Nine teams have now crossed the finish line in Whitehorse for this year's Yukon Quest.

Alaska mushers Abbie West and Kristy Berington came in early Wednesday morning, finishing eighth and ninth. Dave Dalton is the next musher expected across the finish line; he should arrive sometime Wednesday afternoon.

Four-time Yukon Quest champion Lance Mackey arrived in Whitehorse Tuesday at 10:39 a.m. PT to take third place.

Mackey was running a new team of dogs this year but said he feels he was part of the win because the top two teams ran dogs from his breeding program.

Even though he didn't win, Mackey was excited for Hugh Neff, his friend, who won the race.

"He earned it, he deserved it and I know the feeling he felt when he crossed that finish line, I've felt it four times.”

He said on his way into town he passed Neff, who was sitting having a beer.

“I hadn't heard nothing of course, I hadn't seen anybody,” Mackey said. “I said ‘Did you get him?’ and he goes ‘By 23 seconds’ and I about fell off my sled crying. It was like I had won."

Mackey said the competition in the Quest is much tougher now than it used to be.

Fellow Alaskan, Jake Berkowitz, crossed the finish line about two hours after Mackey to take fourth. Brent Sass, Joar Leifseth Ulsom and Sonny Lindner arrived Tuesday night.

There are still 10 teams out on the trail — including three Yukoners.

Yuka Honda and Brian Wilmshurst have left Carmacks. Marcelle Fressineau is now between Dawson City and Pelly Crossing.

As the mushers and their dogs arrive at the checkpoints, they're met by volunteers, some of who have travelled long distances to work with the race.

Eddy Grant came all the way from Oakland, Calif., to volunteer at checkpoints in Dawson City, Pelly and Whitehorse. This is his second Quest.

“I've been here in the summertime for 12 years on and off for short trips and I just fell in love with the north,” he said. “Two years ago I got a chance to come up here in the winter. It was so much fun I had to come up for this one.”