March 11: Yukon River
Shageluk: Most of the other teams stopped at McGrath, Takotna, or Iditarod for their mandatory 24-hour layover, allowing Gebhardt to arrive at Shageluk more than 7 hours ahead of the next musher on March 11 at 2:45 am. Gebhardt left 10 minutes later, followed by the top 10 within 19 hours, and the top 30 within 33 hours.
Anvik: Gebhardt won the First Musher to Reach the Yukon Award when he arrived at Anvik on March 11 at 7:14 am, and was served a 7-course meal prepared by a chef from the Millennium Hotel Anchorage. (pdf) Sørlie retakes the lead when he departs at 9:31 pm. The top 10 are within just over 6 hours, and the top 30 within 19 hours. After his 24-hour rest, Gebhardt dropped to 15th place.
Conditions were relatively good at this stage, but the highs remained above freezing. This favored teams trained in warmer areas, like Swingley from Montana, and Sørlie and Andersen from Norway. Some teams even faced rain on the way to Anvik. Andersen breaks into the top 10, and remains there until at least Kaltag. He is at least 10 hours ahead of the next rookie, and is set to take the Rookie of the Year Award. Sørlie's nephew, he and may follow his uncle's pattern of placing in the top 10 in his first race.
Mushers are required to stop at a checkpoint along the Yukon River before leaving the Interior, but only for 8 hours.
Charlie Boulding scratched at Anvik on March 12. Boulding is a former winner of the Yukon Quest (1991, 1993), and finished in the top 10 in eight of thirteen Iditarods, placing 3rd in 1998.(pdf) Boulding planned to retire this year. Bill Cotter scratched on March 13, because his team was sick.(pdf)
Read more about this topic: 2005 Iditarod
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