Mushers are making their way to the finish in Nome, arriving at the final checkpoint requiring a mandatory layover: White Mountain. After this, the race is truly on to Nome. Jeff King will hit the trail at 3:02p and Aliy Zirkle will follow at 3:59p.
Four mushers have made it to this checkpoint, including King and Zirkle, and the late-coming Dallas and Mitch Seavey, who have steadily been climbing the ranks of the top mushers for the latter half of this race. Lying between the leaders and Nome: bare, icy trail and brisk north winds.
Winds can be brutal, especially as the racers pass through the infamous Topkok blow hole. Combined with the reported glare ice conditions on stretches of the trail, winds could really throw a wrench into the hopefully smooth run to Safety and ultimately to Nome.
Hear the standings as of 12p noon, and what to expect as the front of the race reaches Nome.
