Category — Iditarod

The shortened parade in Anchorage on the imported snow, Tanana Valley Spätlese 2016 [wine humor], begins at 1PM CST with 85 teams led out by Scott Janssen, “the Mushing Mortician” [funeral director humor].

1 Scott Janssen (2)
2 Jessie Royer (3)
3 Nathan Schroeder (4)
4 Allen Moore (5)
5 Ketil Reitan (6)
6 Lisbet Norris (7)
7 Monica Zappa (8)
8 Charley Bejna (9)
9 Cim Smyth (10)
10 Peter Kaiser (11)
11 Nicolas Petit (12)
12 Aliy Zirkle (13)
13 Jodi Bailey (14)
14 James Volek (15)
15 Dallas Seavey (16)
16 Kelly Maixner (17)
17 Ray Redington Jr (18)
18 Mitch Seavey (19)
19 Rick Casillo (20)
20 Noah Pereira (21)^R
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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] [Spirit of Alaska]
Takotna – 18 miles [29 km]
Ophir – 25 miles [40 km]
Cripple – 59 miles [95 km] [Halfway]
Ruby – 112 miles [180 km] [First to the Yukon]
Galena – 52 miles [84 km]
Nulato – 52 miles [84 km]
Kaltag – 42 miles [68 km]
Unalakleet – 90 miles [145 km] [Gold Coast]
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]

Note: The Saturday parade in Anchorage has been shortened to 3 miles from 11 so they wouldn’t have to import more snow from Fairbanks.

The items in italics after checkpoints are awards for being first to those points. The distance is from the previous checkpoint. Some teams in the early going will travel at 12 mph [20kph] or better with all 16 dogs eager to go. There are reasons not to do this.

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Dallas Seavey, who has won 3 out of the last 4 Iditarods has come up with a new piece of training equipment: a refrigerated dog treadmill. Normally during warm weather sled dogs don’t move around much, because they have real problems with warm weather, and, yes, while they are short, summers in Alaska are warm. This will help maintain the conditioning of the dogs year round, giving Dallas an advantage.

How tough? When is the last time you met anyone who broke their opponent’s humerus [upper arm bone] while arm wrestling.

It was a spiral break, which means the bone was twisted until it broke. Normally the elbow or shoulder would dislocate before that happened.

It helps to know that for a long time during the off season Aliy worked as a carpenter, swinging a hammer all day, and like she said, she keeps in shape.

As an aside, when someone asks “heads or tails” in an Alaskan bar, it isn’t about flipping a coin. They are betting on the way someone is going to fall when they pass out. They are a fun-loving people.

Ben Harper’s time for the sprint was beaten, by the Mackey brothers, but Laura Allaway and her 14 puppies bested them by a minute at 2 hours 24 minutes.

Cindy Abbott and 13 puppies are out of Safety at 9:11PM CDT with the Red Lantern. GNU Terry Pratchett
The Iditarod Trail Committee shut everything down before Cindy made it in. They closed down at 9PM local and are flying people back to Anchorage.

Finished at Nome
51 Chuck Schaeffer (67)^R 3/21 5:24PM CDT
52 Brian Wilmshurst (50)^Q 3/21 6:18PM CDT
53 Yvonne Dabakk (33) 3/21 6:55PM CDT
54 Lev Shvarts (40)^R 3/21 7:03PM CDT
55 Yuka Honda (60)^Q 3/21 9:32PM CDT
56 Alan Stevens (77)^R 3/21 9:43PM CDT
57 Becca Moore (47)^R 3/21 11:56PM CDT
58 Steve Watkins (66)^R 3/21 11:57PM CDT
59 Mark Selland (17)^R 3/22 12:22AM CDT
60 Alan Eischens (7)^R 3/22 12:56AM CDT
61 Isabelle Travadon (43)^R 3/22 5:26AM CDT
62 Marcelle Fressineau (25) 3/22 7:31AM CDT
63 Lachlan Clarke (5) 3/22 12:16PM CDT
64 Cindy Gallea (64) 3/22 1:57PM CDT
65 Trent Herbst (75) 3/22 2:57PM CDT
66 Cindy Abbott (10)^R 3/23 12:14AM CDT Φ
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Ben Harper saved something for the finish and came in 20 seconds before Linwood Fiedler. Ben also has the fastest time between Safety and Nome at 2 hours 27 seconds.

It’s nice to see Yuka Honda at White Mountain. In her first attempt at the Yukon Quest she spent over a day getting over Eagle Summit. She and the puppies were so worn out that she had to scratch at Mile 101. Update: Yuka has finished at Nome!

