Negotiating Overflow Photo courtesy of Elliot McAllister

Editor’s Note: Elliot McAllister is one of 50 people currently competing in the 2005 Alaska Ultra, which follows the famed Iditarod route. Only instead of mushing dogs, contestants either ski, bike or run their way from Knick Lake (near Anchorage) to Nome, 1,100 miles of unadulterated hardship. Racing in his fourth Alaska Ultra, Elliot will ride his bike across the frozen tundra, chasing fellow biker Mike Curiak, who set the course record of 15 days, 1 hour, 15 minutes in 2000. He is sending us updates of the race whenever he steps in from the cold - so read on and stay tuned.

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Wednesday, March 9, 2005

Hey MountainZone!

As usual, communications here are always a bit hard. The conditions for this year's race have been phenomenal! The trail is really packed down: hard and fast. I was wishing for a cross bike for the first 10 miles as we headed towards Flathorn Lake. (Instead, I was towing a 40 pound sled with all my gear in it). The bikers are averaging about 10 mph through the first checkpoints and as usual the front runners are the big dogs. Mike Curiack, Rocky Reifenstuhl, Pete Basinger, Alan Sheldon, and Chloe Lanthier all are in the top spots. Steve Reifenstuhl and Tom Jarding are heading up the foot division, blasting into Luce's Checkpoint right on our heals.

I asked Steve about the Italian walker, Roberto Ghiodi, if he had seen him. Steve said that they were going to walk the first section together, and take another trail to Luce's, but Roberto had never showed up. I found out later that Roberto had taken a wrong turn on the river and trekked nearly 14 miles out of his way before he realized the mistake! Ouch...

Mike Curiack, Jeff Oatley, and Rocky all left Luce's this evening as the lead pack. The UK invasion of Alan Sheldon, (Nome Vet), Carl Hutchings Eric Parsons and Pete Basinger all rounded out the chase group, arriving as the leaders were leaving.

I opted out of sleeping the first night, I was way too wound up, and had lost quite a bit of time over the others carrying that infernal sled, (now named PUNT), over the first hills to get to the river. I had expected to be a bit behind the leaders, but when I arrived at Flathorn and saw that I was 3 hours off of Mike and Rocky's Group I was floored.

I traveled down the Yentna River towards the Skwentna checkpoint. Trading leads with Steve and Tom Jarding. I know that those two guys move fast and don't sleep, so if I could stay with them to the next checkpoint, I'll be in good shape and not too wasted.

I'm checked in here at Skwentna Roadhouse...Mike looks to have a little lead on the rest of the pack heading outta here at 3:45 this morning, the rest arrived at 3:30 and left after a few hours sleep.

I'm planning on pushing off shortly here, no sleep for the weary. I'd like to make it to Shell Lake Lodge, (about mid way to Finger Lake), by the time I calm down here.

Check you guys later!

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