Winds have picked up on the trail in Puntilla as well as Nikolai

Strong winds at Rainy Pass Lodge have caused the windchill to plummet to -35F.

Jussi Karjalainen took a wrong turn heading towards Rainy Pass and spent the night weathered down. An aircraft was dispatched to his location this morning to check on him and to let him know he was on the wrong trail. The pilot found him in good spirits with no physical injuries, and he has since made his way back to the main trail.

Scott Hoberg, the lead runner, arrived at the Puntilla Lake checkpoint at 8:30pm. He is planning on getting some sleep before heading towards Rohn.

Neil Beltchenko is only 10 miles from Nikolai. His progress is slow at times due to terrible trail and weather conditions. The winds have picked up in Puntilla (Rainy Pass Lodge) as well as in Nikolai.   The trail over Rainy Pass is slow as well.  The trail is above tree line and the winds have been blowing up there in the valley and drifting in trails for the racers.

The last two racers Jason Boon and Thomas Keene made it to the Skwentna check point tonight.

The lead runner, Scott Hobert, is in Puntilla as well.  Rookie Gavin Woody and defending champ David Johnston are still traveling together and are less than 2 miles from the half way point.
The leading woman is Nina Gaessler from Norway in her rookie 350 mile year.  She is currently 20 miles out of Rohn while 2nd place female racer Missy Schwarz is still making her way up Rainy Pass.  Not far behind Missy are Kimberly Riggs, an ITI veteran, and rookie racer Jill Martindale.

Skier Chet Fehrmann, from Anchorage, is resting in Puntilla.
Skier Lindsay Cameron, also from Anchorage, is resting at Winterlake Lodge.
Carole Holley, from Anchorage, is on foot and traveling with Canadian rookie Jessie Thomson- Gladish.

Troy Szcurkowski leaving Puntilla Lake/Rainy Pass Lodge today. Image Kyle Durand

John Logar grabs some shut-eye in the Rainy Pass Lodge cabin