Atta Boy 300 Race Updates--Ultimate Iditarod

Ultimate Iditarod Behind-the-Scenes Race Coverage

Atta Boy 300 Race Update--Day 5

Third Stage of the Race--Sisters to Mt. Bachelor, Oregon

January 9, 2001

Snowcrest Racing Sled Dogs--Seeley Lake, MT

WOW! The weather has cleared and gotten colder; the trail has hardened and become faster, and the course today was magnificent. We did lots of climbing and downhills, including some pretty challenging and technical stuff. We started at about 4,500 feet above sea level, and by the time we were done climbing, we were well above 7,000. Overall, we did 9,200 feet of climbing and "falling" today. What a rush!

The dogs did great. I placed about fifteenth today, and am holding sixteenth overall. Dad was a bit slower again today, but we both did the 45.8-mile course at about 10 miles per hour or just over that. We were thrilled with how well the dogs did!!

Because a picture is worth a thousand words, I have decided to quit writing this update and just show everyone some of the beautiful scenery that we experienced today. Enjoy, as we surely did today.




Today was a beautiful, sunny day, and we were treated to some awesome views of central Oregon's most spectacular scenery.	Many of the pictures show how close the teams have been running. We do a lot of passing every day, and we are all interacting with each other on the trail. I really enjoy the camaraderie of sled dog racing, and the Atta Boy 300 has been wonderful in every way, including cooperation and sportsmanship of all involved.

Tomorrow, we have the longest stage of the race at 47.3 miles. Note that I was wrong in yesterday's update when I said today's stage was that length. Today's stage was 45.8 miles. Tomorrow's stage is a slight bit longer, but has much less climbing.

We have moved to Prineville, Oregon, for tomorrow's stage, and the surrounding country is different from the Cascade Mountain terrain we have been running in. We had a wonderful banquet with everyone from Prineville tonight, and we are looking forward to a great race tomorrow. We'll see if Doug Swingley will keep on winning!

Jim Gallea

Atta Boy 300 Fourth Stage Race Facts

Third Stage (to be run Jan. 10) Distance: 47.3 miles

Start/Finish: Walton Lake near Prineville, Oregon

This is the longest stage of the race, but the course features less climbing than yesterday.

Miles Completed So Far: 134.3

Overall Race Distance: 7 timed legs totaling 300 miles

Race Format: Stage Race

Race Location: Central Oregon, centering around the communities of Bend, Sisters, and Mt. Bachelor

Mushers: 26 (each driving his or her own team) Note that one musher scratched (dropped out of the race) on Wednesday.

Dogs per team: 16, but only 12 run at one time (this is different from Iditarod rules). The other 4 "get the day off."

Other information: This is the first running of the race, and everyone is very excited!

© 2002 Ultimate Iditarod, Snowcrest Racing Sled Dogs, Seavey's Iditarod Racing Team
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