The Girdwood tasks are fairly extensive, involving several hours. Just getting to Girdwood from Anchorage International Airport takes one hour and getting back takes the same.
It is not logical to believe that teams will start a day in Taipei, fly to Anchorage, do tasks, and then then fly mid afternoon at the earliest to somewhere in the lower 48.
I have taken a fresh look(I did it 3 months ago, probably near the beginning of this thread) at which Western airport could be reached same-day from Anchorage. Starting from after 1pm, there is the list:
SEA AS162 1521 1945 (Note: there are several more about one hour apart later)
PDX AS162/ AS2433 SEA PDX 2100 2150
LAS US0116 1652 2300
LAX AS162/ AS598 SEA LAX 2055 2527
SAN AS162/ AS502 SEA SAN 2045 2331
So, the first possible flights gets into Seattle just before sunset.
The second flight gets to Portland well after sunset.
the flights to Las Vegas, Las Angeles, and San Diego get in in the hour before midnight.
ANYONE FOR AN IN-THE DARK FINALE? Obviously, not me.
I am using van Munster's statement of a 21 day schedule for AR12 as the basis for my belief that July 29 is the final day. Anyone can take the case of history(it's quite easy to say that Alaska or Hawaii have never before been the finish line for any Amazing Race) but I take the contrary case and say that it's the right time for van Munster to have stopped at Alaska. I also belive that we'll see a finish line in Hawaii soon.
Let me repeat something I rate as a key posting on this subject(not just because I wrote it):
puddin asked "Also after all the BS that BVM has reported do we still believe the race completes in 21 days?"
My answer is an unequivocal YES, I believe in the 21 day race. There will be only 11 legs. The last leg is going to Alaska. It can't possibly go on to anywhere else in a one hour show. This race will be over July 29, probably in the Girdwood area.
Just because BVM said it doesn't make it wrong. Sometimes he does tell the truth.