The Amazing Alaskan Husky (Photo: Siri Raitto)
It’s mid-afternoon on Tuesday. While Insiders Greg Heister and Bruce Lee gave an update from Nikolai, they both agreed that the champion for 2024 would likely come from the group of 12 mushers that have reached Nikolai at this time. Statistics from past races support that statement. Time will tell but I did take a screen shot of the race stats page for easy comparison when the time comes.
Mille Posild was first to arrive and received the Alaska Air Transit Spirit of Iditarod Award. Previously, the award was presented in McGrath but because of the ties AAT has with the village of Nikolai, the award will now be presented in Nikolai, the first checkpoint after the musher’s journey over the Alaska range and across the Farewell Burn. Mille received beaver mittens and a hat plus a Pendleton Wool Blanket. More information can be read in a previous post.
Ryan Redington Leaves Puntilla Lake (Photo: Siri Raitto)
With reports from twelve mushers, we know what the trail from Rohn to Nikolai was like and what the rest of the pack will experience later today. All teams are out of Rohn. Mille Porsild did the run from Rohn to Nikolai in one stretch, a big move especially with the newly fallen snow and breaking trail for the last 20-25 miles.
Ryan Redington indicated the early miles out of Rohn were ice, rock and dirt which is pretty much expected. He changed runner plastic after resting during the run. Travis Beals who followed Mille into Nikolai felt the trail was fairly good and really didn’t mind the newly fallen snow because it was light and fluffy. Still, light and fluffy can mean abrasive and slow.
Dallas Seavey was the fourth musher into Nikolai. When interviewed by Bruce Lee of Insider, Dallas said he was pleased with his team, they’re eating well and they’re coming together. Dallas shared more thoughts on this race. The first part of the race is about trail conditioning and getting them to the 24-hour rest safely. For the next third of the race, he’ll focus on position and figure out who he’s racing. The goal is to maximize my teams strengths and minimizing their weaknesses. My team is versatile, the have speed and they have good staying power. I feel like I have enough tools in the tool box and I hope I’m one of the ones racing. Teams just can’t keep up fast all the way to Nome. I’m going to try not to get drawn into what others are doing.
Jessie Holmes and Matt Hall were 5th and 6th to arrive in Nikolai. They both rested between Rohn and Nikolai and took straw with them to rest beyond Nikolai, a move that Bruce Lee says sets them up for taking the 24-hour rest at Ophir.
Hunter Keefe has 14 dogs in harness at Nikolai. Hunter is planning to do his 24-hour at Takotna. Last year he was running on rookie hype, this year the adrenaline is less. He’s tired and he’s been looking forward to the long rest. He didn’t mention anything about the fine Takotna pie, but likely will enjoy a few slices during his stay.
Jessie Royer Leaves Puntilla Lake (Photo: Siri Raitto)
Jessie Royer and Aaron Burmeister round out the first ten teams into Nikolai. Jessie arrived with 16 dogs in harness, Aaron has 15. These two mushers are the most experienced in the race. This is Aaron’s 22nd start and he’s finished his previous 21 starts. This is Jessie’s 21st race and she’s finished her previous 20 starts. Add it up, between these two individuals they have 41 years of Iditarod experience. Jessie has eight top ten finishes with four in the top five, third being her best finish in 2019 and 2020. Aaron also has eight top ten finishes with four in the top five, second being his best finish. These elders have sixteen top tens and have held every top five position except champion.
Burmeister came back this year after declaring his retirement at the 2022 finisher’s banquet. His dear friend and race co-founder Howard Farley encouraged him because of the quality of team he would be driving. Burmeister agreed and decided to run. Howard passed away in January. Aaron has agreed to one more request of the Farley’s – carry Howard’s ashes with you to Nome. Burmeister says, “Iditarod is a celebration of Alaska’s rich history and the coming of spring across the state. Racing the Iditarod for me is the proving ground for our breed of dogs. Time on the trail is for meeting old friends and making new ones.”
Royer is a wrangler and a teamster from Montana. Jessie began “mushing” at the age of ten when she harnessed her border collie, Bear and a billy goat named Billybob to bring firewood to the house and hay to the livestock. She got her first sled dogs when she was 15. She worked with four time Iditarod Champion Doug Swingley for a couple of years. At the age of 17, she won Montana’s Race to the Sky and has earned six more titles since with the latest being in 2023. In 2005 she won the invitational LaGrande Odyssee in France.
By morning, the Farewell Burn will be in the rearview mirror for all the mushers. Mushers arriving at McGrath or Takotna will declare 24-hour rests. Some will arrive at Ophir and declare rest there. Will anyone go on to the half-way checkpoint of Cripple. Mother Nature promises to delivery warm temperatures. Will that persuade any mushers to sit down a day early? Will soft slow trail early in the race influence the choice? Again, only time will tell.
