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Sanka W. Dog
The mushers fed and bootied their dogs in the dark and departed Yentna long before there was light on the horizon. Not to warm, not to cold (-6 degrees) at Yentna Station Roadhouse on Sunday morning. The time is 03:31 and the first team leaves to cover the 75 miles course to the finish line …
The big news for the last Saturday of February is the Junior Iditarod. Fourteen teams left the starting line at Knik Lake for the 75 mile run out to Yentna Station. The trail was fast and teams reached the half way point one right behind the other. After a ten hour rest, they headed out …
The trail is a great place to be. We run, we sleep and we eat. We find comfort in routines. It feels good to go through the same process on a regular basis. You routines at home and at school that you really count on too. We have routines for most everything. There’s the routine …
Bring out the harnesses and the dogs go crazy. It’s the same with sprint dogs or distance dogs – dogs get excited about running. Some look cool, calm and collected on the outside while others go to jumping, leaping, lunging and barking. Some hide their excitement while others couldn’t, even if they tried. This team …
Nothing beats the thirst quenching satisfaction of a long drink of cool fresh water. We come in from a run and what’s the first thing that musher and handler treat us to – a bowl of water – our very own bowl of water. We take a break during a run and what do we …
Half & Half Ears, that’s what handler called this picture. This sprint team has just finished a three-mile run on the trails of the Aurora Track. Some sled dogs have ears that stand straight up. Some have ears that lay flat but this dog’s ears stand half way up and then flop over. The sled …
Handler is in Alaska volunteering for the Iditarod. Of course we’re wondering what is happening as the mushers prepare to head down the trail. Handler has promised to send us a picture to capture the day that in turn, we can share with you. Of course this is all dependent on getting connected to the …
You’re eating lunch at school with friends and pretty soon your conversation turns from your peanut butter and jelly sandwich to wondering what sled dogs eat. The answer to that very simple question can be very complicated. But for sure, we don’t eat PB&J, chips, apples or cookies. When we’re training or in competition, we …
Mushers can leave the starting chute at Willow with as many as sixteen dogs and they must finish with no fewer than 6 dogs in harness. It’s true that some mushers finish with 16 but most drop dogs at check points along the trail. What happens to the dropped dogs? How do they get home …
Were you one of the very lucky students whose teacher went to Summer Camp for Educators and Race Fans? Handler works as part of the camp staff and we’re always anxious to hear stories and see pictures of camp and activities. The twelve participants enjoyed a wonderful experience and will bring exciting new ideas using …