A quick check of the tracker in the middle of the night showed that Jeff and his team of 13 had arrived into Shageluk at 00:53 and were resting there.\u00a0 He was back on the move after resting 5 hour 45 minutes, and has just recently gone through Anvik on his way up to the checkpoint of Grayling.\u00a0 This is the first leg of the trail that is on the mighty Yukon River, and teams are required to take an eight hour rest somewhere on the Yukon.\u00a0 With Eagle Island not an option this year, they are left with:\u00a0 Shageluk, Anvik, Grayling, or Kaltag.\u00a0 Several of us are not the betting type, but our crew is putting all our money on Kaltag as Jeff’s stop for his mandatory eight hour rest.<\/p>\n
The weather report for Grayling shows current temps at 4\u00b0, with a slight wind, making it feel a bit cooler and perhaps more comfortable at -7\u00b0.\u00a0 While we may enjoy temperatures above zero, the dogs actually prefer it below zero… their fur and their super metabolism helps to keep them toasty warm.<\/p>\n
Here in Denali it’s a gorgeous morning!\u00a0 Zig and Barnum\u00a0made it home last night and are both doing well!\u00a0 Barnum appears to have caught up on some of his sleep, and is ready to go!\u00a0\u00a0We’re waiting to hear from Iditarod in regards to Swenson, and will send someone south to pick him up when he arrives in Anchorage.\u00a0 Our friend Maren told us that it had been difficult to get anyone or anything – let alone drop dogs – out from Iditarod with the weather over the past two days, so if he doesn’t make it to McGrath today he may head the other direction and beat Jeff to Nome after a stopover in Unalakleet.\u00a0 Now wouldn’t that be something?\u00a0 Swenson making it there before Jeff – haha!\u00a0 (Shhh!\u00a0 Don’t tell Jeff!)\u00a0 No matter where Swenson goes, his drop dog paperwork will travel with him, and vets in any checkpoint will be able to keep an eye on that odd heart reading.<\/p>\n