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When I'm out there,
I think
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this trail hasn't changed in
thousands of years, you know.
3
00:01:46,071 --> 00:01:49,143
I'm sharing that trail
with ancestors,
4
00:01:49,178 --> 00:01:52,319
and with people that went
out there to find gold,
5
00:01:52,353 --> 00:01:55,045
you know, in the 1890s.
6
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There's nothing that I
know of that's like it.
7
00:01:58,083 --> 00:02:01,121
And when you're on the trail,
it's you and that trail alone.
8
00:02:05,815 --> 00:02:08,887
The Iditarod trail Invitational,
it's a race
9
00:02:08,921 --> 00:02:12,684
of 350 miles to McGrath
starting from Anchorage.
10
00:02:12,718 --> 00:02:14,582
For the people
who want to keep going,
11
00:02:14,617 --> 00:02:18,276
you can go for 1000 miles to represent
the entire Iditarod sled dog race
12
00:02:18,310 --> 00:02:20,416
up to Nome, the Bering Sea.
13
00:02:20,450 --> 00:02:23,522
The race can be done
either on foot,
14
00:02:23,557 --> 00:02:26,939
on a bike,
or on cross-country ski.
15
00:02:28,217 --> 00:02:29,735
Nothing will challenge you,
I think,
16
00:02:29,770 --> 00:02:31,910
quite like the Iditarod trail
Invitational would.
17
00:02:31,944 --> 00:02:34,775
It's one of those races
where really anything can happen.
18
00:02:34,809 --> 00:02:37,916
This is the epitome of Winter Ultras.
19
00:02:37,950 --> 00:02:40,298
This is the big one.
Certainly, going to Nome,
20
00:02:40,332 --> 00:02:43,266
I imagine, has got to be the
toughest bicycle race on Earth.
21
00:02:43,301 --> 00:02:46,096
And going to McGrath isn't
probably all that far behind.
22
00:02:48,754 --> 00:02:52,172
My history of the
Iditarod trail began in 1998.
23
00:02:52,206 --> 00:02:55,727
I heard about a race
from Knik to McGrath.
24
00:02:55,761 --> 00:02:58,108
And I was a musher at the time.
25
00:02:58,143 --> 00:03:00,663
So I took the front end
of my dog team
26
00:03:00,697 --> 00:03:04,701
and went and did the race
to McGrath skijoring.
27
00:03:05,668 --> 00:03:08,567
One year on the trail
to McGrath,
28
00:03:08,602 --> 00:03:10,880
and I was addicted.
29
00:03:10,914 --> 00:03:14,884
And I've been back every year since,
either as a competitor,
30
00:03:14,918 --> 00:03:18,612
or as race marshal
slash trail breaker.
31
00:03:27,690 --> 00:03:30,313
I met Frank
when I was planning
32
00:03:30,348 --> 00:03:32,626
to do the 2014 race.
33
00:03:32,660 --> 00:03:36,768
I couldn't have asked for a
better partner in this experience.
34
00:03:39,771 --> 00:03:42,152
How far will we be able to go this year?
35
00:03:42,187 --> 00:03:44,569
What kind of decision
will I have to take
36
00:03:44,603 --> 00:03:46,398
to bring me to the finish line.
37
00:03:46,433 --> 00:03:48,228
You need to be prepared for
38
00:03:48,262 --> 00:03:50,816
whatever Mother Nature
decides to throw at us.
39
00:03:50,851 --> 00:03:53,198
You don't have to take a decision
according to someone else,
40
00:03:53,233 --> 00:03:56,339
or following the rules of something.
Here there's no rules.
41
00:03:56,374 --> 00:03:58,238
The rules
is try to stay alive,
42
00:03:58,272 --> 00:04:00,654
and if something is wrong,
you are the only one
43
00:04:00,688 --> 00:04:02,897
responsible for the decision
you took.
44
00:04:03,760 --> 00:04:05,245
And that's really exciting.
45
00:04:08,765 --> 00:04:10,180
All right, here we go.
46
00:04:17,602 --> 00:04:21,330
I know Tim Hewitt has walked
on a stress fracture for 500 miles.
47
00:04:21,364 --> 00:04:22,503
So he can do it.
48
00:04:22,538 --> 00:04:25,299
He's back for his tenth go
49
00:04:25,334 --> 00:04:27,336
to go to Nome.
50
00:04:27,370 --> 00:04:30,822
What's bringing me back this
time is I want to do the bicycle.
51
00:04:30,856 --> 00:04:35,344
The last few times I've had a
purpose each time that I've come.
52
00:04:35,378 --> 00:04:38,795
This year I just want
to get to Nome on my terms,
53
00:04:38,830 --> 00:04:41,039
and we'll see what happens.
54
00:04:42,627 --> 00:04:46,941
Until I came to Alaska,
I didn't really know what wilderness was.
55
00:04:46,976 --> 00:04:49,185
But I was
very attracted to it.
56
00:04:49,219 --> 00:04:54,397
When you're in it, there's just no
sign that humans have touched it.
57
00:04:54,432 --> 00:04:55,985
Thanks, everyone,
for coming.
58
00:04:56,019 --> 00:04:58,919
This is our 16th annual event.
59
00:04:58,953 --> 00:05:01,093
Cut off times is four days
to Winter Lake,
60
00:05:01,128 --> 00:05:03,613
five days
to Rainy Pass Lodge,
61
00:05:03,648 --> 00:05:04,683
six days to Rohn,
62
00:05:04,718 --> 00:05:07,617
ten days to McGrath,
and 30 to Nome.
63
00:05:07,652 --> 00:05:11,000
Evacs are your responsibility.
64
00:05:11,034 --> 00:05:12,898
I'm not going to give you
all the pricing
65
00:05:12,933 --> 00:05:14,969
but don't scratch and run.
66
00:05:25,639 --> 00:05:27,185
I'm afraid of a lot of things out there
67
00:05:27,219 --> 00:05:28,811
and that's one of the reasons
I do stuff.
68
00:05:28,845 --> 00:05:32,124
I'm actually kind of
a fearful person by nature.
69
00:05:32,159 --> 00:05:35,127
I don't like that about myself,
so...
70
00:05:35,162 --> 00:05:36,853
my solution it
to confront my fears.
71
00:05:36,888 --> 00:05:40,823
You got to go out there and push
yourselves and that's my inner calling.
72
00:05:40,857 --> 00:05:42,859
You can't grow by sitting idle.
73
00:05:42,894 --> 00:05:44,965
We don't challenge ourselves anymore.
74
00:05:44,999 --> 00:05:50,902
And I think that's one of the opportunities
that this kind of race offers.
75
00:05:50,936 --> 00:05:55,631
There's one saying that Bill has
that we all have cracks in ourselves.
76
00:05:55,665 --> 00:05:56,942
And then we come back
the next year
77
00:05:56,977 --> 00:06:00,290
to see if we've done something
about those cracks.
78
00:06:00,325 --> 00:06:02,707
It's not something to take lightly.
79
00:06:02,741 --> 00:06:04,847
I know that's a concern
of Bill's,
80
00:06:04,881 --> 00:06:07,401
is that people don't appreciate
81
00:06:07,436 --> 00:06:10,853
how bad it can be out there.
82
00:06:10,887 --> 00:06:12,924
There are always risks around every corner.
83
00:06:12,958 --> 00:06:15,720
Thin ice across rivers,
that's something that you assess,
84
00:06:15,754 --> 00:06:17,722
I guess,
minute by minute.
85
00:06:17,756 --> 00:06:19,551
More than having respect for it,
86
00:06:19,586 --> 00:06:22,968
you better be prepared to know what you're
going to do when you get into trouble.
87
00:06:23,003 --> 00:06:24,867
As much as those conditions make me nervous,
88
00:06:24,901 --> 00:06:26,040
I kind of like
those decisions.
89
00:06:26,075 --> 00:06:29,009
I think it keeps you aware,
90
00:06:29,043 --> 00:06:32,219
keeps you alert,
and you better be.
91
00:06:32,253 --> 00:06:34,497
It's all about the risk
you want to take.
92
00:06:34,532 --> 00:06:37,707
How willing are you
to spend the rest of your life
93
00:06:37,742 --> 00:06:40,572
without your fingers,
or your feet?
94
00:06:40,607 --> 00:06:42,367
Or how those that you love
95
00:06:42,402 --> 00:06:44,714
spend the rest of their lives
without you?
96
00:06:44,749 --> 00:06:48,442
Because that's the consequences
of not being prepared out here.
97
00:06:54,828 --> 00:06:56,795
Feels great.
98
00:06:56,830 --> 00:06:59,142
Feels like how I left it.
99
00:06:59,177 --> 00:07:01,006
I'm anxious because I'm on a bike
100
00:07:01,041 --> 00:07:04,044
and I don't have
the same level of confidence
101
00:07:04,078 --> 00:07:06,426
in my abilities on the bike.
102
00:07:13,950 --> 00:07:16,159
Always love these
last minute adjustments.
103
00:07:16,194 --> 00:07:18,230
Okay,
less than two minutes.
104
00:07:37,457 --> 00:07:41,150
I have never told anybody
what they need to survive.
105
00:07:43,186 --> 00:07:47,259
I have let people make
their own decisions out here.
106
00:07:49,572 --> 00:07:51,747
And then my responsibility
107
00:07:51,781 --> 00:07:54,370
is to sit here and sweat blood
108
00:07:54,404 --> 00:07:57,304
and hope that I made
the right decision
109
00:07:57,338 --> 00:07:59,513
when I told them, "Yes,
you can come do this."
110
00:07:59,548 --> 00:08:03,206
So when I make that decision,
and I don't have a board.
111
00:08:03,241 --> 00:08:05,554
When I make that decision,
it's on me.
112
00:08:06,969 --> 00:08:09,799
And what I'm saying
to that person
113
00:08:09,834 --> 00:08:12,181
is, "Okay, you've convinced me
114
00:08:12,215 --> 00:08:15,287
"that you're not going to hurt
yourself or die on me out here."
115
00:08:32,235 --> 00:08:35,066
First couple of minutes are always intense.
116
00:08:35,100 --> 00:08:37,413
Everyone's burning off
some sugars.
117
00:08:37,447 --> 00:08:40,243
Everyone's pretty excited
about the Trail.
118
00:08:40,278 --> 00:08:43,626
In the end, you know,
you just got to ride your own line.
119
00:08:44,869 --> 00:08:47,527
Do your best
120
00:08:47,561 --> 00:08:50,288
to stay upright
and frosty.
121
00:08:57,916 --> 00:09:01,264
On the Iditarod trail it's
going to be my fourth edition.
122
00:09:01,299 --> 00:09:03,612
In 2012 I've done it on foot
123
00:09:03,646 --> 00:09:05,510
and I've done the 350 miles.
124
00:09:05,545 --> 00:09:08,824
I said if we go to Nome then
I'm going to go with a fat bike.
125
00:09:08,858 --> 00:09:10,929
So that was in 2014.
126
00:09:10,964 --> 00:09:13,345
And I had a huge meltdown.
127
00:09:14,208 --> 00:09:17,246
And I poorly managed
that situation.
128
00:09:17,280 --> 00:09:20,560
Last year I tried to get back
to 1000 miles
129
00:09:20,594 --> 00:09:24,011
and I had to stop because I'd been
stuck in a blizzard for three days.
130
00:09:25,012 --> 00:09:28,257
So I thought, "Okay, 2017,
let's go for it."
131
00:09:28,878 --> 00:09:30,777
So here I am
132
00:09:30,811 --> 00:09:33,365
hoping to be able to go
to Nome this time.
133
00:09:35,264 --> 00:09:37,024
- You're good.
- We're good.
134
00:09:41,339 --> 00:09:43,548
Gotta get me looking
fast one time.
135
00:09:43,583 --> 00:09:45,930
That'll be much better
than this struggling.
136
00:09:54,697 --> 00:09:58,356
Well, it's just become
a push-fest on Flathorn Lake.
137
00:09:59,668 --> 00:10:01,601
There's a lot of overflow,
138
00:10:01,635 --> 00:10:04,534
and it's very punchy,
the snow is very soft.
139
00:10:14,303 --> 00:10:18,100
Overflow is caused on lakes and rivers.
