News and Information
What does the first weekend in February have in common with the first weekend in March? Fans of long distance mushing don’t have to think twice to answer. It’s the start of the longest sled dog races on the North American Continent, the Yukon Quest and the Iditarod. On February 4th, twenty-eight days prior to …
Educators from around the Lower 48 gathered in the windy city of Chicago for an Iditarod Education Conference. States near and far were represented – Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, New Jersey and Massachusetts. The common goal for all educators in attendance was enhancing knowledge and resources for using the Iditarod to provide students with real …
What’s the rule for mushers sending sleds out to checkpoints on the trail? The past few years have proven that sleds can and do break. Coming through the Buffalo Tunnels or over the snow starved Farwell Burn can tax event the sturdiest of sleds. Also, different portions of the trail lend themselves better to faster …
Duluth, Minnesota was the site of a conference in early November where educators gathered to learn more about the education programs and resources of Iditarod and the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon. Educators far and wide know that sled dog based real life applications captivate and motivate students. This is the first time the two …
The heat of the day is a time when mushers often choose to rest. Late morning and the first few hours of the afternoon are when the temperatures peak and the sun, if out, is at it’s warmest. Resting the dogs during a time when mushers might personally prefer to run is a deliberately planned …
Two Face, a dog belonging to Matt Failor, seems to be asking Kim Henneman, DVM, DACVSMR from Utah, “Are those your real ears?” Or maybe, the dog is inquiring about the shamrocks as the photo was taken on St. Patrick’s Day in Unalakleet. Each year there are approximately 45 veterinarians who come to the Iditarod trail to …
Teachers and Iditarod enthusiast from three southern states (North Carolina, Virginia and Georgia) gathered in Asheville, North Carolina to feed their passion for Iditarod. Former Iditarod Teachers on the Trail™, Martha Dobson (2011), Cathy Walters (2009) and Terrie Hanke (2006) presented sessions that provided the attendees with a sled full of material to enrich classroom …
Mushers had been arriving at McGrath through out the day on Wednesday, the fifth of March. Most of the teams arriving on this day were choosing to take their 24-hour rest in McGrath. Those leading the race (Aliy Zirkle, Nic Petit, Aaron Burmeister, Jeff King, Sonny Lindner and Robert Sorlie) had gone through the day …
It’s a pleasure to visit Nature’s Kennel to see the tour dogs, the race team dogs and the PUPPIES. The Sunday morning open house is the final activity of the Midwest Musher Symposium and Iditarod Teacher’s Conference. Ed and Tasha Stielstra along with their staff run a first class sled dog kennel. Ask any of …
“Our first sled was made of a pair of skis and a milk crate that clipped neatly into the bindings. Then we borrowed a handle from one of my Dad’s carts. We had two dogs, a Border Collie and a Great Pyrenees that we harnessed up for our team.” That’s the story Kristi and Anna …
