Trail Conditions
The temperature has at least been shamed into dropping below freezing, but there isn’t any extra snow on the trail, so it will help the dogs be a bit more comfortable, but not do much for the trail.
Craig Medred, a veteran Alaska outdoor writer now working for the Alaska Dispatch has talked to people who know current conditions first hand. The general advice is to go slow and be among the first teams on the trail.
Jeff King, Jim Lanier, Cindy Abbott, and Jan Steves have all said they will be wearing helmets. Brent Sass’s concussion has convinced them that it is a good idea.
If dogs start getting hurt, teams will definitely drop out. The lack of snow will probably cause a spike in pad cuts even with booties. Aliy Zirkle is right that no one guarantees a groomed trail, but if she has to start dropping dogs early on, she will pull out. The majority of her team just won the Yukon Quest, so she can’t be reckless. She has been second two years in a row, and she wants to win, but not at any price.
She made the point that the trail is the same for all teams. If she had thought about that a little more, she wouldn’t have said it. This trail is going to change for every team after the first one – usually not for the better.
