Back in Alta

At 01.58 last night, Espen arrived in Alta. Look here to see a photo from the finishing line:
http://www.finnmarkslopet.no/article.jsp?id=4602

Last leg on this years Finnmarksløp!

In the next hours Espen will reach the finishing line in Alta! He has now 7 dogs in his team. Kaos was dropped off in Karasjok as she was very stiff. I guess all dogs, the musher and the handlers are looking forward to a good night's sleep. And we are looking forward to get them home again on Sunday!

On the Tana river

Espen is now on his way to Karasjok. He rested for almost 8 h in Sirmba and had the second fastest leg time to Levajokk 2 (4.19)! Resting in the sun do good for tired dogs :)! He had a short stop in Levajokk were he dropped off Elton due to a wound shoulder and continued with 8 dogs. The 89 km between Levajokk and Karasjok is on the Tana river, so this may be cold night for Mr Prestbakmo. Last night it reached 40 below!

Sun in Sirbma

While the mushers in the front are rushing towards Alta and the finishing line, Espen and his team (dogs and handlers) are resting in the sun in Sirbma, preparing for the next leg and for the coming cold night (-40?) on Tana River.

Kirkenes-Neiden-Varangerbotn

Espen just left Neiden II after 5.5 h rest. He is very pleased with the team and he continues with 11 dogs towards Varangerbotn. Kaifa, the youngest dog in the team was dropped off at Neiden I since she was a bit thin and didn't have any appetite. Wilma was taken out of the race in Neiden II as she was tired and had a wound ankle. All the others are well and Bård who was tired in Kirkenes had rested in the sled on their way to Neiden II.

Kari- the mini husky

Kari has been resting for a while in the sled on their way to Kirkenes. And that is fair- you should have some previledges when you are the smallest dog in the team (15 kg). Espen and the dogs are expect to arrive in Kirkenes around 6 or 7 p.m!

Neiden

Espen is now having his 16h mandatory rest. He is taking it in Neiden. Coming in here this afternoon he was wery happy whit his team so far. They have been working very good all the way. But coming in here they were tired. He hope that the rest will get them fresh again. Right now Espen is sleeping. He has put up a tent that he and the dogs are resting in together. Hopefully it is not to cold there, outside it is now -30c.
He think that he will drop Kaifa before going on to kirkenes to morrow morning at 0600. That mean he is going whit 12 dogs.

Resting on the trail

Espen and Arne Liaklev (on the picture) have been resting on the trail instead of on the checkpoints. They are now on their way to Neiden.

Levajokk

Espen and his team stopped for 4 h on their way over to Levajokk. Their actual leg time was therefore approximately 5.18 h, and that is good! On Levajokk they stayed for almost 6 h and left around 14.00 this afternoon. Espen had to leave Baska (one of the dogs from Mats) behind as she was limping, so he continues with 13 dogs. All the others were fresh and healthy and were very eager to continue. So was also the musher. The handling team almost overslept Espen's arrival this morning, so I guess they are not suffering from lack of sleep...yet.

The updates on Finnmarksløpets webpage is sometimes slow, so currently it looks like Espen is still in Levajokk, although that is not correct.

Photo from the starting line

Kaifa and Gross up front, Kari and Elton behind (and Aslak).

Espen had the 6th (!) best leg time from Jotka to Skoganvarre (however he rested for 2.22 h at Joatka and some of the others didn't). The team is now on their way to Levajokk. The night has been nice and cold ( -25), and considering the time the team already spent on this last leg (9h so far), Espen has probably been sleeping some hours in the sled somewhere on the track.

Skoganvarre

Espen came in to Skoganvarre a bit before 23.00 tonight, picked up some food and continued immediately towards Levajokk. His so far very pleased with his team!

Latest news from Alta

Espen, Aslak and Knut report nice and sunny weather from Alta! Starting time for Espen is approximately 12.45. We wish the team all the best for the coming week's challenges!

Alta

The Undervegs raceing team has now arrived in Alta. Espen came yesterday and has been to the mandatory drivers meeting and done his registration. The rest of the team; Aslak, Knut and the dogs arrived this evening. Team member, and last years Finnmarksløp contestant, Lotta is in Tromsø doing her very last bit on her Phd. She is following the race on the web, between her writing. We wish her the very best.
So the we (Aslak and Knut) are here following the race and giving Espen the best service we are able to. Stay tuned, we will update when possible.

Online at Finnmarksløpet

During the next two weeks we hope to use this site for the last updates on Finnmarksløpet and how things develop with Espen and the dogs.... For further information check www.finnmarkslopet.no