Yukon Quest Update #22

And then there were two…

Shortly after midnight local time in Whitehorse, Brian Wilmshurst became the 16th musher to cross the finish line. Misha Pedersen followed an hour later.

Marcelle Fressineau is past the McCabe Creek Dog Drop and heading towards the Carmacks checkpoint.

Current Red Lantern Michael Telpin has left Pelly Crossing, and is moving toward McCabe Creek.

Standings as of 7:30am ET:

Finished
1 Hugh Neff (6)
2 Allen Moore (1)
3 Lance Mackey (16)
4 Jake Berkowitz (13) (R)
5 Brent Sass (10)
6 Joar Leifseth Ulsom (17) (R)
7 Sonny Lindner (3)
8 Abbie West (21)
9 Kristy Berington (2) (R)
10 Dave Dalton (4)
11 Kyla Durham (7)
12 Trent Herbst (22) (R)
13 Gus Guenther (20) (R)
14 Paige Drobny (12) (R)
15 Yuka Honda (19) (R)
16 Brian Wilmshurst (11) (R)
17 Misha Pedersen (5) (R)

On the trail to Carmacks
18 Marcelle Fressineau (15) (R)

On the trail to McCabe Creek
19 Michael Telpin (24) (R)

Scratched:
Nikolay Ettyne (14) (R)
Maren Bradley (23) (R)
Jason Weitzel (9) (R)
Mike Ellis (18)

Withdrawn:
Kurt Reich (8) (R)

Yukon Quest Update #21

Lost musher found!

OK, he wasn’t lost at all – simply, his location was unknown for over 36 hours! Russian musher Michael Telpin pulled in to the Stepping Stone Hospitality stop, his team looking good, before noon local time, much to the joy of Quest fans around the world.

Trent Herbst crossed the finish line in 12th place in the early morning hours.

Several hours later, Gus Guenther finished, followed by Paige Drobny 20 minutes behind.

Yuka Honda crossed the line this afternoon, smiling about her 15ht place finish, and collecting the final piece of the purse.

Brian Wilmshurst and Misha Pedersen should arrive sometime overnight, with Marcelle Fressineau in Pelly Crossing, and current Red Lantern holder Michael Telpin approaching.

Unofficial Standings as of 7:30pm ET:

Finished
1 Allen Moore (1)
2 Hugh Neff (6)
3 Lance Mackey (16)
4 Jake Berkowitz (13) (R)
5 Brent Sass (10)
6 Joar Leifseth Ulsom (17) (R)
7 Sonny Lindner (3)
8 Abbie West (21)
9 Kristy Berington (2) (R)
10 Dave Dalton (4)
11 Kyla Durham (7)
12 Trent Herbst (22) (R)
13 Gus Guenther (20) (R)
14 Paige Drobny (12) (R)
15 Yuka Honda (19) (R)

On the way to Whitehorse
16 Brian Wilmshurst (11) (R)
17 Misha Pedersen (5) (R)

On the trail to Pelly Crossing
18 Marcelle Fressineau (15) (R)
19 Michael Telpin (24) (R)

Scratched:
Nikolay Ettyne (14) (R)
Maren Bradley (23) (R)
Jason Weitzel (9) (R)
Mike Ellis (18)

Withdrawn:
Kurt Reich (8) (R)

Yukon Quest Update #20

The Top Ten are in!

Dave Dalton finished in 10th place, with 12 dogs. Arriving last evening, it was his 17th finish in the Quest.

A few hours later, Kyla Durham crossed the finish line. She was running a puppy team from Brent Sass.

Trent Herbst waited 3 hours to leave Braeburn and avoid the heat of the afternoon. He should be finishing in an hour or so.

He was followed a couple of hours later by Gus Guenther and Paige Drobny, who appear to be resting about halfway to Whitehorse.

Yuka Honda left Braeburn shortly before midnight local time.

Brian Wilmshurst and Misha Pedersen both arrived in Braeburn before midnight for their mandatory 8 hour rest, and will be able to leave in a couple of hours.

Marcelle Fressineau is shown to be on the move, having passed the Stepping Stone Hospitality stop, on the way towards Pelly Crossing. Not known at this time if the stop was manned or not.

