ITI 2025 Day 11 & 12: Ruby (495.6) to Galena (544.8)

Follow @itialaska for general race updates, itidiaries.blogspot.com for Ryan updates.

TL; DR: back to slow, boring, and waitin’ on them dogs

Ryan’s ride (all times in AKST):

*Arrived @ Ruby (495.6) at 4:40p...80 miles in one fell swoop!!

*Departed at 8:42a, arrived at Galena (544.8) @ 12:28a

What a push to get to Ruby. The call to move at night was a good one and he arrived to Ruby in time for a big pasta dinner and other forms of carbs. 

Left the next morning with intel the River was soft and slow.  It was. Sounded frustrated and bored, opting to take a rest to ride the last miles with trail friends Julie & Karl. 

Arrived to a bustling Galena, sharing Larry’s lovely space (“there’s few better spots to rest than Larry’s!”) with the Iditarod Air Force.  He was entertained with their stories of dog pickup and equipment movement.  Took a nap to rest up for more night travel (temps are lower, but still too warm), which is “more firm and more fun”.  Next up is 50.8 mile Yukon River pedal to the town of Nulato.

Pictures are from the trek north from the Cripple checkpoint, time in Ruby, trail to Galena, and a juicebox party in Galena with friends. Good pics credited to M. Tanaka (TY!)

What Say You Ryan?

Day 10: Trail snack you get sick of first…

1. Reese's Pieces (these didn’t even make the cut this year…bc they were all consumed whilst packing.  I’ve never met a person so in love with the Pieces)

2. ***Jerky (chewing, chewing, and then frozen chewing)

3. Dehydrated meals (you can’t hate actual substance, regardless of form it comes in. He’s so basic though: Mtn. House beef stroganoff, beef stew, beef noodles…)

4. Salted Nut Rolls (I agree with all y’all, my jaw just hurts…but no complaints yet!)

Day 11 & 12: Favorite geographic part of the course (northern or southern route)...

1. Rainy Pass/Dalzell Gorge (what goes up, must come down…and oh, how fun the descent is!)

2. Abandoned town of Iditarod (an embodiment of everything he loves about the race…bummed to miss it this year!)

3. Yukon River miles (northern or southern route, they’re just so expansive)

4. Bering Sea Crossing (a wild ride you won’t really get with any other race)

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