After spending a couple nights in the Alaska wilderness, Nigel, a sled dog from Nancy Yoshida’s team was reunited with Nancy. After a series of bad luck incidents and crashes on the Happy River Steps, and finally reaching Rainy Pass on a broken sled without Nigel, Nancy scratched from the race. A search for Nigel continued for the days that followed. On Friday morning, Nigel’s tracks were spotted by a pilot and there were soon visual sightings of Nigel. Nancy then was flown out to the area near Talvista Lodge near Skwentna, Alaska. When the plane that Nancy was flying in landed, Nigel was safe in ‘protective custody’ with good folks who live in the area and waiting for Nancy. Nigel was in the best of health, energetic, and eager to greet Nancy with doggies kisses.
Nigel told me in a private interview that he’d gotten a bit spooked during the crashes and when he couldn’t find Nancy and the rest of his team mates, he set out in search of them. He was glad to meet up with Nancy but he was very surprised to find her getting out of a plan instead of being with the broken dog sled. He’d asked the people and the animals he met during his time away from the team to keep a look out for his wonderful human and his running mates. Nigel said that although he felt bad about not being with his team, he’d had an incredible adventure while on his own. He is thinking of talking to Nancy about writing a book to tell their story. “Nigel’s Choice sounds like a good title,” he said.
Boys and Girls, use your imagination and write about Nigel’s adventure. Leave comments to share what you think Nigel saw while having his own Iditarod adventure. What did Nigel think about? What animals did he meet up with? What did he dream about while he rested? Write short stories, create poems, and draw pictures. You can send me your work samples by leaving blog comments or by having your teacher email them to me in an attachment. What fun it will be to show your ideas to Nigel! We’ll share some of the ideas on the website, too.
Lots of Tail Wags,
Zuma
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14 Comments
yay im so happy for the doggy friend! i wish i was a dog so i might pretend. im kendra by the way. the doggy,Nigel, looks so cute!!!
i luv dogs sooooo much!
-kendra (half cat and half dog)
Nigel is so cute Iwish Icould have a husiky but first I have to behave. this year and the rest of my life But I hope I get the Huskiy this christmas form santa or my mom and dad.
I love dogs and also, keep up the great work on reporting. love amanda and please write me back!
Good luck on getting a dog but remember they are a lot of work to take care of. Are you ready for the challenge?
Zuma,
On Sunday our teacher checked the standing and noticed that several mushers had scratched and one had withdrawn. What is the difference between withdrawing and scratching?
Keep up the great work helping us follow the race better!
Mrs. Walsh and Mr. Colombo’s Second Grade Class
The Buddies and Amigos
Hi, Good question. When a musher scratches, he or she makes the decision themselves to scratch. When a musher is withdrawn, the decision is made for the musher by a panel of 3 race judges. One reason for withdrawing a team is that the team is no longer being competitive. It does not in any way mean that the musher has done anything wrong. I hope that helps. Gypsy
I’m so glad Nigel was found! I have great admiration for each of the dogs and each of the mushers in the iditarod. They’re all so strong, courageous, and inspiring. The bond among the sled dogs and musher must be huge.
I live in Oregon. Earlier this year high winds blew fencing down and one of my dogs was lost for almost 14 hours. I searched for that old dog (who has major health issues) every minute of that time, with the help of friends and neighbors. I was so grateful to find her safe and well, curled in a ball at the bottom of a canyon. She couldn’t come back up the steep canyon because of her bad heart, but she was smart to curl up for warm and stay put. She was shivering from being cold, but otherwise ok. Her tail wagged, and we all smiled. Reunions like that are so special. I was so happy to find her before dark, because she is a 15, thin, ill Jack Russell Terrier and it got very cold that night. I heard one of my neighbor’s say “She’s not going to stop until she finds her dog.” She was right.
Nigel and his family are all so strong and healthy, and Nigel knew how to take care of himself in the wilderness. I’m glad that so many people were looking for him and that they were able to see a white dog in all that snow. Happy applause for Nigel;s reunion with his family. Everyone involved with the iditarod is inspiring!
Joan
Thanks, Joan! Lots of Tail Wags, Zuma
Zuma,
I am so happy to see you!How many raceshave you won? How long do you get brakes?
Hi Zuma how are you doing today. I am doing garet today. What is it like to be in the Iditarod race.
Hello, Zuma! How long did you go to school? What kind of stuff did you learn?
Hello. You can read all about me by clicking the Meet Zuma link on the left side of the page. Lots of Tail Wags, Zuma
i am from ms rupar’s class and i wanted to ask you have you and zuma ever raced in the iditarod and how long have u been in it . also have you ever won the REDLANTERN when you raced
love,zahrea and lamia and the class of the riveara recorce center and miss rupars class!
We have never raced in the Iditarod. Gypsy
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Zuma: I am writing a great Nigel story. I’ll be sharing it very soon.
I can’t wait to read your story. Please send it! Lots of Tail Wags, Zuma
Zuma: I am working on a cool Nigel story and it
is almost finished. I hope you like all of the
story’s our class made for you. We are doing are absolute best work so you will display them
so everyone can read them. Your friend, Conner.
You should send me a copy of the story. I would like to read it. Lots of Tail Wags, Zuma
I am so glad that nigel was found. I bet nancy is happy that nigel was found. why didn’t nancy get back in the race. or couldn’t she. please write back
Nancy had to scratch from the race because she got to the checkpoint without Nigel. Nigel was missing so she could not go on without him. Lots of Tail Wags, Zuma
WELL MY NAME IS JACk. [FOR STARTERS]
I AM 9 YEARS O0LD
MY FRIEND OLIVIA, [NOT REALLY] IS SITTING ON MY RIGHT OF ME AND IM IN SCHOOL RIGHT NOW, AND IM BOARD! BACK TO SUBJECT,WE WERE WATCHING IDITAROD RUNNERS…AND ITS COOL! MY GUY WAS RAMEY SMYTH…AND GEUSSE WHAT HE CAME
IN 9TH!
Dear Nancy,
I read about Nigel. I’m glad he’s ok. Did you find Nigel or did someone else find him.
Some people who live out along the trail found him. They kept him with them until Nancy got there. Lots of Tail Wags, Zuma.
Lost on the Trail
I got scared when my girl crashed. I got loose and then I was in the forest. I asked the animals if they could keep an eye out and look for my girl. First I asked a polar bear, and then I asked an arctic fox. Then I saw a ptarmigan, and I asked her, “Have you seen my girl?” I burrowed under the snow to keep warm and sleep. I ate a bird and a hare because I could not find any more food. And then a plane came with my girl in it. I was surprised because I thought she was going to come with a broken sled, but she came with a plane. I was really glad to see her. I ran up to her and I licked her to show her how glad I was to see her. Then the plane with my girl and me went off to the sled and the rest of my team in Rainy Pass.
By Nigel
March 21
Teagan , First grade, Comanche Elementary, Comanche, Oklahoma
Hi Teagan, Look for your story in a special posting called Nigel Stories. Thanks for sending your story. It is very good. Gypsy