Handler just sent us this story and picture. It’s too cool. Being a sleek fast sled dog, I can’t imagine being one of those stocky powerful dogs from Greenland. With their thick coats, they must get very warm. As a matter of fact, I bet they don’t run with booties. Their feet are really tough and they can cool down through their foot pads on the snow. Here’s Handler’s story – enjoy!

Unattached to the race, Jim Ryder from Wisconsin had his team of Greenland Huskies lined out across from the checkpoint. Their size, coats and paws are a huge contrast to the sleeker smaller Iditarod dogs. The Wisconsonite was taking his team from Nanana to Nome along the same route as the 1925 Serum Run followed. Looking at any one of those dogs would make one think of the hardy dogs like Balto and Togo that saved the children of Nome from diphtheria. Ryder was running between Old Woman Cabin and Tripod Flats on the trail between Kaltag and Unalakleet when John Baker passed him. Ryder and the big dogs were taking their time and arrived at the Gold Coast about a day after Team Baker arrived.

Born to Run,
Sanka