ITI 2025 Day 2 & 3: Hooligan’s Retreat (71.6) - Bivy (137.5) - Puntilla (153)

It was a quiet two days in terms of communication and pictures from Ryan (an indication that the trail is good), but everyone seems to still be cruising!  For a recap of the general race flow, tons of insight, and fun facts, I urge you to check out the trail updates from the Wild Winter Women- WWW (under “News” on the ITI webpage and @wildwinterwomen on Youtube)

Ryan’s days (on paper at least) looked quite nice (all times in AKST):

*Hooligan’s Retreat (71.6) left @7:13am (roughly a 7hr. rest)

*Skwentna (86.7) @ 9:13am (1:15hr stop) 

*Shell Lake (102.4) @ 1:10pm (30min stop)

*Finger Lake (123.9) @6:03pm (15min stop…must have been a cluster)

*Bivy spot (137.5) @ 10:58pm

Race veteran/badass/dear friend Faye described his choice in bivvy spot, “the place where Ryan stopped is up a bit higher in a few small hills (probably warmer than on the river or lakes and in some trees so it’s likely protected” (FYI, this is the type of intel gold you get with the WWW!).  “Good, but no Lights” ~ Ryan when asked how his night under the stars went. I’m going to assume 10/10 would recommend ;-)

*Bivy (137.5) left @ 4:20am (roughly a 5.5hr rest)

*Pedal, pedal, pedal and arrived at Puntilla Lake (153) @ 9:12am

He arrived just in time for his most favorite cup of coffee (non-Ruby of course!) and breakfast at the historic Rainy Pass Lodge.  We conversed in Spanish (usually a good sign) about how his race friends were faring and he promptly didn’t answer any of the questions I had for him..save what the plan was next: “sleep until lunch” 👏👏  I would expect at some point soon he’ll be on the move!

Funny story/Feeling Awful

@ Yentna I remarked how fast Ryan was going (“You’re 9hrs ahead of last year!”)...he responded, “Huh, I would have thought I would have been faster…I’ve been damp all day (meaning he was a-working)”  He left before I realized my error…I wasn’t making the time change and he was really 12hrs faster.  Eek! Need to dust off the rust on my dot watching #rookiemistake!

What Say You Ryan?

Day 1: What was the last thing Ryan purchased prior to the race?  

(Hint: He purchased it in Anchorage)

A. ***Black Diamond head lamp (left it on the drop box, aka dining room, table.  He had two others, but all his drop boxes had mostly AA batteries and well, those use AAA…to REI (again) he went)

B. A new bike (it actually broke in transport two years ago!)

C. A sweet new cycling cap (good eyes friends, but this was purchased prior to departure)

D. A lynx pelt for a new snap ruff (had Alaskan Fur Exchange had lynx, he’d definitely be the proud new owner of a lynx pelt…apparently the selection this time of year is a bit lackluster. Now, should inventory get built back up whilst he’s on the trail…)

Day 2: What is your favorite animal to see on the trail?

(This next section from Puntilla to Nikoli has been where Ryan’s historically seen a lot of wildlife)

    A. Bison (don’t you dare call it a buffalo!  And they usually come with bison hunters, Ryan’s people)

    B. Caribou (they make for great social media reels)

    C. Lynx (hard to spot, so affirming of his spotting skills)

    D. Fox (their shenanigans are a welcomed source of entertainment)

Comment with your guess and I’ll reveal the answer tomorrow!!