Zuma’s Paw Prints

K-9 Reporter: Sanka

King Stories by Sanka W. Dog

Posted in: Messages to Teachers Date: March 6, 2010

Salem & Jeff King 2006 Champions

Jeff King spoke at the Iditarod Winter Teacher’s Conference on Friday. He’s the winningest musher of all times and has four Iditarod victories to his credit. He shared stories about his rookie trip from Anchorage to Nome in 1981. It took him 15 days to cover the route and he finished in 28 place. He didn’t run Iditarod again until 1991 when he finished in 13 days, taking 12th place. Jeff has made the trip from Anchorage to Nome 20 times, has won 4 and placed in the top ten all but 4 times. What a record that is! It was a surprise to everyone in the room when he announced that this Iditarod would more than likely be his last. He plans to run other races but wants to retire from the Iditarod at the top of his game rather than run his final race knowing that he had run one to many.

Salem in lead for the 2010 Ceremonial Start

Jeff has a very famous lead dog named Salem. Had it not been for Salem, Jeff’s 4th victory in 2006 might not have been. One of his wheel dogs came loose from the gangline and was running out in front of the team. King stopped the team and stomped the snow hook into the trial. He took treats and walked out toward the lose dog. This dog had a playful streak and as soon as King would get close, he’d run off a few yards. All the time, King is saying, “Come boy, come, here boy, come on…” Well the team thought Jeff was calling them so leaning into their tugs, they pulled the hook and trotted toward Jeff who had just caught the loose dog. When they reached King who was holding the captured wheel dog, they trotted right on by expecting him to jump on the runners. With the dog in his arms, Jeff stood helplessly as the team continued down the trail and disappeared over the crest of a hill. Jeff was calling, “SALEM STOP! SALEM WHOA!” Carrying the captured dog, King made his way to the crest of the hill to find his team waiting on the other side. Now there’s a lead dog that listens to and follows commands. If Salem hadn’t stopped the team, Jeff would have had a long walk to the next checkpoint and quite likely would not have won the race. Salem hasn’t run Iditarod since 2006 but has been training puppies. Jeff ran Salem in lead for today’s ceremonial start.

Jeff King steers the sled with a gee-pole

King used a gee-pole set up to guide his team 11 miles from 4th & D in downtown Anchorage to the Campbell Airstrip. There’s a long sturdy pole lashed to the side of the sled which the musher uses for steering and support. Two sturdy skis are attached to the gangling behind the wheel dogs. The musher is pulled along by the team while standing in bindings on the skies behind the wheel dogs but in front of the sled. One of Jeff’s daughter’s was riding the runners of the sled. It’s a most unusual set up that originated from the gold rush when dogs were scarce and miners had to propel their loaded sleds themselves. Jeff used this old method of steering the sled in the 2009 ceremonial start also.

Well there you have it, the latest scoop on Jeff King and his Iditarod Career. Will Jeff earn another Iditarod victory and join Rick Swenson as the winningest Iditarod mushers. Only time will tell.

Born to Run,
Sanka

Comments: 21

Bully Bosca by Sanka W. Dog

Posted in: Messages to Teachers Date: March 4, 2010

Bosca - once a bully, now a friend

Now days, there is much concern about bullying in schools, on the play ground, in Physical Education class and even in the dog yard. All age groups can be the target of a bully – puppies, yearlings, two-year-olds, adults and seniors. I want to share a story about bullying in the Just Guts Dog Yard.

When I was a little puppy, just off the plane from Alaska to Wisconsin, most of the dogs were wondering who this tiny little dog was who now lived in the puppy pen and was getting so much love and attention from the humans. I sized up the other dogs that were close to the puppy pen. There was Blackjack – BIG, Black and seemed pretty nice. There was Bootleg – BIG, Black and seemed friendly. There was Bosca – BIG, Wolf-like and barked even when I looked at him. On my first venture out of the puppy pen under the watchful eye of Handler, I trotted on over to Blackjack who flopped over on the ground and let me bite his ears and his tail. Ditto with Bootleg. Those guys were so friendly – I like them right away. I loped over toward Bosca where I was greeted by vicious growling, lunging and barking. I hightailed it out of there! Gee, what did I ever do to him? Then I heard Handler scold Bosca for bullying. What?

Buddy Blackjack

What is a bully? A bully is somebody or somedog who leaves others out on purpose. A bully wants to harm others. A bully says unkind things to others. Bullying often involves lopsided power and strength along with abuse or negative actions. Ask yourself these 3 questions to make sure your behavior isn’t bully like, 1) Do I hurt others by what I say, 2) Do I make others feel afraid and 3) Do I leave others out of games, sled pulling and other activities? If you answer yes to any of those questions, then your name could be Bosca and you should change your ways.

What should you do if somebody or somedog is hounding you or making you feel afraid? Do what I did – walk or trot away and don’t look back. Tell an adult, a bigger dog or your handler or your musher. And just like Blackjack and Bootleg were to me, be a friend to others. A really good strategy is to avoid the bully – I can tell you, when I was socializing in the dog yard, I just avoided Bosca. I never went over to visit him unless Handler or Musher took me there. It took a while but finally Bosca realized I was nothing to be afraid of – there was no reason for him to be insecure because of little Sanka. By the time we were pulling the sled just a few months later, Bosca and I were good friends.