Cindy Abbott is out of Elim with the Red Lantern. GNU Terry Pratchett

Finished at Nome
31 DeeDee Jonrowe (29) 3/20 8:10AM CDT
32 Curt Perano (21) 3/20 10:11AM CDT
33 Justin Savidis (19) 3/20 1:35PM CDT
34 Charley Bejna (38) 3/20 3:07PM CDT
35 Seth Barnes (23)^R 3/20 7:05PM CDT
36 Benjamin Harper (37)^R 3/21 5:28AM CDT
37 Linwood Fiedler (27) 3/21 5:28AM CDT
38 Allen Moore (57) 3/21 5:52AM CDT
39 Mike Santos (61) 3/21 8:07AM CDT
40 Rohn Buser (31) 3/21 8:21AM CDT
41 Matt Failor (15) 3/21 11:42AM CDT
42 Jason Mackey (72) 3/21 1:32PM CDT
43 Lance Mackey (30) 3/21 1:32PM CDT
44 Rick Casillo (52) 3/21 1:37PM CDT
45 Timothy Hunt (68) 3/21 1:45PM CDT
46 Laura Allaway (49)^R 3/21 4:03PM CDT
47 Monica Zappa (53) 3/21 4:13PM CDT
48 Heidi Sutter (76)^R 3/21 4:39PM CDT
49 Lisbet Norris (41) 3/21 4:41PM CDT
50 Rob Cooke (2)^Q 3/21 5:23PM CDT
51 Chuck Schaeffer (67)^R 3/21 5:24PM CDT
52 Brian Wilmshurst (50)^Q 3/21 6:18PM CDT
53 Yvonne Dabakk (33) 3/21 6:55PM CDT
54 Lev Shvarts (40)^R 3/21 7:03PM CDT
55 Yuka Honda (60)^Q 3/21 9:32PM CDT
56 Alan Stevens (77)^R 3/21 9:43PM CDT
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DeeDee finally made it in this morning with 15 puppies and 6 frostbitten fingers. Anna also nipped Kristy at the end to beat her by 4 minutes.

Bryan Bearss scratched at Shaktoolik while Cindy Abbott is out of Shaktoolik with the Red Lantern. GNU Terry Pratchett

Finished at Nome
21 John Baker (78) 3/19 11:12AM CDT
22 Martin Buser (4) 3/19 11:36AM CDT
23 Richie Diehl (42) 3/19 12:26PM CDT
24 Nathan Schroeder (26) 3/19 12:44PM CDT
25 Mats Pettersson (55) 3/19 1:11PM CDT
26 Scott Smith (69) 3/19 7:12PM CDT
27 Paige Drobny (58) 3/19 7:15PM CDT
28 Anna Berington (39) 3/20 12:06AM CDT
29 Kristy Berington (11) 3/20 12:10AM CDT
30 Jodi Bailey (22) 3/20 5:07AM CDT
31 DeeDee Jonrowe (29) 3/20 8:10AM CDT
32 Curt Perano (21) 3/20 10:11AM CDT
33 Justin Savidis (19) 3/20 1:35PM CDT
34 Charley Bejna (38) 3/20 3:07PM CDT
35 Seth Barnes (23)^R 3/20 7:05PM CDT
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Thomas Waerner won the race to Nome to become the Rookie of the Year over Jason Campeau.

Cindy is out of Unalakleet. GNU Terry Pratchett

Scott Janssen, the “Mushing Mortician”, has scratched at Koyuk.

Finished at Nome
6 Joar Leifseth Ulsom (16) 3/18 6:21PM CDT
7 Jeff King (59) 3/18 6:47PM CDT
8 Wade Marrs (65) 3/18 9:15PM CDT
9 Ken Anderson (36) 3/18 11:38PM CDT
10 Nicolas Petit (12) 3/19 12:19AM CDT
11 Travis Beals (56) 3/19 2:18AM CDT
12 Paul Gebhardt (28) 3/19 4:38AM CDT
13 Kelly Maixner (9) 3/19 4:39AM CDT
14 Peter Kaiser (54) 3/19 4:44AM CDT
15 Christian Turner (73) 3/19 5:05AM CDT
16 Ray Redington Jr (34) 3/19 5:27AM CDT
17 Thomas Waerner (8)^R 3/19 6:10AM CDT
18 Jason Campeau (70)^Q 3/19 7:28AM CDT
19 Hugh Neff (24) 3/19 9:25AM CDT
20 Michelle Phillips (6) 3/19 10:17AM CDT
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Dallas managed to keep it together despite severe sleep deprivation to win another truck. His team is in their prime.

Meanwhile Cindy is at Kaltag at the back of the race.

The oldest musher in the race, Jim Lanier, has scratched at Unalakleet. This was only his second scratch in 18 races.

