ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Aaron Burmeister was the first musher to leave Unalakleet Sunday in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Dallas Seavey was right behind him, leaving Unalakleet six minutes later. Aliy Zirkle also has left the first checkpoint on Alaska’s western coast.
She was the first musher to reach Unalakleet, and picked up a gold trophy and $2,500 in gold nuggets Sunday morning.
The race started last Sunday with 66 mushers. A week later, more than a half dozen had scratched.
Four-time champion Jeff King was one of them Sunday. Race officials said he had 13 dogs in his team in Unalakleet when he made the decision.
Iditarod veteran Jake Berkowitz, running in sixth place, on Sunday was withdrawn by Race Marshall Mark Nordman after severely injuring his hand while using a knife.
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