Pete Kaiser is the first musher to leave Tuluksak for the run back to Bethel in the first loop of the Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race. He arrived behind Jessie Holmes, Jeff King, and Brent Sass, but elected to leave while the other racers banked rest for their teams. Kaiser stayed two hours, while his competitors tacked on a third.
Joar Ulsom arrived at the same time as Kaiser and hunkered down for rest. Nenana musher Holmes was first in at 3:11. Holmes, Sass, and Ray Redington Jr. each stayed three hours before returning on the early morning trail into Bethel.
Teams must complete six hours of rest in checkpoints in addition to the mandatory four hours on the final stop in Tuluksak.