Johansen back on track? Not without problems!

After suffering big problems in the long stage from Neiden to Kirkenes he was in better shape on the way back. He needed 7 hours and 48 minutes for the stage and was 45 minutes slower than last year. The experienced musher Tor Atle Svortevik running the checkpoint said that Johansens team looked everything but beaten and was certainly not giving up hope.

Johansen stopped only for 2 and a half hours, the shortest period of all the mushers. However he had to leave another dog at the checkpoint and is back out with just 8 dogs. The people at the checkpoint say, that they can still see him and he is having trouble to get the dogs into a run. This does not mean that hope is lost for him however. Similar news came from Kirkenes and he ended up with a good time as soon as his team had found their rhythm.