Gatt takes Quest lead

DAWSON CITY, Yukon -- Hans Gatt of was set to leave Dawson City, Yukon, on Saturday at 1:52 a.m. Alaska time after the mandatory 36-hour layover at the halfway point of the Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race.

The Atlin, British Columbia, musher took the lead from Zack Steer less than an hour outside Dawson City.

Steer, of Sheep Mountain, was in second place with a departure time of 2:31 a.m. Saturday.

Steer reached Dawson City with 10 dogs while Gatt pulled in with 11.

Ten mushers had reached the midway point by Friday afternoon. Wasilla's Kelley Griffin, running in 11th place, was out of the 40-Mile River checkpoint but had not arrived in Dawson as of 6 p.m. Friday.

As of Friday evening, 23 mushers were still on the Yukon Quest trail.

The trail spans 1,026 miles and stretches from Fairbanks to Whitehorse, Yukon.

Gatt completed last year's race in just over 10 days to win the championship and the $30,000 purse.