JayP

Let me start by saying a quote that a friend sent to me after the event.

"an adventure accomplished on your own is a great achievement, but an adventure SHARED is always a great TREASURE"



The ITI this year was that treasure and a very satisfactional one to have been found at the finish. After completing this years event I feel I have been spoiled the past two years with firm trails and -30 degree temps. Sharing this years journey with Tracey in some of the worst snow conditions the ITI has ever had makes me very proud of her and myself. She held the best atitude in the worst conditions which was an asset to her first women and our second overall finish. Amazing.

I am still in Anchorage and things are just starting to catch up as far as recovery, sleep and the gorging that was done at Peter's (the finish) for two days. Tracey flew out last night and I will be today. Thinking back on the event is a constant rolling film reel in my head right now with feelings of happiness but also very sad for having to leave the trail, a place I love to be. An actual no nonsense lifestyle of existance and survival.

Hopefully in the next week Tracey and or I will come up with a detailed race report story. For now I will throw down a few details and photos until my brain can actually comprehend all of what has happened in the past week.

- the first 165 miles to Puntella was 95% riding even the last 35 miles from Finger Lake which can be quite the push.
- from the top of Rainy Pass 7 of us were the first to put in the trail moving at the fast rate of 6 miles in 15 hours of waist deep post holing through bottomless sugar snow covered alders.

- there was a time we were moving a tenth of a mile an hour!
- aprox. 20 hours of sleep in over 6 days, sort of cush actually.
- temps and weather; first morning -20+ on the river along with the last morning, windy and blowing snow most days resulting in wind drifts and shitty unconsolidated snow, overall warm between 10 and 20 degrees to much when working so hard.

- i think it would be safe to say we pushed probably 120 miles.
- Tracey smiled the WHOLE time.

- there was more overflow and open water then I have ever seen or come across, no problems with us, you just have to use caution and be aware.
- my knee; knock on wood, never even new I tore my ACL 5 weks ago!
- the sunsets and sunrises are priceless and most enjoyable as each one is absorbed every minute of its motion


I have so many Thank You's to express, don't know where to start and hope not to miss any:
Top of the list, Tracey, for being my wife, friend, and adventure partner. You never stop amazing me, I love you!
My friends. You all encourage, support and help me achieve my acomplishments. These things can't be done on my own, everybody stands for a piece of the puzzle and my puzzle is complete. You know who you are and which piece you are, thank you! Special thanks to Jill and Andy for watching our kids (Burnin and Kitty), Dave for my lack of technical ability and bounce off friend, Matt and Janelle making it like home while in AK.
Fitzgeralds Bicycle Shop - Being part of the shop and friends with everyone thier gives me a level of comfort to not have any worries about my rigs an important piece of comfort.
Zeal Optics - Keeping all my visions clear.
Montbell - protecting me from the elements and keeping me warm
Orbea Bicycles - keeping me fit with many dirt and road miles throughout the year on the best bikes around.
Princeton Tech - keeps me riding through the night like it was day time.
Crank Brothers - never do I have a problem being attached to the bike, weather it be mud or snow.
Carousel Design Works - the orignal bike packing bag maker with orignal ideas, there is no better quality craftmenship out thier. No comparison or substitute.
Bill and Kathi UltraSport organizers, all their checkpoint people, and voulenteers for offering such an amazing event in such a remote real place. Can't wait till next year!

Well It's time to eat again and take a nap. More later...