Hello Boys and Girls,
We know that you’ve got lots of questions. Sanka, Gypsy, Libby, and I will pick up your questions, answer them in this comment section or choose some of the questions to write full articles about and place them in the blog for everyone to read. This will help everyone learn from your questions.
To submit a question to us, leave a question in the comment section of this article or after reading a different article by one of us, leave a comment or question after that article. Check back later to see the answer to your question. Sometimes we’ll make a comment to your comment, too.
Get thinking! What do you want to know? Ask!
Lots of Tail Wags,
Zuma
40 Comments
My name is Gregory, and I am a 5th Grade student in Massachusetts. I am writing to you under my mother’s guidance and email address.
I am doing a project on the Iditarod Dog Race, for my Sage Class. In particular, I am researching the survival techniques of both the mushers and the dogs during the race. I was wondering if you could tell me a little about the Iditarod, or if you had any information that you could send to me. I was also wondering if you could tell me a little bit about how people and dogs live during the race and how they survive. Thank you very much for your time and assistance. I hope to follow this year’s race with great enthusiasm. JJJ
From a big fan of the Iditarod
Gregory
Hello Gregory.
I think a good place to learn about survival is to read some of the articles by the K-9 reporters. You can learn about gear and what the trail conditions are like.
One thing to keep in mind, when a musher enters the race, even if the musher is a rookie, the musher has been in a lot of races already, so they’ve learned a lot about how to dress and stay safe along the trail.
Take a look at some of the articles and if you have more questions, let us know!
Lots of Tail Wags,
Zuma
Hi Zuma,
My name is Taylor . You are a very cute doggie! I am im gymnastics. I have 4 dogs, 2 at my moms and 2 at my dads. I also have a cat named Jack. And the cat is at my dads too. The 2 dogs at my moms are labs. One is a chocolate lab and his name in Koda. But we call him sassy pants, Koda bear, ane counter surffer. The other one is a yellow lab and his name is Gunner. We also call him piggy, piggy ears, bananas, and cheerios. We are learnnig about the Iditarod in school. I was wonering if you ever saw the movie snow buddies it is also about dog sleding. Ane did you ever know that there is a game called Zuma. And i am from Oak Creek Wisconsin were you come from. So do you like car rides? Well i am going to take a nap and finis my homework. By for now. Good night, Dont let the bed fleas and frostbite bite! HAHA!!!!!
Love, Taylor
Hello Taylor,
Thanks for your email. I enjoy hearing from boys and girls. It is fun to hear about the pets everyone has, too. You certainly have a lot of pets. I have seen that move. It is awesome. I do like riding in the car but I’d rather ride in a sled! I do know there is a game called Zuma. I’m glad you are paying attention to your home work. Thanks for the email.
Lots of Tail Wags,
Zuma
My name is Meghan (10) from Connecticut and my class is doing a report on the Iditarod.Can you point me in the right direction on a question I have.Why is the Iditarod called the LAST GREAT RACE ON EARTH.For some reason I can not find it or I am not looking for it in the right place.
Thank You for your time
Meghan
Dear Meghan
Thanks for your email, Meghan. That is a great question. The answer is very simple, Iditarod is called "The Last Great Race on Earth" because a reporter thought it was a good phrase to use to tell about the race. Libby wrote an article all about it. Read the article by looking at the menu item on the left side of this page that says, Posts by Author, and clicking Libby Littles. Scroll Libby's articles and you'll find it! OR click this link
I am just checking to see if I can post for my class.
Hello Matthew!
I’m glad you can post your comments!
Lots of Tail Wags,
Zuma
Just checking to see if our 4th grade classes can post. I sent one yesterday and don’t see it, but I am just getting used to the blog. Thanks!
Sam Foley
teacher librarian
Buckley ES
Lansing, NY
Hi Sam, You should be able to post. Can’t wait to read the posts from the 4th graders- Gypsy
Hi, Over the past couple of years I’ve noticed that Gary Paulsen has entered the race, but withdrawn before it started. I wonder if one of you fine reporters could get a ’scoop’ on what’s been happening? He’s one of my favorite authors, and mushers, and I’d love to follow him in the race again. Thanks for your help!
I am wondering if there is a communication system for the mushers to use while they are one the trail? Do they communicate with the helpers on the trail, their families, or the other mushers?
The mushers talk to each other, they talk to the race officials, vets, and volunteers along the way. They communicate by regular talking- no phones, no walkie talkies etc. Thanks for writing.
Hi! I have been following the race for several years and have read many books about the race. I noticed this year the mushers will only be starting with 12 dogs. In the past wasn’t it 16 and hasn’t it been 20 long time ago? I was just wondering if I am correct, and why the change in the maximum number of dogs allowed? Is it because the sleds got faster, or they found it is safer with less dogs. Thanks for your help.
They run with 12 dogs on Saturday during the ceremonial start. This is for safety reasons. On Sunday for the restart, most of the teams will have 16 dogs with them. Thanks for writing.
Dear Zuma,
I have a qushtion for you.What happens when you sick and you really really cant run anymore? Pleas repli.
love,
Gabrielle.
Hey Zuma,
I was wondering what it is like for a dog running the Iditarod. Since your a dog I thought you could answer me.I was also wondering where I could track the mushers running the iditarod.
