Zirkle on trail, pack gives chase

IDITAROD TRAIL — 2011 Iditarod champ John Baker of Kotzebue and his 12 dog-team left the Kaltag Checkpoint at 6:30 p.m., Saturday, about an hour and a half after Aliy Zirkle blazed a trail toward the coast at 4:44 p.m.

After resting there for nearly six hours, Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race leader Zirkle of Two Rivers headed up the trail toward Unalakleet with a team of 12 dogs.

Behind Baker, Mitch Seavey left Kaltag at 6:39 p.m., and Aaron Burmeister left 13 minutes later with 15 dogs.

Zirkle with 14 dogs was first to arrive in Kaltag at 11:14 a.m., followed three hours and 18 minutes later. 2004 champ Mitch Seavey of Seward checked in one minute later with 13 dogs.

Nome’s Burmeister arrived about 20 minutes later, covering the distance with an average speed of 9.66 mph. His was the fastest time over the trail for 24 minutes, until Willow's Dallas Seavey arrived in Kaltag. He covered the distance at an average speed of 10.68 mph. He also is the Valley musher currently highest in the standings.

Dallas Seavey was still in Kaltag at 7:30 p.m., Saturday.

As was four-time champ Jeff King of Denali, who was running in sixth place with 14 dogs. He arrived in Kaltag at 4 p.m.

In seventh is Big Lake’s Jake Berkowitz, who left Nulato with 14 dogs at 3:27 p.m. Peter Kaiser and his 13 dogs left Nulato in eighth place three minutes later. And three minutes later, Ray Redington Jr. was riding the runners behind a team of 13 dogs. DeeDee Jonrowe left Nulato bound for Kaltag with 14 dogs at 3:41 p.m. She was in 10th place.

Also out of Galena as of 8 p.m., Saturday were Sonny Linder, Ramey Smyth, Sigrid Ekran, Ken Anderson, Gerry Wilomitzer, Michelle Phillips and Michael Williams Jr.

With all of the teams out front having completed both their required 24-hour break and their required 8-hour break, there’s nothing but miles of trail standing between the leaders and Nome.

For more information, and up to the minute race standings, visit iditarod.com/race/current-standings/.