Aaron Burmeister of Nome is the First Musher to Make McGrath (Photo Credit Dave Poyzer)

Anchorage, Alaska –Veteran musher Aaron Burmeister (bib #23), of Nome/Nenana, Alaska, was the first musher to reach the McGrath checkpoint at 5:41 p.m. today with 13 dogs in harness, winning the Alaska Air Transit Spirit of Iditarod Award.

Burmeister Receives Alaska Air Transit Spirit of Alaska Award (Photo Credit Dave Poyzer)

Burmeister was presented with handmade prizes created by McGrath residents. Burmeister received a pair of musher mitts made of beaver fur and beaded moose hide, handcrafted by Loretta Maillelle of McGrath. Maillelle is an artist who often shares her skin sewing and beading talents, as well as her delicious cooking, with the community.

Alaska Air Transit Spirit of Alaska Award Goes to Aaron Burmeioster of Nome (Photo Credit Dave Poyzer)

In addition, Burmeister also received a beaver fur musher hat hand sewn by Lucy Miller of McGrath. Lucy is Athabascan and originally from Tanana. She enjoys moose hunting, berry picking and sharing her creative art at Alaskan Raven Beauties.

This is Alaska Air Transit’s fourth year sponsoring the Iditarod. It offers crucial flight support statewide via air charter and provides scheduled service to the Upper Kuskokwim communities of Nikolai, McGrath, Takotna and Tatalina as well as the Prince William Sound communities of Tatitlek and Chenega.

The Spirit of Iditarod Award will be re-presented to Burmeister at a later date.  Information courtesy of Iditarod Media Press Release on March 8, 2022.