350 Finish...So, Just Getting Started!

This is going to be a short update, word-wise, because Ryan made it to McGrath and was able to photo dump a bunch of pictures to the Cloud :-) 

At just before 3am AKST Monday morning Ryan arrived at McGrath (Checkpoint #8, Mile 306.6).  We had a bit of back and forth via the inReach while he was working his way to McGrath...that were actually from his time in Nikolai.  A bit of a "Who's on First" comedic interlude to an extended period of little communication.  He made friends on the way to McGrath, scoring some scrumptious moose sausage sticks...sadly not this sick marten fur hat.

Ryan took 7 days, 13 hours to get to McGrath...coincidence that my lucky numbers and birthday are 7/13??? I like to think not.  But probably cooler than the coincidence is that the journey took 10 hours less than the last trip to McGrath in 2020 (we can't compare 2021, as last year's Covid-impacted ITI 350 was an out-and-back, Knik->Rohn->Big Lake, closer to 350 miles).  A testament to experience, strength, and good luck, weather-wise.  I'm sure the next 600 miles will continue to be a walk in the park.

Sounds like Ryan chose poorly in his nap spot, crashing steps away from the closest thing McGrath has to a coffee shop.  Despite this, he got some quality sleep, downloaded some additional audiobooks (so far, the favorite has been In Shackleton's Footsteps), and wished his sister a very happy birthday (HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARIE!).

Next up Takotna (Checkpoint #9...no services) and then Ophir (Checkpoint #10, Mile 347ish).  Sometime in the next day or so the lead dogsled teams for THE Iditarod should catch the racers (currently 35 teams have made it to Finger Lake, Mile 123).  Weather continues to look great, similar temps and winds...chance of snow coming Thursday.  Can't get to Nome if you don't leave Rohn...or McGrath!