Iditarod Update #1 - 12 Hours In

The race is just over 12 hours in, and teams are all over the place with rest/run strategy, as they head towards Finger Lake.

Ray Redington, Jr. was the first team in to Skwentna, followed by Jodi Bailey and Aliy Zirkle.

Nicolas Petit is the farthest down the trail at this point, past Shell Lake, site of an annual fan bonfire. Close behind is Tom Thurston.

Redington, Jr. is leading the next pack, with Hugh Neff, John Baker, Lance Mackey and a whole string of teams strung out to Yentna Station, where rookie Matt Failor was the last to leave, nearly two hours behind the first teams.

Things will get a bit more clear as teams reach Finger Lake. They then will head towards Rainy Pass, but will have to negotiate the infamous “Happy River Steps”, recently reinstated to the race trail. It’s a long way to Nome, and anything can happen. Stay tuned…

UNOFFICIAL CURRENT STANDINGS as of 7:30am ET (based on tracker data and Official Standings):

1. Nicolas Petit (9)
2. Tom Thurston (5)
3. Ray Redington Jr (2)
4. Hugh Neff (27)
5. John Baker (11)
6. Jim Lanier (3)
7. Peter Kaiser (28)
8. Lance Mackey (18)
9. Mitch Seavey (35)
10. Aliy Zirkle (14)
11. Aaron Burmeister (44)
12. Ken Anderson (39)
13. Sigrid Ekran (24)
14. Jodi Bailey (6)
15. Jake Berkowitz (29)
16. Kelly Maixner (12)
17. William Pinkham (4)
18. Cim Smyth (8)
19. Gerry Willomitzer (23)
20. Dallas Seavey (34)
21. Colleen Robertia (42)
22. Paul Gebhardt (25)
23. Kelley Griffin (20)
24. Rick Swenson (60)
25. DeeDee Jonrowe (17)
26. Bruce Linton (36)
27. Michael Williams, Jr (51)
28. Josh Cadzow (55) {R}
29. Wade Marrs (7)
30. Trent Herbst (16)
31. Martin Buser (41)
32. Gerald Sousa (58)
33. Sonny Lindner (59)
34. Brent Sass (50) {R}
35. Anjanette Steer (32) {R}

In Skentna
36. Jeff King (10)
37. Michelle Phillips (26)
38. Michael Suprenant (13)
39. Ramey Smyth (21)
40. Justin Savidis (38)
41. Scott Janssen (37)
42. Jaimee Kinzer (30) {R}
43. Zoya DeNure (53)
44. Ed Stielstra (45)
45. Karin Hendrickson (43)
46. Ryan Redington (67)
47. Rohn Buser (62)
48. Hank Debruin (48) {R}
49. Curt Perano (61) {R}
50. Karen Ramstead (56)
51. Art Church, Jr (64)
52. Matt Giblin (52)
53. Dan Seavey (65)

On the Trail to Skwentna
54. Travis Cooper (19) {R}
55. Mike Santos (22) {R}
56. Pat Moon (15) {R}
57. Kristy Berington (31)
58. Anna Berington, (33) {R}
59. Ryne Olson (46) {R}
60. Lachlan Clarke (66)
61. Braxton Peterson (63) {R}
62. Kirk Barnum (47)
63. Silvia Furtwängler (54) {R}
64. Jan Steves (40) {R}
65. Bob Chlupach (49)
66. Matt Failor (57) {R}


Bib Numbers (X)
Rookie {R}