140
00:10:18,134 --> 00:10:19,998
If we have a lot of heavy snow,
141
00:10:20,033 --> 00:10:22,069
it causes the ice to settle.
142
00:10:22,104 --> 00:10:24,209
The ice has
little cracks in it.
143
00:10:24,244 --> 00:10:27,661
And when the ice settles,
it puts more pressure on the water below,
144
00:10:27,696 --> 00:10:30,043
and the water comes up
through the cracks in the ice
145
00:10:30,077 --> 00:10:32,045
and fills all the low spots.
146
00:10:32,804 --> 00:10:34,979
And I've always told racers,
147
00:10:35,013 --> 00:10:38,948
"If there's water in the trail,
cross the water.
148
00:10:38,983 --> 00:10:43,263
"If you step off the trail,
you may step into crotch-deep slushy."
149
00:11:09,427 --> 00:11:11,325
- Everything okay?
- Yeah.
150
00:11:14,708 --> 00:11:15,744
- Done?
- Yeah.
151
00:11:15,778 --> 00:11:17,677
It's not pretty.
Beginner.
152
00:11:18,678 --> 00:11:19,678
Keep working.
153
00:11:21,750 --> 00:11:23,855
Hi.
154
00:11:23,890 --> 00:11:25,788
- Good stuff, guys.
- Thanks.
155
00:12:00,029 --> 00:12:01,893
How are you feeling?
156
00:12:01,928 --> 00:12:04,654
Hopefully,
get some drying going
157
00:12:04,689 --> 00:12:06,760
and probably take off,
I don't know...
158
00:12:08,244 --> 00:12:10,730
in half hour or 45 minutes.
Maybe an hour.
159
00:12:10,764 --> 00:12:12,732
- Mm-hmm.
- Something like that.
160
00:12:13,491 --> 00:12:14,975
Hey!
161
00:12:15,010 --> 00:12:17,598
- Oh, yeah. Looking good.
- Old Man Winter.
162
00:12:17,633 --> 00:12:18,807
Yeah. I just saw myself.
163
00:12:27,505 --> 00:12:30,094
- We'll hopefully make it to Finger Lake...
- Mm-hmm.
164
00:12:30,128 --> 00:12:31,820
...before I fall apart.
165
00:12:34,167 --> 00:12:35,996
I thought with the snow
166
00:12:36,031 --> 00:12:38,758
it was going to be slower but
we're still moving pretty good.
167
00:12:38,792 --> 00:12:39,792
So that's awesome.
168
00:12:41,691 --> 00:12:44,764
Not too far back, him and Phil
look like they're riding together.
169
00:12:46,317 --> 00:12:49,251
- Where are we?
- Right there.
170
00:12:59,399 --> 00:13:01,815
Feels good to be dry.
171
00:13:05,198 --> 00:13:06,855
See you down the trail, eh?
172
00:13:13,827 --> 00:13:16,243
I've lived in Alaska for 15 years.
173
00:13:16,278 --> 00:13:18,004
But there's never
a comfort level here.
174
00:13:18,038 --> 00:13:21,041
I can leave my house for a bike
ride at night, and I get nervous.
175
00:13:21,076 --> 00:13:22,940
I think that's kind of
the draw of Alaska
176
00:13:22,974 --> 00:13:24,804
is there is that challenge
177
00:13:24,838 --> 00:13:28,255
of trying to feel like you've got
some sort of control, and you don't.
178
00:13:28,290 --> 00:13:30,775
Man, you guys are out here!
Ah.
179
00:13:33,122 --> 00:13:34,814
- What's that?
- How you doing, buddy?
180
00:13:34,848 --> 00:13:36,401
Oh, hanging in there.
181
00:13:36,436 --> 00:13:38,438
- It's not too bad.
- How's the trail?
182
00:13:38,472 --> 00:13:42,028
It's been good.
Especially since Yentna it's been good.
183
00:13:42,062 --> 00:13:44,513
There's big chunk
of overflow for a while.
184
00:13:44,547 --> 00:13:47,102
- That kind of woke me up.
- Yeah.
185
00:13:47,136 --> 00:13:48,689
Did you go through it all?
186
00:13:48,724 --> 00:13:52,072
Yeah, yeah,
I had to put on waders
187
00:13:52,107 --> 00:13:55,696
and went through it and then I went
back and found the way around it.
188
00:13:56,180 --> 00:13:57,940
So...
189
00:13:57,975 --> 00:14:00,770
It's good, it wakes you up. You need
something a little different out there.
190
00:14:00,805 --> 00:14:02,842
Otherwise nod off.
191
00:14:02,876 --> 00:14:05,603
- Enjoy the evening, man.
- Yeah, I'll see you later.
192
00:14:14,060 --> 00:14:15,958
Looking forward to some sleep.
193
00:14:18,823 --> 00:14:21,412
We should be there.
194
00:14:21,446 --> 00:14:23,483
I don't know. I'm not...
195
00:15:02,487 --> 00:15:07,354
We stopped at Cindy's cabin,
slept there for four, five hours.
196
00:15:07,389 --> 00:15:09,978
Had food,
night and in the morning.
197
00:15:10,012 --> 00:15:13,602
So we'll just probably
pop here for a quick snack
198
00:15:13,636 --> 00:15:16,881
and warm beverage and
then carry on for the day.
199
00:15:16,916 --> 00:15:18,676
It was a bit tough yesterday.
200
00:15:18,710 --> 00:15:21,265
Actually today
I'm feeling really good.
201
00:15:25,234 --> 00:15:27,581
If the conditions are
fine you don't want to stop.
202
00:15:27,616 --> 00:15:30,032
Because let's say I stop here,
I enjoy the moment,
203
00:15:30,067 --> 00:15:31,275
but the storm
is may be coming.
204
00:15:31,309 --> 00:15:32,932
Tomorrow it may
be totally different.
205
00:15:32,966 --> 00:15:35,624
So what I haven't today
in a good condition,
206
00:15:35,658 --> 00:15:38,696
may be much harder tomorrow
if it's snowing.
207
00:15:38,730 --> 00:15:41,285
Or when the trail is not
in such a good condition.
208
00:15:42,113 --> 00:15:43,804
So it's more the unknown.
209
00:15:43,839 --> 00:15:47,498
It's just not knowing what's
going to happen next hour.
210
00:15:47,532 --> 00:15:50,052
And that's one of the reasons
I'm coming here.
211
00:15:54,608 --> 00:15:58,233
For the most part, I really,
really enjoy being out there.
212
00:15:58,267 --> 00:16:00,097
People say,
"Why do you keep going back?"
213
00:16:00,131 --> 00:16:01,961
I like it out there,
you know.
214
00:16:01,995 --> 00:16:03,548
And I like the solitude.
215
00:16:40,171 --> 00:16:42,139
- Going good, right?
- Yeah.
216
00:16:42,173 --> 00:16:43,968
It was okay.
217
00:16:44,003 --> 00:16:46,902
I mean, it's... The bike's a little
different than pulling the sled.
218
00:16:46,936 --> 00:16:50,112
I'm not that good with
tire pressures and such.
219
00:16:50,147 --> 00:16:51,596
So I was really squirrelly.
220
00:16:51,631 --> 00:16:55,186
Yeah, I tried it in 2015,
but it was unsuccessful.
221
00:16:55,221 --> 00:16:56,360
Okay.
222
00:16:56,394 --> 00:16:57,982
I got to get this stupid thing done.
223
00:16:59,121 --> 00:17:00,464
- No more.
- Yeah, no more.
224
00:17:00,498 --> 00:17:03,539
That's my bucket list item.
225
00:17:03,574 --> 00:17:06,818
- And back to foot.
- No more.
226
00:17:32,534 --> 00:17:34,674
I think people always ask,
"Why do you come back?"
227
00:17:34,708 --> 00:17:36,465
I had a lot of people ask me that question,
you know,
228
00:17:36,500 --> 00:17:38,467
"You went the first time,
you were able to finish the race,
229
00:17:38,502 --> 00:17:39,610
"why would you go back?"
230
00:17:39,644 --> 00:17:41,819
I think a lot of people
give similar answers.
231
00:17:41,853 --> 00:17:44,304
I think there's something
about the trail that is very,
232
00:17:44,339 --> 00:17:45,857
you know,
that lures you back in.
233
00:17:45,892 --> 00:17:48,515
And it's an incredibly magical place,
and a magical feeling.
234
00:17:48,550 --> 00:17:52,312
And I think, yeah, it's easy once
you've been away from it for a while
235
00:17:52,347 --> 00:17:55,039
to want to go back
and feel that again.
236
00:18:34,354 --> 00:18:36,045
It's pretty windy out there.
237
00:18:38,910 --> 00:18:41,706
Oh gosh, the wind.
238
00:18:41,741 --> 00:18:44,675
Mostly I just couldn't really
see upright on the bike,
239
00:18:44,709 --> 00:18:45,917
so I had to push it.
240
00:19:50,534 --> 00:19:52,052
All right. Nice.
241
00:19:53,088 --> 00:19:55,642
Hey, hey, awesome job!
242
00:19:56,643 --> 00:19:58,611
Oh, yeah.
243
00:19:58,645 --> 00:20:00,716
- Welcome!
- Thank you.
244
00:20:00,751 --> 00:20:03,823
Right now we've got a rookie
245
00:20:03,857 --> 00:20:08,068
with two of our top veterans,
you know.
246
00:20:08,103 --> 00:20:11,071
I'm pretty impressed
with Neil Beltchenko.
247
00:20:11,106 --> 00:20:15,524
And that big smile he came through
this blizzard with into Rob.
248
00:20:15,559 --> 00:20:18,458
That is way impressive.
249
00:20:18,493 --> 00:20:20,046
That's a badass young man.
250
00:20:23,843 --> 00:20:26,294
Well,
it'll be sweet if no one else came.
251
00:20:26,328 --> 00:20:29,158
'Cause it just gets
crowded quick.
252
00:20:29,193 --> 00:20:32,955
We left the Rainy Lodge
at two o'clock yesterday.
253
00:20:32,990 --> 00:20:36,235
We bivvy'd for four hours
and it's been nonstop.
254
00:20:36,269 --> 00:20:39,134
Probably what,
30 miles of pushing, or more.
255
00:20:39,962 --> 00:20:42,068
It's bad wind.
256
00:20:42,102 --> 00:20:46,245
It's like filling the trail in
pretty quick.
257
00:20:47,556 --> 00:20:49,248
So I think it's going to
be the same for everyone.
258
00:21:09,475 --> 00:21:11,787
It's a long 80 miles.
259
00:21:15,066 --> 00:21:17,034
And with this wind
260
00:21:17,068 --> 00:21:20,002
it's gonna be kinda rough out there,
I think.
261
00:21:21,176 --> 00:21:23,040
Tough to be blown into.
262
00:21:34,016 --> 00:21:36,605
Well, we say,
traveling on the Iditarod trail,
263
00:21:36,640 --> 00:21:38,711
I don't need
to answer the phone.
264
00:21:38,745 --> 00:21:41,023
I don't need to answer
to anybody.
265
00:21:41,058 --> 00:21:44,337
I just need to take care
of myself and keep moving.
266
00:21:44,372 --> 00:21:47,823
There's also a mentality
of enjoying what you're doing.
267
00:21:47,858 --> 00:21:50,619
I don't like the word "suffering."
Hate it.
268
00:21:50,654 --> 00:21:52,759
I don't like
being called crazy.
269
00:21:52,794 --> 00:21:54,968
I volunteered
to do this myself.
270
00:21:55,003 --> 00:21:57,281
I sign up for it,
I pay money for it,
271
00:21:57,316 --> 00:22:00,353
I work at it,
I've turned it into a living.
272
00:22:00,388 --> 00:22:01,975
I enjoy it.
273
00:22:06,048 --> 00:22:07,947
It's a really special place.
274
00:22:07,981 --> 00:22:11,985
You go inside of yourself and it's a
whole different world of hyper focus.
275
00:22:12,020 --> 00:22:15,092
And your aching legs
and the screaming blizzard
276
00:22:15,126 --> 00:22:17,128
becomes part of
the background.
277
00:22:17,163 --> 00:22:19,407
If someone was
watching you do this,
278
00:22:19,441 --> 00:22:21,685
they would think
the conditions were horrible.
