Tails from the Trail- IDITAROD!

D is for Determination

According to Sanka W. Dog, determination is “A strong will or desire to complete or accomplish a task.” Determination can be seen in so many parts of the Iditarod.  The dogs, for example, are determined to run.  You can see the passion and excitement in their eyes as soon as they are put into the harness.  They are determined to go!

Another example of determination dates back to 2005 with rookie musher Rachel Scdoris.  Rachel was born with congenital Achromatopsia, a rare vision disorder. She is colorblind, light-sensitive and her acuity is 20/200. But this did not stop her from fulfilling her dreams of competing in the Iditarod.  Through hard work and determination, Rachel competed in four Iditarods, finishing two. 

D is for Dump Trucks

The Ceremonial Start on the Iditarod will be held Saturday March 7th in Anchorage.  This makes for a very busy Friday night!  The dumps trucks arrive, the start is hung, and the heavy machinery is waiting to groom a smooth path for the teams.  Being in Alaska and having 3-4 feet of snow, you wouldn’t think snow would need to be trucked in.  However, this is clean snow that has been saved and piled for the Iditarod.

Starting at 8 pm about 200 loads will be dropped along 4th Ave downtown.  This process will continue until well after midnight.  By morning the stage will be set and the 48th Iditarod Race will be set to start! 

Tribute to Perseverance:

In 1978, Shelley Gill was the 5th woman to enter and mush in the Iditarod.  During this time it was rumored that no one thought a woman could make it to Nome.  She decided to enter Iditarod, along with two other women, a rookie named Susan Butcher and Varona Thompson, who had completed the Iditarod in 1977. Listening to Shelley talk today she recalls her and Susan Butcher being told by a male musher, “If you beat me I will walk home,”  In Nome, Susan threw a pair of shoes at him. 

Reflecting on her time on the trail Shelley stated, “It opened up so many new perspectives.  I know now I can walk 1,000 miles!”  To find more stories from the trail, check out the Iditarod history book, Iditarod, The first 10 years.  Shelley’s adventures and more from the first mushers to blaze the trail are recorded in this fantastic book.

This musher/author finished the Iditarod in 1983 and participated in five Iditarods total, who am I? Stay tuned…

Teachers:

I had the pleasure of listening to author Shelley Gill this morning.  She is not only a great author but also is a biologist and has mushed in the Iditarod! If you are looking to add more literature to your Iditarod/Alaska unit check out a few of these titles: