute crap out of coach Colin Robinson (my dog); then set a reminder to sign up for next year.
Kendall: Eat pho at Pho Long in St. Louis with my husband.
Erick: Spend time with my son.
Ryan: Catch up on work.
Gavan: Sign up for next year.
Because the race winds down tomorrow, Wild Winter Women will post just one more update on itialaska.com for this year’s race.
Written by Leah Gruhn.
Thanks to Wild Winter Women - Allison Carolan, Amanda Harvey, Faye Norby, Jan Redmond Walker, Jessica Roschlan, Kari Anne Gibbons, Laura Wiesmann Hrubes, Lynn K Hall, Madeline Harms, Rashelle Hintz, Rebecca McVay-Brodersen, and Sarah Bergstrom.