Rennreport GinGin 200
The mens categorie started at 12:00 h, in the order of subscription (only Sebastian started as last to have an eye on us), so Andrew, I and Dave opened up the mens race in that order. While the other mushers got their teams ready at their trucks, we drove directly from the kennel to the startline.
My team for this 200-miles-race (320 km) was:
Tang - Spike
Abby - Free
Austin - Angel
Stevie - Attla
Chester - Rain
At the startline I noticed that Abby is probably in heat and so I had to change the position of Free and Angel.
We followed the Denali Highway for the first 30 miles (48 km) and I already got passed by a lot of teams on the first miles. At mile 13 I even found the spot where I stayed in the ditch to get a little bit out of the wind like in our run at christmas. Then we drove north on the Glacier Lake Loop - now the trail wasn't so hard as before and specialy on the trail downhills I had to pay attention to not flip the sled. And already on the first little hill I nearly lost my team - the sled flip to the right side, I didn't lose the handlebar, then the sled flipped to the left and I lost the handlebar - fortunately the sled got stucked in the deep snow and I could jump up to catch the sled. The trail guided us over lakes surrounded by mountains - as Sab passed me just at the beginning of the loop I thought that only Dave would be behind me until the moment I suddenly saw three headlamp following. Around 18:00 h I arrived the the McLaren Checkpoint and the usual Checkpoint-routine took place - sign in with check of the mandatory gear, parking the team, detach the tuglines, take the booties of, make the strawbeds for the dogs,prepare food for the dogs, feeding und at last massage to one or the other dog, bevor finaly I could take a rest and eat something.
After I have eaten something I layed down on the floor to get a little nap. After two hours Sebastian came and said that I have to go to my dogteam as they are not really quite - so getting up, going to the dogs and starting prepare the next stretch. At 0:44 h, one minute after Dave, I got back on the trail. In front of us we had 110 miles (176 km) without any support - we traveled the first 37 miles (60 km) on the Denali Highway, before we got on the Susitna River and followed south. After about 18 miles (30 km) we meet Andrew and Sebastian and did a 3-hour-stop, means feeding dogs, etc.
After our stop we followed another 10 miles (16 km) on the Susitna River, before we followed the last 45 miles (72 km) to the Lodge on the McLaren River. The McLaren River isn't as large as the Susitna, but but with an more interesting trail.
As Dave passed two mushers I couldn't pass right away and had time to go by - then I let my dogs going a little faster and passed some other teams, including Dave (without remarking it).
At the checkpoint I attached Abby behind the sled hoping that would calm the team a little bit down and really the males were not so destracted and layed down to sleep, meanwhile Abby stole a little sack of meat - but I noticed it before she started to eat it.
The weatherforecast for the last stretch to Paxson Lodge previewed high winds but they should calm down during the night. Around 23:00 h Andrew waked us up and informed us that I seems to be windy on the trail but I would try to get through - Dave and me decided to take another nap and drive a little bit later. At 1:00 h Dave waked me up and we started to get ready - short time later John Schandelmeier came back with the skidoo and I got the information that there so no wind on the Denali Highway.
At 3:00 h I got out of the checkpoint just short after Dave to run the last 42 miles (67 km) to the finishing-line. The Highway didn't bring any diffiulties and so I noticed that after all I was quite tired and had some problem to focus on the dogs and the trail. After 20 miles (32 km) we passed the place where we had this high wind the last time, but now there was only a cold brise und so I passed Dave and drove a little bit faster in direction finishing-line.
Shortly before the finish we had our last challenge, the entry to the kennel, but the dogs drove by without any problems und about 100 meters later we passed the finishing-line.
I drove my team back to the kennel, toke the booties and harnesses of and feeded them before I brought them to their houses.
All 4 Bluekennels-teams made it to the finish and we only had to drop one dog.
Andreas
