This is the starting grid for the racing. Jeff King is replacing Nicholas Petit who has been side-lined by Covid.

Standings at 4:30PM CST (1:30PM AKST):

At Willow
1 Sean Williams (2)^R
2 Jeff King (3)
3 Michelle Phillips (4)
4 Paige Drobny (5)
5 Martin Massicotte (6)^Q
6 Jessie Holmes (7)
7 Ramey Smyth (8)
8 Anna Berington (9)
9 Matthew Failor (10)
10 Mats Pettersson (11)
11 Joar Leifseth Ulsom (12)
12 Hanna Lyrek (13)^R
13 Eric Kelly (14)^R
14 Riley Dyche (15)
15 Lev Shvarts (16)
16 Ryan Redington (17)
17 Richie Diehl (18)
18 KattiJo Deeter (19)^R
19 Dallas Seavey (20)
20 Aaron Peck (21)
[continued below the fold] [Read more →]

Anchorage & Campbell Airstrip
Willow
Skwentna & Yentna, Finger Lake, Rainy Pass, Rohn
McGrath & Nikolai, Takotna, Ophir
Ruby
Galena
Nulato
Kaltag
Unalakleet
Shaktoolik
Koyuk
Elim
Golovin
White Mountain
Nome & Safety

It is the first Saturday in March which is Susan Butcher Day in Alaska and marks the Iditarod ‘parade’ from Anchorage to the airport. The actual race is set to start on Sunday in Willow.

The trail and distances between checkpoints:

Willow – Start
Yentna Station – 52 miles [84 km]
Skwentna – 34 miles [55 km]
Finger Lake – 45 miles [72 km]
Rainy Pass – 30 miles [48 km]
Rohn – 48 miles [77 km]
Nikolai – 75 miles [121 km]
McGrath – 54 miles [87 km]
Takotna – 18 miles [29 km]
Ophir – 25 miles [40 km]
Cripple – 59 miles [95 km]
Ruby – 112 miles [180 km]
Galena – 52 miles [84 km]
Nulato – 52 miles [84 km]
Kaltag – 42 miles [68 km]
Unalakleet – 90 miles [145 km]
Shaktoolik – 42 miles [68 km]
Koyuk – 48 miles [77 km]
Elim – 48 miles [77 km]
Golovin – 28 miles [45 km]
White Mountain – 18 miles [29 km]
Safety – 55 miles [88 km]
Nome – 22 miles [35 km]

The distance is from the previous checkpoint. Some teams in the early going will travel at 12 mph [20kph] or better with all dogs eager to go. There are reasons not to do this.

[Read more →]