PELLY CROSSING – All but three Yukon Quest mushers have reached Pelly Crossing.

Hans Gatt was the first to arrive, at 5:21 p.m. Sunday.

Upon arriving, Gatt was welcomed by Chief Sharon Nelson of the Selkirk First Nation. She gifted him a pair of beaver fur mitts in welcome on behalf of the community. 

“I don’t focus on being the first one,” said Gatt.

“I just focus on my dogs, and they are looking good. We haven’t done anything special. They just run the way they run the last 2,000 miles of training.” 

Gatt told the Star last month he would be racing with a young team. He has been happy with how they’re performing. 

“They are doing awesome; I’m pretty impressed by them,” said Gatt. “Most of them have never seen a race before. Now I can add for more here (Pelly). 

“They are my main leaders, first of all. From here on, it’s a different story. Blackwell, he is my main leader, I am adding him now because I didn’t want to risk anything earlier.” 

Gatt is now on the trail to Dawson City, after having left Pelly at 11:18 p.m. Sunday with 13 dogs. After a long layoff from the race, he’s hoping he remembers the trail as he used too. 

“I haven’t done it in a long time,” said Gatt. “I hope I remember all the hills out there. I am hoping it becomes a few degrees warmer; it’s pretty miserable out there.” 

Allen Moore was the fifth musher into Pelly but the first one out, leaving at 9:37 p.m. with 14 dogs. 

As Moore prepared his sled for the next leg of his journey, he was surrounded by his support team, media, and fans. His dogs waited in excited anticipation, knowing that they got to continue to run. 

“So far, so good,” said Moore while bunging down his sled. “No concerns; everything is going smooth.” 

Moore said he loves running in the night while he secured some hay to the back of his sled, heading toward some lasagna.

“There is some lasagna waiting for me in Stepping Stone,” said Moore. “Just got to go get it.” 

“I’ll see you in Dawson in a hot tub,” Moore told the crowd surrounding him just before he shouted, “Let’s go, boys!” And he was out. 

Brent Sass was the third to get out onto the trail, followed by Matt Hall. Denis Tremblay continues to have a strong race, sitting in fifth place out of Pelly. 

The current Red Lantern (last place) runner is Lisbet Norris, who, as of 7:15 a.m. today, had yet to reach McCabe Creek.

As of 11:59 p.m. Sunday, the standings were:

1 Allen Moore

2 Hans Gatt

3 Brent Sass

4 Matt Hall

5 Denis Tremblay

6 Michelle Phillips

7 Paige Drobny

8 Isabelle Travadon

9 Ryne Olson

10 Nathaniel Hamlyn

11 Torsten Kohnert

12 Dave Dalton

13 Jessie Royer

14 Cody Strathe

15 Olivia Webster

16 Jason Biasetti

17 Hendrik Stachnau

18 Martin Apayauq Reitan

19 Curt Perano

20 Deke Naaktgeboren

21 Brian Wilmshurst

22 Laura Allaway

23 Misha Wiljes

24 Rob Cooke

25 Andy Pace

26 Chase Tingle

27 Jim Lanier

28 Remy Leduc

29 Jimmy Lebling

30 Lisbet Norris

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