A team runs downhill in the Farewell Burn area between Rohn and Nikolai with the Alaska Range in the background during the 2018 Iditarod race on Tuesday afternoon March 06, 2018.
Photo by Jeff Schultz/SchultzPhoto.com (C) 2018 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Hi Boys and Girls,

The teams have been on the trail for just over 2 days now.  Can you believe how far they have gone?  The leaders are still changing constantly.  This will continue for another couple of days. There was a surprise scratch today.  Dee Dee Jonrowe scratched in Rainy Pass for personal reasons. 

Hope your musher is doing well?  Are you tracking them on a map?  It is so cool to watch your favorite musher go down the trail.  Hope you’re having fun!  I know there will be some changes in positions from what I tell you and what is happening when you read this.  Compare your update to mine.  What are the changes?  

Mitch Seavey’s team runs up the river bank and into the Nikolai checkpoint during the 2018 Iditarod race on Tuesday March 06, 2018.
Photo by Jeff Schultz/SchultzPhoto.com (C) 2018 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Trail volunteer Erica Goad runs in front of Ray Redington Jrs. team to a parking spot at the Nikolai checkpoint during the 2018 Iditarod race on Tuesday March 06, 2018.
Photo by Jeff Schultz/SchultzPhoto.com (C) 2018 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

The first 5 mushers as of Tuesday night are out of Nikolai. The first 10 are all within 3 hours of the leader.  It’s a really close race right now.  The top mushers are:

Mitch Seavey

Joar Leifseth Ulsom

Ryan Redington

Nicolas Petit

Aaron Burmeister

The Red Lantern Position has changed during the day but is currently the same as this time yesterday.  It is:. 

Tara Cicatello                        In Rohn

The Rookie of the year award goes to the top finishing rookie.  Right now the position is held by Matt Hall who is in 19^th place and is out of Nicolai.

Scratched:

Dee Dee Jonrowe due to personal reasons.

All pictures in this post are courtesy of Jeff Schultz.  Thank you Jeff.

See you on the trail,

Gypsy