Kirkenes Checkpoint, Northern Norway

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Kirkenes Checkpoint, Northern Norway

2:50 am and with a certain spring in his steps, Roger Dahl has checked into the 1/2 point of the 2011 Finnmarkslopet with all 14 of his team bright and eager. A fine, fine team. When he departed the Neiden 1 checkpoint at 6:30 pm last night with a bright 1/2 moon overhead, his dogs straining to get on the trail again. This was the first time this winter I really wanted to be the driver on the sled. The thrill of a well trained team, powerful and eager to depart, while competitors teams, incomplete and subdued, lay quietly nearby. Roger is having a good race.

The small village that is Neiden is just walking distance to the Finland border where cigarettes and beer boast just have the price of their Norwegian neighbors. The russian border is just a short 30 minute drive, and locals cross often enough that road sign are in both languages.
The sun comes up early and goes down late yet barley gets above the horizon. Instead it circles around the day at a position that to me seems to a caricature of "10am".

Robert Sorlie's 9 dog team has just arrived at Kirkenes. Also lively and hungry, Robert and his team seems to lack the spring in their step that his leading competitor has. He put jackets on his team and snacked them a fatty treat of some sort, and got down to the business of caring for his team. Both men work methodically, reminding me of the focus necessary to perform well with so little sleep.

The hotel that is serving as the checkpoint is located in the middle of a town of 9,000 residents. Rumor has it they serve an extraordinary breakfast and I am looking forward to the cafe opening soon.

Jeff King.

Read previously Kings Corner: 

2 am Neiden 1

Exceeded all my expectations