ITI Day 19: Shaktoolik (747) to Little Mountain Cabin (761)

Ryan's first text upon arriving at Shaktoolik (747) yesterday afternoon at 4:45pm  ~ "Well, that wind was awful."

We all thought it looked awful from the radar, so I can only imagine what it felt like.  He wasn't super chatty, and quite frankly I don't blame him.  I asked what was for dinner (he was crashing at the school in Shaktoolik)...if I'm not mistaken that's a freeze dried meal swiped from fellow racer Herman Watson's drop bag (you had him at queso...).  

I know he landed at the school because he sent this unexplained picture in the middle of the night and you can never forget the displays in the hallways of that school.  Am I bummed that I only got one to haunt me in my dreams this year??? Am I???

He was up bright and early, we got through the usual information (distances to cabins and checkpoints, where others were, how Theo's day looked) and then had the pleasure of discussing the weather.  The forecast hadn't changed much...still insanely cold and windy.  Cold until Tuesday (-teens & -twenties), windy (20+ mph sustained headwinds) until Sunday.  

He responded with, "Thanks. Could be in for a long day."  When I checked his status on my run and still saw him at Shaktoolik, I threw out a text to see if he was still there, or if there was an issue with his tracker (it stopped short the night before)...he responded he was still there, that he was waiting until the sun came up because it was currently -40 windchill. Simmer dude, no one is judging. No. One. ;-)

He pedaled off (pushed his bike) at 9:25am, arriving to Little Mountain Cabin (761.6) at 4:30pm.  Foot pal Gavan messaged earlier in the afternoon that he was holed up at the cabin because the "wind was wild."  I get their desire to get moving, but I sure hope they consider staying until at least midnight when the winds start to die down.  Maybe he can heat up some of that to-go left over pizza?!?  The next 30 miles to Koyuk is my least favorite section, crossing the sea ice of Norton Bay.  For once, I'm grateful for the super cold temps (let's keep that ice nice and solid!), but it's so open and exposed that I can't imagine it with a wicked, wicked headwind.  The only thing I'm more grateful for is Ryan's solid decision making always, so I know he's not leaving until he knows he can safely make it to Koyuk (which I think is the Cadillac of school stops).

I leave you with my favorite picture from Ryan around Little Mountain, taken while on foot two years ago :-)