"Made it! It was a beautiful day."
This was the first text I got from Ryan upon arriving in Kaltag (630) at 9:35p AKST. I'll take this "good news" all day, every day.
The only "bad part" was six snowmobiles also staying at the school...I asked if there was anything good to barter for. "Ability to sleep?" Yikes. Hopefully the gym floor proves as boring as I think it could with racers drying clothes, sorting gear, packaging food, sleeping, pondering (questioning?) life choices, eating....ZZzzzz (he did say it wasn't as bad as he thought it would be).
Upon arriving at the school in Kaltag, some wonderful person provided Ryan with this curry (THANK YOU!):
Me: "What's the meat?"
Ryan: "Chicken?"
Me: "Doubt it."
Me: "Now, that looks like pork. Also, eat that butter." (I extended my stay at the Holiday Inn Express last night...)
Ryan took off from the school just shy of 12hrs. later (5:50a) to a balmy -27. He messaged a few hours later that his trail bud Leah had to turn around and head back to Kaltag for a bit. It's her story to tell, but she's fine and already back at it. You're one tough cookie Leah!
He checked in once more later to say it was still cold. Always a comedian.
Ryan is currently hanging out with Gavan (foot leader) at the Tripod Flats safety cabin (656.4, 28 miles from Kaltag). He reports "other than the cold, today has been really enjoyable. Clear and really pretty." Too cold for any wildlife, and it sounds like only those six snowmobilers from last night.
He's finished The Help (in the know about poop pie now) and is apparently listening to Pucking Wild...he thought it was a hockey novel, but it sounds more like hockey smut (or "porn audio" as he called it). I mean, really Ryan, with a title like Pucking Wild you're disappointed it isn't Pulitzer Prize winning storytelling?!?!
I asked him which of the two cabins he preferred..."Tripod is nicer, but Old Woman has a better vibe." I'll have to confirm the exact explanation of this, but I think it probably has at least something to do with Susan Butcher's ashes being spread at the cabin by her daughter. Oh, you're not familiar with Susan Butcher? I wasn't either the 900 times Ryan has mentioned thus fun fact about Old Woman cabin, and so I finally Googled it. Susan Butcher was an icon in the sport of dog sledding, for women, men, and dogs alike. She died young from cancer at 51, but not before she won four Iditarods (including a three-peat!)
Once he finishes boiling water and shooting the shit with Gavan, he'll pedal on into the cold for thirteen miles to Old Woman cabin (669ish). Overnight forecast in Kaltag is calling for -20, -15 in Unalakleet...so halfway between the two, I'm going to go with -18 for the overnight low.
Fun fact: Ryan asked where he was at compared to this time last year. He left Kaltag three hours earlier than in 2023, and arrived to Tripod Flats six hours ahead of last year (albeit, the southern route would put them 40 miles further). Given everything that's gone on this year, I find it crazy the two times are so similar.
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