Hi Boys and Girls,

Wow, it’s going to be a busy couple of days with the finish of the race right around the corner Who do you think will win and when do you think they will cross the finish line?  Now for today’s update:

TIME: 12:38 Alaskan Time

LEADERS: #1 John Baker, #2 Ramey Smyth, #3 Hans Gatt,  all have left Elim.  #4 Sebastian Schnuelle and #5 Hugh Neff, have left Koyuk and are on their way to Elim.

**  I have an Aunt Elim and an Aunt Koyuk.  They live at my house and run on my team with me.  Can you guess what they were named after?

WHERE ARE THE MUSHERS: The front of the pack have either left Elim, are in Elim.  The red lantern musher is Brennan Norden and he is in Shageluk.

Answer to yesterday’s Question: Why is a red lantern given to the last place finisher?  It is believed that it started as a joke and was first awarded after the 1953 Fur Rendezvous Race .  It has since become an Alaskan tradition.

Answer to yesterday’s Question: What is the Widow’s Lamp?  If you go to: http://www.iditarod.com/learn/traditions.html

You’ll see a good explanation of the Widow’s Lamp.

WEATHER: Elim, Koyuk, Shaktoolik and Unalakleet are reporting 18 degrees and clear, Grayling and Anvik are reporting 10 degrees and clear.

SCRATCHED: James Bardoner- scratched in Iditarod due to his teams ability to continue up the trail.

FAN COMMENT/QUESTION: How much information can be shared with the mushers at the checkpoints? Can they find out when mushers ahead of them left or how long others rested, etc?  This is a great question that I’ve never had asked before.  Yes the mushers can get information about the other mushers such as where they are, when they left a checkpoint, etc.

Keep up the good work following the race. I received lots of good questions so watch tomorrow to see your your question will be featured.

Until tomorrow,

Gypsy