New puppy Smoke

Bullying is not okay! From this story, you know what bullying is and what to do to stop bullying. I was so thankful that Blackjack and Bootleg were friendly toward me, I made sure that I returned the kindness when little Smoke joined our kennel. I hope you’ll do the same!

Born to Run,
Sanka

Comments: 3

Where’s Bib Number One? by Sanka W. Dog

Posted in: Messages to Teachers, Zuma and Reporters Answer Questions Date: March 4, 2010

Marissa Osmar wins Junior 2010

After reading my last story about differential time for the Junior Iditarod, you may be wondering about bib number one. The first Junior to leave the start line at Willow was wearing bib number 2. The final musher to leave the start for Yentna Station was bib number 14. Of the 13 mushers who ran the Junior Iditarod, why wasn’t one of them wearing bib number one?

It’s a long-standing tradition that bib number “1” is reserved for the “Honorary” musher. So the Junior Iditarod and Iditarod races start with bib number two. EXCEPT for the Iditarod Ceremonial Start in downtown Anchorage where the winner of the Junior wears bib number one and carries the honorary musher through Anchorage.

Al and Bev Marple were honored by the Junior Iditarod as Honorary Mushers for 2010. Al, a former Iditarod musher, was instrumental in organizing the Junior Iditarod back in the early 80’s. As a carpenter, Al handcrafted and donated many famous Marple Sleds as prizes to Junior Iditarod Champions. Al has served as a race judge and marshal, insuring the Junior Iditarod went well for the young mushers. He’s also served

Osmar approaches the Finish Line

on the Board of Directors for the Junior race and has filled numerous other volunteer positions. Al is credited with knowing how to make things work, keep the race going and he knows how to be fair without causing problems and he can stand outside in the worst weather and call it fun. Al has shared his racing expertise outside of Alaska by serving as a race official for the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon in northern Minnesota. Bev, Al’s wife, has over the years been an important contributor to the banquet, a vital volunteer at Headquarters and has spent countless hours gathering prizes for the junior mushers. Together the Marples have contributed toward making Iditarod what it is today.

Here are the answers for the differential problems from the Junior Iditarod. Keep in mind that the required layover is 10 hours. Bib #4 who came in at 17:29 would have a 20-minute differential and be able to leave Yentna at 03:49. Bib #5 who cam in at 17:46 would have an 18-minute differential and be allowed to leave Yentna at 04:04. Bib #10 who came in at 18:27 would have an 8-minute differential and could leave at 04:35. Finally, bib #3 came in at 19:15 and would have a 22-minute differential and be allowed to leave at 05:37. How’d you do on your computations?

With so few days left before the race starts, Handler says things are really getting exciting in Iditarod Land. Stay tuned for my next story.

Born to Run,
Sanka

Comments: 3

Differential by Sanka W. Dog

Posted in: Messages to Teachers Date: February 28, 2010

Team 6 is ready for their Junior Start

One can’t help but compare the upcoming Iditarod Sled Dog Race and Olympic speed events – skating, skiing and sledding. One thing they share in common is that champions are determined by time. The first junior musher to cross the finish line in Willow and the first musher to cross under the Burled arch in Nome have the best times and are declared Iditarod champions. In some Olympic events, time is also used to determine champions

In Junior Iditarod and Iditarod, teams leave the starting chute in two-minute intervals. The first team leaves at 10:00 followed by the next team at 10:02, the next at 10:04 until all teams are on the trail. How can the first team to cross the finish line in the Iditarods actually be the winner when they don’t all start at the same time?

We're on our way to Yentna Station

It’s called “differential” and here’s how it works. Time is added to the required rest stop to equalize for the start time difference. There were 13 teams that started the Junior Iditarod from Willow. Bib number 2 went off at 10:00 and bib number 14 went off at 10:24. When the teams get to Yentna Station their arrival time is recorded. They are required to rest at Yentna for 10 hours plus the differential. So let’s just say that Bib 2 got to Yentna at 18:34.00. All the required information is in place for the starter at Yentna to determine the departure times for bib 2.

Handler has worked as the starter for the Junior Iditarod at Yentna and here’s the procedure for putting the kids back on the trail so the first team that crosses the finish line is the winner. Add the required rest time of 10 hours plus the starting differential to the arrival time to determine the out time. Bib 2 came in at 18:34.00; adding ten hours brings that to 04:34.00, now add the 24 differential minutes. Bib number 2 can leave Yentna at 04:58.00. Don’t forget this is recorded and reported in Military Time.

Can you figure the out times for these Junior Iditarod mushers? Bib 4 started at 10:04 and arrived at Yentna at 17:29.00. Bib 5 started at 10:06.00 and arrived at Yentna at 17:46.00. Bib 10 started at 10:16 and arrived at Yentna at 18:27.00. The last musher left the start at 10:24.00.

