Bib #4 Tony Browning out at 2:00 with 10 dogs
Bib #5 Gunnar Johnson out at 2:01 with 11 dogs
Bib #7 Ryan Redington out at 2:03 with 10 dogs
Bib #6 Hugh Neff out at 2:05 with 10 dogs
Ambler Restart:
Bib #10 Sam Brewer out at 2:10 with 10 dogs
Bib #8 Kevin Hansen out at 2:11
Bib #11 Dempsey Woods out at 2:14 with 12 dogs
Bib #1 DJ Starr out at 2:31 with 10 dogs
Update. Click to expand.
Bib #9 Reese Madden out at 5:17am with 8 dogs
Phil Hanke is still on the trail from Kiana to Ambler moving in the direction of Kiana. We will not hear updates on Phil until the trail crew reaches Kiana.
#4 Tony Browning and #12 Philip Hanke are in Kiana. #7 Ryan Redington and #5 Gunnar Johnson are sticking together near Trinity Creek.
#6 Hugh Neff is traveling solo, with also solo #8 Kevin Hansen behind.
Then #1 DJ Starr, then pair #10 Sam Brewer and #11 Dempsey Woods.
#9 Reese Madden is a ways behind the main pack, traveling at a quick pace of 8.8mph. He was just crossing the Kobuk River about a half an hour ago.
Trail Breaker #1 and #2 appear to be in Kiana, though #2 might be headed back along the trail. Stay tuned:
#7 Ryan Redington and #5 Gunnar Johnson are likely next into Kiana
Kiana 2nd Pass Update:
Bib #4 Tony Browning in at 1:46pm
Bib #7 Ryan Redington in at 4:55pm
Bib #5 Gunnar Johnson in at 4:55pm
Bib #8 Kevin Hansen in at 5:26pm
Bib #6 Hugh Neff in at 5:47pm
Bib #11 Dempsey Woods in at 5:54pm
Kiana 2nd Pass Update:
Bib #10 Sam Brewer in at 6:27pm
Bib #1 DJ Starr in at 7:57pm
Tony Browning is out of Kiana at 9:46pm after completing mandatory 8 hours of rest on the return from Ambler. Estimated finish time is 6am!
The first finisher may not be the winner due to the time adjustments that will be made and order of finishers may not reflect final place.
Kobuk 440 Noorvik 2nd Pass:
Bib #4 Tony Browning in at 12:23am, out at 12:24am with 10 dogs
Noorvik 2nd Pass:
Bib #4 Tony Browning in at 12:23am, out at 12:24am with 10 dogs
Bib #8 Kevin Hansen in at 1:41am
Bib #5 Gunnar Johnson in at 3:48am, out at 3:58am with 10 dogs
Bib #7 Ryan Redington in at 3:56am, out at 4:04am with 9 dogs
Noorvik 2nd Pass
Bib #6 Hugh Neff in at 4:42am, out at 5:05am with 9 dogs
Bib #11 Dempsey Woods in at 4:45am, out at 4:50am with 10 dogs
#4 Tony Browning was the first to cross the finish line on the Kotzebue Sound, at 7:20am
This doesn’t mean he is our 2021 winner, due to time adjustments. He is the first to cross the finish line, however.
Looks like #8 Kevin Hansen left Noorvik 2nd pass as well, more or less with the group.
#7 Ryan Redington and #5 Gunnar Johnson are likely next to finish, with #8 Kevin Hansen close behind. The three teams are just about to pass Devil’s Lake. This means they’re close to the finish line out on the ice in front of Shore Avenue, a.k.a. Front Street
Just want to be clear, in case someone is just tuning into the race and it sounds to them like we have declared a winner.
#7 Ryan Redington is about a mile out from the finish, with #5 Gunnar Johnson close behind. #8 Keven Hansen is almost to the finish as well.
He's happy with his race, the dogs did awesome, he says. He says it's too soon to say if he'll run it again next year.
