Burmeister Leads The Way Out Of Nikolai

March 5, 2013 - 2:59 pm

Aliy Zirkle greets fans at the ceremonial start of the 2013 Iditarod in Anchorage. Photo by Josh Edge, APRN – Anchorage.

Aaron Burmeister was the first to leave Nikolai

for McGrath, checking out at 12:25 p.m. Tuesday.

Last year’s runner up, Aliy Zirkle, followed Burmeister out of Nikolai less than an hour later.

Former Iditarod champions Mitch Seavey and Lance Mackey also departed from Nikolai, at 1:52 p.m. and 2:02 p.m., respectively.

Last year’s winner, Dallas Seavey, checked into Nikolai at 11:19 a.m. Tuesday morning and, as of 2:50 p.m. Tuesday, remains at the checkpoint.