{"id":36647,"date":"2020-03-14T11:58:24","date_gmt":"2020-03-14T19:58:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/huskyhomestead.com\/?p=36647"},"modified":"2020-03-14T17:18:05","modified_gmt":"2020-03-15T01:18:05","slug":"iditarod-2020-race-days-6-the-yukon-river","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/huskyhomestead.com\/iditarod-2020-race-days-6-the-yukon-river\/","title":{"rendered":"Iditarod 2020: Race Day 6 \u2013 The Yukon River, Part 1"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Swenson at the start line<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Sean has made it to the Yukon River!\u00a0 The team of 13 pulled into Ruby, the first checkpoint along the mighty Yukon, at 7:15 am this morning.\u00a0 Race rules state that mushers must take one eight hour stop within a checkpoint along the Yukon River.\u00a0 Those checkpoints are Ruby, Galena, Nulato, and Kaltag.\u00a0 Sean has already spent nearly 5 hours in Ruby, so we’re thinking he might just stay a full 8.<\/p>\n

Mandatory Stops<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Iditarod Trail International Sled Dog Race Official Rules 2020, Rule 13 — Mandatory Stops<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

“A musher must personally sign in and out to start and complete all mandatory stops.<\/p>\n

Twenty Four-Hour Stop:<\/strong> A musher must take one mandatory twenty-four (24) hour stop at an official checkpoint during the race.\u00a0 The starting differential will be adjusted during each team’s twenty-four (24) hour stop. It is the musher’s responsibility to remain for the entire twenty-four hour period plus starting differential.\u00a0 The ITC will give each musher the required time information prior to leaving the starting line.<\/p>\n

Eight Hour Mandatory Stops:<\/strong> In addition to the mandatory twenty-four (24) hour stop, a musher must take one eight (8) hour stop on the Yukon River, including Shageluk in odd numbered years, and one eight (8) hour stop at White Mountain.<\/p>\n

None of the mandatory stops may be combined.”<\/p>\n

“Mandatory Rests” are not the only rest the dogs get during the race.<\/strong>\u00a0 From Iditarod Head Veterinarian, Dr. Stu Nelson, DVM, “Although race rules mandate only 40 hours of rest, that is not the only rest that dogs get!…An optimal run\/rest schedule results in best performance.\u00a0 Kennels have different genetic lines, nutrition, and conditioning programs.\u00a0 Ultimately, each team will have different rest schedules depending on their preparation and needs.\u00a0 In a twenty-four hour period, the average team is running only about half of the time.<\/strong>\u00a0 Certainly, this will be skewed for some of the top teams, but their speed would also be slower during longer runs.”\u00a0 Mushers carry food and other supplies in the sled at all times and are stopping about every 4-6 hours to rest themselves and their dogs regardless of whether or not they’ve hit a checkpoint.<\/p>\n

Though both dogs and mushers benefit from the mandatory stops, this rule was not written specifically for the dog’s sake.\u00a0 One key point in the rule is that the mandatory rests must be completed within the checkpoint.<\/strong>\u00a0 This has proven to be extremely helpful where race logistics are concerned.\u00a0 It gives the race organization time to see the mushers and get a feel for their attitude and how things are going.\u00a0 It also gives them time to move volunteers and supplies further up the trail.<\/p>\n

News from the Trail<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Due to concerns within the villages regarding COVID-19, there have been some slight changes made to the trail ahead.<\/p>\n