Still no word on Michael Telpin’s whereabouts. Information on these two will be announced as soon as available.

Unofficial Standings as of 7:30am ET:

Finished
1 Allen Moore (1)
2 Hugh Neff (6)
3 Lance Mackey (16)
4 Jake Berkowitz (13) (R)
5 Brent Sass (10)
6 Joar Leifseth Ulsom (17) (R)
7 Sonny Lindner (3)
8 Abbie West (21)
9 Kristy Berington (2) (R)
10 Dave Dalton (4)
11 Kyla Durham (7)

On the way to Whitehorse
12 Trent Herbst (22) (R)
13 Gus Guenther (20) (R)
14 Paige Drobny (12) (R)
15 Yuka Honda (19) (R)

In Braeburn
16 Brian Wilmshurst (11) (R)
17 Misha Pedersen (5) (R)

On the trail to Pelly Crossing
18 Marcelle Fressineau (15) (R)
19 Michael Telpin (24) (R)

Scratched:
Nikolay Ettyne (14) (R)
Maren Bradley (23) (R)
Jason Weitzel (9) (R)
Mike Ellis (18)

Withdrawn:
Kurt Reich (8) (R)

Yukon Quest Update #19

The beat goes on – teams steadily march towards the finish line.

Abbie West and Kristy Berington finished in 8th and 9th place this morning.

Dave Dalton is tantalizingly close to rounding out the Top Ten.

Kyla Durham is twenty miles behind Dave.

Trent Herbst should be on his way to Whitehorse, waiting for confirmation.

Gus Guenther and Paige Drobny will leave Braeburn nearly together later this evening, and Yuka Honda shortly before midnight local time.

Brian Wilmshurst, followed by Misha Pedersen, are on the way to Braeburn.

Marcelle Fressineau has stopped between Scroggie Creek and Stepping Stone.

Michael Telpin’s whereabouts are unknown at this time. Information on these two will be announced as soon as available.

Unofficial Standings as of 6:30pm ET:

Finished
1 Allen Moore (1)
2 Hugh Neff (6)
3 Lance Mackey (16)
4 Jake Berkowitz (13) (R)
5 Brent Sass (10)
6 Joar Leifseth Ulsom (17) (R)
7 Sonny Lindner (3)
8 Abbie West (21)
9 Kristy Berington (2) (R)

On the way to Whitehorse
10 Dave Dalton (4)
11 Kyla Durham (7)

In Braeburn
12 Trent Herbst (22) (R)
13 Gus Guenther (20) (R)
14 Paige Drobny (12) (R)
15 Yuka Honda (19) (R)

On the way to Braeburn
16 Brian Wilmshurst (11) (R)
17 Misha Pedersen (5) (R)

On the trail to Pelly Crossing
18 Marcelle Fressineau (15) (R)
19 Michael Telpin (24) (R)

Scratched:
Nikolay Ettyne (14) (R)
Maren Bradley (23) (R)
Jason Weitzel (9) (R)
Mike Ellis (18)

Withdrawn:
Kurt Reich (8) (R)

Yukon Quest Update #18

Twenty-four hours after the race was decided by mere seconds, teams are still on the march towards the finish line in Whitehorse.

Perennial Quest favorite Brent Sass rounds out the Top Five.

24-year-old Norwegian rookie Joar Leifseth Ulsom took 6th place, 14 minutes ahead of 61-year-old Sonny Lindner, winner of the first-ever Yukon Quest in 1984. The two seemingly raced each other the entire trail.

Abbie West appears to be nearing the finish line ahead of Kristy Berington.
Dave Dalton should finish in 10th.

Kyla Durham will be back on the trail within the hour for the run to the finish.

Paige Drobny, Trent Herbst, Gus Guenther, Yuka Honda and Brian Wilmshurst are on the way to Braeburn.

Misha Pedersen is on her way to Carmacks.

Marcelle Fressineau has passed through Stepping Stone. Current Red Lantern Michael Telpin is not there yet, whereabouts unknown as his tracker isn’t working. As checkpoints clear out, it is hopeful the two will be able to continue to the finish line, as long as they have access to supplies.

