Hello Boys and Girls,

Can you hear my howl song?  I’ve been howling for days!  There is snow on the ground!  The temperatures have been cold, and it is Iditarod Season!

As November comes to an end and December begins, the Iditarod race season draws closer, too. It is so noisy at Iditarod Headquarters, that I can hardly get a good snooze in while practicing my napping skills next to the Executive Director’s desk.  The phones ring, people stop by, and race staff is very busy with the details for this year’s race.   If I could only get everyone who stops by Race Headquarters to bring me a treat, I wouldn’t mind not getting in my nap.

But, I guess it is fine that I can’t get a good nap in because it is time for me to start snooping around for good stories and get my paws typing on the key board. More than 70 mushers have already signed up to run this year’s race and it is rumored more entry forms are in the mail! The deadline for sign up is the end of November.

This year’s race begins on Saturday, March 6. The start of the race is about 11 miles. This is an exciting day because it is like a grand ceremony. In each musher’s sled, an Idita-Rider will experience those first few miles. An Idita- Rider is someone who has participated in the Idita-Rider Auction, one of the race fundraisers. The Idita-Riders placed bids on riding in the sled. Learn more about the Idita-Rider program at this link. If you are headed to Alaska for the race, you should think about bidding and enjoying the ride of a life time!

The restart is on the following day, March 7. Once the mushers leave the restart, they are on their way to Nome. The restart is in Wasilla, Alaska.

Boys and Girls, I just want to take a moment to let you know that the K9 journalism team working with me this year, Gypsy, Libby, and Sanka W. Dog and I are very excited about this year’s race. We have lots of ideas on great stories and articles that we’ll be writing to keep you informed on what is happening at Headquarters, in Alaska, and along the Iditarod Trail. We will also be introducing you to some great books that you might want to check out from your school library or purchase at our on line store. If you are looking for books to read, don’t forget to check out our book list on this website.   Meet the authors who have agreed to share with you about their books.   We’ll also feature a few articles and stories sent to us from some of our K9 friends. Don’t miss our scrapbook of pictures!

We are looking forward to bringing you the best prerace and race coverage ever!

Check Zuma’s Paw Prints every week or so for new articles.

Have a great week, friends!

Woof! Woof!

Lots of Tail Wags,

Zuma

PS

Have you met my new friend yet?  His name is Herb Brambley.  He is this year’s Target® Iditarod Teacher on the Trail™.  Check out his section of the website.    Click here! Herb is a teacher and he is also a musher!  He lives in Pennsylvania.  If you want to meet his dog, Willow,and his other dogs, read this article!