Peter Kaiser Departs Unalakleet

Peter Kaiser was the first musher to reach White Mountain in Iditarod XLVII.  Kaiser in bib #9 lives in Bethel, Alaska.  He reached White Mountain with eight dogs in harness at 08:05. Kaiser is required to rest 8 hours before he can depart for the 77 mile run to Nome.

Chief Financial Officer, Jed Ballard, of Northrim Bank presented the award to Kaiser.  The award included a check for $2,500 and a one-of-a-kind print by Anchorage artist Marianne Wieland.

“We are excited to be back for our second year as a Lead Dog partner of the Iditarod.  We appreciate the opportunity to honor the first musher into White Mountain with the Northrim Bank Achieve More Award.  The Iditarod itself inspires fans to ‘achieve more’ and as an Alaskan grown bank, we at Northrim applaud that pioneer spirit,” said Ballard.

Joar Leifseth Ulsom on the Trail to Unalakleet

Joar Leifseth Ulsom arrived in White Mountain forty-one minutes behind Kaiser.  Anything can happen in 77 miles, and one doesn’t have to look too far back in the archives to site several examples.  Mother Nature rules, be it wind or storms, she always plays the cards and the mushers respond accordingly.  The question would be, how much gas does Joar’s team have left for his bid to overtake Kaiser. Jessie Royer will be constantly on their minds as she pushes from behind.  Aliy Zirkle is resting behind Royer in Elim and will push on toward White Mountain later this morning.

Jessie Royer on the Trail to Unalakleet

Back in Unalakleet, Jason Campeau departed, leaving the checkpoint empty. We await five teams from Kaltag lead by rookie Jessica Klejka.  The teams on the trail lead by Klejka include Ryan Santiago, Blair Braverman, Martin Apayauq Reitan and Sebastien Dos Santos Borges.  Klejka is leading the pack by a considerable amount and I’d expect to see her early this afternoon.

The Citizen’s Ski race last evening was a great success with many local participants and at least one Iditarod visitor.  Ketil Reitan, in Unalakleet to observe his son’s race, put skis on and made laps around the Dragon’s Back across from the checkpoint.  While waiting for Martin Apayauq Reitan, Ketil has been chatting with local mushers who’ve run earlier races.  Ketil ran Iditarod ’91-’94, took a break and returned for 2016, 17 & 18.  His best finish was in ’92 when he made Nome in 10th position with a time of 11 days 14 hours and 38 minutes.

Quoting an Insider tag line, Pete Kaiser arrived in White Mountain with a team of vigorous dogs. Considering the required 8 hour layover in White Mountain and runtime to Nome, I estimate the finish to be in the wee hours of Wednesday morning.  What will Topkok hand the mushers?  What will the blowhole hand the mushers?  Will there be stormy weather on the coast or as the teams climb Cape Nome?  The Champion’s chapter of Iditarod XLVII will soon be recorded.