Unofficial Standings as of 7:30am ET:

Finished
1 Allen Moore (1)
2 Hugh Neff (6)
3 Lance Mackey (16)
4 Jake Berkowitz (13) (R)
5 Brent Sass (10)
6 Joar Leifseth Ulsom (17) (R)
7 Sonny Lindner (3)

On the way to Whitehorse
8 Abbie West (21)
9 Kristy Berington (2) (R)
10 Dave Dalton (4)

In Braeburn
11 Kyla Durham (7)

On the way to Braeburn
12 Paige Drobny (12) (R)
13 Trent Herbst (22) (R)
14 Gus Guenther (20) (R)
15 Yuka Honda (19) (R)
16 Brian Wilmshurst (11) (R)

On the trail to Carmacks
17 Misha Pedersen (5) (R)

On the trail to Pelly Crossing
18 Marcelle Fressineau (15) (R)
19 Michael Telpin (24) (R)

Scratched:
Nikolay Ettyne (14) (R)
Maren Bradley (23) (R)
Jason Weitzel (9) (R)
Mike Ellis (18)

Withdrawn:
Kurt Reich (8) (R)

Yukon Quest Update #17

Nearly 12 hours after Hugh Neff crossed the finish line in Whitehorse 26 seconds before Allen Moore, over half of the field is still on the trail.

At 5:14am local, Neff won his first-ever dog race of any length, in the closest finish in the race’s history. Overcoming a 30-minute penalty for losing his axe, which put him 42 minutes behind the veteran Moore, who ran a strong race and led the entire 2nd half, the long-time contender Neff raced hard, and passed to take the lead with less than 5 miles left of the race.

Lance Mackey finished some five-plus hours later, and Rookie-of-the-Year Jake Berkowitz followed 2 more hours behind.

Brent Sass is on his way in for 5th, Sonny Lindner and Joar Leifseth Ulsom are about an hour apart.

Abbie West and Kristy Berington are taking their mandatory 8 in Braeburn, Dave Dalton and Kyla Durham and on their way.

Trent Herbst, Paige Drobny and Gus Guenther are in Carmacks, Yuka Honda, Brian Wilmshurst and Misha Pedersen are on their way. Marcelle Fressineau and Michael Telpin have left Dawson and hope to make it to the finish line, as trail support begins to wane.

Unofficial Standings as of 7:30pm ET:

Finished
1 Allen Moore (1)
2 Hugh Neff (6)
3 Lance Mackey (16)
4 Jake Berkowitz (13) (R)

On the way to Whitehorse
5 Brent Sass (10)
6 Sonny Lindner (3)
7 Joar Leifseth Ulsom (17) (R)

In Braeburn
8 Abbie West (21)
9 Kristy Berington (2) (R)

On the way to Braeburn
10 Dave Dalton (4)
11 Kyla Durham (7)

In Carmacks
12 Trent Herbst (22) (R)
13 Paige Drobny (12) (R)
14 Gus Guenther (20) (R)

On the trail to Carmacks
15 Yuka Honda (19) (R)
16 Brian Wilmshurst (11) (R)
17 Misha Pedersen (5) (R)

Out of Dawson City
18 Marcelle Fressineau (15) (R)
19 Michael Telpin (24) (R)

Scratched:
Nikolay Ettyne (14) (R)
Maren Bradley (23) (R)
Jason Weitzel (9) (R)
Mike Ellis (18)

Withdrawn:
Kurt Reich (8) (R)

Yukon Quest Update #14

Monday morning, and the leaders are approaching Braeburn, the final checkpoint, for a mandatory 8 hour rest, and then the 100 mile run to the finish line. While positions are still a bit fuzzy, its most likely down to a two-team race:
Allen Moore and Hugh Neff. The two left the Carmacks Checkpoint minutes apart, and would presumably keep each other within range. However, Hugh will serve a 30-minute penalty for losing his axe, so he will leave start the final leg of the race behind Allen, in all likelihood.

Lance Mackey is running a young team, and while he does get the best out of his teams, he has been losing time on the frontrunners in the last couple of days, and was last reported 3 hours behind. Does he have the “Mackey Magic” in him? The sprint to the finish will be as exciting as always!

