Today’s weather in Alaska: minus 9 degrees under partly cloudy skies, and the top five mushers have all cleared the Cripple checkpoint. They’ve all completed their 24-hour rest periods now, and have made up their starting differentials, so this should be a pretty accurate running order.
Alliy Zirkle is back in the lead, followed by Mitch Seavey, John Baker, Dallas Seavey, and Ray Redington, Jr. As they left Cripple, just three hours separate Zirkle from Redington.
Bringing up the tail end of the race are Dan Seavey, Jaimee Kinzer, Kirk Barnum, Jan Steves, and Bob Chlupach. Seavey has made it into Takotna, and Kinzer has left McGrath. The final three are still in McGrath.
Two additional mushers have scratched: Wade Marrs and Ryan Redington.
I know I have at least one reader intensely following Lance Mackey: he’s currently running 16th, and made it into Cripple with 12 dogs a little after 6 pm last night, just before Alliy Zirkle set out from there.
Until next time,
Good day, and good dog!