YQ: Pelly Update #2

We got the Black Team out of Pelly safely and they headed down the trail with a sled full of food, straw and equipment for camping along the way. It is a gorgeous morning here, we surely are in a beautiful part of the world.


The Black Team leaves Pelly

After his sleep Allen was in great spirits, laughing and joking with reporters about the trail he’d just been on and the journey ahead. He was talking with us over bacon and egg breakfast, about packing his sled for the trail ahead. He is known for travelling lightly when possible and appropriate, but it is neither possible, nor appropriate to pack lightly for a 200 mile stretch. He joked when he stuffed a bag of mixed nuts in his bag that “it’s like an elephant when you put a million ants together”. Ahh the wisdom of a sleep deprived musher!

Not that long after the Black Team left we welcomed Aliy and the Red Team. All athletes, canine and human had frosty faces and wagging tails (or the equivalent of a wagging tail). They loped into the checkpoint and settled quickly into a comfy straw bed in the midday sunshine. This is the perfect time for the dogs to be resting, they are stretched out enjoying the relative warmth of the sun in their peaceful parking spot.


The Red Team comes into Pelly; Aliy is a little frosted


Dutch and Chipper sporting frosted beards

Beemer has been the rockstar of the team in the last couple of legs. He navigated the team out of McCabe and has shown great enthusiasm to be running with this young team. Aliy was pleased she rested the team at McCabe and they will rest here for a few hours before heading out to, and back from, Stepping Stone and finish the race.

Once they finish we pack everyone up and high-tail to Dawson so we can set up the dog camp ready for the Black team to arrive sometime tomorrow. I’ll post finish pics from Dawson.