The checkpoint personnel at the remote Cripple checkpoint were expecting Paul Gebhardt, but when they spotted the pink harnesses on the team coming in, they knew it wasn't him. At 6:22 this morning, DeeDee Jonrowe pulled by the fake palm trees into the makeshift checkpoint to claim the first position in this year's Iditarod. She was taken aback when she was told she was the first team to check in. "No no. Isn't Paul here?" she asked. "Your kidding!" she said and she had to grab a seat on her sled to let it sink in. "You better get the pink hats ready" she joked.
Jonrowe has yet to take her mandatory 24 hour layover yet, and she may well do that at Cripple. Within 20 minutes, Paul Gebhardt, Zack Steer, and Martin Buser also arrived at the checkpoint. None of these have taken there 24 hr stop yet either, and some or all of them may choose to do so here.
Gebhardt saw his nearly 6 hour lead over Jonrowe at the Ophir checkpoint disappear in what he has termed as his worst run ever. Shortly after leaving Ophir he was forced to begin packing a 60 pound male dog which slowed his team down, and then he ran into heavy snow, which slowed him even more. He turned around at one point when he thought he had passed the checkpoint, and that is where Jonrowe passed him.
Further back are a pack of fresh teams just coming of their 24 hour layovers and storming down the trail. Leading this charge is Norwegian Kjetil Backen who breezed through the Ophir chekpoint about 12 hours later then Jonrowe passed through there, so if he keeps a similar pace he will pass Jonrowe while she is on the 24 hour break. Within 45 minutes of Backen all with their 24s completed are Lance Mackey, Jeff King, and Hans Gatt. It appears at this juncture that those teams who chose to take their mandatory breaks earlier now have the upper hand.
Jonrowe has yet to take her mandatory 24 hour layover yet, and she may well do that at Cripple. Within 20 minutes, Paul Gebhardt, Zack Steer, and Martin Buser also arrived at the checkpoint. None of these have taken there 24 hr stop yet either, and some or all of them may choose to do so here.
Gebhardt saw his nearly 6 hour lead over Jonrowe at the Ophir checkpoint disappear in what he has termed as his worst run ever. Shortly after leaving Ophir he was forced to begin packing a 60 pound male dog which slowed his team down, and then he ran into heavy snow, which slowed him even more. He turned around at one point when he thought he had passed the checkpoint, and that is where Jonrowe passed him.
Further back are a pack of fresh teams just coming of their 24 hour layovers and storming down the trail. Leading this charge is Norwegian Kjetil Backen who breezed through the Ophir chekpoint about 12 hours later then Jonrowe passed through there, so if he keeps a similar pace he will pass Jonrowe while she is on the 24 hour break. Within 45 minutes of Backen all with their 24s completed are Lance Mackey, Jeff King, and Hans Gatt. It appears at this juncture that those teams who chose to take their mandatory breaks earlier now have the upper hand.
3 comments:
Thank you for the Iditarod updates, my usual Iditarod fix* has gone quiet but before he disappeared he left this link.
Cheers from a grateful Aussie.
*http://unaboard.coalgoddess.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=19474
Thank you DeeDee Jonrowe i am a huge fan. I am the biggest fan for your beautiful peaceful dogs.
Post a Comment