Jake Berkowitz is 6 hours behind the leaders, and needs 3 hours to overtake Lance for 3rd. Jake should take Rookie of the Year. Brent Sass looks to have a lock on 4th place. Sonny Lindner, winner of the first-ever Quest in 1984, and 24-year-old Norwegian rookie Joar Leifseth Ulsom are still contesting 6th place.

Abbie West and Kristy Berington are making good time, Dave Dalton is in Pelly Crossing, with Kyla Durham on the way.

Gus Guenther,Trent Herbst, Paige Drobny, Yuka Honda, Brian Wilmshurst and Misha Pedersen have left Dawson for the second half of their race. Marcelle Fressineau will leave in a few hours, with Russian Michael Telpin able to leave later this evening.

Unofficial Standings as of 8:00am ET:

On the way to Braeburn
1 Hugh Neff (6)
2 Allen Moore (1)
3 Lance Mackey (16)
4 Jake Berkowitz (13) (R)

In Carmacks
5 Brent Sass (10)

On the trail to Carmacks
6 Sonny Lindner (3)
7 Joar Leifseth Ulsom (17) (R)
8 Abbie West (21)
9 Kristy Berington (2) (R)

In Pelly Crossin
10 Dave Dalton (4)

On the trail to Pelly
11 Kyla Durham (7)

Out of Dawson City
12 Gus Guenther (20) (R)
13 Trent Herbst (22) (R)
14 Paige Drobny (12) (R)
15 Yuka Honda (19) (R)
16 Brian Wilmshurst (11) (R)
17 Misha Pedersen (5) (R)

In Dawson City
18 Marcelle Fressineau (15) (R)
19 Michael Telpin (24) (R)

Scratched:
Nikolay Ettyne (14) (R)
Maren Bradley (23) (R)
Jason Weitzel (9) (R)
Mike Ellis (18)

Withdrawn:
Kurt Reich (8) (R)

Yukon Quest Update #13

Sunday morning, and the situation is clear as mud.
With intermittent tracker updates, its not clear who stopped to rest on the trail, and might be in a position to pass. Similar to the old days of following a race, we can really only count on the official updates, plus occasionally eyewitness reports on FaceBook. The weather has been above freezing, which is hard on the dogs. Mushers will take plenty of breaks and try to run mainly at night, when the temps are cooler.

At this point, Allen Moore has arrived at the Pelly Crossing checkpoint less than half an hour before Hugh Neff. However, Hugh arrived missing his ax, a required piece of safety equipment. He will have to find, borrow or buy one before he is allowed to check in, so his time will be adjusted. Lance arrived 2 hours later.

Most of the pack is on the move out of Dawson, with only Yuka Honda, Brian Wilmshurst, Misha Pedersen and Marcelle Fressineau still on their 36 hour break. The Russian Michael Telpin is reported to be in good shape and working his way in.

Unofficial Standings as of 8:00am ET:

In Pelly Crossin
1 Allen Moore (1)
2 Hugh Neff (6)
3 Lance Mackey (16)

In Stepping Stone
4 Jake Berkowitz (13) (R)
5 Brent Sass (10)

On the trail to Stepping Stone
6 Sonny Lindner (3)
7 Joar Leifseth Ulsom (17) (R)

On the trail to Scroggie Creek
8 Abbie West (21)
9 Kristy Berington (2) (R)
10 Dave Dalton (4)
11 Kyla Durham (7)
12 Gus Guenther (20) (R)
13 Trent Herbst (22) (R)
14 Paige Drobny (12) (R)

In Dawson City
15 Yuka Honda (19) (R)
16 Brian Wilmshurst (11) (R)
17 Misha Pedersen (5) (R)
18 Marcelle Fressineau (15) (R)

On the trail to Dawson City
19 Michael Telpin (24) (R)

Scratched:
Nikolay Ettyne (14) (R)
Maren Bradley (23) (R)
Jason Weitzel (9) (R)
Mike Ellis (18)

Withdrawn:
Kurt Reich (8) (R)

Yukon Quest Update #12

The second half is under way!
Earlier this afternoon, the Yukon Quest restarted in Dawson City. Allen Moore left the checkpoint 19 minutes ahead of Lance Mackey. The rest of the top five, Hugh, Jake and Brent are all on the trail. It’s shaping up to be an exciting run to the finish!

