Iditarod Update #6 - Wednesday Morning Confusion

“Should I stay or should I go now?”

It’s going to get confusing for a while, as mushers choose where to take their mandatory 24-hour rest. Teams will leap frog each other, and the standings will be unclear. However, after the stops are taken, the standings on the trail will be much more accurate.

Aliy Zirkle was the first musher to reach McGrath, winning the Penair Spirit of Alaska Award. Staying only long enough to accept the award, she quickly left for Takotna, less than 30 minutes before John Baker passed through.

Aliy is first into Takotna, with John Baker, Mitch Seavey, Jeff King, Dallas Seavey, Ray Redington Jr., Paul Gephardt, Hugh Neff and Aaron Burmeister.

Lance Mackey is still in McGrath, and could be taking his 24.

Teams have been moving smoothly, with no scratches at this point in the race.

Dan Seavey is still carrying the Red Lantern in Rohn, right behind the rest of the back of the pack.

In the Rookie race, Brent Sass is quite a bit ahead of Josh Cadzow, Anjanette Steer, Braxton Peterson, Curt Perano and Mike Santos.

UNOFFICIAL CURRENT STANDINGS as of 2:45am AKST/6:45am ET
(Based on tracker data and Official Standings):

In Takotna (Arrival order is unofficial)
1. Aliy Zirkle (14)
2. John Baker (11)
3. Mitch Seavey (35)
4. Jeff King (10)
5. Dallas Seavey (34)
6. Ray Redington Jr (2)
7. Paul Gebhardt (25)
8. Hugh Neff (27)
9. Aaron Burmeister (44)

On the Trail to Takotna
10. Sonny Lindner (59)
11. Gerry Willomitzer (23)
12. DeeDee Jonrowe (17)
13. Michelle Phillips (26)
14. Peter Kaiser (28)
15. Jake Berkowitz (29)
16. Rick Swenson (60)
17. Sigrid Ekran (24)
18. Brent Sass (50) {R}
19. Tom Thurston (5)
20. Cim Smyth (8)
21. Ramey Smyth (21)
22. Michael Williams, Jr (51)

In McGrath
23. Lance Mackey (18)
24. Kelley Griffin (20)
25. Jodi Bailey (6)

On the Trail to McGrath
26. Ken Anderson (39)
27. Josh Cadzow (55) {R}
28. Nicolas Petit (9)
29. Colleen Robertia (42)
30. Ryan Redington (67)
31. Bruce Linton (36)
32. Martin Buser (41)
33. Wade Marrs (7)
34. Rohn Buser (62)
35. Anjanette Steer (32) {R}
36. Gerald Sousa (58)
37. Jim Lanier (3)
38. Justin Savidis (38)
39. Ed Stielstra (45)
40. Braxton Peterson (63) {R}
41. Curt Perano (61) {R}
42. Trent Herbst (16)
43. Mike Santos (22) {R}

In Nikolai
44. Zoya DeNure (53)
45. William Pinkham (4)
46. Kelly Maixner (12)
47. Lachlan Clarke (66)
48. Ryne Olson (46) {R}
49. Scott Janssen (37)
50. Karin Hendrickson (43)
51. Anna Berington, (33) {R}
52. Kristy Berington (31)
53. Pat Moon (15) {R}
54. Hank Debruin (48) {R}
55. Matt Giblin (52)
56. Michael Suprenant (13)
57. Art Church, Jr (64)
58. Travis Cooper (19) {R}
59. Karen Ramstead (56)

On the Trail to Nikolai
60. Kirk Barnum (47)
61. Jaimee Kinzer (30) {R}
62. Silvia Furtwängler (54) {R}
63. Matt Failor (57) {R}
64. Jan Steves (40) {R}
65. Bob Chlupach (49)

In Rohn
66. Dan Seavey (65)

Bib Numbers (X)
Rookie {R}