Anna and Kristy are just pulling into Shaktoolik (appx race mile 760) as it nears 11am Alaska time. They pulled out of Unalakleet right on schedule around 4:30am. Anna dropped one dog in Una, leaving her with 12 dogs in harness. Kristy didn't drop any dogs, retaining 11 on her team. They were reported out of Una in 30th and 31st places. Our friend Charley continues to run with the twins and also had 11 dogs on the line out of Una, while our friend Scott Janssen was last reported into Una in 42nd place.
Two more teams have since scratched, leaving 69 mushers in the field. As always, we wish everyone that is no longer in the race the safest of travels to their home kennels.
Meanwhile, back at the front of this crazy train, we have Dallas Seavey into White Mountain! He reached that checkpoint (appx race mile 905) at 10:10am today. Dallas is the youngest musher to win the Iditarod, claiming that prize in 2012. He took the title again last year, and, now that I look more closely at the Iditarod's "Champions & Record Holders" section, I think they're overdue an update. They show, and I had previously reported, the fastest winning time as held by John Baker (from 2011 in 8 days 18 hours). In fact, I think Dallas now holds the fastest time for his run last year in 8 days, 13 hours, and 4 minutes.
I don't think Dallas is positioned to beat his time from last year, but he will be a tough one to catch at this point (although with his father, Mitch, not far behind, never say never... just ask Jeff King that question about last year....). With Dallas arriving in White Mountain at 10:10am Alaska time on Tuesday, and looking at his run times from last year, I suspect we'll see a winner into Nome around 4-5am Alaska time Wednesday morning, just inside of 8 days 20 hours on the trail.
Only time will tell. And given my predictions have been a little off this year, I wouldn't bet the farm on it. Heck, in a race like this, I really wouldn't bet on much of anything!
Two more teams have since scratched, leaving 69 mushers in the field. As always, we wish everyone that is no longer in the race the safest of travels to their home kennels.
Meanwhile, back at the front of this crazy train, we have Dallas Seavey into White Mountain! He reached that checkpoint (appx race mile 905) at 10:10am today. Dallas is the youngest musher to win the Iditarod, claiming that prize in 2012. He took the title again last year, and, now that I look more closely at the Iditarod's "Champions & Record Holders" section, I think they're overdue an update. They show, and I had previously reported, the fastest winning time as held by John Baker (from 2011 in 8 days 18 hours). In fact, I think Dallas now holds the fastest time for his run last year in 8 days, 13 hours, and 4 minutes.
I don't think Dallas is positioned to beat his time from last year, but he will be a tough one to catch at this point (although with his father, Mitch, not far behind, never say never... just ask Jeff King that question about last year....). With Dallas arriving in White Mountain at 10:10am Alaska time on Tuesday, and looking at his run times from last year, I suspect we'll see a winner into Nome around 4-5am Alaska time Wednesday morning, just inside of 8 days 20 hours on the trail.
Only time will tell. And given my predictions have been a little off this year, I wouldn't bet the farm on it. Heck, in a race like this, I really wouldn't bet on much of anything!
Map from the Alaska Dispatch News.
