The race so far may have given the impression of a leisurely cakewalk through pretty Alaskan winter landscapes with culinary highlights at regular intervals. That’s not exactly what it was. But it is true that there is good number of lodges at the beginning of the race that serve food, the trail was in exceptionally good condition, and the weather had cooperated so far. Nothing was easy, yet it could have been a lot worse. It certainly was in 2020. But things were about to change as we moved into and over the Alaska Range.
After a rather long night, we arrived at Finger Lake by 6am or so. Our checkpoint was in a tent on the lake. The Winter Lake Lodge by Finger Lake is a luxury resort where people pay thousands of $$$ per night in all-inclusive packages. We were not allowed in the lodge. The checkpoint tent was warm and a bunch of athletes was still sleeping. We ate and I picked up my first drop bag. MP’s drop bags had not arrived, so she had to carry all her supplies for the 350mi to McGrath.
We didn’t dally and left quickly to tackle the 30mi-ish section to the Puntilla Lake checkpoint (mile 150). The section tends to be much harder than one would expect. We passed a sign that said “NOME 852 MILES.” It was not the most encouraging sign I had ever seen. It’s hard to wrap your mind around this number when you are going 3mi per hour at best and are schlepping a heavy pulk. Instead of thinking about the total mileage, the trick is to break things down into chunks that your mind can handle, e.g., make it 30mi to the next checkpoint.
It started to snow heavily. After a few hours of moving, my sleep deprivation forced me to sleep trailside for an hour. MP moved on. It took me the entire day and a lot of hard work to catch up with her. The wind picked up and it got dark. At some point I stepped into a deep and hidden moose hole and my shoe came off. It took me a while to find it and dig it out of the snow.
We arrived at the Puntilla Lake checkpoint, a musher cabin, late at night and passed out after wolfing down some noodles.
Winter Lake Lodge at Finger Lake. A luxury resort where people pay thousands of $$$ per night in all-inclusive packages.
Coffee time in the middle of a long night.
Athletes slowly getting up at the Finger Lake checkpoint.
Only 852 miles to go…
It started to snow heavily as soon as we left the Finger Lake checkpoint.
Moving toward Puntilla Lake. Conditions can change very quickly in Alaska.
Wolfing down some noodles at the Puntilla Lake checkpoint before hitting the sack.
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