As anticipated yesterday even today we stayed here to let the cold do its job freezing up all the overflowed sections. The frigid wind from north east which has started to blow last night gave us again the hopes to continue our trip to Nome.
In the morning we all met Marlin ( the local musher who might guide us with a snow machine to Koyuk ) to discuss about this dangerous situation. He confirmed us that until the river beside the village is not completely frozen solid we shouldn't even considering to start because the tundra and the sea ice would be still overflowed.
In order to convince us he told us some terrible stories about his village's mates who didn't follow the strict rules of the North and ventured carelessly, losing their lives for hypothermia because of the contact with cold waters, consequently freezing to death. To be honest I knew from the beginning that we were not going to leave until the right moment. So today I did some other jobs like changing the plastics of my sled almost destroyed after the trip from Unalakleet on rocks and frozen grounds and checking all my gear and clothing.
Lena Gonanag Savetilik's husband gave some salmon and caribu' meat for all the dogs while Chris had her sent with her Airline Bering Air 2 bags of Premium Dog food and some meat to be shared among all the teams.
Linda the teacher who is hosting us has cooked some turkey in the oven while I and Gianni pealed and cooked potatoes that all of us 7, Jim the Principle of the School, his wife Jayne, Lena and her husband ate together at the Principle's house.
Maybe a break of two days like this was really needed to rest the dogs and ourselves a bit stressed after a whole week of travel under snow storms….and waters in its last section.
Tomorrow Dan Takak will lead us out of here after a meeting at 9 am. Start around 10 am for a long day of travel towards Koyuk 60 miles north.
Yours ARARAD K
