Good evening everyone! From the Tolstoi Headwaters shelter cabin, I am about 44 miles past Takotna. 

(garbled) I’m lucky I got here, because to be up there on that pass right now would be…wow, would not be a fun place…

But it was a great day, the trail was mostly rideable. It was our plan to take it easy out of McGrath for this very reason. You can see where those in front of me not waiting had caught a much softer trail and walked much of the way here. Granted, they’re ahead of me, but I wanted nothing to do with that post holing if I didn’t need to. Again I’m here for me and here for you, and whoever is ahead of me or behind me - I wish them all the best, but this is a one goal event and that’s to get to Nome. 

With good trail tomorrow, perhaps Iditarod, which will mark almost the halfway point of the trail. Amazing to think that we have come 8 days on this trail! And, they turned the dogs loose on us today! So I’ll be running as hard and as long as I can to stay out in front of them, for no other reason than it will just be fun.

It’s been a truly amazing 8 days, given me all I’ve wanted, and I can’t wait to share it with you all.
Until tomorrow! Onwards!