Beals rests in Kalskag inbound as chase pack closes in

Travis Beals made a move earlier today when he elected to breeze through Aniak and run straight to Kalskag inbound. The veteran musher stayed just long enough in Aniak to snack his team and grab supplies before continuing down the trail. The team still had three hours of mandatory rest to complete and with his exit in Aniak every musher now knew his strategy - putting miles between his team and theirs before taking a long rest.

Mike Williams Jr. and team have been flying up the trail and were the first into Aniak Saturday. The hometown hero is running a nearly flawless race so far and chose to take the remaining mandatory rest for his team in Aniak. He's currently in the chase pack running third on the tracker, but is really in first as he is the furthest along the trail with all of his rest. It will be interesting to see how long Williams will rest in Kalskag before heading back onto the trail inbound.

Cody Strathe reached Kalskag nearly an hour behind Beals, with 2 hours of mandatory rest in the CP ahead of Strathe and his team of Squids. This puts both Beals and Strathe leaving within minutes of each other. Both teams have had their most recent Kuskos land them in third place (Strathe last year, Beals the year before). Cody won't have a lot of time to chill before other teams make it in. (As this blog is being typed Williams and Dyche came into the CP and left immediately after.)

Emily Robinson and Peter Kaiser should be next in and both have taken their mandatory rest. They are running close together. It's at least a four team race to the Tuluksak inbound checkpoint where every team must complete their final four hours of mandatory rest. Reports on the outbound trail said the trail was "punchy" due to the many "post holes" left by moose punching through the snow as they walk on the trail. Moose sightings have also been reported.

Never a dull moment on the Kusko!