The rest of the field is in Dawson on their 36 hour break, with the exception of Marcelle Fressineau and Michael Telpin, who are still on their way in.

Unofficial Standings as of 11:00pm ET:

On the trail
1 Allen Moore (1)
2 Lance Mackey (16)
3 Hugh Neff (6)
4 Jake Berkowitz (13) (R)
5 Brent Sass (10)

In Dawson City
6 Sonny Lindner (3)
7 Joar Leifseth Ulsom (17) (R)
8 Abbie West (21)
9 Kristy Berington (2) (R)
10 Dave Dalton (4)
11 Kyla Durham (7)
12 Paige Drobny (12) (R)
13 Gus Guenther (20) (R)
14 Trent Herbst (22) (R)
15 Yuka Honda (19) (R)
16 Brian Wilmshurst (11) (R)
17 Misha Pedersen (5) (R)

On the trail to Dawson City
18 Marcelle Fressineau (15) (R)
19 Michael Telpin (24) (R)

Scratched:
Nikolay Ettyne (14) (R)
Maren Bradley (23) (R)
Jason Weitzel (9) (R)
Mike Ellis (18)

Withdrawn:
Kurt Reich (8) (R)

Yukon Quest Update #10

Allen Moore is first to Dawson City!
In an exciting run from Eagle, with varying run-rest strategies, Allen Moore is the first musher into Dawson, leading Lance Mackey by 19 minutes.
Hugh Neff come in about 50 minutes later, and Jake Berkowitz followed less than 2 hours after.
The front-runners will begin a mandatory 36-hour rest, while handlers are allowed to care for the dogs. Unique to the Quest, mushers can go into town to eat and get a hotel room for some much-needed sleep.

Most of the field is on the march to Dawson, with Trent Herbst, Misha Pedersen and Brian Wilmshurst still in Eagle and Marcelle Fressineau and Michael Telpin still on the way.

Unofficial Standings as of 7:30am ET:

In Dawson City
1 Allen Moore (1)
2 Lance Mackey (16)
3 Hugh Neff (6)
4 Jake Berkowitz (13) (R)

On the trail to Dawson City
5 Brent Sass (10)
6 Sonny Lindner (3)
7 Kristy Berington (2) (R)
8 Abbie West (21)
9 Joar Leifseth Ulsom (17) (R)
10 Dave Dalton (4)
11 Kyla Durham (7)
12 Paige Drobny (12) (R)
13 Gus Guenther (20) (R)
14 Yuka Honda (19) (R)

In Eagle
15 Trent Herbst (22) (R)
16 Misha Pedersen (5) (R)
17 Brian Wilmshurst (11) (R)

On the trail to Eagle
18 Marcelle Fressineau (15) (R)
19 Michael Telpin (24) (R)

Scratched
Nikolay Ettyne (14) (R)
Maren Bradley (23) (R)
Jason Weitzel (9) (R)
Mike Ellis (18)

Withdrawn
Kurt Reich (8) (R)

Yukon Quest Update #9

The race to Dawson City Gold!
A long day, clouded by confusion, as a malfunctioning tracker causes all kinds of conspiracy theories. Rest assured, the trackers don’t mean anything to the mushers, they can't view them, only the fans can. Just another item in the sled bag to the mushers.
Lance Mackey was the first to arrive at the 40 Mile stop, and Hugh Neff is with him, as evidenced by his tracker, as it started to work again.
Allen Moore, Jake Berkowitz, Brent Sass and Sonny Lindner are following along.
48 or so miles on the Yukon River to Dawson City, where the first team in wins gold nuggets.
There, they’ll take a mandatory 36-hour rest, and handlers are allowed to care for the dogs, and mushers can eat and rest in town.
The back of the pack are all out of Slavin’s and are on their way to Eagle.

