It was early Thursday morning when 2011 champion John Baker departed the Iditarod checkpoint of Takotna. Despite the early hour (he departed at 2:01am), both Baker and his dogs seemed in good form.
Baker said his dogs “took full advantage” of their mandatory 24-hour rest; surveying the trail ahead, the musher said his about his dogs, “they’re ready now.” In a brief interview with KNOM’s Laureli Kinneen – just moments before hitting the trail to Ophir – Baker talked about his run/rest schedule this year and his impressions of the race so far:
