Iditarod 2014 Update #4 - The Race to the Coast!

After racing down the Yukon river to Kaltag, the teams leave the river to follow the old mail trail down to Unalakleet on the Bering Sea Coast. Aliy Zirkle blasted through Kaltag and took a rest along the trail. Martin Buser has passed her into the lead. Close behind are Nicolas Petit, Jeff King, Sonny Lindner, and Mitch Seavey, all within 20 miles of the leaders.

Rookie Abbie West has a substantial lead over Nathan Schroeder.

John Dixon and perennial front runner Ramey Smith have scratched.

Unofficial standings (based on Official Standings and tracker positions) as of 4:30pm ET:
 

On the trail to Unalakleet

1.   Martin Buser (36)

2.   Aliy Zirkle (10)

3.   Nicolas Petit (29)

4.   Sonny Lindner (70)

5.   Jeff King (17)

6.   Mitch Seavey (6)

7.   Kelly Maixner (13)

8.   Hugh Neff (61)

9.   Aaron Burmeister (23)

10.                 Robert Sorlie (22)

11.                 Hans Gatt (58)

In Kaltag

12.                 Dallas Seavey (14)

13.                 Joar Leifseth Ulsom (47)

On the trail to Kaltag

14.                 Ray Redington Jr (51)

15.                 Wade Marrs (67)

16.                 Abbie West (69) {R}

17.                 Jessie Royer (27)

18.                 Paul Gebhardt (35)

19.                 John Baker (53)

In Nulato

20.                 Michael Williams, Jr. (7)

21.                 Michelle Phillips (15)

22.                 Peter Kaiser (43)

23.                 Richie Diehl (11)

24.                 Ken Anderson (65)

25.                 Cim Smyth (28)

26.                 Nathan Schroeder (25) {R}

On the trail to Nulato

27.                 Matt Failor (57)

28.                 Curt Perano (2)

29.                 Ralph Johannessen (54) {R}

30.                 Kathleen Keith (63) {R}

31.                 Paige Drobny (3)

In Galena

32.                 Mats Pettersson (44) {R}

33.                 Dan Kaduce (5)

34.                 Travis Beals (48)

35.                 Allen Moore (19)

36.                 Jason Mackey (39)

37.                 Karin Hendrickson (33)

On the trail to Galena

38.                 Justin Savidis (34)

39.                 Rick Casillo (30)

40.                 Kristy Berington (56)

41.                 Anna Berington (52)

42.                 Charley Bejna (26) {R}

43.                 Mike Ellis (66)

In Ruby

44.                 Robert Bundtzen (64)

45.                 Danny Seavey (62)

On the trail to Ruby

46.                 Christian Turner (21) {R}

47.                 Newton Marshall (9)

48.                 Marcelle Fressineau (50) {R}

49.                 Yvonne Dabakk (8) {R}

50.                 Tommy Jordbrudal (12) {R}

In Cripple

51.                 Alex Buetow (60) {R}

52.                 Monica Zappa (18) {R}

53.                 Lisbet Norris (41) {R}

54.                 Elliot Anderson (55) {R}

OUT OF RACE

DeeDee Jonrowe (16)

Jake Berkowitz (37)

Scott Janssen (20)

Gus Guenther (4)

Mike Santos (68)

Linwood Fiedler (32)

Lev Shvarts (31) {R}

Karen Ramstead (59)

Cindy Abbott (46) {R}

Ellen Halverson (24)

Jim Lanier (38)

Jan Steves (40)

Cindy Gallea (42)

Ramey Smyth (49)

John Dixon (45)