Photo Scrapbook

Zoom Lens: Boots & Bellies

Team Baker, both John Baker and Katherine Keith bootie in a similar and very unique manner. The dog lays on its back and extends all four feet into the air. The musher slips the booties on and secures the elastic velcro all while looking at the belly and chest for harness rub. Kill two birds …

Zoom Lens: Stretching

Monica Zappa stretched each and every dog and then spent time massaging all her athletes while on the required 24-hour rest in McGrath. She’s big on going the extra mile in dog care and the dogs love the special attention.   Born to Run, Sanka

Zoom Lens: Frankie

Mike Ellis was preparing to leave McGrath this afternoon. Ellis has Siberians, the pretty dogs. this dog’s name is Franky. Ellis considers Frankie to be the most beautiful creature on earth. Do you agree? Born to Run, Sanka

Zoom Lens: Zappa Leaders

Look at this handsome pair of athletes at the front of Monica Zappa’s team. She’s been raising a competitive team since moving to Kasilof in 2010. Growing up in Cumberland, Wisconsin Monica has been around sled dogs most of her life. Both parents have run the long distance John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon from Duluth, …

Zoom Lens: Wheel Dogs

The ceremonial start offers great opportunities to photograph mushers and dogs. Sometimes the dogs are doing goofy things. Take for example this pair of Alaska Huskies. They provide a new definition for “wheel dog” as they sit patiently awaiting their turn under the start banner. In the mushing world, wheel dogs are the canines hitched …

Zoom Lens: Catching Up

How crazy is it that you can be right in the middle of all the Iditarod action but not know what’s happening along the trail? I’ve worked as a communications specialist at Skwentna Checkpoint for eight years and the same has been true for all eight years. The race runs through the checkpoint sitting below …

Zooms Lens: Thanking Brent Sass

Thank you Brent Sass! Sounds strange to say thanks to a guy who wisely withdrew from the Iditarod after sustaining a head injury during the Yukon Quest. Sass and Allen Moore were on track for an exciting finish. Prior to the finial checkpoint of the 1,000-mile Yukon Quest, Sass and Moore were playing leapfrog on …

Zoom Lens: Order From a Boot

Fans gather to soak up the energy and enthusiasm of the Last Great Race that is abundant at the much-celebrated Thursday night banquet.  After dinner the mushers were called to the stage to draw their starting position from a boot. It wasn’t just any boot; it was a traditional mukluk made of seal skin. One …

Zoom Lens: 4-Runner Sled

Musher and musher mentor Vern Halter is into making a better sled, a 4-runner sled. Toyota makes a 4Runner SUV but I’m sure it wasn’t Vern’s inspiration. Halter who operates Dream-a-Dream Dog Farm and Training Center is always considering ways to make sleds faster, steer better and more agile. Thus He designed and built a …

Zoom Lens – Pretty Faces, Happy Hearts!

Siberians may not have the speed necessary to win the Iditarod but they have the character to win your heart.  These handsome Siberian Huskies reside with Jon and Jona Van Zyle at their kennel and art studio.