Well, that was a productive 24 hours! From my understanding, impending weather was causing a "do it-to it" mentality across all the racers across the course. If you had the sea crossing yet, bust a move before Tuesday.....if you were in Koyuk, boogy to White Mountain as fast as you can. Wind, snow, rain(!), and soft trails have the very real possibility of sea ice flooding and breaking up, snow drifts requiring post holing, and exposed sections along the coast (with the last of the mountains to cross as a cherry on top).
(Thanks for the photos Gavan!)
Gavan, Asbjoern, and Ryan made fantastic time all day and night. Gavan messaged that the Walla Walla cabin (845) was quite inviting, but that they wanted McKinkley Mountain in their rearview mirror, so another 13 miles to McKinkley shelter they went. Gavan arrived first, reporting a warm and dry cabin, but with some serious wind winding up. Ryan's speeds five miles from the cabin indicated walking, not riding...but the wind would have been a tailwind? At 3am CST, I was left to guess what was going on...should have turned the topo filter on the map on. Ryan was climbing the last incline and quickly bombed down to the cabin...did I see 9.4mph? Yes, yes I did :-)
He messaged that the other two gents were going to call it for the night, the wind on the bay section making them hesitate (plus, you know, two really, really long days!) Ryan took stock and messaged that he thought he'd just do it, make the 5.7 mile bay crossing to Golovin...and his beloved Frank!
Frank has been Ryan's trail angel the last two years. In 2022, Golovin's school was shut down (Covid) and so Frank opened up his home to Ryan, Chris, and Daniel. Fed them moose stirfry and messaged me updates. In 2023, Ryan was stuck waiting out a storm and hung out with Frank for two days, feeding him three meals a day. Each year, including this year, Frank watches the dots like all of us and is waiting on the edge of town to welcome racers to his town.
Text that came with this: "He was there to meet me!"
As promised, Ryan was met by Frank and a warm bowl of stew...at 2:20am!! Frank was back in the kitchen at 7am making moose hash 'n eggs. Frank, you are my favorite.
From 8am - 3pm there looked to be a window where the wind would die down. Ryan waited to say to hey, hey, hey to friends Asbjoern and Gavan, then leaving Golovin for White Mountain (880) at 10:50am. Despite a pretty gnarly crosswind, Ryan was able to bike the last of the stupid sea ice and arrived to White Mountain at 3:37pm. He's rummaging through his drop box and considering a game plan. We shall see where he lands tonight, but....but....68 miles to go!
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