March 14, 1998

The 14th saw a day where Martin's position changed constantly in a lead pack of six teams. DeeDee Jon Rowe continued pressing the pace after Baker dropped back after his 24 hour rest stop.

Associated Press race report
Be sure to check previous days' reports for additional race info!

Reading today's article in the Daily News is a bit reassuring! Martin's only comment was that he didn't intend to be in the lead. DeeDee is clearly in the driver's seat at this point! But it is a very long way to Nome!

One exciting item is that Martin has 14 dogs in the team. He sent home Vortex and Blitzen. Vortex is home and doing fine. He was said to have a sore wrist but is jumping around now that he is home. He is mentally a bit of a strange dog anyway. Blitzen was listed with a sore shoulder but when they took him out of the truck in Anchorage, they said he dove out and looked fine.

Having 14 dogs on the Yukon River on a hard packed trail is not really a big advantage, other than mental. But when the teams make the portage from Kaltag to Unalakleet they cross some considerable hills. Hopefully, he can maintain a larger team until then.

Martin did have a lighter sled to switch to in Galena so the dogs should have a nice run down the Yukon.

My niece pointed out some discrepancies in Doug Swingley's layover time in Ruby. If one goes back to Log 704 it clearly shows Doug arriving at 6:46, Log 711 shows him leaving at 14:44, 2 minutes short of 8 hours, but the time says 7:57. Then Log 712 posts his arrival time differently, pretty interesting. Wonder if anyone out on the trail noticed.

It should be a beautiful day on the Yukon!!!!!

Happy trails,
Kathy

Click here to let us know what you think of our race reports.

Additional sponsorship thanks go out to Big Lake-Susitna Veterinary Hospital, Mrs. C.V. Whitney, Homesteader's Hardware and Lumber, Northern Outfitters, Wes' Small Engine Repair, the Buser Booster Club, Trapper Creek Sausage, Maurice Cocquyt, Jr., Bill and Pamela Wood, the Van Zyle's, and our kennel crew, Larry Fisher and Matt