Dear Friends,

As the race goes on, some of the mushers share their trail stories.  Ryan Redington, a veteran musher, shared about some setbacks he has had.  A setback is something that holds you back or slows your progress.  

Ryan, Raymie, and Robert Redington, grandsons and son of Joe Redington, Sr., who began the Iditarod in 1973

Ryan told of being sick in the Nikolai checkpoint.  That’s no fun when you have to be outside in the cold for 712 more miles!  Another setback was cold feet.  Something “went bad” with his boots and they weren’t doing their job of keeping his feet warm in subzero temperatures. Many mushers wear “bunny boots” which are white and rounded.  They supposedly really keep feet dry and warm, but his didn’t work!  He picked up warmer boots in another checkpoint, so now he’s good.

Two types of boots – felt lined and white bunny boots

With a smirk on his face, he also shared that he fell asleep while standing on the back of the sled.  Because he wasn’t paying attention, he hit a tree!  That really jarred him.  Mushers get very little sleep on the trail because they need to first care for all of their dogs.  Jobs when they stop include:  put out bedding straw for the dogs, heat water and add in meat or kibble, get out the dog bowls and scoop the “soup” into each bowl, arrange things in the sled, check the dogs for any soreness and THEN, if time is left, they can rest themselves.

The mushers are showing a great deal of perseverance in the race, especially when we learn of setbacks they have overcome!

Until next time, this is your canine reporter,

Gypsy