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Zuma's Paw Prints
Hello friends, There is a lot happening here at Iditarod Headquarters with mushers and dogs coming and going as they prepare for the Iditarod. But something equally exciting is happening at Iditarod Education – the Iditaread! This is a race you can do with your class, reading across the Iditarod Trail. Your teacher can sign …
This February will mark the 44th running of the Jr. Iditarod. The Junior, just like the Iditarod, began as a dream. It was Joe Redington who dreamed of a long distance race across Alaska to commemorate the place of the sled dog in the history of Alaska and bring recognition to the Historic Iditarod Trail. …
Hello Friends, A friend from Wisconsin just asked if sled dogs liked the cold weather. The answer is YES, the weather is pawsome! We have adaptations to help us survive cold weather such as two layers of fur (guard hair and underfur), a special kind of fat in our toe pads so our feet don’t …
Dear Friends, Gypsy here, writing about one of the obstacles that will have to be faced two times during the 2021 Iditarod race. The dreaded Dalzell Gorge is one section of the trail where sleds can easily be broken. Mushers often build their own sleds partly to be able to repair any parts that break …
Hello friends, Last week I used my paws to write about how the race has evolved since the first Iditarod in 1973. These changes include the rules that are updated on a yearly basis. The race rules are used to keep the race fair, keep the mushers safe, and especially to keep my canine friends …
Dear Friends, Gypsy here with another article about this year’s Iditarod race being run on the Iditarod Gold Trail Loop. The teams will need to cross the Alaska Range 2x. What does that mean? Leaving Rainy Pass checkpoint, the dogs enthusiastically pull up into higher elevation. If it becomes steep, mushers will hop off the …
Hello Friends, A student recently asked how this crazy race got started. In 1948 Joe Redington, Sr. moved his family from the lower 48 to the great state of Alaska. He fell in love with the land and the culture, including the running of sled dogs. He had a keen sense of adventure as he …
Dear Friends, Gypsy here. In my last article, I wrote about the Iditarod Gold Trail Loop that the dog teams will run for the 2021 race. We imagined what could happen if teams met head on, and I promised you I would let you know why going over some parts of the trail twice would …
Dear Friends, Gypsy here, one of your canine Iditarod reporters. Have you heard the big news? The Iditarod race has to be rerouted into a loop in March 2021! Why? Race officials are being careful and avoiding any possible spread of CoVid to towns along the Iditarod Trail. It’s just one more change because of …
Hello friends, I think we can all agree that 2020 was kind of RUFF. Looking forward to 2021 and the 49th running of the Iditarod (in the 49th state) is exciting for all of us here at Iditarod Headquarters. However, it won’t be a “normal” race. From a dog’s perspective, this year’s route is the …