Zuma’s K9 Journalists

Engaging lessons based on Insider video clips.


Our four-legged correspondents write for all ages..


Collection of all things Iditarod.

  • It’s Almost Here!

    It’s Almost Here!   Hi. It’s me, Leaping Libby. Everyone at our kennel is so excited!  Only a week left to go! All the doggie-feelings have been on a roller coaster here at the kennel.  All winter, the racing dogs have been sharing stories about Iditarod 2019. It was the time of their lives, and ...

    


 

Latest Zuma’s K9 Journalists Posts

Virtual Trail Journey – Eagle Island (Southern Route)

When teams reach Eagle Island, they have covered about half of the miles they will be traveling on the Yukon River.  In his Trail Notes, Don Bowers, Jr. calls this section of trail that runs upstream and into the wind on the Yukon long and boring.  He says, “There is nothing but wide-open river and …

Virtual Trail Journey – Grayling (Southern Route)

Upon reaching Grayling, mushers and dogs have just covered 18 miles of the 148 mile leg of the Iditarod trail that runs up the frozen Yukon River.  The village to village snowmachine trail is easy to follow but that doesn’t mean it’s an easy run.  The Yukon River is famous for its blustery conditions.  The …

Virtual Trail Journey – Anvik (Southern Route)

Leaving Shageluk and mushing on toward Anvik, the teams will have fewer miles to go than they have covered.  Anvik (AN-vik) is the first checkpoint of the southern route on the famous Yukon River.  No one would be so bold as to say that it’s downhill to Nome from Shageluk because the Yukon River and …

Virtual Trail Journey – Shageluk (Southern Route)

Shageluk is almost 160 miles from Takotna, the last village populated with humans.  Since departing Takotna, the teams have traveled through the ghost towns of Ophir and Iditarod.  Handler didn’t actually visit Shageluk as the 2006 Teacher on the Trail because ’06 was an even year so the teams followed the northern route. It was …

Virtual Trail Journey – Iditarod (Southern Route)

BOO again!  Sending a ghostly greeting from ghost town and checkpoint, Iditarod.  Have you ever wondered where the word or name Iditarod came from?  I’ve heard 3 explanations so I’ll share them with you.  First, Iditarod was a word used by Athabascans that meant FAR DISTANT PLACE.  Second, Iditarod was a word used in another …

Virtual Trail Journey – Nulato (Northern Route)

The village of Nulato (nu-LAU-toe) is situated on the mighty Yukon 52 miles down river from Galena.  Well before the town was incorporated in 1963, Athabascans from the interior and Eskimos from the coast met at Nulato for trading.  After the Russian explorer Malakov arrived in the 1830, an actual trading post was built.  The …

Virtual Trail Journey – Galena (Northern Route)

Leaving Ruby, Mushers travel 50 miles down the frozen Yukon River to the village of Galena.  The first town site of Galena was established in 1918 near a native fish camp called Henry’s Point.  It was one of many fish camps located on the Yukon River. Athabascans in the area were nomadic.  The location of …

Virtual Trail Journey – Ruby (Northern Route)

The village of Ruby is the first checkpoint of the northern route that’s situated on the mighty Yukon River.  The Lakefront Hotel, race headquarters in Anchorage, honors the first musher arriving with a delicious seven-course meal prepared by the Lakefront’s Executive Chef.  In the corner of the rustic checkpoint upon a little stage, the musher …

50 Years of Adventure Learning

Hello friends, Teachers – yes, I’m talking to you – have you ever dreamed about coming to Alaska to experience the Iditarod first hand? You can make this a reality by attending the 2022 Winter Educators Conference. Jane Holmes, our human Education Chairperson, has set up a great 2022 Conference schedule. Not only will there …

A Statue to Remember…50 Years of Iditarod

Greetings Fellow Educators! The month of November signifies thankfulness, and this year is no exception.  It is truly a year to celebrate all that we are thankful and grateful for in our lives, families, communities, and the world. I, Sled Dog Ed, decided to get out of the kennel with my friend, Topaz, and took …