279
00:22:21,719 --> 00:22:23,997
But right now
you're in your little place,
280
00:22:24,032 --> 00:22:26,206
and it's not really that bad.
281
00:23:06,799 --> 00:23:08,732
You do think about the trail
282
00:23:08,766 --> 00:23:11,666
and when it's good
and you're happy
283
00:23:11,700 --> 00:23:13,081
and, you know,
you're pinching yourself
284
00:23:13,115 --> 00:23:15,980
because you can't believe
you have this opportunity.
285
00:23:16,015 --> 00:23:18,880
You also know that
it's going to get bad.
286
00:23:19,881 --> 00:23:21,192
When the trail is good,
287
00:23:21,227 --> 00:23:23,712
you want to take
what the trail will give you
288
00:23:23,747 --> 00:23:24,782
and really make time.
289
00:23:24,817 --> 00:23:27,198
Because I know
it's going to get bad.
290
00:23:27,233 --> 00:23:30,995
And some people, I think,
get into negative places
291
00:23:31,030 --> 00:23:34,274
when that trail gets bad,
when that storm comes in,
292
00:23:34,309 --> 00:23:36,656
when that headwind
starts blowing.
293
00:23:36,691 --> 00:23:38,002
But I know it's coming.
294
00:23:38,037 --> 00:23:39,763
So I'm kind of
prepared for it.
295
00:23:39,797 --> 00:23:41,730
I'm happy when
it isn't like that
296
00:23:41,765 --> 00:23:44,250
but I know it's coming.
297
00:23:51,947 --> 00:23:53,984
My bike went through the ice.
298
00:23:54,018 --> 00:23:56,504
My shifter was frozen
and I just forced it
299
00:23:56,538 --> 00:23:59,058
and it wouldn't do anything.
300
00:23:59,092 --> 00:24:01,819
I kept mistakenly clicking
the up gear.
301
00:24:01,854 --> 00:24:03,303
You know,
and I was fussing with it.
302
00:24:03,338 --> 00:24:05,789
So I was okay
when I was stuck in third,
303
00:24:05,823 --> 00:24:08,412
but when it got up to 11,
I was in trouble.
304
00:24:08,447 --> 00:24:09,448
Gotcha.
305
00:24:09,449 --> 00:24:12,071
I screwed around for about
three hours with that.
306
00:24:13,521 --> 00:24:15,488
How far is Rohn?
307
00:24:15,523 --> 00:24:19,837
Twenty miles?
Oh, I thought we were almost around.
308
00:24:19,872 --> 00:24:22,357
All right.
I better walk to keep warm.
309
00:24:39,270 --> 00:24:41,928
Rohn is about 130 miles
310
00:24:41,963 --> 00:24:44,931
from the finish in McGrath.
311
00:24:44,966 --> 00:24:48,556
In a way we're on
the easy part of the race
312
00:24:49,384 --> 00:24:50,834
for the 350.
313
00:24:50,868 --> 00:24:53,664
You've made it across
the Alaska Range.
314
00:24:53,699 --> 00:24:56,840
If you've made it this far,
315
00:24:56,874 --> 00:24:58,876
and you're physically
in good shape,
316
00:24:58,911 --> 00:25:01,016
you've probably got McGrath.
317
00:25:01,051 --> 00:25:02,604
And that feels good.
318
00:25:25,389 --> 00:25:27,143
I'll get you something warm to drink, okay?
319
00:25:27,144 --> 00:25:28,216
Please.
320
00:25:28,250 --> 00:25:30,701
- Hot coco?
- Hot coco would be great.
321
00:25:30,736 --> 00:25:31,806
Done.
322
00:25:31,840 --> 00:25:33,186
Where did you bivvy last night?
323
00:25:33,221 --> 00:25:36,293
Uh,
at the pass did you see that little cabin?
324
00:25:36,327 --> 00:25:38,985
It was a little cabin on the right.
You can't get in it.
325
00:25:39,020 --> 00:25:40,297
So we just bivvy'd there.
326
00:25:40,331 --> 00:25:41,885
It was so windy.
327
00:25:41,919 --> 00:25:44,335
It was unbelievable,
we could barely move.
328
00:25:44,370 --> 00:25:46,959
So we just pulled over.
We actually made a fire.
329
00:25:47,994 --> 00:25:49,582
Frank is not doing great.
330
00:25:49,617 --> 00:25:51,032
He's coughing,
hacking up a lung.
331
00:25:51,066 --> 00:25:54,000
- Oh, really?
- I think he might be done here, too.
332
00:25:54,035 --> 00:25:56,416
His chest is bad.
333
00:25:56,451 --> 00:26:00,006
So he told me go on 'cause he's
going to probably walk most of it.
334
00:26:00,041 --> 00:26:02,353
- I broke through the ice on the river.
- Oh, did you?
335
00:26:02,388 --> 00:26:05,115
- I broke through, it went up to my thighs.
- Oh, no.
336
00:26:05,149 --> 00:26:07,566
So that pretty much
ended my race right there.
337
00:26:07,600 --> 00:26:08,946
I'm glad you guys were safe.
338
00:26:08,981 --> 00:26:11,673
We were wondering about the folks
that were bivvying out last night.
339
00:26:11,708 --> 00:26:13,502
'Cause it was just heinous.
340
00:26:14,296 --> 00:26:16,160
Maybe, like,
it's a safety cone
341
00:26:16,195 --> 00:26:18,507
and there's like a hole in the water there.
342
00:26:30,381 --> 00:26:32,936
My lungs are not
doing that well.
343
00:26:34,247 --> 00:26:38,010
I can hear my GP say,
"You shouldn't go, you shouldn't go."
344
00:26:38,700 --> 00:26:41,013
He gave me the inhaler.
345
00:26:41,047 --> 00:26:43,187
And he said,
"No more than five times a day."
346
00:26:43,222 --> 00:26:45,673
And I've done five times
in three hours.
347
00:26:45,707 --> 00:26:48,123
How's your throat feeling?
348
00:26:48,158 --> 00:26:51,402
It's burning everywhere
all my ribcage.
349
00:26:51,437 --> 00:26:54,578
It started here then it went down here,
now it's everywhere.
350
00:27:20,569 --> 00:27:24,366
Hello, gentlemen.
What are you guys doing here?
351
00:27:24,401 --> 00:27:27,162
Now although we broke it up.
We went half way,
352
00:27:27,197 --> 00:27:29,406
and then bivvy'd
on the trail.
353
00:27:29,440 --> 00:27:31,684
Had a good sleep.
We've been taking it really conservatively,
354
00:27:31,719 --> 00:27:33,272
so we feel really strong
right now.
355
00:27:41,590 --> 00:27:42,833
How's it going?
356
00:27:42,868 --> 00:27:45,491
I feel dry,
but you see the blisters?
357
00:27:46,906 --> 00:27:48,494
Oh, fuck, Guy.
358
00:27:49,012 --> 00:27:50,807
Oh, shit.
359
00:27:50,841 --> 00:27:52,671
That's a problem,
apparently.
360
00:27:54,362 --> 00:27:56,882
Sorry to be
such a jovial prick.
361
00:27:56,916 --> 00:27:58,090
That's searing stuff.
362
00:27:58,124 --> 00:27:59,608
Can you feel that?
363
00:27:59,643 --> 00:28:01,990
- No.
- No problem.
364
00:28:02,025 --> 00:28:04,199
- How about here?
- Yeah, I can feel over there.
365
00:28:04,234 --> 00:28:07,616
We're going to watch you,
keep your hands warm.
366
00:28:07,651 --> 00:28:09,895
You're doing your own thing,
moving along the trail.
367
00:28:09,929 --> 00:28:12,069
Then all of a sudden you
end up in a transition area,
368
00:28:12,104 --> 00:28:13,899
and you see what other people
are going through.
369
00:28:13,933 --> 00:28:16,246
And all of a sudden I realized that
a lot of people were in trouble.
370
00:28:16,280 --> 00:28:18,317
Frost bite on fingers on noses,
on feet.
371
00:28:18,351 --> 00:28:20,008
People were going through
the river.
372
00:28:20,043 --> 00:28:22,873
These are all the problems that you could,
you know, run into
373
00:28:22,908 --> 00:28:24,703
but you were able
to get through.
374
00:28:26,739 --> 00:28:29,638
- You put a tarp on top of you?
- I'm going to.
375
00:28:30,501 --> 00:28:32,503
Just to keep some of
the snow off.
376
00:28:34,264 --> 00:28:36,210
You're going to look like a Burger King.
377
00:28:36,211 --> 00:28:37,211
What?
378
00:28:37,212 --> 00:28:39,017
You're going to look
like a Burger King burger.
379
00:28:39,018 --> 00:28:40,018
That's right.
380
00:28:41,996 --> 00:28:43,756
Ah, I'm short of breath.
381
00:29:01,636 --> 00:29:04,328
My kit's really small
compared to that one.
382
00:29:18,584 --> 00:29:21,345
You know,
it was quite painful last night.
383
00:29:21,380 --> 00:29:23,382
Didn't get much sleep.
384
00:29:23,416 --> 00:29:25,694
I must have made
a mistake somewhere.
385
00:29:29,181 --> 00:29:30,803
Hey, Guy,
it could happen to anyone of us.
386
00:29:30,838 --> 00:29:32,943
Anyone of us.
387
00:29:32,978 --> 00:29:35,497
It was really cold.
388
00:29:37,603 --> 00:29:38,673
Yeah.
389
00:29:38,707 --> 00:29:41,400
- I got numb.
- It could happen to anyone of us.
390
00:29:47,130 --> 00:29:48,579
Right now what I could tell you is
391
00:29:48,614 --> 00:29:50,409
we'll have a flight for you
somewhere
392
00:29:50,443 --> 00:29:53,032
between two hours and two
and half days from now on.
393
00:29:54,413 --> 00:29:56,346
- But I hope...
- You sound like American Airlines.
394
00:29:56,380 --> 00:29:58,555
And about as useful.
395
00:29:58,589 --> 00:30:00,695
Okay. Cool.
396
00:30:00,729 --> 00:30:04,595
I would try to keep those
wrapped up as much as you can.
397
00:30:04,630 --> 00:30:07,771
- Okay.
- You know, things will... It's just
398
00:30:07,806 --> 00:30:11,637
you got a deep penetration into
your body there at that point now.
399
00:30:11,671 --> 00:30:15,848
So, one person out in the previous
seven years on the airplane,
400
00:30:15,883 --> 00:30:17,954
and so far we've got eight
401
00:30:17,988 --> 00:30:20,059
that have been flown
out here now.
402
00:30:20,094 --> 00:30:22,717
And maybe some more,
maybe not, we'll see.
403
00:30:32,658 --> 00:30:36,420
The plane is supposed to come
in about 30 minutes or so.
404
00:30:37,352 --> 00:30:40,183
Um, back to Anchorage.
405
00:30:40,217 --> 00:30:44,566
So, lucky the weather is helping
us to have a plane to take us.
406
00:30:44,601 --> 00:30:46,603
Could be stuck here
for a while otherwise.
407
00:30:53,955 --> 00:30:57,372
I know he was fighting
through and trying to persevere,
408
00:30:57,407 --> 00:30:59,202
but it wasn't getting better.
409
00:30:59,236 --> 00:31:02,895
And so him having to drop out was definitely,
you know, devastating.
410
00:31:02,930 --> 00:31:05,415
But I had to really quickly
get out of there.
411
00:31:05,449 --> 00:31:08,590
Because I think that all
of that can suddenly affect,
412
00:31:08,625 --> 00:31:11,559
you know,
your own sense of mortality in the race.
413
00:31:20,948 --> 00:31:23,226
And right now
there's no wind.
414
00:31:23,260 --> 00:31:27,437
It's blue sky, it's still...
Which is it right now?
415
00:31:28,265 --> 00:31:30,026
Minus 15 Celsius,
416
00:31:30,060 --> 00:31:32,269
I mean, it's ridiculous.
417
00:31:33,339 --> 00:31:35,652
So,
the choice has been made.
418
00:31:37,102 --> 00:31:38,655
I may regret it.
