First I ask for prayers for Martin and Kathy Buser and Rohn. Their other son, Nikolai, was badly hurt in a multi-vehicle pile up in Seattle. I do not know details but they have flown down and had to leave the race and caretakers for their kennel. All the mushing community is hoping for the best possible outcome. Nikolai is not a musher but is still part of a mushing family and the racing community around Wasilla and Willow. Everyone is shocked and praying.
Meanwhile the race goes on and at least three mushers are in to the next-to-last checkpoint, well past the halfway mark on the race, probably close to 200 of the 300 miles covers. The drop rate for dogs on this one seems to be a lot lower than for the Kuskokwim race. I have no idea of the reason and of course the race is not over but the three leaders have 12, 13 and 14 of their original teams so far. And one is a Redington, the third generation of that family to be in the sled dog racing community. What a dynasty as are the Seaveys and a few other families.
Now on to Two Rivers. The 100 is over and done and the "pupster" team came in 4th, despite the racer's plan to take it easy and give them plenty of rests and snack times so the youngsters have a great impression of their first race and the oldsters and mamas that were filling out the team were not stressed too much. Nacho was dropped for a sore shoulder but it is not deemed serious and one other senior dog was dropped but all five of the new pups made the race in good style. Nacho is a littermate of Quito and Chica who were also in this team and the sire of Olivia's 2015 litter. He's a super dog. The list of names of the older dogs in the team is almost a who's who of SPKs most noted dogs, all aging out in the 8-10 year old range but still running and doing their bits to support the kennel.
In the 200 miler, Aliy and two guys from the Two Rivers area are running a tight race down to the wire. I will check back soon to the site and see if one of them or more is in to the finish. They all know the trails well and have a kind of 'home court advantage' so it's a close one! Of course I wish Aliy well. Chris, with a mixed team raining along is in the middle of the pack but doing very well for a semi-novice with a mix of experienced and new dogs. Go SPK!
Late Breaking News: Will Rhodes won and Aliy was second. Hot off the Two Rivers Mushers' website.
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