Teachers attending Summer Camp had a full day of dynamic speakers on their last day of “formal class.”  Presentors included historian Katie Manglesdorf, Chief Iditarod Veterinarian Stu Nelson, and musher Aliy Zirkle.

Katie Mangelsdorf has written “Champion of Alaska Huskies – Joe Redington Sr. Father of the Iditarod.” If you want to get into the nitty-gritty of Joe Redington Sr. and his reasons for birthing the Iditarod, Katie’s book is a must a read. There’s enough adventure and action in this book to capture the minds and hearts of adults and younger readers. While speaking to the teacher’s group, Katie shared many stories of Joe that demonstrated his spirit, ability to persevere and his creativity. He was a master of making the impossible possible. He was a dreamer and doer who drew people into his visions and dreams. That’s how Iditarod was born.

Chief Veterinarian Stu Nelson spent an hour with the teachers, taking them down the trail, explaining dog care on the trail and elaborating on why and how sled dogs can be such incredible athletes. Sled dogs want to run, they need to run, they love to run and they are equipped to run. Northern breed adaptations, circulatory systems, metabolism and physical response to exercise all work together to make the sled dog a most incredible athlete. Before taking over the top vet spot for Iditarod in 1996, Nelson served as a volunteer trail veterinarian for nine years. He’s always been interested in animals as athletes and has virtually dedicated his entire career to the sled dog, especially those competing in the Iditarod. Each year he organizes and oversees a cadre of vet techs and 40 to 45 trail veterinarians who volunteer from all over the world. Nelson has served as Iditarod’s Chief Veterinarian for twenty-one years.

Aliy Zirkle spoke to the teachers on Friday evening. Zirkle will be attending the Musher Sign-up and Volunteer Picnic on Saturday. Aliy spoke candidly about her 2016 race and the snow machine incident on the Yukon River. Zirkle said, “I am a different person than last year at this time. I am not sure how to share my story with kids or how to make it a positive thing.” She admits to having a long way to go in the healing process. Recently the Iditarod Board of Directors has voted to allow mushers to carry two-way communication devices but they may not be used for coaching. About the rule change, Zirkle commented, “Previously, I’ve never wanted to use a phone during the race but I certainly would have used a sat phone to get help last year. Some mushers are against allowing two-way communication devices but they haven’t been through what I’ve been through.”

Zirkle has entered and finished Iditarod sixteen times. She is also the only female to ever win the 1,000-mile Yukon Quest. Aliy concluded her talk saying, “My huskies have the same goal I do.  They are always looking for the next adventure. Winning would be great but it’s really about the adventure, the challenge, and making it to the finish line.”