Anchorage, Alaska -- A fourth grade teacher from Ketchum, Idaho is proving himself as a leader in the 2011 Iditarod race.
Trent Herbst and his team of 14 dogs were in first place as they reached the halfway point of the race. They were the first to arrive in the ghost town of Iditarod on Thursday.
When he arrived to the checkpoint, he was greeted with $3,000 in gold nuggets and was honored with the GCI Dorothy Page Halfway Award.
Herbst is no stranger to the 1,150 mile race which takes mushers and their dogs through some of the roughest terrain in the world. Last year, he placed 49th, and in 2009 he placed 48th. He also competed in 2008 and 2006.
Herbst isn't the only Idaho musher working his way through Alaska in freezing temperatures. Kirk Barnum of Grangeville is also making the trek. He is currently in 45th place.
We are tracking their progress. Keep checking KTVB.COM for updates.
