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Gypsy
Dear Friends, Winter is here and we sled dogs are loving our training runs with the mushers! Many of you know that we wear cloth booties on our feet when we run the Iditarod. These fit over our four paws and a Velcro strip keeps each snug on our ankles. The reason we wear …
Dear Friends, We just completed the 49th Iditarod Race! It began in 1973, planned out by Joe Redington who wanted to preserve the historic Iditarod Trail and revive the Alaskan sled dog tradition, which was rapidly disappearing. What was the Iditarod like back then? When the mushers lined up to take off on their …
Dear Friends, The final two mushers arrived at the finish line early this morning! Victoria Hardwick won the red lantern award. It is awarded to the team coming in last place. Why does the last place competitor get a prize? The Iditarod is nicknamed The Last Great Race. It’s a very tough race with extreme …
Dear Friends, If you are watching the mushers’ GPS trackers, you will sometimes see their names on an orange bar which means they are resting. What is really happening during a rest? First of all, we dogs get to rest much more than our humans during the Iditarod. Mushers have to deal with sleep deprivation, …
Dear Friends, Have you been reading the articles on the race? Did you see that Dallas Seavey checked the thermometer on this sled and it said -52? Wow! That is COLD! How do the mushers stay warm? Examine these photos of mushers on the Iditarod Trail and see if you can infer how they survive …
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, …
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 …