Veteran musher Josi Shelley is leading the pack in the 2026 Yukon Quest Alaska 750, with competitors pushing toward the halfway point of the grueling 750-mile sled dog race through Interior Alaska.
As of Wednesday afternoon, Shelley racing with bib number six, had traveled roughly 370 miles and held a clear advantage over her rivals, with Stevens Village as the next major checkpoint on her route.
Five mushers remain in the competition after Keaton Loebrich scratched on Sunday night to protect the health of his dog team. Following Shelley, Jeff Deeter (bib four) and Jonah Bacon (bib five) were making steady progress near the Beaver checkpoint, about 346 miles into the trail. Meanwhile, father-son duo Jason and Patrick Mackey were progressing at the Fort Yukon checkpoint, roughly 275 miles into the race.
Race conditions have tested the competitors, with cold and windy weather slowing travel and challenging both mushers and their dogs as they make their way along the historic trail.
Shelley’s lead reflects her experience and consistent pace, but with hundreds of miles still to cover across some of Alaska’s most remote and demanding terrain, the race remains far from decided.
Also Read: Yukon Quest Alaska Races Kick Off With Meet the Mushers and Public Race Start
Spectators and sled dog racing fans can follow live tracking updates and checkpoint reports as the Yukon Quest Alaska 750 continues, with the iconic Yukon River Bridge marking the race’s unofficial midpoint.
