Yukon Arctic Ultra 2007
Jessica Simons writes:
Race Update, Feb. 18th
At 8:30 this morning Andy Heading took the Ultra’s first steps into the unknown, the trail to Scroggie Creek. Physically, he’s in great shape and good spirits. Only his gear is giving him grief. He repaired a sled blow out on the fly by cutting off the back end of his toboggan so accumulated snow could slough off. And, a stay that broke out of McCabe was replaced in Pelly with parts scrounged up by race officials. Now, refreshed and refurbished, “he’s looking fine and making good time,” said trail crew Mike Simon and Pete Nielson who caught up to Andy 27 miles north of Pelly Farm. To ensure athletes can finish under their own steam, trail crews are hauling spare pulk parts.
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Joachim Rintsch and Tom Wolter-Roessler got to Pelly Farms at 13:28. Klaus Schweinberger and Pearse Allen caught up to them at 21:20. They have eight hours to prepare for the northern challenge. Joachim and Tom plan to be on the trail at 2 a.m.
Heading into the home stretch are 300-milers Sean Brown, Torben Birch and Palle Andersen. The Danes left Pelly Crossing at 12:30 this morning, but had a false start when they couldn’t find the trail out of town. Reoriented from the checkpoint, at 01:55 they went downstream on the final 60 miles of trail. Half an hour later Sean followed them along the Pelly River. It’s down to the wire for all three contestants as the eight day deadline looms. They have until 10:30 Monday for the last leg to Pelly Farms and back to the finish in Pelly Crossing.
Basking in the glow of a well-run race is David Berridge, the third 300-mile finisher. He crossed the line at 08:14. Frank Janssens, who left Pelly Farms at 07:19, got in at 17:06. Both are spending tonight in soft beds at a Whitehorse hotel with central heating and hot and cold running water. Nothing like a week in the bush to heighten one’s appreciation of modern conveniences.
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