Mitch Seavey will soon be the first team into Unalakleet, followed shortly by Aaron Burmeister. At least two teams a few miles back on the trail stopped for a couple hours, and the two front runners didn’t. Aliy Zirkle and Joar Ulsom each could go through Unalakleet with just a short stop. Because of these staggered rest periods, it is difficult to say who has the advantage now. There are a number of other teams within 20 miles of the lead, very close for this stage of the race.
John Baker has moved up steadily and now the tracker shows him in 12th position, his highest for the race. Right now he is in good position for another top ten finish if all goes well. Including his rookie year in 1996, John has finished out of the top ten four times, racing every year. While every racer would like to win every year, all of the top contenders agree that a top ten finish is a realistic goal for a contending team every year.
The order arriving in Shaktoolik, the next check point after Unalakleet, will give a much clearer picture of who is still in the running.
Myron Angstman, lawyer, pilot, and dog musher, lives in Bethel, Alaska. Read more about dogs, law suits and rural Alaska gossip by checking http://www.myronangstman.com/