Unofficial Standings as of 5:30pm ET:

On the trail to Dawson City
1 Lance Mackey (16)
2 Hugh Neff (6)
3 Allen Moore (1)
4 Jake Berkowitz (13) (R)
5 Brent Sass (10)
6 Sonny Lindner (3)
7 Joar Leifseth Ulsom (17) (R)
8 Abbie West (21)
9 Kristy Berington (2) (R)
10 Dave Dalton (4)
11 Kyla Durham (7)

In Eagle
12 Paige Drobny (12) (R)
13 Gus Guenther (20) (R)
14 Trent Herbst (22) (R)

On the trail to Eagle
15 Yuka Honda (19) (R)
16 Brian Wilmshurst (11) (R)
17 Marcelle Fressineau (15) (R)
18 Misha Pedersen (5) (R)
19 Michael Telpin (24) (R)

Scratched
Nikolay Ettyne (14) (R)
Maren Bradley (23) (R)
Jason Weitzel (9) (R)
Mike Ellis (18)

Withdrawn
Kurt Reich (8) (R)

Yukon Quest Update #8

Racing to the halfway point.
Front runners are approaching the 40 Mile River, where they will cross over into Canada. Some will choose to take a break at hospitality stop there. Then its back on the Yukon River for a 50-mile run to Dawson City, where the first team in wins gold nuggets.
The Quest is unique in that while in Dawson for their mandatory 36-hour rest, handlers are allowed to care for the dogs, and mushers can eat and rest in town.
After the mandatory 4-hour rest in Eagle, Lance Mackey was the first team back on the trail, with Hugh Neff 2 minutes behind. Currently, Hugh’s tracker is not working, but chances are he is not too far away from Lance. Allen Moore is close behind, followed by Brent Sass. Jake Berkowitz, Sonny Lindner, Kristy Berington and Abbie West are also out of Eagle.
Trying to get information on Trent Herbst, he’s one of four remaining mushers in Slavin’s, but his tracker hasn’t updated in several hours and according to the standings, he’s been there since yesterday morning.

Nikolay Ettyne returned to Circle City and scratched.


Unofficial Standings as of 7:30am ET:

On the trail to Dawson City
1 Lance Mackey (16)
2 Hugh Neff (6)
3 Allen Moore (1)
4 Brent Sass (10)
5 Jake Berkowitz (13) (R)
6 Sonny Lindner (3)
7 Kristy Berington (2) (R)
8 Abbie West (21)

In Eagle
9 Joar Leifseth Ulsom (17) (R)
10 Dave Dalton (4)

On the trail to Eagle
11 Kyla Durham (7)
12 Paige Drobny (12) (R)
13 Yuka Honda (19) (R)
14 Gus Guenther (20) (R)
15 Brian Wilmshurst (11) (R)

In Slavin’s
16 Trent Herbst (22) (R)
17 Misha Pedersen (5) (R)
18 Marcelle Fressineau (15) (R)
19 Michael Telpin (24) (R)

Scratched
Nikolay Ettyne (14) (R)
Maren Bradley (23) (R)
Jason Weitzel (9) (R)
Mike Ellis (18)

Withdrawn
Kurt Reich (8) (R)

Yukon Quest Update #7

Lance Mackey in the lead!
With his tracker not working, Lance surprises all and beats Hugh Neff by one minute into the Eagle checkpoint, where all teams will take a mandatory 4 hour rest, before the final 150-mile run to the halfway point of Dawson City.
Allen Moore arrives in 3rd, followed by Brent Sass.
Positions have been somewhat murky due to various trackers slow updating or not updating at all.
Rookie musher Jason Weitzel has scratched at Circle City checkpoint due to musher injury. And Maren Bradley returned to Circle City and also scratched.

Earlier today, in the YQ 300, Josh Cadzow won handily, with Rob Cooke taking 2nd and Ava Lindner in 3rd.

