With the top three (King, Mackey, and Backen) now off of their 24-hour layover in Takotna, over the next day they will try and catch up to the pack of nearly 15 that went on ahead of them to rest at a later checkpoint. Out of that second pack that hasn’t taken their 24 yet, Paul Gebhardt is leading things off as he left Ophir yesterday afternoon heading towards Cripple, and most likely Ruby where he could choose to take his 24 hour layover. Also in this group that is banking on the fact that they can pull ahead of the lead pack by surging ahead and taking the layover later is in the race is: Hugh Neff, Zach Steer, DeeDee Jonrowe, Martin Buser, Ed Iten, Ken Andersen, Aliy Zirkle, and a few others. Every single one of these mushers that I just listed could easily make the top five in this year’s Iditarod, and many have been pegged to win the entire race - you have some of the most famous names in mushing choosing to take this late strategy and hoping it pays off big time. You have some names of a similar status choosing to take their layover much earlier in the race than the lead pack did, Hans Gatt, Rick Swenson, John Baker, and Gerry Willomitzer all spent 24 hours further down the trail in McGrath at an attempt to make some time on Mackey, King and Backen.
Tomorrow afternoon will will have a very good idea on who’s strategy was the best one for this years race. Its warm out there right now which makes the teams run a little bit slower… We also aren’t able to tell yet who is going to reach the Yukon River and the checkpoint of Ruby first… any predictions? Paul Gebhardt enjoys making that long run, and has done it before, but so has Martin. However, they both could be at the point where they need to stop and take a long rest earlier, and could be passed by another team in that “late 24″ pack. We will see soon!
you said in the 24 hr checkup that you would fill us in on what the prize for ruby is?!
Left by Tracy on March 6th, 2008