Teams leaving White Mountain Friday Morning

Sadie Lindquist at the Ceremonial Start of Iditarod 54.
March 7, 2026. Anchorage, Alaska.

After a very windy Thursday, the final nine teams who spent the day hunkered down in the checkpoint of White Mountain are readying their teams to leave the checkpoint and head down their final 77 miles of Iditarod 54.

The race was unofficially halted on Thursday as winds increased in the Topkok Hills and Blowhole (trail between White Mountain and the checkpoint of Safety). The section that is notorious for blowing teams off the trail and damaging sleds, hearts, and musher bodies was consideredly nearly impassable. The race gave the teams waiting to go the option to wait it out - but all teams still had the ability to leave if they felt they could handle it. The teams seemed to all have an unspoken pact that they'd leave together when the winds calmed. 

The White Mountain Nine prepared to leave as the sun was rising Friday morning, those watching on Iditarod Insider were witness to a waking dog yard of happy howls as the dogs realized that more adventure and trail awaited them and they were finally going to get going. Sadie Lindquist was first out of the checkpoint a little after nine and that energy brought about a hurry up from the rest of the mushers.

Because of their extended stay in White Mountain (of 24 or more hours) each team is allowed to leave whenever they want to. There's no stand in line and wait your turn from the order of how you got there - it's whoever is fastest to ready their team and leave they can. They can judge weather reports, talk to the veteran mushers turned volunteers in the checkpoint, etc to make the decision when to go. 

Sean Underwood of Iditarod Insider reported that the winds were dying down but still strong Friday morning, however reports had the winds being at their lowest strength come early afternoon - about when teams leaving now would be hitting the feared Blowhole. It's all strategic now on how to safely get to Nome. 

Teams have 77 miles from White Mountain to Nome. Winds can slow teams down significantly but these teams are now WELL rested, so it may not be quite the same marching speeds we watched some of the top 20 show. In nine or ten hours we should know who our red lantern is on way or the other. Nome is going to be busy tonight. Look for the first teams to come into the finish around 6pm AKDST Friday.