Only three teams are out as of 11:00 pm. Quite a few teams are preparing to leave within the next hour. Teams are not all leaving at their designated times----mostly due to weather issues. There are winds in the 30mph. range in the Tangle Lakes area and over 13 mile hill. The current Maclaren temperature is 39 below at 11:00 pm. There are still 5 teams out on the 110 mile loop; one is reported several miles out.
john Schandelmeier

Gin Gin race start pic's

The GG200 2008 Start

The Army National Guard assisting the GG200

Getting cozy in Paxson

GG200

Yuka Honda Team

Paxson Lodge

John, Becca, Chris and Zoya all working the start of 2008 Gin Gin 200

Hugh Neff gearing up to go

Michelle Phillips and Ed Hopkins teams

Ken Anderson & teams

Aliy Zirkle at the start of the 2008 GG200

Colleen Robetia & team

New Trail Report

The trail crew just came in off of the 110 mile loop----It is 35 below at
the Maclaren checkpoint---the best guess is that the temperatures on the Lower Maclaren and along the Susitna are at least 10 degrees colder. Winds are calm. The trail on the Maclaren from the Lodge to the mouth is hard and fast. When we turned on the Sue we found it drifted and slower traveling; some areas aren't too bad, other sections will be punchy and tough going. The closer teams get to the Denali Highway, the better the trail will be. The Denali from the Bridge to the checkpoint is excellent; there have been quite a few machines over that part of the trail---it is smooth and fast. Expect times in the range of 12-13 hours for the fastest teams.
John Schandelmeier