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(4:36 p.m.) The GPS tracker shows that Team 33 has made it to Unalakleet. They even have a little bit to rest before they head out. Even with their work time added in Koyuk, they're still in 11th place. They'll be less-rested than everyone else, but at least they won't be way behind everyone.
Someone pointed out that the teams have 17 hours to travel (starting at 5) and 900-some miles to go, which means they'd have to average 55 MPH. I think they used the Norhtbound Unalakleet trail mileage to get that.
With my math, racers have 633 miles to go from Unalakleet to Fairbanks. Divide that between 17 hours and they have to average about 37 MPH, which is a little more do-able, though it sounds like Tanana to Ruby or Fairbanks was not staked today because the volunteers just weren't able to do it in the storm.
(3:53 p.m.) Update: Team 33 has been added to the list of release times. They are not in Unalakleet yet, but are on their way and still in 11th place. They have also changed the release so that just the Top Five teams will be released on race time, not seven. See this story for the updated times.
(2:31 p.m.) It sounds like Team 33 got the track they need and GPS shows they are heading south towards Unalakleet. They just might make it.
(1:52 p.m.)Here is the plan now (all as trail conditions allow):
Friday 5 p.m. re-start in Unalakleet
The Top 7 teams will be released on race time (meaning the same distance apart they were to be released in Nome with work time)
The remaining six teams wil be released at 5-minute intervals.
Teams will be required to take one 8-hour layover in either Kaltag, Galena or Ruby.
They will be held briefly in Tanana (now, at 2:21 p.m., it sounds like they'll have their time adjusted again for those who aren't released on "race" time) in order to facilitate a 6 p.m. Saturday finish.
(1:14 p.m.) Once all 13 teams (they're not waiting for 33) get to Shaktoolik, the checker will call Headquarters and a race official here says the plan is to give the guys a couple hours of rest before starting up again.
(1:05 p.m.) Marianne Beckham, the president of the Board of Directors, says another member of the Board grew up in Nome, he's in his 50s, probably, and says this is the worst storm he's ever seen or heard about.
(12:53 p.m.) Sounds like Team 21 - Spernak/Branholm will be getting some parts and doing some on-the-clock work in Unalakleet. Overheard, not official.
(12:46 p.m.) It appears that all of the teams except 33 Bartel/Wichman have made progress. 33 is still in Koyuk, while most of the rest have made it through Shaktoolik. Next stop: Unalakleet.
(9:45 a.m.) Looks like the racers are about halfway or a little more to Koyuk. It looks like they're making much better time today than yesterday.
(9:16 a.m.) It looks like the racers are on the move. A steady line of them is leaving Elim according to the GPS tracker. From White Mountain to Golovin is about 190 race miles. The racers were in Elim, which appears to be a little less than halfway to Koyuk, which is 96 miles from White Mountain. Koyuk is at the northern edge of Norton Bay, and then the racers will come down through Shaktoolik and on to Unalakleet, which is at the eastern edge of Norton Sound.
(8:25 a.m.) At this point, it shows all the continuing teams in Elim (stopped there), which is on the northeast side of the Sound. Looks like they're not even halfway to Unalakleet, so at this point, I'm going to save some OT (the bosses love that) and wait a bit before I head in to Race HQ.