It took Aliy Zirkle six hours and 49 minutes to reach Galena Friday afternoon after leaving Ruby with a fresh-looking dog team. She is the only contender who breezed through Ruby to take her eight-hour layover further down the Yukon. Reigning champion John Baker of Kotzebue said that Zirkle’s move may become the norm in the northern route after the way her team looks. Whether or not that’s the case, Zirkle and her team appeared ready to tackle the Yukon River when leaving Ruby at 9:04 this morning.
Zirkle arrived in Galena at 3:53pm and has yet to complete her eight-hour layover.