419
00:31:38,689 --> 00:31:40,899
It won't be the first time I make
a choice that I regret after.
420
00:31:41,969 --> 00:31:44,385
I know how
it's going to work.
421
00:31:44,419 --> 00:31:46,594
We come here
to challenge ourselves,
422
00:31:46,628 --> 00:31:48,872
but also to challenge
the wilderness,
423
00:31:48,907 --> 00:31:50,356
which is pretty arrogant.
424
00:31:50,391 --> 00:31:51,910
Yeah, it's part of the race.
425
00:31:56,155 --> 00:31:59,227
I'm completely and utterly gutted.
426
00:31:59,262 --> 00:32:01,057
It is a mistake.
427
00:32:01,091 --> 00:32:04,646
There's a few other people with frostbite
and they would've also made mistakes.
428
00:32:04,681 --> 00:32:07,960
'Cause there's a lot of people out
there who haven't got frostbite.
429
00:32:07,995 --> 00:32:11,515
When it's the weather that
causes people to not finish,
430
00:32:11,550 --> 00:32:13,621
then it was the fact
431
00:32:13,655 --> 00:32:16,520
that they weren't prepared
either equipment wise,
432
00:32:16,555 --> 00:32:19,730
or in inexperience
to use it properly.
433
00:32:19,765 --> 00:32:23,907
And that's what being comfortable
and taking care of yourself
434
00:32:23,942 --> 00:32:25,081
out here is all about.
435
00:32:25,115 --> 00:32:26,565
It's having the fore thought,
436
00:32:26,599 --> 00:32:29,119
you know,
to take care of problems before they come up.
437
00:32:29,154 --> 00:32:31,121
And then you
just have obstacles.
438
00:32:31,156 --> 00:32:33,123
Obstacles to overcome,
439
00:32:33,158 --> 00:32:36,575
not problems to solve.
440
00:32:36,609 --> 00:32:39,958
Flying back today I was just looking at it
441
00:32:40,475 --> 00:32:42,857
and felt very empty.
442
00:32:42,891 --> 00:32:45,549
I'm not so sure what I'll
be doing with the hands.
443
00:32:45,584 --> 00:32:47,862
It's quite a mission having
both hands in bandages.
444
00:32:47,896 --> 00:32:50,934
It's a very selfish sport,
endurance racing.
445
00:32:50,969 --> 00:32:54,627
You know, you go through a six
or seven-hour training ride
446
00:32:54,662 --> 00:32:56,836
in the morning and maybe
something in the afternoon.
447
00:32:56,871 --> 00:32:59,667
You're not great company
in between.
448
00:32:59,701 --> 00:33:01,876
And then,
you lose out on the weekends.
449
00:33:01,910 --> 00:33:04,499
So it's time to give back,
I think.
450
00:33:25,382 --> 00:33:29,283
We're out here on the trail
between Bear Creek and Nikolai.
451
00:33:29,317 --> 00:33:32,976
The day has certainly turned,
we've had a bit of snow overnight.
452
00:33:33,011 --> 00:33:36,048
Trail's got a little bit of
dusting on it this morning.
453
00:33:37,705 --> 00:33:40,121
But, yeah,
another 800 miles.
454
00:33:40,156 --> 00:33:43,055
You know, it is what it is. I guess when
it starts to feel like it's getting tough,
455
00:33:43,090 --> 00:33:46,541
then you start to think everyone
else is hurting just as much.
456
00:33:46,576 --> 00:33:49,061
So, you're nothing special.
457
00:34:31,172 --> 00:34:32,863
- Good to see you.
- Same to you, girl.
458
00:34:35,176 --> 00:34:36,902
- How you doing?
- Pretty good.
459
00:34:36,936 --> 00:34:39,111
Nice job.
460
00:34:39,146 --> 00:34:42,045
I know, it got really cold.
461
00:34:42,080 --> 00:34:43,702
Get in here.
462
00:34:44,427 --> 00:34:47,119
God, it's good to see you.
463
00:34:47,154 --> 00:34:50,847
Yesterday I was just dead
tired and I felt every rib in, like,
464
00:34:50,881 --> 00:34:53,263
hundred feet of trees,
I'd stop.
465
00:34:53,298 --> 00:34:56,784
'Cause I'm going on to Nome so I
wasn't pushing like these guys.
466
00:34:56,818 --> 00:34:59,959
I wasn't, you know,
trying to kill myself.
467
00:34:59,994 --> 00:35:03,066
I was riding today,
and I was thinking,
468
00:35:03,101 --> 00:35:06,587
"This is still a lot easier than
taking care of a two-year-old."
469
00:35:06,621 --> 00:35:10,073
Like, this is...
I'd still much rather do this.
470
00:35:10,108 --> 00:35:14,526
I haven't had anyone hitting me,
or yelling at me, you know.
471
00:35:15,665 --> 00:35:17,943
I kind of feel bad
being gone for so long.
472
00:35:17,977 --> 00:35:20,635
- Yeah, this is my fourth time.
- Fourth time to Nome?
473
00:35:20,670 --> 00:35:22,844
Ah, no.
I haven't gone to Nome yet.
474
00:35:22,879 --> 00:35:25,502
This is my fourth time
getting here at least.
475
00:35:31,439 --> 00:35:32,958
Once you get to McGrath,
476
00:35:32,992 --> 00:35:37,135
it changes from a race to an
adventure for whatever reason.
477
00:35:38,619 --> 00:35:42,105
Well,
Nome is three times the distance to McGrath,
478
00:35:42,140 --> 00:35:45,936
but it's exponentially
bigger commitment.
479
00:35:45,971 --> 00:35:49,216
It's not only three times as long,
it's ten times as hard.
480
00:35:49,250 --> 00:35:52,253
Going to Nome,
you have to work under the assumption
481
00:35:52,288 --> 00:35:55,567
that you're going to get
every possible condition.
482
00:36:02,021 --> 00:36:04,714
I'm extremely nervous
about just leaving here.
483
00:36:04,748 --> 00:36:07,061
I've never been anywhere
past here ever.
484
00:36:07,095 --> 00:36:09,926
From here Ruby is about
just under 200 miles.
485
00:36:09,960 --> 00:36:12,998
There's no communities,
no one uses the trail.
486
00:36:13,032 --> 00:36:15,656
I don't know if I'm going
to be walking a 100 miles.
487
00:36:15,690 --> 00:36:17,451
I don't know
if I'll be riding at all.
488
00:36:17,485 --> 00:36:19,211
And now I'm going to
take off tomorrow.
489
00:36:19,246 --> 00:36:22,801
Maybe a day ahead of anyone else who's
going to be following along with me.
490
00:36:22,835 --> 00:36:26,908
I don't have a way to bail out.
If I leave here, I just, I go.
491
00:36:26,943 --> 00:36:29,048
See,
I'm really nervous right now.
492
00:36:29,083 --> 00:36:31,948
Probably more nervous
than the start of the race.
493
00:36:31,982 --> 00:36:34,778
The trail does that to you,
Alaska does that to you.
494
00:36:45,789 --> 00:36:48,275
It could be a real challenge this year.
495
00:36:48,309 --> 00:36:51,139
I mean, without trail breakers
496
00:36:51,174 --> 00:36:55,282
any snow that's falling out there
is going to be a problem for us.
497
00:36:56,524 --> 00:36:59,941
That's 200 miles
of pretty much nothing.
498
00:36:59,976 --> 00:37:03,221
If it snows a foot you're sort of...
I don't think...
499
00:37:03,255 --> 00:37:05,740
There are very few people who
are going to push their bikes
500
00:37:05,775 --> 00:37:09,261
from Ophir to Ruby with
a foot of snow out there.
501
00:37:09,296 --> 00:37:12,022
When a very dear friend of mine
502
00:37:12,057 --> 00:37:14,784
who had finished the race
eight times I think
503
00:37:14,818 --> 00:37:17,304
at that time on foot,
504
00:37:17,338 --> 00:37:21,963
Tim Hewitt was stuck between
Poorman and Ruby for days.
505
00:37:21,998 --> 00:37:25,139
50 below zero
and knee-deep snow.
506
00:37:25,173 --> 00:37:29,039
And I had to make the
decision how long to wait
507
00:37:29,074 --> 00:37:30,731
to check on Tim,
508
00:37:30,765 --> 00:37:33,458
knowing that if I
509
00:37:33,492 --> 00:37:36,840
sent someone too soon,
I was going to lose a friend.
510
00:37:38,290 --> 00:37:41,776
And if I waited too long,
I was going to lose a friend.
511
00:37:41,811 --> 00:37:43,951
I asked a man
to take his machine,
512
00:37:43,985 --> 00:37:45,953
make four peanut butter-jelly
sandwiches.
513
00:37:45,987 --> 00:37:48,852
'Cause there were three more racers
that had passed him out there.
514
00:37:49,715 --> 00:37:51,199
And go out
and tell those racers
515
00:37:51,234 --> 00:37:55,342
Bill thought they might want
a coke and a sandwich.
516
00:37:55,376 --> 00:38:00,485
Well, first two racers
took the coke and the sandwich.
517
00:38:00,519 --> 00:38:04,730
The next was Loreen, Tim's wife and
she had a pretty badly frozen thumb.
518
00:38:04,765 --> 00:38:08,044
And he went on to check on
Tim to take his sandwich.
519
00:38:09,390 --> 00:38:12,566
And it was time
to bring Tim back.
520
00:38:12,600 --> 00:38:14,809
But I have to make that decision,
you know,
521
00:38:14,844 --> 00:38:17,985
how long to give them
to be self-sufficient.
522
00:38:18,019 --> 00:38:19,400
You know,
they were the little kids
523
00:38:19,435 --> 00:38:21,540
that wore the right shoe on the left foot,
you know.
524
00:38:21,575 --> 00:38:24,854
Because their parents figured it was a
fight they didn't want to take there.
525
00:38:24,888 --> 00:38:28,754
Those are the little kids that grow
up to be the people that come out here
526
00:38:28,789 --> 00:38:30,860
to do it their self.
527
00:38:30,894 --> 00:38:33,345
And in Alaska
we're given that opportunity.
528
00:38:44,908 --> 00:38:47,221
- Yeah!
- You made it.
529
00:38:47,255 --> 00:38:48,981
- I did.
- Let's go inside.
530
00:38:49,016 --> 00:38:50,845
It was much harder
than anticipated.
531
00:38:50,880 --> 00:38:53,227
It was a much harder day than anticipated.
532
00:38:53,261 --> 00:38:54,987
- It's 11.
- Good job!
533
00:38:55,022 --> 00:38:57,749
- Good to see you, buddy.
- Good to be here.
534
00:38:57,783 --> 00:39:00,648
So,
kinda rough out there this year.
535
00:39:00,683 --> 00:39:02,029
Yeah, it was real.
536
00:39:02,063 --> 00:39:03,858
Good to know.
Have a seat.
537
00:39:03,893 --> 00:39:06,378
I have to fix my bike.
538
00:39:06,413 --> 00:39:10,140
Still in fifth gear since 20
miles on the other side around.
539
00:39:12,350 --> 00:39:14,110
- Well...
- Hi, Tim.
540
00:39:14,144 --> 00:39:16,388
I'm an impostor
as a cyclist.
541
00:39:18,045 --> 00:39:20,841
I think you graduated to cyclist,
Tim.
542
00:39:20,875 --> 00:39:22,843
Oh, my, I'm glad I'm here.
543
00:39:22,877 --> 00:39:25,466
We're glad you're here.
544
00:39:29,090 --> 00:39:31,886
I think it was 29 below
when I left.
545
00:39:31,921 --> 00:39:35,683
So, everybody's quitting?
Is that what door it is?
546
00:39:38,030 --> 00:39:40,654
30 scratches so far.
547
00:39:40,688 --> 00:39:43,277
- Wow, 30 scratches?
- Yeah.
548
00:39:43,311 --> 00:39:44,311
Gee.
549
00:39:47,315 --> 00:39:50,733
And so where Kevin currently is is Passover.
550
00:39:50,767 --> 00:39:53,874
That's the are that traditionally
doesn't get any traffic outside
551
00:39:53,908 --> 00:39:56,014
some snow machine races
and a dog sled race.
