Three items of interest while most of the teams rest in the afternoon heat. John Baker provided an exclusive interview to a reliable reporter today, and stated he was feeling good about his team. He expects to pick up the pace now, with dogs that are strong and eating well. According to the same source, he sounded rested. He will have a lot of teams ahead of him, but certainly is not out of the running.
The second item of note is the arrival of Martin Buser in Takotna. Buser came in and left Takotna about 9 hours before Aaron Burmeister is able to leave tonight. That is a big chunk of time, especially because Martin has a fast team and lots of savvy.
The final item is the fact that Sonny Lindner is now the first team on the trail. Sonny is a serious veteran of this race, winning rookie of the year in 1978. He and I raced the Coldfoot Classic in 1986, in the Brooks Range. At one stop Sonny noted a veteran racer pass us and he said to me “If you ever see me doing one of these races after I am 50 years old, promise me that you will shoot me” Sonny is now 63, and each year I remind him of his request.
Myron Angstman, lawyer, pilot, and dog musher, lives in Bethel, Alaska. Read more about dogs, law suits and rural Alaska gossip by checkinghttp://www.myronangstman.com/
With Buser taking an early rest and then going fast, I am somewhat reminded of an elderly musher who used a similar tactic to win the K-300 many years ago.
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