Carnage on the trail during Day 3 of racing
Team 13 Dan Zimmerman and Bob Streiff scratched Sunday following an eye injury suffered by Zimmerman. Heather Sottosanti photo
Several more teams entered the DNF column on Monday, following injuries or mechanicals on the trail between Galena and Kotzebue. And while a lack of winter weather could be blamed for the rough ride through the snowless Farewell Burn, the trail conditions have gone from poor to excellent.
“That 60 miles of no snow across the burn, you had to be cautious about,” said Head Race Marshal Stan Brown. “But after McGrath, it seems like there’s been plenty of snow and cold. It’s been clear, with good visibility.”
Three teams dropped out on Day 1 of racing. Day 2 lost Team 13 Bob Streiff and Dan Zimmerman after Zimmerman suffered an eye injury. They scratched in McGrath on Sunday.
“He came in wearing a patch in McGrath,” Brown said. “This is the first time we’ve had that emergency checkpoint in Puntilla, and he used it to try to heal it up.”
Zimmerman and Streiff thought they might even continue on with the Expedition Class, but the eye injury needed more attention, Brown said, so they are headed home.
Also out on Day 2 was Team 21 Cory Davis and Wes Selby, who had mechanical challenges and called it quits in Galena.
Mike Vasser, Iron Dog’s executive director, said the trail reports he is hearing are positive, and the trail is fast.
“From what I’m hearing from racers, the course is the best they’ve ever seen outside of the burn. It’s smooth, with good visibility. Kaltag to Unalakleet, which is usually a pain in the rear, is even reported to be good.”
Haakon Wold and Tyler Reese, some of the youngest racers in this year’s Iron Dog, scratched after mechanical problems. There are now 21 teams still in the race. Heather Sottosanti photo
Despite the favorable conditions, Day 3 saw several more scratches, including Team 29 Reggie Davis and Hayden Reid, young rookies from the Valley who had mechanical problems; Team 32 Amos Cruise and Louis Green from Nome; Team 41 Tyler Reese and Haakon Wold, also memchanicals; and Team 25 Trevor Helwig and Kenny Lee. Helwig was injured after a get-off. All teams scratched out in Unalakleet.
“Most people thought we’d have more scratches than we have by this time, given the weather,” Brown said. “But it’s turned out pretty good after the burn, even if today there were a lot of scratches.”
Racers will be stopped in Kotzebue tonight for an eight-hour layover. Alaska Safe Riders will be presenting 100 helmets to kids in the community, and racers will have a chance to catch their breath and mingle with fans. Vasser said a storm is predicted for the region beginning Tuesday, so the clear weather of the past few days could be evaporating.
“Some of the experienced teams like 14 and 7, made some pretty good moves today, and we still have the Top-5 teams within two hours of each other,” Vasser said. “It is making for a tight race.”
As of Monday evening, the leading racers were Team 20 Brad George and Robby Schachle, Team 6 Bradley Kishbaugh and Mike Morgan, and Team 14 Casey Boylan and Brian Leslie.
The Iron Dog Race field now stands at 21.
Sunday and Monday scratches
Team 13: Bob Streiff and Dan Zimmerman
Team 21: Cory Davis and Wes Selby
Team 29: Reggie Davis and Hayden Reid
Team 32: Amos Cruise and Louis Green
Team 41: Haakon Wold and Tyler Reese
Team 25: Trevor Helwig and Kenny Lee