552
00:39:56,048 --> 00:39:58,430
Certainly, before I leave,
I'll check the tracker,
553
00:39:58,465 --> 00:40:00,467
make sure Kevin
isn't stuck.
554
00:40:00,501 --> 00:40:04,332
That would be...
put a damper on this whole thing.
555
00:40:04,367 --> 00:40:06,473
It seems like the field
has shrunk a lot
556
00:40:06,507 --> 00:40:10,097
and the next people
are several days behind me.
557
00:40:27,079 --> 00:40:29,219
I'm trying to
take the ice off,
558
00:40:29,254 --> 00:40:31,774
but it's hard
to change the tube.
559
00:40:31,808 --> 00:40:36,295
Well,
it's been hard but also worthwhile.
560
00:40:36,330 --> 00:40:37,849
It's nice.
561
00:40:37,883 --> 00:40:41,887
I'm grateful that I found Martjin,
he's a great guy to ride with for a bit.
562
00:40:41,922 --> 00:40:45,684
We'll see how we do, and we've enjoyed
the last two days riding together.
563
00:40:45,719 --> 00:40:50,551
And yeah, I think, psychologically,
it definitely helps to share
564
00:40:50,586 --> 00:40:54,728
a part of the trail with someone,
you know, and look out for each other.
565
00:40:54,762 --> 00:40:57,075
Kind of just two heads are better than one.
566
00:41:06,533 --> 00:41:09,432
That section has historically been tough.
567
00:41:09,467 --> 00:41:12,228
No tougher even than 2015
568
00:41:12,262 --> 00:41:14,472
for what the back
of the pack went through.
569
00:41:15,231 --> 00:41:16,370
Tim.
570
00:41:16,404 --> 00:41:18,855
But the other bikers
flew through there.
571
00:41:18,890 --> 00:41:21,996
Because it can
change in a flash.
572
00:41:22,031 --> 00:41:26,242
You can be flying like
the leaders did in 2015,
573
00:41:26,276 --> 00:41:30,246
and then next day
it's a five-day walk.
574
00:41:30,280 --> 00:41:32,524
All it takes
is one little wind storm.
575
00:43:33,783 --> 00:43:37,407
It's been one of the most
interesting four days of my life.
576
00:43:37,442 --> 00:43:39,962
Intensely personal.
It's very bizarre.
577
00:43:39,996 --> 00:43:44,552
I felt like I was in minor
trouble the entire time.
578
00:43:44,587 --> 00:43:46,140
Now, here you guys are.
579
00:43:46,175 --> 00:43:49,557
This is magic.
This is like insane.
580
00:43:49,592 --> 00:43:51,974
Trail Angels.
You guys are all trail angels.
581
00:43:52,008 --> 00:43:53,423
This is crazy.
582
00:43:53,458 --> 00:43:55,218
How long were you by yourself?
583
00:43:56,081 --> 00:43:57,427
Three days.
584
00:44:00,741 --> 00:44:04,227
I totally felt like I walked
across a chunk of the Earth.
585
00:44:05,194 --> 00:44:07,334
Which is a weird feeling.
586
00:44:10,337 --> 00:44:15,031
And I feel good.
My hands are numb but nothing else hurts.
587
00:44:16,032 --> 00:44:17,378
I didn't have any problems.
588
00:44:17,413 --> 00:44:20,243
I took care of stuff
before it was a problem,
589
00:44:20,278 --> 00:44:23,074
and in all honesty,
the slower and slower you go,
590
00:44:23,108 --> 00:44:26,353
the easier it is to be happy with anything.
Like,
591
00:44:26,387 --> 00:44:29,667
you think you're going slow at
two miles an hour one and a half
592
00:44:29,701 --> 00:44:34,775
and then you're doing
a thousand feet an hour
593
00:44:34,810 --> 00:44:37,778
and you just can't believe
it can get lower than that.
594
00:44:37,813 --> 00:44:42,024
God, anything over...
moving over a thousand feet in an hour
595
00:44:42,058 --> 00:44:45,752
is just unreal!
It feels so good.
596
00:44:45,786 --> 00:44:48,720
If I didn't have to lift
my bike up and carry it,
597
00:44:48,755 --> 00:44:54,726
anything felt,
everything that's not the worst feels good.
598
00:44:54,761 --> 00:44:58,316
I don't know, I thought a lot.
Freedom is the choice
599
00:44:58,350 --> 00:45:00,111
to struggle
with what you want.
600
00:45:00,145 --> 00:45:03,942
A lot of us have to struggle
and we don't get to choose
601
00:45:03,977 --> 00:45:05,599
what struggle we take on.
602
00:45:05,633 --> 00:45:10,224
And I'm lucky enough that
this is just a choice of mine.
603
00:45:10,259 --> 00:45:12,433
I've been kind of overcome with that,
that,
604
00:45:12,468 --> 00:45:17,093
that feeling of like,
"this is just a choice"
605
00:45:17,887 --> 00:45:20,096
is really freeing and odd.
606
00:45:21,063 --> 00:45:23,099
End of ramble, like I said
607
00:45:23,134 --> 00:45:25,343
it was a really profound
few days.
608
00:45:37,424 --> 00:45:41,497
Glad you were able to crash...
crash parties this one time.
609
00:45:41,531 --> 00:45:44,017
- Oh, I just get one pass?
- Yes.
610
00:45:44,051 --> 00:45:47,123
Okay. I think this is it.
611
00:45:47,158 --> 00:45:50,023
This is a good one.
I'll take it.
612
00:45:50,057 --> 00:45:52,646
I'll take this as my pass.
613
00:45:52,680 --> 00:45:57,306
Kinda like your soup, the vegetables...
also, I wonder if I should
614
00:45:57,340 --> 00:46:00,896
- cover these?
- I will eat them right now.
615
00:46:00,930 --> 00:46:03,450
Okay.
616
00:46:07,834 --> 00:46:09,283
I was...
617
00:46:10,250 --> 00:46:12,355
not excited
the last couple of days.
618
00:46:13,356 --> 00:46:15,427
But I was excited
about getting here.
619
00:46:15,462 --> 00:46:18,051
I wasn't sure what I was gonna do,
but
620
00:46:18,085 --> 00:46:19,638
I'm gonna keep on going.
621
00:46:31,685 --> 00:46:35,862
I passed him, Hewitt,
just outside of Ophir.
622
00:46:35,896 --> 00:46:41,039
I think he's a probably a very fast walker
but he's not very good at riding his bike.
623
00:46:41,074 --> 00:46:44,491
It's much slower, and it's a lot more lonely.
I was really hoping...
624
00:46:44,525 --> 00:46:47,218
I was very excited
because Nome feels about...
625
00:46:47,252 --> 00:46:49,841
20 plus people signed up.
626
00:46:49,876 --> 00:46:52,119
So, I was like Yay!
I'll get a ride with someone.
627
00:46:52,154 --> 00:46:55,433
Instead, not at all!
628
00:46:55,467 --> 00:46:56,755
Well, I like the solitude,
629
00:46:56,756 --> 00:47:00,024
but I would prefer to actually have
people around me at some level.
630
00:47:00,058 --> 00:47:03,510
This has been a little bit longer
than I like to have no one around.
631
00:47:07,894 --> 00:47:10,482
It's okay, it's still fun.
632
00:47:32,470 --> 00:47:35,922
It's been rough.
It's been really rough.
633
00:47:35,956 --> 00:47:38,062
There's been no trail, so
634
00:47:38,096 --> 00:47:40,478
it's exactly what happened
to me in
635
00:47:40,788 --> 00:47:42,618
2015.
636
00:47:42,652 --> 00:47:46,829
Yeah, it's a lot different riding a
bike than walking. A lot different.
637
00:47:46,864 --> 00:47:48,313
Horrible.
638
00:47:48,348 --> 00:47:51,316
I'd rather be on foot.
I mean, I wanted to ride the bike,
639
00:47:51,351 --> 00:47:53,801
you know, I mean...
640
00:47:53,836 --> 00:47:58,461
I imagine soon. I would have thought maybe
by now there'd be a track outta here,
641
00:47:58,496 --> 00:47:59,980
and it would be all right.
642
00:48:01,257 --> 00:48:02,810
But I was wrong, I guess.
643
00:48:02,845 --> 00:48:05,572
I guess,
I get too sleepy and then I'll over sleep.
644
00:48:05,606 --> 00:48:07,298
It's been cold out, I think.
645
00:48:07,332 --> 00:48:09,541
I mean, really cold, hasn't it?
646
00:48:09,576 --> 00:48:11,095
Do you know what the temps are
at night?
647
00:48:11,129 --> 00:48:13,200
I would have guessed,
I was camping out here last night.
648
00:48:13,235 --> 00:48:14,892
I would have guessed -35.
649
00:48:14,926 --> 00:48:18,171
Yeah, that's what I was thinking,
somewhere in the 30-40 range.
650
00:48:18,205 --> 00:48:20,552
It's been like that
every night for a while.
651
00:48:20,587 --> 00:48:24,418
I've wasted hours trying to ride
this stupid bike.
652
00:48:24,453 --> 00:48:26,558
You know, just hours and hours.
653
00:48:26,593 --> 00:48:28,802
My crank hurts so many times
that I've...
654
00:48:28,836 --> 00:48:31,805
I haven't made it 10 meters
yet on this bike.
655
00:48:32,392 --> 00:48:34,428
This bike and my fussing.
656
00:48:37,811 --> 00:48:40,572
Who's left in the race?
Anybody behind me?
657
00:48:40,607 --> 00:48:44,059
Yeah.
RJ and Martjin are maybe a day back.
658
00:48:44,093 --> 00:48:45,923
Oh, I'm happy to have company.
659
00:48:45,957 --> 00:48:47,959
Buddy a day today.
660
00:48:47,994 --> 00:48:50,429
Could you walk with me?
I could use some company.
661
00:48:50,430 --> 00:48:51,514
Sure.
662
00:48:57,072 --> 00:48:59,315
A lot of tracks out here,
animal tracks.
663
00:48:59,350 --> 00:49:03,078
Between the two safety cabins, the wolves.
Had one that was messing with me.
664
00:49:03,112 --> 00:49:07,151
I mean, it was along the side really,
really howling, loudly.
665
00:49:07,185 --> 00:49:09,843
And I was thinking
666
00:49:09,877 --> 00:49:13,847
well, I've got a snow shoe, I'm gonna wack
'em in the head if I have to. But,
667
00:49:13,881 --> 00:49:17,540
there were thousands
of wolf tracks...
668
00:50:01,584 --> 00:50:04,725
Oh, that sucked.
669
00:50:04,760 --> 00:50:07,763
I mean, it was beautiful,
and it was sunny out, so
670
00:50:07,797 --> 00:50:11,353
to be honest, I was in a pretty
good headspace for most of it.
671
00:50:11,387 --> 00:50:16,565
But, boy, that's long when you're
walking with your bike.
672
00:50:18,153 --> 00:50:22,053
I didn't see a soul,
not one person the whole way,
673
00:50:23,468 --> 00:50:25,022
basically from McGrath.
674
00:50:27,093 --> 00:50:28,991
The last five days...
675
00:50:29,026 --> 00:50:30,717
maybe four days, I don't know.
676
00:50:38,587 --> 00:50:41,969
Yesterday I took off my hat because it was
677
00:50:42,004 --> 00:50:45,007
pretty warm,
and then I felt this sort of
678
00:50:45,042 --> 00:50:48,424
wet stuff pouring down my neck.
679
00:50:48,459 --> 00:50:53,119
So, I realized it's a little
piece of my ear came off.
680
00:50:53,153 --> 00:50:56,915
So,
that was just a little bit of a shock there.
681
00:51:01,472 --> 00:51:03,129
I'm not feeling so great.
682
00:51:21,216 --> 00:51:23,839
Sure, we're halfway mileage,
but in some ways I'm hoping
683
00:51:23,873 --> 00:51:25,599
we're more than halfway
through the time.
684
00:51:25,634 --> 00:51:28,602
It's never been more relative
in my life
685
00:51:28,637 --> 00:51:31,018
of halfway means nothing.
686
00:51:32,675 --> 00:51:34,850
Maybe the coast is awful,
and maybe in days.
687
00:51:34,884 --> 00:51:37,749
Now, maybe I'm only a third of the way,
so who knows?
