In Dawson
I finally made it to Dawson City. The trip has been one of many mental ups and downs. I was ready to scratch once I got to Central. The trip over the Eagle Summit was more than miserable, just rocks and bare ground, that combined with wind and blowing snow made made it a real grunt. Also did I let the dogs run too fast on the trip before, from Angel to 101 and was now paying for that with less power. Than it started pissing rain in Central, my team looked bummed out, I was bummed out, so I wanted to scratch. Thankfully Maren would not let me, neither Thomas Tetz now in the function of a racejudge, instead of a musher. Fine, I agreed to leave to Circle.It was a spooky night, real windy and lots of new fresh snow. The trip was painfully slown and I ended up camping on Birch Creek, behind a fallen spruce tree for a wind breaker. A few mushers passed me and I was hoping for a better broken out trail but by the time I left my camp the trail was already totally blown in again.
Luckily my dogs do well in contidions like that and now in hindsight, it was actually good for them, as that would give them a chance to recover from the too fast runs before. Much to my suprise I pulled into Circle 1st, I had no idea that there was nobody ahead of me, as Lance, Hugh and Hans must have pulled over at Kokrines cabin. So here I am , wanting to scratch in Central just to be first in the next checkpoint in Circle. As I said, lots of mental ups and downs.The trip to Eagle was much more pleasant contition wise, no more fresh snow, but no I was feeling sicker than a dog..., I food poisend myself, most likely eating a chocolate bar with the same gloves I used to snack the dogs. I had to tie myself to the sled, something I normally would never do, to prevent myself from falling of. A long 10 hr run brought me completely exhausted to the Trout Creek Cabin, where Hans gave me some pain killers and I took some dog medicine against dihiarria and it worked. A few hours later I felt much better on my way to Eagle. Here I also finally came on a better running schedule, resting though the heat of the day.
In Eagle I dropped Coon, he developped a limp, which I could not detect the cause of. I actually left with him and opted to return to the Checkpoint to drop him. Before I dropped Popcorn and Gas in 101, so 3 of my key dogs are gone. Dropping dogs always bummes me out a lot. The trip over American summit was surprisingly pleasant, no wind and clear skies. At the OBrians Bridge we did not need to camp out, as Wayne Hall had a nice tent set up. Via 40 Mile River we got to Dawson.I have to cut it short here now, as I'm being chased off the public computer in Dawson.
We will not run to Whitehorse, instead to Pelly and back to Dawson... black hills, and lots of them, both ways, I will have to take off my seat.
Sab
