Musher Jessie Holmes has departed the White Mountain checkpoint and is on pace to secure his second Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race victory.
Holmes was the first musher to reach White Mountain, the final mandatory rest stop before the finish in Nome, maintaining a strong lead over competitors.
After completing the required eight-hour rest, Holmes left the checkpoint with roughly 70 miles remaining to Nome, positioning himself as the clear frontrunner.
Race data shows Holmes has consistently led the field in the final stretch, with competitors trailing behind as teams head across the last section of the trail.
White Mountain is widely considered a decisive point in the race, as mushers who leave the checkpoint first often go on to win.
Holmes, who won the Iditarod in 2025, is now within reach of back-to-back victories in the nearly 1,000-mile race across Alaska.