688
00:51:37,784 --> 00:51:41,063
I just know that the next
bit of trail is on the river,
689
00:51:41,098 --> 00:51:42,375
and that's where I gotta go.
690
00:51:42,409 --> 00:51:45,792
I don't have to go back,
just keep going forward.
691
00:51:45,826 --> 00:51:49,520
Can't sit around.
You don't make it anywhere that way.
692
00:52:18,721 --> 00:52:20,723
What's going on?
I got both mechanicals.
693
00:52:20,758 --> 00:52:23,692
I got my first two gears fixed
694
00:52:23,726 --> 00:52:27,213
but the teacher
helped me with me.
695
00:52:30,699 --> 00:52:33,805
A guy in Ruby gave me
a tube of
696
00:52:33,840 --> 00:52:36,394
some kind of cream, which
697
00:52:36,429 --> 00:52:38,603
is helping.
698
00:52:40,157 --> 00:52:42,193
And a new arse would be nice.
699
00:52:45,403 --> 00:52:50,753
I kinda suspected Ruby might see
a couple of reconsiderations.
700
00:53:08,633 --> 00:53:12,568
So, the doctor also doesn't
recommend continuing the race.
701
00:53:12,603 --> 00:53:16,193
If it's just clear fluid behind the blisters,
then you leave it intact
702
00:53:16,227 --> 00:53:19,196
'cause once you break the skin,
an infection could get in.
703
00:53:19,230 --> 00:53:21,577
So,
it's just better to leave it intact.
704
00:53:22,820 --> 00:53:24,994
I really tried to look after myself,
705
00:53:25,029 --> 00:53:29,620
but it's just these tiny mistakes
that have huge consequences.
706
00:53:29,654 --> 00:53:31,587
She said it was frostbite.
707
00:53:31,622 --> 00:53:34,797
I sort of knew that.
708
00:53:34,832 --> 00:53:39,975
There's no doctor I think in the world who's
going to advise me to continue to race.
709
00:54:25,572 --> 00:54:28,955
Doing this event is about
experiencing this trail, and
710
00:54:28,989 --> 00:54:31,854
things going on,
and so if the Iditarod is in full fledge,
711
00:54:31,889 --> 00:54:34,478
then you're getting
the full meal deal.
712
00:54:34,512 --> 00:54:36,307
All that's very rejuvenating.
713
00:54:36,342 --> 00:54:39,862
You need those boosts of people
'cause you spend a lot of time alone.
714
00:54:53,669 --> 00:54:55,430
I got into Ruby
715
00:54:55,464 --> 00:54:58,916
and it was the first time I could
actually see trackers and then like, "Oh!
716
00:54:59,537 --> 00:55:01,470
"Tim's here too."
717
00:55:01,505 --> 00:55:04,922
and then at night, "Oh, Tim's leaving."
I'm like...
718
00:55:05,440 --> 00:55:07,062
crazy.
719
00:55:07,096 --> 00:55:09,789
I mean, not crazy, but it's just sort of,
like, after that section,
720
00:55:11,031 --> 00:55:13,655
you know,
stop for a bit, refuel.
721
00:55:13,689 --> 00:55:19,488
I don't wanna get distracted by
what anybody else is doing, like...
722
00:55:19,523 --> 00:55:23,527
again, you're racing yourself
and you're racing the trail.
723
00:55:23,561 --> 00:55:26,184
I'd love to see Martjin get
back on the trail and finish.
724
00:55:26,219 --> 00:55:28,842
It'll be devastating
if he had to stop there.
725
00:55:29,809 --> 00:55:31,500
I'm not sure if Tim's thinking
"I'm gonna win."
726
00:55:31,535 --> 00:55:34,572
I think Tim's just thinking, "Gotta go.
Gotta go. Gotta go."
727
00:55:34,607 --> 00:55:36,988
But, that's kinda his...
728
00:55:38,887 --> 00:55:41,027
approach,
I think that he's really used to as well.
729
00:55:41,061 --> 00:55:43,892
It's just go.
He just doesn't stop.
730
00:56:00,046 --> 00:56:04,913
I love night.
By far my favorite time is night.
731
00:56:04,947 --> 00:56:07,778
I look forward
to going out now.
732
00:56:07,812 --> 00:56:10,228
To go and have a nice time
out there,
733
00:56:10,263 --> 00:56:13,473
and I wanna enjoy it.
734
00:56:13,508 --> 00:56:16,027
It's hard for me to judge where
I'm gonna get to on a bike,
735
00:56:16,062 --> 00:56:18,685
'cause everything I'm used to
is in flick time,
736
00:56:18,720 --> 00:56:22,102
and I'm really not very good
at converting.
737
00:56:28,281 --> 00:56:31,905
So, after that long,
horrible section we did way back,
738
00:56:32,285 --> 00:56:33,911
into Ruby,
739
00:56:33,945 --> 00:56:36,765
I think that would have been the worst
nights... one of my worst nights' last night.
740
00:56:36,800 --> 00:56:38,843
You get this wave of
weird loneliness,
741
00:56:38,878 --> 00:56:43,123
and you just go through such huge
emotional swing, and you're like
742
00:56:43,158 --> 00:56:47,127
going all over the place and
feeling all down, and
743
00:56:47,162 --> 00:56:49,889
just had a bit of
an emotional moment.
744
00:56:49,923 --> 00:56:52,926
I think when you kinda,
maybe miss people or something.
745
00:56:52,961 --> 00:56:55,412
So, I don't know,
it was just a wave, a flash.
746
00:56:55,446 --> 00:56:57,897
It was funny,
'cause I'm going along and all of a sudden,
747
00:56:57,931 --> 00:57:00,140
I'm feeling like that and I'm like,
oh my God,
748
00:57:00,175 --> 00:57:05,111
I'm not gonna make it to Nulato, that's
impossible. I should have been there, and
749
00:57:05,145 --> 00:57:07,216
I see this figure on the side of the tail,
and
750
00:57:07,251 --> 00:57:10,530
I'm like, "The hell's that?"
Then I'm like, "Oh, yeah, it's Tim Hewitt.
751
00:57:11,289 --> 00:57:12,567
So, I found Tim
752
00:57:12,601 --> 00:57:15,190
and he was just starting
to setup his bivvy for the night
753
00:57:15,224 --> 00:57:16,985
'cause he was totally in the same mode,
except
754
00:57:17,019 --> 00:57:19,021
maybe not as emotional
as I was for whatever reason.
755
00:57:19,056 --> 00:57:21,817
And I'm like, "Get up, let's go.
Let's,
756
00:57:21,852 --> 00:57:25,683
"force each other." All things considered,
it was only another couple of hours
757
00:57:25,718 --> 00:57:28,548
and it meant being somewhere dry
and warm.
758
00:57:36,763 --> 00:57:39,697
I got him here quickly yesterday,
and
759
00:57:39,732 --> 00:57:42,044
we napped, we ate, and
760
00:57:42,079 --> 00:57:45,910
chilled.
Had another good sleep, so I feel now I'm...
761
00:57:48,844 --> 00:57:50,846
got decent amount of rest...
762
00:57:51,985 --> 00:57:55,333
to take on this long 92
mile section to Unalakleet.
763
00:58:39,239 --> 00:58:41,345
I can tell.
764
00:58:41,379 --> 00:58:44,831
I've seen two
non-morning people this morning.
765
00:58:44,866 --> 00:58:47,006
I have an eye for
those people.
766
00:58:47,040 --> 00:58:49,146
I was at the dinner table, and
767
00:58:49,180 --> 00:58:51,976
Ruby and Martjin was there and
768
00:58:52,011 --> 00:58:54,254
I couldn't help but
769
00:58:54,807 --> 00:58:56,325
offer an opinion and
770
00:58:56,360 --> 00:59:00,157
with the qualification that
huge amount of my
771
00:59:00,191 --> 00:59:02,504
frost damage education
is come from
772
00:59:02,539 --> 00:59:05,507
seeing it other people
and having it myself.
773
00:59:05,542 --> 00:59:09,407
And that I thought he had done
superficial damage
774
00:59:09,891 --> 00:59:11,409
to his fingers.
775
00:59:11,444 --> 00:59:14,758
And that the only thing
that would make 'em worse,
776
00:59:14,792 --> 00:59:16,345
would be to re-freeze 'em.
777
00:59:16,380 --> 00:59:20,522
And that if he didn't have any
doubt that he can keep 'em warm,
778
00:59:20,557 --> 00:59:22,938
there wasn't any reason
he shouldn't just go on.
779
00:59:22,973 --> 00:59:24,630
I don't wanna spend
too much time.
780
00:59:26,286 --> 00:59:28,323
- Yeah?
- Yeah. Yeah.
781
00:59:29,635 --> 00:59:32,016
Okay,
I'll see you later I guess.
782
00:59:32,051 --> 00:59:34,605
- Yeah, take care of them fingers.
- Yeah, I will.
783
00:59:34,640 --> 00:59:36,952
- I'll see you in Nome.
- Okay.
784
00:59:40,577 --> 00:59:45,927
Most folks should have took
their blistered fingers and went home,
785
00:59:45,961 --> 00:59:48,308
but I just gave him
the options.
786
00:59:49,551 --> 00:59:53,141
Let him make his own choice,
which shoe to put on which foot.
787
01:00:15,059 --> 01:00:17,648
Haven't decided to pull the plug.
He wasn't having any issues.
788
01:00:17,683 --> 01:00:21,894
He wasn't throwing up, but he just wasn't
able to eat or keep food in his system.
789
01:00:21,928 --> 01:00:23,516
It's sad to see him scratch,
790
01:00:23,550 --> 01:00:25,345
but that was probably
the best decision for Kevin.
791
01:00:25,380 --> 01:00:28,348
He didn't anything wrong.
It's just bad luck.
792
01:00:39,636 --> 01:00:41,396
I feel better today.
793
01:00:42,086 --> 01:00:43,778
I feel a lot better today.
794
01:00:43,812 --> 01:00:46,297
Finally starting to come around
to this biking thing, I think.
795
01:00:46,332 --> 01:00:49,680
It was probably the most fun
I've had
796
01:00:49,715 --> 01:00:52,303
but I got scared after...
797
01:00:52,338 --> 01:00:54,547
after crashing
a couple of times.
798
01:00:56,307 --> 01:00:58,275
When was the first time you did this?
799
01:00:58,309 --> 01:01:00,001
2001.
800
01:01:00,657 --> 01:01:02,382
I reflect on all of 'em.
801
01:01:02,417 --> 01:01:05,592
I mean,
they run together a little bit, but
802
01:01:05,627 --> 01:01:07,284
I do, yeah.
803
01:01:07,733 --> 01:01:09,666
I think of the...
804
01:01:09,700 --> 01:01:14,187
the anxiety that I had the first time
that I don't have anymore. I mean,
805
01:01:14,222 --> 01:01:17,328
I'm comfortable out here,
you know?
806
01:01:17,363 --> 01:01:21,332
And part of that, I think I miss the unknown.
So, it's just the
807
01:01:21,367 --> 01:01:22,748
question what
the trail is gonna bring,
808
01:01:22,782 --> 01:01:25,923
and the weather's gonna bring
more than anything else.
809
01:01:25,958 --> 01:01:28,236
But before,
I had no idea where I was going.
810
01:01:28,270 --> 01:01:31,722
We weren't allowed to use GPSs
that first year,
811
01:01:31,757 --> 01:01:34,035
and I never talked to anybody
812
01:01:34,069 --> 01:01:36,106
who had done the trail, so...
813
01:01:36,969 --> 01:01:39,316
so, it was a total unknown.
814
01:01:57,921 --> 01:02:01,510
There's a little cabin right there
You can see, with the orange roof.
815
01:02:01,545 --> 01:02:06,205
I'm gonna stop in and
maybe just have a bite,
816
01:02:06,239 --> 01:02:08,414
and pray to the gods.
817
01:02:08,448 --> 01:02:11,555
Maybe some Nordic god will
turn this down a little bit,
818
01:02:11,589 --> 01:02:12,832
this wind down.
819
01:02:14,903 --> 01:02:18,113
My only issue is that
my peddle broke.
