Tuesday, 7:05 a.m. update
The word in Nome is John Baker has passed Safety and on his way to the finish line, Kyle Hopkins reports.
The word in Nome is John Baker has passed Safety and on his way to the finish line, Kyle Hopkins reports.
GPS tracking agrees.
When it's official, we'll let you know.
Baker closing in on Safety
Tuesday, 6:30 a.m. update
With Nome achingly close and a musher known for his final kick about an hour behind him, John Baker of Kotzebue is closing in on Safety -- and his first Iditarod championship.
After knocking on the door for years, Baker is poised to become the first Western Alaskan to win the 39-year-old race.
Expect a finish sometime around 9 or 10 this morning. We'll keep you updated here and on Twitter if that estimate changes.
Baker has protected his lead on the 55-mile run from White Mountain and remains roughly 10 miles ahead of pursuer Ramey Smyth, according to the Iditarod's GPS tracking.
GPS readings show Baker is about four miles out of Safety, the final checkpoint before Nome and the finish line. Smyth is about 14 miles out.
That should translate to a lead of about an hour once the two reach Safety.
And while Smyth has made several legendary runs from Safety to Nome, he has just 22 miles to make up the gap on Baker.
John Baker leaves Golovin Monday afternoon in first place. (Bob Hallinen)
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