Iditarod Update #5 - Tuesday Afternoon Exodus

Aliy Zirkle was the first musher to reach the interior town of Nikolai at 9:14 this morning, followed by John Baker, Lance Mackey and Hugh Neff within an hour.

After resting 4 and a half hours, she made the move back on the trail about an hour ago. John Baker, Jeff King, Mitch Seavey and Hugh Neff lead the expected mass exodus of teams to follow along in the next stretch to McGrath.

Now, the REAL game begins! When to take your mandatory 24-hour break is always an important strategy move. Some choose to take it early, and then make a strong run while others are just shutting down. Other teams push as far as they can to get a good lead, then rest as the other teams try to catch up. Paul Gephard is one to often push as far down the trail, and could 24 as late as Cripple or Ruby. John Baker has stated he will 24 at Takotna no matter what the other teams do. It will be interesting to watch it play out. When the dust clears, all the teams will be on the same timeframe, and the ‘leader’ might be more apparent.

There has been a steady, constant stream of teams stretched out in a parade from Rohn to Nikolai all day. In red lantern position is 74-year old, and veteran of the first Iditarod in 1973, Dan Seavey, father of Mitch and grandfather to Dallas. Dan followed some incorrect trail markers and ended up losing 16 miles outside Swkentna. He is on the way to Rohn.

In the Rookie race, Brent Sass is first into Nikolai ahead of Josh Cadzow.

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

On the Trail to McGrath
1. Aliy Zirkle (14)
2. John Baker (11)
3. Jeff King (10)
4. Mitch Seavey (35)
5. Hugh Neff (27)

In Nikolai (Arrival order is unofficial)
6. Lance Mackey (18)
7. Ray Redington Jr (2)
8. Paul Gebhardt (25)
9. Aaron Burmeister (44)
10. Dallas Seavey (34)
11. Rick Swenson (60)
12. Gerry Willomitzer (23)
13. Sonny Lindner (59)
14. Michelle Phillips (26)
15. Peter Kaiser (28)
16. Jake Berkowitz (29)
17. Nicolas Petit (9)
18. Brent Sass (50) {R}
19. Ramey Smyth (21)
20. Kelley Griffin (20)
21. Jodi Bailey (6)
22. Cim Smyth (8)
23. Michael Williams, Jr (51)
24. DeeDee Jonrowe (17)
25. Sigrid Ekran (24)
26. Ken Anderson (39)
27. Josh Cadzow (55) {R}
28. Tom Thurston (5)
29. Ryan Redington (67)
30. Bruce Linton (36)
31. Wade Marrs (7)
32. Colleen Robertia (42)
33. Jim Lanier (3)
34. Justin Savidis (38)

On the Trail to Nikolai
35. Martin Buser (41)
36. Anjanette Steer (32) {R}
37. Rohn Buser (62)
38. Gerald Sousa (58)
39. Curt Perano (61) {R}
40. Mike Santos (22) {R}
41. Zoya DeNure (53)
42. William Pinkham (4)
43. Ed Stielstra (45)
44. Braxton Peterson (63) {R}
45. Trent Herbst (16)
46. Kelly Maixner (12)
47. Lachlan Clarke (66)
48. Anna Berington, (33) {R}
49. Kristy Berington (31)
50. Karin Hendrickson (43)
51. Ryne Olson (46) {R}
52. Scott Janssen (37)
53. Travis Cooper (19) {R}
54. Pat Moon (15) {R}
55. Hank Debruin (48) {R}
56. Karen Ramstead (56)
57. Matt Giblin (52)

In Rohn
58. Michael Suprenant (13)
59. Jaimee Kinzer (30) {R}
60. Art Church, Jr (64)
61. Kirk Barnum (47)

On the way to Rohn
62. Silvia Furtwängler (54) {R}
63. Matt Failor (57) {R}
64. Jan Steves (40) {R}
65. Bob Chlupach (49)
66. Dan Seavey (65)

Bib Numbers (X)
Rookie {R}