820
01:02:18,148 --> 01:02:22,117
So, riding with one peddle,
tried to fix it in
821
01:02:22,152 --> 01:02:25,017
Shaktoolik but they only had
BMX peddles around
822
01:02:25,051 --> 01:02:27,329
on the broke bikes
in the snow.
823
01:02:28,365 --> 01:02:30,436
Let the games begin.
It should be cool,
824
01:02:30,470 --> 01:02:32,679
there's a lot of mushers that
are gonna be coming through, so
825
01:02:32,714 --> 01:02:34,509
that also inspired me
quite a bit.
826
01:02:34,543 --> 01:02:35,821
To be honest,
I don't wanna miss it.
827
01:02:35,855 --> 01:02:38,168
So you're most anxious to get
out there and be with them
828
01:02:38,202 --> 01:02:40,687
and under a full moon,
then coming by,
829
01:02:40,722 --> 01:02:42,759
it'll be pretty cool.
830
01:03:46,477 --> 01:03:48,341
There's moment like these
that it gets really hard.
831
01:03:48,376 --> 01:03:52,035
It tends to get harder, I think,
too, when we're like 15 days in,
832
01:03:52,069 --> 01:03:54,761
just trying to keep
boosting your
833
01:03:54,796 --> 01:03:56,936
energy level to kinda
take on another day.
834
01:03:56,971 --> 01:04:00,698
Like, the starting part is always the
hardest, once you're going it's fine.
835
01:04:03,356 --> 01:04:05,911
Kinda rekindling that
motivation every time is...
836
01:04:07,913 --> 01:04:11,882
It's cool hanging out here with the dog team,
so
837
01:04:11,917 --> 01:04:13,539
at least want do that.
838
01:04:13,573 --> 01:04:17,060
So maybe I'll just take
advantage of this shelter, and
839
01:04:17,094 --> 01:04:18,544
eat something,
840
01:04:18,578 --> 01:04:21,650
get like fours sleep and
just leave really early.
841
01:04:51,301 --> 01:04:53,475
Just really struggling to
842
01:04:54,407 --> 01:04:57,859
make this last 1.7 miles...
843
01:04:59,102 --> 01:05:00,655
into Kaltag.
844
01:05:04,555 --> 01:05:06,419
It's been a long night.
845
01:05:08,042 --> 01:05:10,699
It's 30 below on the river.
846
01:05:12,632 --> 01:05:16,533
I got an hour's sleep at Nulato.
847
01:05:18,052 --> 01:05:20,261
Then a big push from Galena.
848
01:05:26,543 --> 01:05:27,613
It's...
849
01:05:29,926 --> 01:05:31,755
You will get there...
850
01:05:33,999 --> 01:05:35,414
if you keep going.
851
01:05:36,035 --> 01:05:37,519
Just don't stop.
852
01:05:39,107 --> 01:05:40,557
Just don't stop.
853
01:06:08,309 --> 01:06:12,796
It's fun. I'm really looking
forward to being in White Mountain,
854
01:06:12,830 --> 01:06:16,662
which I assume it's about
seven miles out.
855
01:06:16,696 --> 01:06:18,975
Yeah,
it's really windy out there.
856
01:06:19,009 --> 01:06:21,667
Like, I could barely bike.
857
01:06:30,158 --> 01:06:31,711
Jay!
858
01:06:32,954 --> 01:06:35,957
I was really trying
to ride for at least an hour.
859
01:06:42,964 --> 01:06:44,793
I'm very glad to be here.
860
01:06:46,174 --> 01:06:47,555
That's awesome.
861
01:06:50,282 --> 01:06:52,180
Yeah,
we were looking at the weather,
862
01:06:52,215 --> 01:06:53,871
I was wondering
how it was gonna be.
863
01:06:53,906 --> 01:06:56,184
We're all welcomed in off the trail,
864
01:06:56,219 --> 01:06:58,393
not having had a bath
for days,
865
01:06:58,428 --> 01:07:00,568
and yet,
they bring you in with a big hug, and
866
01:07:00,602 --> 01:07:03,709
sit you down and get you warm
and dry your clothes
867
01:07:03,743 --> 01:07:06,332
in their personal homes
along the trail,
868
01:07:06,367 --> 01:07:07,816
these people that live out here year round.
869
01:07:07,851 --> 01:07:12,407
It's just something you would
have a hard time finding
870
01:07:12,442 --> 01:07:13,995
anywhere that I know of.
871
01:07:14,720 --> 01:07:17,102
And it goes back to a time
872
01:07:17,136 --> 01:07:22,383
when everybody out here was a traveler
at one time of year or another.
873
01:07:22,417 --> 01:07:25,351
You depended on this person's
hospitality this time,
874
01:07:25,386 --> 01:07:28,078
and someone else depends
on yours another,
875
01:07:28,113 --> 01:07:32,703
an I think it's what brings a lot
of people out here, year after year.
876
01:07:32,738 --> 01:07:36,293
It's to part of that culture
that comes alive out here.
877
01:07:36,328 --> 01:07:38,537
It's alive out here
all the time
878
01:07:38,571 --> 01:07:41,574
and we're lucky enough
to experience it once a year.
879
01:07:42,058 --> 01:07:43,266
- I'm Jay.
- Hi.
880
01:07:43,300 --> 01:07:45,095
Heard you came by last year.
881
01:07:45,130 --> 01:07:46,855
And this our grandson Gable.
882
01:07:46,890 --> 01:07:49,444
- Hi.
- This is Sweetie Pie, the doggie.
883
01:07:52,309 --> 01:07:56,417
Anyway I'll get you set up
with food here.
884
01:07:58,350 --> 01:07:59,799
I definitely miss my kids.
885
01:08:00,938 --> 01:08:02,250
I miss my wife.
886
01:08:02,285 --> 01:08:05,598
So, it'll be nice to see
the kids and Nancy again.
887
01:08:05,633 --> 01:08:08,567
Along the coast, there are a lot
of areas with cell phone coverage.
888
01:08:08,601 --> 01:08:11,328
So,
I've been able to call them and talk to them.
889
01:08:11,363 --> 01:08:15,263
Remind my family that I exist.
890
01:08:15,298 --> 01:08:18,128
That's good.
891
01:08:18,163 --> 01:08:22,615
Yeah, hopefully the final day. You never
really know if it's gonna be the final day.
892
01:08:22,650 --> 01:08:24,617
That's the plan, yes.
Final day.
893
01:08:52,335 --> 01:08:55,924
A lot of these
experiences are very hard to get
894
01:08:55,959 --> 01:08:59,135
in the white noise society
that we live in at the moment.
895
01:08:59,169 --> 01:09:01,896
Even though it seems like a
little bit of a flea circus,
896
01:09:01,930 --> 01:09:05,658
you still drag along a lot of technology,
and it requires
897
01:09:05,693 --> 01:09:09,904
quite an expensive tool
to make it all happen.
898
01:09:09,938 --> 01:09:12,320
But the same note too,
it is an escape
899
01:09:12,355 --> 01:09:16,876
and it is an indulgence in quite
a few pleasures that you like.
900
01:09:35,240 --> 01:09:36,517
It's over-kill.
901
01:09:37,932 --> 01:09:39,727
It's probably...
902
01:09:39,761 --> 01:09:42,592
probably 15 kilos more junk than
903
01:09:43,282 --> 01:09:44,697
Tim Hewitt's got.
904
01:09:45,871 --> 01:09:48,184
That's why he's so far
up the trail.
905
01:09:49,633 --> 01:09:51,946
I don't think he's human.
906
01:09:51,980 --> 01:09:54,466
I think he's a cyborg
from another planet.
907
01:09:54,500 --> 01:09:56,053
Think he just runs on
908
01:09:57,054 --> 01:09:58,953
sunshine and oxygen.
909
01:10:13,692 --> 01:10:16,281
I probably sleep on the trail
910
01:10:17,247 --> 01:10:19,111
maybe more than anybody else.
911
01:10:19,145 --> 01:10:21,286
I'm just not comfortable
912
01:10:21,320 --> 01:10:26,843
sleeping in people's houses or
in the lodges very much. So,
913
01:10:26,877 --> 01:10:30,502
I'll sleep in a school every now and again,
but
914
01:10:30,536 --> 01:10:33,781
I probably only average about
four hours of sleep a night
915
01:10:33,815 --> 01:10:36,715
and I can get that
on the trail usually.
916
01:10:40,719 --> 01:10:43,239
So,
as soon as we left Unalakleet,
917
01:10:44,136 --> 01:10:47,173
the wind smacked us.
918
01:11:06,607 --> 01:11:08,333
This does the trick.
919
01:11:09,265 --> 01:11:10,818
It's not just about fashion.
920
01:11:51,755 --> 01:11:53,516
You can smile now.
921
01:11:53,550 --> 01:11:55,759
This is for your family.
922
01:11:55,794 --> 01:11:59,901
I'm looking forward to getting off the bike,
and changing into other clothes.
923
01:11:59,936 --> 01:12:01,420
It would be awesome...
924
01:12:02,248 --> 01:12:03,802
and eating real food.
925
01:12:03,836 --> 01:12:05,562
I really look forward to
like real food,
926
01:12:05,597 --> 01:12:07,495
and a full night's sleep.
927
01:12:07,530 --> 01:12:09,014
Yeah, that would be awesome.
928
01:12:09,048 --> 01:12:11,982
It's been
an interesting experience.
929
01:12:23,822 --> 01:12:26,583
Well,
they're getting better, I think.
930
01:12:26,618 --> 01:12:29,034
I mean,
they still don't look great.
931
01:12:33,038 --> 01:12:36,144
The blisters start disappearing
and
932
01:12:37,698 --> 01:12:40,770
my hands get cold easily.
933
01:12:40,804 --> 01:12:44,187
So, that's something that always happens,
I guess.
934
01:12:45,326 --> 01:12:47,432
Just need to be very careful
935
01:12:48,191 --> 01:12:49,744
not to increase it.
936
01:12:49,779 --> 01:12:52,195
It's supposed to warm up, but...
937
01:12:57,718 --> 01:13:02,170
You see, also,
it's not about being
938
01:13:02,205 --> 01:13:05,657
an extremely good bike rider
like Tim Hewitt for instance.
939
01:13:05,691 --> 01:13:08,107
If I would ride with him
in the forest in summer,
940
01:13:08,142 --> 01:13:11,456
I'm pretty sure I'd beat him,
but mentally,
941
01:13:11,490 --> 01:13:14,286
he's extremely strong,
and he knows
942
01:13:14,320 --> 01:13:17,565
really well how to deal
with this cold weather.
943
01:13:17,600 --> 01:13:19,843
That's why he's doing so well.
944
01:13:22,052 --> 01:13:26,402
So, it's a lot more to it
than just riding a bike.
945
01:13:49,355 --> 01:13:52,358
Hopefully this much,
the man has never slept
946
01:13:52,393 --> 01:13:54,568
more than three hours on the course.
947
01:13:54,602 --> 01:13:56,846
Yeah, considering how many
times he's come through too.
948
01:13:56,880 --> 01:13:59,055
Yes.
As tired as he has been,
949
01:13:59,089 --> 01:14:02,507
he has never slept
more than three hours.
950
01:14:09,893 --> 01:14:12,862
You must be wired
the same way as Tim.
951
01:14:14,760 --> 01:14:16,486
John.
952
01:14:18,281 --> 01:14:21,629
No, I mean, some of it is kinda playful,
'cause it's like...
953
01:14:21,664 --> 01:14:24,011
'cause it's generally funny.
954
01:14:24,045 --> 01:14:28,084
Just his approach.
Like, we all know he's just nonstop, nonstop.
955
01:14:28,636 --> 01:14:30,500
Which I totally admire.
956
01:14:30,535 --> 01:14:33,227
Kudos to Jay for taking off
and getting it done.
957
01:14:33,261 --> 01:14:35,125
I didn't get a change.
That was smart.
958
01:14:35,160 --> 01:14:39,509
I think I feel really...
content.
959
01:14:39,544 --> 01:14:43,582
Like, completely content and at peace which
is a great feeling going in to the end here.
960
01:14:46,620 --> 01:14:51,348
Except for that little
nagging thing which is Tim,
961
01:14:51,383 --> 01:14:53,316
who's chasing behind.
