
02/14/2025
Expedition Update!
"In 1925 Leonhard Seppala took the risky decision to cross the sea ice of Norton Sound in order to get the serum to Nome as quick as possible. It nearly cost him his life, as the ice was breaking up when he crossed and by the next day had completely thawed and was back to its watery self.
Jonathan has always said that he would wait until he reached there to make the decision if he was to cross Norton Sound as did Leonhard Seppala some 100 years previous. Only if the conditions were just right and it wouldn't endanger him and his dogs, only then would he cross the frozen sea.
'Norton Sound was deceitful. When I mushed on to it – it was cold and windy. But she waited till I was 25% out to show her real colors. When I got to Koyuk, I was told the windchill on my last hour of crossing was -50F (-45C).
I have a new respect for Leonhard Seppala, Togo and his team. And for my own team. I didn’t have to say a word. When the king got tough, even the slackers dug in and gave 100%.' "
https://mushmaine.com/updates/
Centennial Seppala Expedition, 1925-2025 Jonathan Nathaniel Hayes