From,
Amanda
Hi Libby
I would like to know everything about the checkpoints, Can you Help ME?
Hi Gypsy here, you can go to: http://www.iditarod.com/race/route.html to get the route and checkpoint information. Gypsy
How do the musher’s obtain their bib numbers?
My 7th graders would like to know who this year’s honorary musher is. We have no been able to find that information anywhere!
Thanks for your help & keep up the great work, Zuma & crew!
Hi Zuma,
How are current racers’ placements determined? Is it by total race time?
Thank you,
Amanda
Dear Zuma that piture with the all the dogs in the doghouse look like you got a husky farm.
from,
Sarah Fons
Dear Zuma,
Have you ever been in a race before? If you have did you like it?
what happens when the team gets lost?
What are the dogs booties made of.
The most common material is called Cordura 330. Other weight cordura’s and fleece are also used. Look for a post this weekend about booties. Gypsy
Are the dog booties custom made.
The dog booties made for the race are usually bought or made by someone the musher knows. I will be doing a post about booties this weekend. Be sure to look for it. Gypsy
How do they clean up after the dogs while on the trail? Do the mushers stop for bathroom breaks?
Gypsy, how did Iditarod become a ghost town
You can read all about the town of Iditarod from it’s early years as a bustling gold mining town, to the ghost town it is today by going to:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iditarod,_Alaska
Hope that helps.
Gypsy
What picture? I’d like to check it out
Libby, how many bags does a musher pick up at a checkpoint?
Hello!
My name is Zachary. My class is studying the iditarod. What is the most besy cheack point?
Thanks!
Zachary(but you can call me Zach:))
Hello Zachary! Yentna and Skwentna are busy checkpoints because so many mushers get there at the same time. BUT every checkpoint is a busy checkpoint no matter how many teams are there because there are so many exciting things going on!
You go to 2009 Iditarod and click on LAUNCH GPS TRACKER
Do you know what is the purpose of the Iditirod race?
Well, Olivia, I’m not sure what you are asking. The purpose of a race is to win— or to finish as fast as you can. But every musher has different goals about their own race. For some mushers, it is to finish in a certain number of days. For some mushers, it is to finish with a certain number of healthy dogs. If you are asking the purpose of the Iditarod, I’d have to say that the race is a way to celebrate dog mushing. You can read about the history of the race at the Learn About tab at http://www.iditarod.com. Lots of Tail Wags, Zuma
How many miles is the Iditarod race? Also how many miles is Iditarod to nome? How many dogs does a musher start with at the begining of the race?
Hi Go to: http://www.iditarod.com/race/route.html to get mileage information. Most mushers begin with 16 dogs at the beginning of the race. Thanks for writing. Gypsy
hiZuma,
Im big fan!I think you are so cute.
I have a stuffedanimal of you in my clssroom
.What is your human`s name?Do you have frien
ds?Do you have a boyfriend?
You can read all about me by going to: http://iditarodblogs.com/zuma/meet-the-reporters/learn-about-zuma/
How and where do the officials even up the times of the mushers because of the staggered starts? Is it possible that a musher could come in 3rd, but have a better time than the 1st musher in? What happens in that case?
This is a great question. The times are evened up when a musher takes their 24 hour layover. Every musher is given a time at their 24 which is 24 hours plus the start differential. Once everyone has taken their 24 hour layover, the places and times are correct, so a 3rd place musher won’t have a better time than the 2nd or 1st place musher. I hope that makes sense. Gypsy
I have a 2nd grade class with a couple of quesitons.
Why does everyone have to take an eight-hour layover in White Mountain?
Why is it cazlled the Iditarod and not the Nome?
Hi Zuma,
I am reading Libby Riddles chapter book and one of the chapters she tells about the time she got separated from her team and another musher picked her up and took her to her team. She said he might get the good sportsmanship award. I am wondering who decides who gets the award and do all the mushers vote for someone? Molly in Maine
Hi Zuma!
My class has been following the Iditarod for the whole race.It is exciting following all of the teams, but we think the weather is really scary!
We would like to know about the trail markers. How do you “read” them?
They look like they are all orange and white. How can the people and dogs find them in all that snow? How many of the markers are put out by the trail blazers in a race? And, who gets to pick them all up at the end of the race?
Keep warm.
Mrs. F.
Zuma I wanted to know if anyone has died in the Iditarod?
Hello. No. We have never had a musher die during the race. Lots of Tail Wags, Zuma
Gypsy how tall are you?
Do the dogs like mice and the movie Stuart Little? Also do your dogs like Will Smith? Whats your favorite cartoon? Do you like to roll in the snow? Do you have a boy friend? what is your favorite sport other than dog sled racing? Do you like Youtube or Jibjab?
HOW MUch do you like youtube? do you like to swim are you an only child
do you like to slide in the snow? How old are you? do you like watching dogs practice for the ididorod ? Do you like to swim ? DID you like to race in the ididorod? zuma who is your favorite musher? zuma do you have any brothers or sisters?How fast can you run? Do you like play with
How do you like Lance Mackey’s truck?
what is your favorite food?
I like salmon. Lots of Tail Wags, Zuma