Dear Friends, As the race goes on, some of the mushers share their trail stories. Ryan Redington, a veteran musher, shared about some setbacks he has had. A setback is something that holds you back or slows your progress. Ryan told of being sick in the Nikolai checkpoint. That’s no fun when you have …
Dear Friends, Have you noticed what the sled dogs are wearing? Sometimes they are stylin’ in the race! Sled dogs have accessories that are practical for running across Alaska. Colorful booties on their feet keep wet snow from packing up between their toe pads. With designer harnesses or just plain, the dogs look official and …
Dear Friends, I hope you have been watching the race standings and seeing at which checkpoint mushers are taking their 24 hour rest! Some people worry that it’s hard to make the dogs run. Mushers know it’s not a problem to get Alaskan huskies to run; the difficult part is to get them to …
Dear Friends, It’s been another great day on the snowy Iditarod Trail! The race is labeled “about” 1,049 miles across Alaska. Many people ask this question about sled dogs. “Do they get to rest on this long race?” The answer is a resounding, “Yes!” Mushers are like students. Many plan out their schedules very …
Dear Friends, The mushers are on their way! Many teams will reach the checkpoint of Finger Lake Monday evening and Tuesday. Finger Lake can have up to 10 feet of snow! Do you know what that means for us dogs? If another musher wants to pass, or if the team wants to rest, it is …
Dear Girls and Boys, The 2020 Iditarod mushers are on the trail now with their dog teams! Who are they? Look at the pattern of numbers! (Thanks to Eye on the Trail reporter, Terrie Hanke, for this interesting info!) 12 rookies (never run the Iditarod before) and 45 veterans (have run at least once) 12 …
Dear Boys and Girls, Tonight something special happens in the city of Anchorage, Alaska! Today, the day before the ceremonial start of the Iditarod Sled Dog Race, the streets of the city are like any other. The snow is plowed off roads so cars can easily drive through town. But tonight… the streets of Anchorage …
Dear Boys and Girls, Over the weekend, lots of sled dogs and nine teen mushers are competing in the Jr. Iditarod. What’s different? It’s a shorter race. The mushers, age 14 – 17, race 75 miles from Knik Lake to Yentna Station. They camp OUTSIDE with their dogs overnight, at least staying the required 10 …
Dear Girls and Boys, This week, three teachers will travel to Alaska as finalists for an amazing honor called “Iditarod Teacher on the Trail™.” The Iditarod Education department allows one teacher to go on the race to report back to students and teachers all over the world about what is going on during the race! …
Dear Girls and Boys, Have you ever seen the foot of a sled dog? We have pretty big feet with four toes. When we step down, our toes spread and give us lots of balance. Our feet don’t get as cold as yours do in the snow because of something called “countercurrent circulation” where warm …