#6 Hugh Neff is expected to finish next.
#1 DJ Starr, #12 Philip Hanke and #9 Reese Madden are still out there. Reese is yet to reach the Noorvik Checkpoint (2nd Pass), but the other two already passed through it and are on their way to Kotzebue.
This is how it's looking on the tracker.
#6 Hugh Neff expected to finish soon, followed by #1 DJ Starr, then #12 Philip Hanke, and finally #9 Reese Madden.
All of these mushers contended with the worst of the worst conditions this weekend, so let's cheer 'em on home!
When we say a musher has passed Devil's Lake, this is what we are referring to! One of Kotzebue's municipal water supplies.
In the past, volunteers have put on a bonfire along the homestretch to help guide and cheer mushers on by the light of the fire.
#6 Hugh Neff has slowed down a little, moving at 2mph. He's almost to Devil's Lake. If you're in Kotzebue, might be a good time to fill your mug with a hot drink and head down to the ice! (The finish line is in front of Rotman's Store this year.)
(Or maybe a good time to start thinking about doing this, or walking if you'd have to walk far.)
#6 Hugh Neff is about to pass Devil's Lake.
#6 Hugh Neff finished at 3:43pm
#1 DJ Starr will be approaching Devil’s Lake soon
#12 Philip Hanke is heading towards the peninsula/land mass where Kotzebue is located
#9 Reese Madden had departed Noorvik (2nd Pass)
*has departed.
Good time to start thinking about getting to the ice to cheer on DJ Starr, or get ready for live coverage. 🙂
There will be an awards ceremony at 7pm tonight Alaska time, streamed live.
#1 DJ Starr has passed Devil’s Lake
#12 Philip Hanke scratched in Kiana, in the best interest of his dogs. He fought hard in an exceptionally hard race. Way to go, Philip!
Philip is almost back to Kotzebue, safe and sound! You can still track him as he comes in: trackleaders.com/kobuk21
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Three mushers were withdrawn: Philip Hanke, Nic Petit, and Jeff King. Reese Madden is still on the trail.
Derek Starr says thank you to everyone who supported him along the way. He won a beautiful birch bark basket and a cash prize. He actually drove by snowmachine from Huslia to Kotzebue to participate. 8th place.
Hugh Neff thanks his dogs. He thanks a dog that is retiring. A team with a lot of rookies. Emily is the leader. "Never seen a race like this A magical experience. It's not about what place, or how much money you win. But the love of the race and the Kobuk Valley. [Paraphrased]
KDMA racers include: John Gallahorn, Cyrus Harris, Jerry McCall, Glenn Thomas, Jim Borquin and Joe Nay.
The event was cut from three days to two days, due to weather.
Racer John Gallahorn spoke about all the value Kotzebue Dog Mushers Association (KDMA) provides to the community beyond dog mushing, including help with local burials, donations, search and rescue, and more.
u might think the 440 in kobuk 440 signifies how long the race is in miles. u would be wrong. it’s actually the number of things that go wrong every single day. the more u know.
it’s also the number of dogs nic petit has when he decides to leave the other 407 at home
of course, while 440 things are going wrong, another 440 things are going right :)
Iḷisaqativut Received the 2020 AFN Eileen Panigeo MacLean Education Award for their work. From all of us at Kobuk 440, Thank you for all you do for language learning in Alaska.
Billy Shungnak: the weather improving, wind has died down. visibility is 3 miles, light snow.
Jeff King hit his SOS button, 5 miles outside of SHG this morning and the trail crew responded and have brought Jeff into Shungnak. He is warming up and drying out, in good spirits now.
To be clear: Jeff and his dogs are all safe and doing well.
The trail crew retrieved his dogs; we’re glad to have trail crew with mushing experience! Clay Beck and Kelly Marcus have mushing experience. Clay was the one who assisted with Jeff’s dogs.