Sab lost another 5 minutes on Hugh Neff on the last 10 miles – another 10 miles to the finish line !
Sab go – Abfaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahrt !!!!!!!!!!!!
Sebastian passed Nordale Bridge in Northpole short after 9:00 AKST (19:00 MEZ) – Hugh Neff halved the distance on him and passed only 15 minutes later.
The expected arrival time is around 11:00 AKST (21:00 MEZ).
“It wasn’t even the wildest dream of my mind (to win the Quest), I have to say,” Schnuelle said in a interview with the newsminer. “You know how I approached this. I said I want to go camping.”
Read the whole article at newsminer.
On the Yukon Quest website Sebastian is in second position, but if I interpret everything right he should be in 1st place as Hugh Neff still has to take his 2 hours penaltie in Two Rivers.
So Sab would be 35 minutes in front of Hugh Neff and 57 minutes in front of Jon Little before the last run to the finish line.
Go Sab go !!!
At 11:00 (21:00 MEZ) is the start of the Copper Basin – Sebastian has draw a good number and will start at 11:10 (21:10 MEZ) with number 6, Mark will start at 11:36 (21:36 MEZ) with number 19.
The trail this year is different and so the start is not in Glenallen but in Wolverine – for the first run Wolverine – Tolsona – Glenallen Sebastian will probably need around 6:30 hours so he can reach the checkpoint around 17:30 (3:30 MEZ) and will then take a rest of 6 hours (until around 23:30 (9:30 MEZ).
Shortly before the Copper Basin Sebastian still has his hands full to do – he needs a new furnace installed, also he has to install a wood stove, water needs to be melted for the last 2 days. In addition, some dogs had already been moved because of the Gulkana River came over the shore. And by the way, the food drops for the Copper Basin and the Kusko need to be done. You see, he is not bored …
The last two weeks they had temperatures around -40°F (-40°C) with a forecast to get warmer for the race weekend, but today the temperature dropped to -58°F (-50°C).
I cann’t believe it but Sebastian is really not participating in the Knik 200 and that even as he is there because Mark is running the race and arrived Skwentna in 26th position.
At the start they had good conditions with -2°F (-18°C) and not much wind. But a few mile further, in the mountains, the mushers had to fight against 40 mph (65 km/h) wind. So temperatures dropped, with calculated windchill to -55°F (-50°C) – so you have to be very careful to not get some frostbites.
After a warm front and a new snow fall, there is always WIND.
Yesterday they had 7°F (-15°C) and the wind was howling with about 65-70 mph (105-110 km/h) – these conditions could stay for 1-3 days. For the weekend there is a temperatur forecast of -30°F (-35°C). So the big difficulties this year could be wind and cold.
I just had a chat with Sab and could get some more details about the race:
Blue Kennels had 5 Teams in the race not only 3 as I expected – here you find the Race results: Sheep Mountain 2008.
Sab hat to drop Bonzo and on the last Run he had Maggot and Happy in the sled – that’s why he lost 5 places on the final stretch.
Mark also had to drop a drog, Boss, but the other three arrived at the finish with all 12 dogs.
In the moment it’s cold in Paxson and tomorrow they have planned a run to McLaren Lodge.
