Yukon Quest mushers en route from Fairbanks

Abouta half-dozen Alaskan and Yukon mushers are leading the pack at the start of of this year's Yukon Quest International Sled-Dog Race, with 24 dog teams racing from Fairbanks, Alaska, to Whitehorse.

Zack Steer of Sheep Mountain, Alaska, and Hugh Neff of Annie Lake, Yukon, arrived at the Slaven's Roadhouse dog drop station around 1 p.m. Alaska time on Monday, according to the race website.

Behind them are four-time Yukon Quest champion Lance Mackey and Hans Gatt of Whitehorse, followed by Gerry Willomitzer of Shallow Bay, Yukon, and Ken Anderson of Fox, Alaska.

Earlier on Monday, all six frontrunners had left the Circle Citycheckpoint before 8 a.m. Alaska time, and are en route to the nextcheckpoint in Eagle, about 256 kilometres away.

A total of 24 mushers in the 27th annual Yukon Quest left the starting line Saturday at Fairbanks, running their dog teams through 1,600 kilometres of rugged terrain across Alaska and the Yukon to the finish line in Whitehorse.

The mushers are all vying for a share of the $150,000 purse.

No one was scratched from the race as of Monday afternoon, according to the race's website.

Fans can follow mushers' progress more easily this year, as nearly all of them with the exception of Willomitzer have satellite tracking devices on their sleds.

Data from the devices are being beamed to a live tracking page on the Yukon Quest's website. According to that page, Steer was shown to be holding his lead as of 2 p.m. PT on Monday.

Because of the harsh winter conditions, difficult trail and the limited support that competitors are allowed, the 1,600-kilometre quest is considered one of the toughest races in the world.

The fastest run in the Yukon Quest took place last year, when Sebastian Schnuelle of Whitehorse finished in nine days, 23 hours, and 20 minutes.