Print article This letter is to thank Marc Lester for telling us the story of this year’s Kobuk 440 probably the biggest story, among the many, of this year’s race. Those of us in COVID-19 confinement can at least have a taste of the blustery snow, the unknown, the deep soft snow, trailbreaking, remember our experiences with bitter cold and a have little exposure to the valiant struggles of our state’s biggest dreamers, daring adventurers and their wonderful dogs tugging along the disappearing trail. I enjoyed Mr. Lester’s telling of the tale and was gripped by the story of Jeff King’s battle with hypothermia and his and Philip Hanke’s tough decision to ask for help. I didn’t know, prior to this, that the race had such safeguards as satellite messaging devices, and was relieved to read about them, and the teams of people willing to go out in the blizzard to check on mushers. Once again, I was reminded of the adventurous spirit in so many Alaskans that leads
Veteran mushers blindsided by storm during Kobuk 440 April 15th 10:54 am |
Mark Lester, ADN
After he lost the race trail, Jeff King stopped his dog team and draped his sleeping bag over his head to block the battering wind and blowing snow. He was somewhere between the villages of Ambler and Shungnak in Alaska s Arctic northwest competing in the Kobuk 440 Sled Dog Race. Conditions ranged from howling to furious.
The last few hours took exhaustive effort to move straight into fierce headwind. So when King stopped seeing trail markers, he thought better than to guess about how to correct his course.
Veteran mushers blindsided by storm during Kobuk 440 thearcticsounder.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from thearcticsounder.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Print article Wind blows over Jeff King s resting dog team between Ambler and Shungnak during the Kobuk 440 Sled Dog Race on April 4, 2021. (Robin Gage photo) After he lost the race trail, Jeff King stopped his dog team and draped his sleeping bag over his head to block the battering wind and blowing snow. He was somewhere between the villages of Ambler and Shungnak in Alaska’s Arctic northwest competing in the Kobuk 440 Sled Dog Race. Conditions ranged from howling to furious. The last few hours took exhaustive effort to move straight into fierce headwind. So when King stopped seeing trail markers, he thought better than to guess about how to correct his course.
Duluthian Gunnar Johnson Finishes Storm Torn Kobuk 440
Gunnar Johnson announced on his Facebook page that he finally finished the Alaskan sled dog race.
Gunnar hadn t finished the Iditarod because of COVID and it was recommended he find one more race before the end of the season as closer to the season. So, he chose the Kobuk 440.
The race started late because he was waiting for the weather to clear enough to get in a plane and fly to the start of the race. A blizzard hit the area and they had to postpone the start until all the racers and officials could make it in to start the race.