Unofficial Standings as of 7:30pm ET:

In Eagle
1 Lance Mackey (16)
2 Hugh Neff (6)
3 Allen Moore (1)
4 Brent Sass (10)

On the trail to Eagle
5 Abbie West (21)
6 Jake Berkowitz (13) (R)
7 Sonny Lindner (3)
8 Kristy Berington (2) (R)
9 Dave Dalton (4)
10 Joar Leifseth Ulsom (17) (R)
11 Kyla Durham (7)

In Slavin’s
12 Gus Guenther (20) (R)
13 Yuka Honda (19) (R)
14 Paige Drobny (12) (R)
15 Trent Herbst (22) (R)

On the trail to Slavin’s
16 Brian Wilmshurst (11) (R)
17 Marcelle Fressineau (15) (R)
18 Nikolay Ettyne (14) (R)
19 Michael Telpin (24) (R)
20 Misha Pedersen (5) (R)

Scratched
Maren Bradley (23) (R)
Jason Weitzel (9) (R)
Mike Ellis (18)

Withdrawn
Kurt Reich (8) (R)

Yukon Quest Update #6

Tuesday morning, the orderly parade marches on.
After a 5 hour break at Slavin’s Roadhouse, the teams are moving out more or less in the same order they arrived.
Hugh Neff left 2 minutes before Brent Sass. Allen Moore left 30 minutes later, followed 30 minutes after that by Abbie West. Sonny Lindner, Jake Berkowitz, Lance Mackey and Kristy Berington followed. The Trout Creek hospitality stop is about 45 miles away – halfway to the Eagle Checkpoint. Everyone seems to be cruising along, sticking together and taking good care of their dogs. Some real racing might take place from Eagle to Dawson City, where the teams will take a mandatory 36 hour break, before the 2nd half of the race to Whitehorse.
There are not really any surprises in the standings, other than perhaps
Abbie West running consistently in 3rd or 4th position, after starting 21st, by far the largest jump of any team.
The back of the pack are all in Circle City.
The lack of scratches (other than Mike Ellis) illustrates the ease of the trail, although conditions can (and usually do) change without notice.

Unofficial Standings as of 8:00am ET:

On the trail out of Slavin’s
1 Brent Sass (10)
2 Hugh Neff (6)
3 Allen Moore (1)
4 Abbie West (21)
5 Sonny Lindner (3)
6 Jake Berkowitz (13) (R)
7 Lance Mackey (16)
8 Kristy Berington (2) (R)

In Slavin’s
9 Dave Dalton (4)
10 Joar Leifseth Ulsom (17) (R)

On the trail to Slavin’s
11 Kyla Durham (7)
12 Yuka Honda (19) (R)
13 Gus Guenther (20) (R)
14 Paige Drobny (12) (R)
15 Trent Herbst (22) (R)

In Circle
16 Marcelle Fressineau (15) (R)
17 Brian Wilmshurst (11) (R)
18 Maren Bradley (23) (R)
19 Michael Telpin (24) (R)
20 Jason Weitzel (9) (R)
21 Nikolay Ettyne (14) (R)
22 Misha Pedersen (5) (R)

Scratched
Mike Ellis (18)

Withdrawn
Kurt Reich (8) (R)

Yukon Quest Update #5

Nightfall
After 8 or so hours on the Yukon River, the lead pack is taking a break at Slavin’s Roadhouse.
Brent Sass arrived a couple of minutes before Hugh Neff, followed by Allen Moore an hour later. Abbie West, Sonny Lindner, Jake Berkowitz and Lance Mackey followed.
The back of the pack are all on their way to Circle City, with Misha Pedersen several hours behind.

Official Standings as of 11:00pm ET:

In Slavin’s
1 Brent Sass (10)
2 Hugh Neff (6)
3 Allen Moore (1)
4 Abbie West (21)
5 Sonny Lindner (3)
6 Jake Berkowitz (13) (R)
7 Lance Mackey (16)

On the trail to Slavin’s
8 Kristy Berington (2) (R)
9 Dave Dalton (4)
10 Joar Leifseth Ulsom (17) (R)
11 Kyla Durham (7)

In Circle
12 Gus Guenther (20) (R)
13 Yuka Honda (19) (R)
14 Paige Drobny (12) (R)
15 Trent Herbst (22) (R)
On the trail to Circle

16 Marcelle Fressineau (15) (R)
17 Brian Wilmshurst (11) (R)
18 Maren Bradley (23) (R)
19 Michael Telpin (24) (R)
20 Jason Weitzel (9) (R)
21 Nikolay Ettyne (14) (R)
22 Misha Pedersen (5) (R)

Scratched
Mike Ellis (18)

Withdrawn
Kurt Reich (8) (R)