962
01:14:53,350 --> 01:14:57,423
I decided to stay here and I'm cool
with that. I'll live with that decision.
963
01:14:57,458 --> 01:14:59,874
You mind giving me
a knock on the door?
964
01:14:59,909 --> 01:15:01,704
I've set two alarms, but...
965
01:15:01,738 --> 01:15:04,016
- Okay, so by 11?
- Yeah.
966
01:15:04,051 --> 01:15:06,881
He's going like 3 miles and hours,
so
967
01:15:06,916 --> 01:15:10,264
he maybe a little longer.
968
01:15:24,554 --> 01:15:29,110
Plus maybe it'll give Tim a little
taste of his own medicine.
969
01:15:29,145 --> 01:15:33,045
Maybe then he can enjoy,
chill out here, and
970
01:15:33,080 --> 01:15:36,911
regal you guys with his stories
of wolves following him...
971
01:15:38,499 --> 01:15:41,157
which is totally made up.
972
01:15:42,365 --> 01:15:44,194
Thank you so much.
973
01:15:44,747 --> 01:15:47,059
No big deal, I just...
974
01:15:50,062 --> 01:15:52,444
One last stretch, so
975
01:15:53,549 --> 01:15:55,171
I might just go for it,
976
01:15:56,552 --> 01:15:58,312
and get 'er done.
977
01:16:32,484 --> 01:16:34,659
So, he gotta...
978
01:16:34,693 --> 01:16:37,351
He left maybe an hour ago.
979
01:16:37,385 --> 01:16:40,285
I should chase him down.
980
01:16:42,805 --> 01:16:46,256
I'm able to do that right now,
I'm feeling a lot better.
981
01:16:46,291 --> 01:16:48,396
Starting to learn how to ride
this stupid thing.
982
01:16:49,674 --> 01:16:52,055
Are you planning to make
this your last trip to Nome?
983
01:16:52,815 --> 01:16:55,403
- I do every year.
- Oh.
984
01:16:57,682 --> 01:17:00,961
No, I think it probably will be.
985
01:17:00,995 --> 01:17:05,206
You said that the last
three times you've come through.
986
01:17:05,241 --> 01:17:08,002
- Um-hmm? Well...
- Yes.
987
01:17:09,590 --> 01:17:12,110
- I wanted to do the bike thing.
- Yeah.
988
01:17:12,144 --> 01:17:14,181
And that didn't work.
And then last year,
989
01:17:14,215 --> 01:17:17,184
the trail looked so good
I thought I could go fast
990
01:17:17,218 --> 01:17:19,704
on foot, so that's what I did.
991
01:18:05,335 --> 01:18:09,857
You cannot explain why people do this
992
01:18:09,892 --> 01:18:12,480
to anyone that's not done it.
993
01:18:12,515 --> 01:18:16,830
When you go home, you won't be
able to explain it to your friends
994
01:18:16,864 --> 01:18:20,765
what you have experienced
here on the Iditarod trail.
995
01:18:22,318 --> 01:18:25,079
And that's why those
comraderies and are so important
996
01:18:25,114 --> 01:18:30,844
because those are the only people
you can really share it with.
997
01:18:30,878 --> 01:18:36,470
I wanted to catch up with another
racer and ride with him if possible.
998
01:18:36,504 --> 01:18:40,508
The happiness isn't real unless
it's shared kinda thing. So,
999
01:18:40,543 --> 01:18:43,270
when you can share experiences
with other people, then
1000
01:18:43,304 --> 01:18:46,273
I think it deepens the
experience for both parties.
1001
01:18:48,068 --> 01:18:51,140
Life's about stories...
1002
01:18:51,174 --> 01:18:55,454
but what good is a story if you can't
speak the other person's language.
1003
01:19:21,101 --> 01:19:24,518
Yeah, it's actually emotional coming
down the street. I think it's gonna...
1004
01:19:24,552 --> 01:19:27,797
Probably 'cause I'm tired.
Haven't slept in a long time, but
1005
01:19:27,832 --> 01:19:31,080
you keep playing those mind games,
like, "Oh, you just gotta get there.
1006
01:19:31,114 --> 01:19:33,865
"And you just gotta get there. And you
just gotta get there." And all of a sudden,
1007
01:19:33,899 --> 01:19:37,289
"Holy crap,
I'm finally riding down Front Street."
1008
01:19:43,986 --> 01:19:47,644
I'm super proud.
It means a lot to me
1009
01:19:47,679 --> 01:19:50,026
to get here again. So,
1010
01:19:50,061 --> 01:19:51,683
I'm very, very happy.
1011
01:19:51,717 --> 01:19:53,789
- I want breakfast.
- How do you feel?
1012
01:20:05,524 --> 01:20:08,527
My butt is so sore. So sore.
1013
01:20:08,562 --> 01:20:12,842
They don't tell you about that.
Let's go in.
1014
01:20:12,877 --> 01:20:16,673
Well, no sense chasing RJ
anymore 'cause he's done, huh?
1015
01:20:18,227 --> 01:20:19,849
It sure is.
1016
01:21:13,869 --> 01:21:17,803
I guess I'm just reflecting
on the journeys over the years,
1017
01:21:17,838 --> 01:21:19,736
getting here.
1018
01:21:19,771 --> 01:21:22,912
Thinking about the year
I did it with Lorraine.
1019
01:21:22,947 --> 01:21:25,570
It was really nice
to come into Nome together.
1020
01:21:28,262 --> 01:21:30,644
Yes, I think anybody can do it.
1021
01:21:30,678 --> 01:21:32,784
Anybody that
really puts their mind to it.
1022
01:21:32,818 --> 01:21:37,582
I mean, how hard is it?
You're just peddling a bike, or walking.
1023
01:21:37,616 --> 01:21:40,826
You'll get there one day.
Yep, it'll come to you.
1024
01:21:53,874 --> 01:21:56,394
I'm okay, yeah!
1025
01:21:56,428 --> 01:21:58,983
You still got all your pieces and parts?
1026
01:21:59,017 --> 01:22:00,260
Yeah.
1027
01:22:00,294 --> 01:22:01,951
Yeah, I got everything.
1028
01:22:01,986 --> 01:22:03,884
Everything I need.
1029
01:22:04,609 --> 01:22:06,991
- Good job, man.
- Thanks.
1030
01:22:07,025 --> 01:22:08,613
Oh, my.
1031
01:22:09,372 --> 01:22:10,960
Don't you love the bike?
1032
01:22:10,995 --> 01:22:13,583
I hate the bike.
1033
01:22:13,618 --> 01:22:17,380
Comes out here and finishes well
1034
01:22:17,415 --> 01:22:20,418
to Nome on a bike
for his 10th finish.
1035
01:22:20,452 --> 01:22:24,525
A feat that is just
beyond belief.
1036
01:22:24,560 --> 01:22:28,598
More people summit Everest
in an afternoon,
1037
01:22:28,633 --> 01:22:31,360
than have made it Nome
on a bike.
1038
01:22:31,947 --> 01:22:33,776
Ten times to Nome...
1039
01:22:35,709 --> 01:22:37,676
means...
1040
01:22:37,711 --> 01:22:42,819
I've done everything I can do
on this venture, I think.
1041
01:22:42,854 --> 01:22:45,650
Yep,
there's really nothing left.
1042
01:22:45,684 --> 01:22:49,792
For the past several years,
I've had an objective or a goal
1043
01:22:49,826 --> 01:22:51,932
and I really don't have
any more.
1044
01:22:51,967 --> 01:22:53,969
The bike was the last one.
1045
01:23:22,756 --> 01:23:25,448
Your tires are very hard.
1046
01:23:33,422 --> 01:23:35,976
You did this for Wasilla?
1047
01:23:36,011 --> 01:23:37,633
Shoot!
1048
01:23:37,667 --> 01:23:42,500
Kyle! Kyle!
He biked here from Wasilla!
1049
01:23:44,605 --> 01:23:47,091
Aren't you cold?
1050
01:23:50,611 --> 01:23:52,372
How are the pedals treating ya?
1051
01:23:52,406 --> 01:23:56,479
Great.
I'm gonna swap my plan
1052
01:23:56,514 --> 01:23:58,412
and left a lot earlier
than expected.
1053
01:23:58,447 --> 01:24:01,622
Cool. Did you have much
winds coming across the last area?
1054
01:24:01,657 --> 01:24:03,624
No, it was really good.
1055
01:24:03,659 --> 01:24:06,386
I stopped in safety
for like a bit,
1056
01:24:06,420 --> 01:24:08,595
just 'cause my face
was plastered with ice.
1057
01:24:08,629 --> 01:24:11,494
So, I thawed off a little, and
1058
01:24:11,529 --> 01:24:13,186
waited for the sun to come up.
1059
01:24:13,220 --> 01:24:16,844
I was like, I wouldn't mind
riding in with a little light...
1060
01:24:16,879 --> 01:24:19,433
- to enjoy it. So...
- I'm the Mayor.
1061
01:24:19,468 --> 01:24:21,642
- Welcome. Good to have you here.
- Hello. Hello.
1062
01:24:21,677 --> 01:24:23,920
- I'm Martjin.
- Nice to see you, Martjin.
1063
01:24:23,955 --> 01:24:27,338
Good job. Excellent.
Welcome to Nome. Welcome to Nome.
1064
01:24:27,372 --> 01:24:28,994
How are your fingers?
1065
01:24:29,029 --> 01:24:30,893
- Yeah, okay. They're healing.
- You okay?
1066
01:24:30,927 --> 01:24:33,689
They look better actually, which is weird.
- Oh, yeah.
1067
01:24:33,723 --> 01:24:36,623
They were like hard and big before,
eh?
1068
01:24:38,038 --> 01:24:39,212
Okay, well, that's good.
1069
01:24:39,246 --> 01:24:41,869
You're here. That's all that matters,
it doesn't matter how
1070
01:24:41,904 --> 01:24:44,562
- we all got here. We got here.
- Yeah.
1071
01:24:44,596 --> 01:24:47,806
Now, it's easy to say that
1072
01:24:47,841 --> 01:24:51,603
it wasn't so hard or anything,
but in fact it was really hard.
1073
01:24:52,673 --> 01:24:54,572
It wasn't easy at all.
1074
01:25:00,957 --> 01:25:04,064
Good job, Petr.
1075
01:25:04,099 --> 01:25:07,032
Well, I'll tell you what,
it was fun to be out there with you.
1076
01:25:08,586 --> 01:25:12,107
Well, you pushed me.
But, you know, you need to.
1077
01:25:12,141 --> 01:25:14,959
See, that's what makes it real
when we have an Alaskan man.
1078
01:25:14,960 --> 01:25:15,972
Yeah.
1079
01:25:16,835 --> 01:25:18,389
This was normal.
1080
01:25:18,423 --> 01:25:21,944
In March sometimes too, there is a race...
otherwise you're just touring.
1081
01:25:21,978 --> 01:25:24,395
And not just to race
on that section,
1082
01:25:24,429 --> 01:25:26,500
- it's out there.
- Yeah.
1083
01:25:26,535 --> 01:25:28,675
- Yeah.
- And we gotta get across that.
1084
01:25:28,709 --> 01:25:31,471
All of a sudden,
you was hauling ass.
1085
01:25:34,163 --> 01:25:36,165
Yeah, Mike, thanks again.
1086
01:25:36,200 --> 01:25:38,443
It was just absolutely awesome.
1087
01:25:38,478 --> 01:25:39,927
This is a great year.
1088
01:25:39,962 --> 01:25:44,104
The long journey...
I read a book,
1089
01:25:44,139 --> 01:25:48,833
few years ago,
maybe six years ago about this race,
1090
01:25:48,867 --> 01:25:53,113
and I would never...
think that I
1091
01:25:53,148 --> 01:25:56,806
I'll be part of it one day.
So, it's kind of amazing.
1092
01:25:56,841 --> 01:26:00,569
It's a dream that came true.
1093
01:26:00,603 --> 01:26:03,572
We're all living proof
that anybody can do it.
1094
01:26:05,953 --> 01:26:07,990
You got a little bit of experience.
1095
01:26:08,024 --> 01:26:11,131
Experience is a name we give our mistakes.
87436
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