What does it mean to the people in Alaska’s interior communities when the dog teams come through? The children often get half or whole days off school to help out or watch the mushers check in. They may help with heating water for the mushers, give volunteers snow machine rides from the airport, or decorate …
Dear Friends, The Iditarod teams are definitely in a race! Did you know they have a secret to make their sleds glide easily in the differing snow and ice conditions? It is called runner plastic. Mushers will carry various colors and types of coiled up plastic they can slip over the runners of their sled. …
Dear Friends, Did any of you choose one of the Seeing Double Sled Dog Racing mushers to follow in the 2021 Iditarod? Kristy and Anna Berington have been favorites for students to follow because, being identical twins, they get noticed! Kristy has been racing since 2010. Her best finish has been in 16th place. …
Dear Friends, I wrote about the mushers packing their sleds with things for us sled dogs, but what do the mushers need? If you go to iditarod.com, Race Center, Information for Mushers, and then 2021 Iditarod Rules, you will see a list of what MUST be on a musher’s sled at all times. In fact, …
Paws Along the Trail with Creating Iditarod Booklets If your class followed the Iditarod, you will be surprised at what your students remember even at this time of the year. As we review for the reading standardized state test, I am still using the Iditarod to motivate and engage my students. A difficult concept is …
Dear Friends, This week, the mushers are busily checking and rechecking their gear to carry on the sleds. Did you know they must bring supplies for their sled dogs? Clean, dry booties for feet Insulated dog coats Non-chafing harnesses Dog food: kibble, frozen meats, dog snacks A cooker – needed to heat water so …
Hello, Friends! Did you know that a teacher is chosen every year to also go on the Iditarod Trail to be a reporter for teachers and students around the world? Just like the trail has been changed because of the pandemic, 2021 Iditarod Teacher on the Trail™, Jim Deprez, (pronounced Di pray) will have a …
Dear Friends, Gypsy here, writing about one of the obstacles that will have to be faced two times during the 2021 Iditarod race. The dreaded Dalzell Gorge is one section of the trail where sleds can easily be broken. Mushers often build their own sleds partly to be able to repair any parts that break …
Dear Friends, Gypsy here with another article about this year’s Iditarod race being run on the Iditarod Gold Trail Loop. The teams will need to cross the Alaska Range 2x. What does that mean? Leaving Rainy Pass checkpoint, the dogs enthusiastically pull up into higher elevation. If it becomes steep, mushers will hop off the …
Dear Friends, Gypsy here. In my last article, I wrote about the Iditarod Gold Trail Loop that the dog teams will run for the 2021 race. We imagined what could happen if teams met head on, and I promised you I would let you know why going over some parts of the trail twice would …
