(from 2023's race, back when sea crossings were fun...)
In a sense I'm getting spoiled...limited communication and a few scrounged up pictures make for a short update. Some of us are heartbroken over the end of Spring Break and spent the day driving before turning to emails and papers. I will note Theo and I scored a gorgeous last run in Sturgis, with more wind than Ryan had to deal with I might add (the significance of the 50 degree temperature difference and ability to hide in the trees is debatable HAR HAR).
Ryan arrived at Little Mountain cabin to a very eager Gavan chomping on the bit to keep pressing north...problem was the wicked wind and temperatures. Ryan messaged that it was "really cold" and that the "wind was just howling through the cabin." In my head, I have a picture of Ryan, Gavan, Leah, and eventually Asbjoern (who got a later start but absolutely flew up to the cabin from Shaktoolik), sitting in their sleeping bags, sipping hot cocoa and peppermint schnapps, and swapping war stories and belly laughs. I'm sure it was a lot less pleasant given how little he was messaging, but Gavan sent some pictures and I wasn't that wrong...in sleeping bags, but with water and Pringles (polishing them off to score a pee bottle??? Hmmm...) Please note the ability to see Gavan's breath and the steam off of the water. So, ya, cold.
Ryan, Leah, and Asbjoern left around 10am (wait until the sun's up and it's slightly warmer with less wind), taking the #tangent (Sam!) to get the 30 miles to Koyuk (791) done and done. As I write (7pm CST, 4pm AKST), the three are still relatively close and about 7 miles from shore (I don't care what you say about the quality of the ice Matt, sea ice is sea ice and he can be done with that whenever haha).
(dot watching along with the rest of you peons)
Once he gets to Koyuk, I hope he gets on WiFi to a) tell me all about the day, and b) send me some pictures. I'm hurting over here! He'll also need to do some strategery (there are several shelter cabin options in between checkpoints during this part of the race), as we're dealing with yet another weather issue. Gone are the days (for now) of bitter cold and stupid headwinds...now come the Spring storms, including but not limited to: snow, rain, blowing snow, freezing fog, 50 mph. gusts, above freezing temps. Never a dull moment!
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