King enjoys his meal in Ruby - Lead Pack Descends onto the Yukon

It's no surprise 4 time Champ Jeff King got to Ruby first and claimed the gourmet dinner prize and after dinner "mint" of some crisp one dollar bills.  He didn't share the money but he did take a plate and a bottle of wine to share with 64 year old Sonny Lindner who chased King into Ruby,  just goes to show you  the comaraderie between mushers is still there even in a heated race.

As for the chase pack, Buser is first into a Ruby after a long nonstop haul from Cripple.  Sorlie will be the next in.  Both of these Teams will quite likely rest up in Ruby before leaving (King and Lindner have to stay in Ruby for their 24 hour rest).  Aliy Zirkle however has just pulled the hook out on the trail to Ruby....she was camped about 3 hours on the trail and probably will low through Ruby without staying.  This will put her in the lead...but for how long is yet to be seen.  The chase pack is full of capable Teams....with no one dominating this race which is now more than half over, it's  anyone's guess who will lead down the Yukon to Kaltag.  Many Teams, such as the Seaveys and Baker, claim they don't START to race until Kaltag.  Their strategy is to build a monster Team through the race to Kaltag, then they unleash the true power of their Teams that up to this point has been held in reserve.  Watch for this to happen once they reach Kaltag.....but first the Yukon River stretch of the trail.