The Berington Twins On the Yukon Out of Ruby (Photo Credit Dave Poyzer)

It’s the eve of daylight savings time.  We need to adjust for the spring ahead time change.  Iditarod stats are automatically adjusted so no need to wonder about how race stats deals with the change.  The mushers won’t even notice as for them it’s just blocks of time – run six hours and rest six hours.  We’ll notice that the sun rises later and sets later.  They will simply notice the sun rising and the sun setting.

At the far end of the race, Lisbet Norris and the Siberian Express will be the final team to make Cripple.  Ahead of her, Apayauq Reitan, Kailyn Davis and Yuka Honda are resting in Cripple.  The Deeters, both Jeff and KattiJo are heading to Ruby along with Bridgett Watkins and Gerhardt Thiart.  That’s what the back of the pack looks like.

The middle of the pack is concentrated from Ruby to Nulato.  In a distance of 88 miles there are twenty-six teams either running or resting. 

The front of the pack has departed Nulato.  Porsild, Burmeister, Redington, and Diehl are running to Kaltag where Jessie Holmes is resting.  Sass and Seavey are out of Kaltag heading to Unalakleet.  From the flags on the tracker, Brent Sass looks to be resting at Old Woman closer to UNK and Dallas Seavey appears to be doing the same but at Tripod Flats closer to Kaltag.  A distance of twenty miles separates them.

Getting closer to the coast, Sass and Seavey as well as the teams in Kaltag can feel the intense coastal winds.  Word from Unalakleet is that the winds are steady at 30 mph and gusting up to 45.  The coast doesn’t disappoint when it comes to dishing out challenges.

Dave Poyzer has captured a few more of the teams as they passed through Ruby.  Some very majestic scenery for you to enjoy along with a nice candid shot of Chad Stoddard.

Chad Stoddard Contemplates the next Miles of the Race (Photo Credit Dave Poyzer)

Chad Stoddard Captured Rookie of the Year honors while on the Gold Trail Loop of 2021 by finishing in 23^rdplace.  Chad has family connections to the Iditarod Trail.  His great-grandfather delivered mail around the time of the Serum Run and he has family ties to the village of Nenana where the serum was taken off the train and handed to Bill Shannon for the first leg of the lifesaving relay.  Chad is running a team of Seavey dogs.  He’s riding right on the bubble for a top ten finish at this point.

Ryan Redington is the grandson of race founder, Joe Redington, Sr.  His father Raymie has raced in the Iditarod 14 times.  Ryan has completed Iditarod seven times.  In 2020 he placed 8th and in 2021 he improved to 7th.  Redington is a John Beargrease Champion.  Go Ryan, we’d really like to see a Redington musher added to the list of Champions!

Ramey Smyth is a two time Jr. Iditarod Champion who has been mushing since he could walk.  His father, Bud Smyth raced in the first Iditarod in 1973.  His Mother, Lolly Medly raced in the second Iditarod.  She was a celebrated harness maker and the City of Nome awards the Golden Harness Award to an outstanding lead dog in her name.  Smyth has won the Kosko 300 and has finished Iditarod 24 times out of 25 attempts.  He’s placed in the top 10 in twelve races with second place in 2011 as his best with a time of 8 days, 19 hours and 50 minutes.

Matts Pettersson is from Sweden and runs a tour kennel near the famous Ice Hotel in Sweden.  He is no stranger to ice considering that he has played hockey.  His specialty was defending the goal. Matts began his Iditarod career in 2014 and has finished five consecutive races with a two year break before returning in 2022.  His best finish is 18th place.

Josh McNeal completed his rookie Iditarod run on the Gold Trail Loop in 28th position.  He is extremely excited to be headed for the burled arch in Nome.  The day after he graduated from high school in Washington state, he moved to Alaska.  He earned a  Bachelor’s degree from UAF in Petroleum Engineering.  During his senior year, he helped Ken Anderson train for his final Iditarod.  He and his wife, Jobie, operate Crooked Creek Kennel home to 40 sled dogs, some of which came from Anderson’s kennel.