Veteran musher Jessie Holmes moved one step closer to another historic victory after reaching one of the final checkpoints on the trail. Early Tuesday morning, the defending champion became the first competitor to arrive at the White Mountain checkpoint during the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, strengthening his position as the race heads toward its dramatic finish in Nome.

Holmes, bib #7 from Brushkana, reached the checkpoint at 3:10 a.m. with 13 dogs in harness, becoming the first musher to arrive at White Mountain. His arrival earned him the Northrim Bank Achieve More Award, which includes a $2,500 check and a special trophy that remains on display at Iditarod headquarters throughout the year.

The award, first introduced in 2018 by Northrim Bank, recognizes the teamwork, perseverance, and determination needed to reach one of the race’s most critical checkpoints.

Bank President Mike Huston praised Holmes’ effort, saying the award celebrates the grit and resilience required to succeed on the demanding Iditarod Trail and congratulated him for being the first musher to reach White Mountain. Holmes will be honored again during the finishers banquet in Nome on March 22, 2026.

Holmes’ milestone comes as he continues to lead the thousand-mile race, putting him on track to join a rare group of mushers who have won back-to-back Iditarod titles. The 43-year-old defending champion has controlled the front of the race for nearly the entire week while maintaining a disciplined run-rest schedule with his dog team.

For days he has been closely chased by fellow musher Paige Drobny, his neighbor along the Denali Highway, though Holmes has managed to hold a several-hour lead through the later stages of the race. Earlier in the race he even sacrificed part of that advantage by giving his dogs extra rest in Unalakleet, a move that paid off when the team delivered what he described as one of the best runs of his life through the Blueberry Hills.

Holmes has credited his dogs’ strong condition and steady feeding schedule — including high-fat snacks and even frequent portions of beaver during runs — for helping the team stay energized through the harsh conditions along the Norton Sound coast.

With White Mountain marking the final mandatory eight-hour rest stop, Holmes and his team are now only one run away from the finish line in Nome. If his current pace continues, race watchers estimate he could arrive as early as Tuesday evening, potentially sealing consecutive victories in one of the world’s most demanding endurance races.