Iron Dog Race

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Kaltag shifts to “gas-and-go” only checkpoint

Team 28, Sven and Steven Gustafson scratched in Puntilla, due to injury. The pair were making their way back to Big Lake Sunday morning. Courtesy Heather Sottasonti

The city of Kaltag has shifted its checkpoint to “Gas and Go” only, which means racers coming through the checkpoint may re-fuel quickly and then must be on their way. 

“We were advised last night from the city that they are asking us not to have racers layover there,” said race marshal Tim Jauhola. 

That means racers should not even take off their helmets, he added.  

“Racers are leaving McGrath as we speak,” he added. “They are either going to layover this evening in Ruby or Galena, and possibly Unalakleet, if someone decides to push that far.”

As of 9 a.m. more than half of the teams had left McGrath, and the others were completing layovers. 

The only team to scratch thus far is Team 28, the father-son duo of Steven and Sven Gustafson. They ended their race at Puntilla Lake, after one of them crashed and suffered a shoulder injury. Race marshal Tyson Johnson said he didn’t know which of the racers suffered the injury, but that they appear well enough to make their way back to Big Lake on their own. 

Ambassador Team 77 makes their way from McGrath to Galena. Courtesy Roger Brown

“After the crash, they likely got going and limped forward to the checkpoint to assess,” said Johnson, an Iron Dog veteran himself who is familiar with such mishaps.  

“As of now, it looks like they’re on their way back,” he said, indicating the GPS tracking that showed them heading home. 

Media Contact: Bob Menne, Executive Director, Iron Dog Inc., (907) 854-0097 or (907) 563-4414,  director@irondog.org      

Volunteer Drew Wessels and Ambassador Team 77 member Roger Brown at the Poorman checkpoint. Courtesy Roger Brown

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