Finished at Nome
1 Dallas Seavey (46) 3/18 07:13AM CDT
2 Mitch Seavey (18) 3/18 11:22AM CDT
3 Aaron Burmeister (63) 3/18 12:47PM CDT
4 Jessie Royer (3) 3/18 2:51PM CDT
5 Aliy Zirkle (32) 3/18 5:44PM CDT
6 Joar Leifseth Ulsom (16) 3/18 6:21PM CDT
7 Jeff King (59) 3/18 6:47PM CDT
8 Wade Marrs (65) 3/18 9:15PM CDT
Beyond White Mountain
9 Ken Anderson (36)
10 Nicolas Petit (12)
11 Travis Beals (56)
12 Paul Gebhardt (28)
13 Peter Kaiser (54)
14 Kelly Maixner (9)
15 Christian Turner (73)
[Read more →]

The Seaveys are battling it out for the lead with a man heading home. Being from Nome, Aaron’s team know by now they are heading home. Dallas is staying ahead by reducing rest time.

Two more scratches, Jan Stevens scratched at Huslia, and Katherine Keith at Unalakleet. Cindy Abbot now has the Red Lantern and is on the trail to Koyukuk. Cindy raced over 600 miles with a broken pelvis in her first attempt, so she’s not apt to give up.

Dallas has more than a 4 hour lead over his Dad and Aaron.

Beyond White Mountain
1 Dallas Seavey (46)
At White Mountain
2 Mitch Seavey (18)
3 Aaron Burmeister (63)
4 Jessie Royer (3)
5 Aliy Zirkle (32)
Beyond Elim
6 Joar Leifseth Ulsom (16)
7 Jeff King (59)
8 Ken Anderson (36)
9 Wade Marrs (65)
At Elim
10 Nicolas Petit (12)
11 Travis Beals (56)
12 Paul Gebhardt (28)
[Read more →]

The top 10 teams are on the coast with the weather a bit warmer and the winds lower than yesterday. The equinox is almost here so there is plenty of light for travel. The end is going to depend on who has the right mix of running and resting that produces the fastest time. The lead will change from checkpoint to checkpoint, and it looks like a sprint to Nome to determine the winner.

Dallas has a 3 minute lead over Aaron at Koyuk.

Beyond Koyuk
1 Dallas Seavey (46)
2 Aaron Burmeister (63)
At Koyuk
3 Aliy Zirkle (32)
4 Jessie Royer (3)
5 Mitch Seavey (18)
6 Joar Leifseth Ulsom (16)
Beyond Shaktoolik
7 Jeff King (59)
8 Wade Marrs (65)
9 Nicolas Petit (12)
10 Peter Kaiser (54)
11 Ken Anderson (36)
[Read more →]

Philip Walters scratched at Ruby which closed down after Ellen left this morning. The field is down to 72 teams.

Aliy has a real lead of almost two hours over Jeff out of Kaltag, but that isn’t much given the weather shifts around the Norton Sound where instant blizzards are not a rare occurrence.

Ellen Halverson is out of the running for the Red Lantern. She has scratched at Galena.

At Unalakleet
1 Aaron Burmeister (63)
2 Aliy Zirkle (32)
Beyond Kaltag
3 Jeff King (59)
4 Dallas Seavey (46)
5 Jessie Royer (3)
6 Mitch Seavey (18)
7 Joar Leifseth Ulsom (16)
8 Ken Anderson (36)
9 Kelly Maixner (9)
10 Peter Kaiser (54)
[Read more →]

The front of the race have finished their 24-hour stops so the race is on.

Jason Campeau and Thomas Waerner are in another race, for Rookie of the Year. Jason just completed his first Quest in 7th place.

At the very back of the race is Ellen Halverson (35), the only person to have won two Red Lanterns. She is positioned to pick up her third.

Gerald Sousa and Christine Roalofs have both scratched, but no word yet as to why.

Beyond Nulato
1 Aaron Burmeister (63)
At Nulato
2 Aliy Zirkle (32)
Beyond Koyukuk
3 Jeff King (59)
At Koyukuk
4 Mitch Seavey (18)
5 Dallas Seavey (46)
[Read more →]

Aaron was first in to Huslia, but he needs to take both the 8 and 24 hour stops. It looks like Aliy is taking her 24-hour and will save the 8-hour for later. Jeff King is the only musher in the top 10 who has taken both.

As usual the Berington twins are running together. Anna had to hustle to catch Kristy and will take a decent lead over her at the 24-hour because of the start differential.

At Huslia
1 Aaron Burmeister (63)
2 Dallas Seavey (46)
3 Thomas Waerner (8)^R
4 Ken Anderson (36)
5 Martin Buser (4)
6 Hugh Neff (24)
7 Curt Perano (21)
8 DeeDee Jonrowe (29)
9 Jodi Bailey (22)
Beyond Galena
10 Jeff King (59)
11 Mitch Seavey (18)
12 Aliy Zirkle (32)
13 Wade Marrs (65)
14 John Baker (78)
15 Jessie Royer (3)
16 Peter Kaiser (54)
17 Jason Campeau (70)^Q
18 Nathan Schroeder (26)
19 Kelly Maixner (9)
20 Joar Leifseth Ulsom (16)
21 Michelle Phillips (6)
22 Lance Mackey (30)
23 Jason Mackey (72)
[Read more →]