Over the years, the trail out of Shaktoolik toward Koyuk (COY-uk) has been the scene of significant mushing history.  Dating all the way back to 1925 and the Serum Run, Leonard Seppala thought he was going to meet a Serum Runner somewhere on the Yukon River then take the antitoxin and head back to Nome.  Seppala debated about the route that he and Togo should take to Shaktoolik.  The safer way would be to go to Koyuk  then cross Norton Bay to Shaktoolik but time was very important – more of Nome’s children were getting sick.  The quickest way would be to run from Golovin across the bay to Shaktoolik.  This was a big gamble because it was closer to open water and it was possible for the wind to break up the ice and Seppala, Togo, his team and the serum would be blown out to sea.  Seppala gambled and chose the short cut.  What he didn’t know was that the serum was traveling by means of a relay toward him faster than anticipated.  Henry Ivanoff, carrying the serum from Shaktoolik to Koyuk stopped Seppala just off the shore of Shaktoolik.

It was only by chance that the two teams met on the sea ice.  The serum was handed off and Seppala immediately turned to begin the run back toward Nome.  He took the risky shortcut back over the sea ice toward Golovin.  Late that night, Seppala, Togo and the other dogs needed to eat and rest so they stopped at Issac’s Point fifty miles short of Golovin.  In the morning, after feeding the dogs and resting, Seppala harnessed the team.  Before he could take off an old Eskimo came to him and said that he should run closer to shore rather than use the usual route which ran a few miles out from shore.  The Eskimo was right – the ice that Seppala and Togo had run on just a day earlier had broken up.  At Golovin, Charlie Olson took the serum from Seppala and continued the relay over land toward Nome.    Just a few hours later, the ice which Seppala and Togo had just traveled over broke up and was pushed out to sea by the fierce winds.

If you haven’t read any books about the Serum Run, you really must make that a priority.  I strongly recommend The Cruelest Miles by Salisbury or The Great Serum Race by Miller.  You’ll find out details about the fearless men and teams that carried the life saving serum to Nome the will fill you with awe.  You’ll also learn that Leonard Seppala and Toga traveled 261 miles in the Serum Run.  No other team, not even Balto’s, came close to covering that distance.

Another great piece of history that took place on Norton Bay was in 1985 when Libby Riddles was the first woman to win the Iditarod.  Libby was leading the race when she arrived in Shaktoolik where a fierce storm was pounding the little village on the spit.  She had worked very hard to gain the lead  but she knew how dangerous these coastal storms could be.  Should she wait it out or leave?  The other teams that pulled into Shak were thankful to be out of the storm and couldn’t believe that Libby was preparing to head to Koyuk.  Out on the trail, Libby couldn’t see from one marker to the next so she’d pass a marked and watch it until it nearly disappeared then she’d stop the team, set the snow hook and walk to the next marker then return and bring the team forward.  In the bitter cold and howling wind, Libby did this time and time again so as to not lose the trail or the lead.  Libby says that visibility out on Norton Bay was like trying to make your way through a room filled with baby powder.  As night came, Libby knew she and the dogs needed to eat and rest.  She parked the team beside a very tall marker.  While the dogs burled into the snow and curled into weather proof balls, Libby cleared out the sled bag so she could sleep inside.  The next morning the zipper on the sled bag was frozen shut but Libby found her way out.  The storm remained fierce but the team moved on – marker to marker.  Finally Libby made it to Koyuk.  Libby was so glad to be off Norton Bay, she kissed the snow bank and hugged all her courageous dogs.  They made it to Koyuk because the dogs trusted Libby and Libby trusted her dogs.  You can read about Libby’s Iditarod victory in her book, Storm Run.

Well, there you have it – two great historical happenings from Norton Bay.  Every Iditarod musher has great stories to share but Libby’s storm run victory has to be one of the best.   I really like history and love to hear about the hardships of the Serum Run.  Mushers and dogs back then were really strong and tough!

Born to Run,
Sanka