Lead pack is through Rainy Pass
At the front of this year’s race, five mushers have officially checked in and out of Rainy Pass. That group thus far includes Aaron Burmeister, Dallas Seavey, Brent Sass, Wade Marrs and Ryan Redington. Another five teams are on their ways from Rohn to Rainy Pass.
At the farthest end of the race, Ophir his returned to ghost town status. At the near end of the race, Finger Lake is about to get busy and stay busy for several days. With the checkpoint located right in front of Winter Lake Lodge, the proprietors of the Lodge, Kristin and Carl Dixon will have a front row seat without leaving the comforts of their living room.
Dallas Seavey was the first musher to reach Finger Lake. Aaron Burmeister followed by 15 minutes. Back a dozen miles, Brent Sass is shown resting and Wade Marrs passing on by. Mushers who’ve run the trail, but never in reverse, predict the segment between Rainy Pass and Finger Lake will be the most difficult segment of the 2021 trail.
Martin Buser says the climb to the highest elevation on the trail, 3200 feet, at the summit of Rainy Pass actually begins right out of the starting chute at Willow then [down to] Deshka Landing for this race where the elevation is 213 feet. It takes mushers two days to make that climb with an elevation gain of 3,000 feet. Clearly the teams are in for a MOSTLY gentle down hill ride to the finish from the top of the range. Ah, but don’t forget about the Happy River Steps and there’s a beastly climb up from Red Lake to Finger Lake and the checkpoint.
4 comments:
Now the question is who saved the dogs a little bit...
The mushers, the 20 veterinarians, and hundreds of volunteers all play a part. And this years route was even shortened by 50 or so miles when the "buttonhole" loop at the middle was eliminated from the course. Snow was too deep to properly groom a trail.
That is quite an elevation climb.
Thanks Reverend!
Just amazing stuff!
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