Iditarod Update #3 - Monday Afternoon

Monday afternoon, and Hugh Neff is the first team heading out of Rainy Pass, quickly followed by Ray Redington, Jr. The lead pack will want to tackle the Dalzell Gorge on the way to Rohn in the daylight.

Ray Redington, Jr., Hugh Neff, Lance Mackey and Aliy Zirkle were the first teams into Rainy.

Reports are in that while The Happy River Steps are returned as part of the trail, they have been significantly cleared and were relatively in good shape. Stories may yet come out about this section, especially from rookies.

Ramey Smyth had a “rookie moment” – he apparently fell asleep and lost his team prior to Finger Lake. Rohn Buser stopped to let a team pass him from behind, and realized there was no driver, so he gave chase and eventually caught the team when they tangled. After 45 minutes on foot, Ramey was picked up by Jeff King and brought to his team. All the dogs were in good health, and the only loss was Ramey’s pride.

Most of the pack is in Rainy Pass, on their way there, or in Finger Lake. The back of the pack bringing up the rear towards Finger Lake, consist of rookies Travis Cooper, Silvia Furtwängler, Jan Steves and Matt Failor, with “veteran” musher Dan Seavey – age 74 – one place ahead of Failor.

UNOFFICIAL CURRENT STANDINGS as of 3:30pm AKST/7:30pm ET
(based on tracker data and Official Standings):

On the Trail to Rohn
1. Hugh Neff (27)
2. Ray Redington Jr (2)

In Rainy Pass
3. Lance Mackey (18)
4. Aliy Zirkle (14)
5. Jim Lanier (3)
6. Paul Gebhardt (25)
7. Cim Smyth (8)
8. Jeff King (10)
9. Michael Williams, Jr (51)
10. Bruce Linton (36)
11. Nicolas Petit (9)
12. John Baker (11)
13. Mitch Seavey (35)
14. Scott Janssen (37)
15. Peter Kaiser (28)
16. DeeDee Jonrowe (17)
17. Colleen Robertia (42)
18. Tom Thurston (5)
19. Michelle Phillips (26)
20. Justin Savidis (38)
21. Jake Berkowitz (29)
22. Gerry Willomitzer (23)
23. Sigrid Ekran (24)
24. Jodi Bailey (6)
25. Ken Anderson (39)
26. Sonny Lindner (59)
27. Josh Cadzow (55) {R}
28. Wade Marrs (7)
29. Dallas Seavey (34)
30. Brent Sass (50) {R}
31. Ryan Redington (67)
32. Kelly Maixner (12)
33. Aaron Burmeister (44)
34. Martin Buser (41)

On the Trail to Rainy Pass
35. William Pinkham (4)
36. Kelley Griffin (20)
37. Rick Swenson (60)
38. Rohn Buser (62)
39. Lachlan Clarke (66)
40. Anjanette Steer (32) {R}
41. Ramey Smyth (21)
42. Gerald Sousa (58)
43. Trent Herbst (16)
44. Braxton Peterson (63) {R}
45. Karin Hendrickson (43)
46. Zoya DeNure (53)
47. Ed Stielstra (45)
48. Curt Perano (61) {R}
49. Mike Santos (22) {R}

In Finger Lake
50. Ryne Olson (46) {R}
51. Anna Berington, (33) {R}
52. Kristy Berington (31)
53. Hank Debruin (48) {R}
54. Matt Giblin (52)
55. Jaimee Kinzer (30) {R}
56. Karen Ramstead (56)
57. Art Church, Jr (64)
58. Kirk Barnum (47)
59. Pat Moon (15) {R}
60. Michael Suprenant (13)
61. Bob Chlupach (49)

Not Yet in Finger Lake
62. Travis Cooper (19) {R}
63. Silvia Furtwängler (54) {R}
64. Jan Steves (40) {R}
65. Dan Seavey (65)
66. Matt Failor (57) {R}

Bib Numbers (X)
Rookie {R}