Well there you have it – some great real life math problems from the Junior Iditarod. Just so you know, for the race that goes to Nome, the differential is added to the required 24-hour rest. Check my next story for the answers to the problem. Go Juniors!

Born to Run,
Sanka

I'm crazy about running - all I want to do is run!

Comments: 2

Scotland to Nome – John Stewart’s Mentors

Posted in: Messages to Teachers Date: February 24, 2010

John Stewart has been running dogs since the age of six. Throughout his 18-year mushing career, he’s had a chance to learn dog sled racing from the best. His list of mentors is pretty impressive and worth a closer look. Before getting to the mentors, defining mentor might be helpful. A mentor is an experienced and trusted adviser. Words that can be used interchangeably with mentor are guide, counselor, consultant, trainer, tutor and guru. Guru – that’s a cool word but what does it mean? Guru is defined as influential teacher, authority, specialist or popular expert. Amateur is the opposite of mentor and guru. The experts that John has sought training and advice from include Tim White, Egil Ellis, Hans Gatt, Doug Swingley and his own father, Alan. Who are these guys? What have they accomplished that qualifies them for “guru” status?

Quick-change Runner System appreciated by musher in Galena

Tim White is a Minnesota musher who some consider to be the “ultimate dog man.” Iditarod’s trail boss, Mark Nordman says, “Sleddog sports are his life. His every thought and action is somehow connected to dogs.” Besides being an international champion, Tim is an expert innovator and sled builder. He has designed the quick change runner (QRS) system. Different snow conditions require different runner plastic not to mention, runners become damaged on poor trail so it’s necessary to change the plastic periodically. With Tim’s QRS, an aluminum rail is screwed to the bottom of the runners then lengths of plastic can be easily slid into the rails. White has received the Lifetime Achievement Award from Mush with P.R.I.D.E for his never-ending energy in being goodwill and promotional ambassador for sleddog sports worldwide. White is also known for his knowledge as a mushing historian.

Shorthaired Pointer

Egil Ellis was born in Sweden but now calls Willow, Alaska home. His father introduced him to sleddogs almost 30 years ago. Today he is known as an exceptional Scandinavian Hound sprint class racer with a long list of victories on both the European and North American circuit. With the Scandinavian Hound line, Ellis and other mushers are seeking to develop a faster sleddog by crossbreeding Alaskan Huskies with German and English Shorthaired Pointers. The outcome is a tough dog with enormous stamina and endurance that is eager to please and extremely friendly. When asked in an interview with writers from Sled Dog Central what advice he would give to beginning mushers, Egil replied, “You must LOVE dogs and ask experienced mushers a lot of questions – that way you will avoid many stupid mistakes.”

Hans Gatt grew up on a farm in Austria and now lives near Whitehorse in the Yukon Territory of Canada. Hans used to focus his energies on motocross racing but after attending a sleddog race, he parked the bike and devoted his life to sleddogs. Hans started raising dogs and amazingly, he won all eight races that he entered in his first year of competitive racing. Was his success due to the breeding of his dogs, his dog-driving abilities or the sled he built to race with? Hard to say for sure but many other mushers ordered sled from Hans. Hans is the current Yukon Quest Champion and has won the Quest 3 other times. He’s won on the Wyoming tour, is a 4-time winner of the European Championship and a long list of other accomplishments. His current goal is to improve his best finish of 6th place in Iditarod. Keep an eye on Hans in Iditarod this year.

Doug Swingley tends his dogs in White Mountain

Doug Swingley from Lincoln, Montana is a 4 time Iditarod Champion. He joins Susan Butcher and Lance Mackey in being the only mushers to have won Iditarod 3 consecutive years. In 1995, Doug became the first non-Alaskan to win Iditarod. From 1992 to 2001, Swingley finished every Iditarod in the top ten. He’s also a champion on the Montana race circuit. Because of eye problems experienced in Iditarod 2004, Doug has some difficulty with night vision so he prefers to race during daylight hours. Stage racing is a perfect fit. It’s like the Tour de France – there is a different distance to cover each day but then the athletes rest all night. Along with the stage racing dogs, Swingley still raises and trains Iditarod dogs that are known to be excellent marathon athletes and are renowned for their speed, endurance and durability on the trail. With his superior animal coaching skills, Swingley has now expanded to training horses for endurance racing.

Alan Stewart, John’s father, lifelong mentor and friend says, “My advice… which he does not need… would be – follow the game plan and the advice from those real close to you.” It will only be a few days and John will have the chance to put what he has learned from his mentors to use on a very tough Iditarod Trail. Good Luck John! Godspeed.

Born to Run,
Sanka

Comments: 3

Scotland to Nome – More about John Stewart by Sanka W. Dog

Posted in: Messages to Teachers, News, Race Coverage Date: February 20, 2010

Today’s question is – Where on the highway is John Stewart? John has been in Montana since fall training and racing the team of Doug Swingley dogs that he’ll be running to Nome. The dog truck filled with supplies along with a couple dozen dogs, Colin – their handler and John have departed from Montana and are on their way via the AL-CAN Highway to Alaska and the start of Iditarod XXXVIII. It’s a very long distance and it’s anything but “direct.” John’s father, Alan, will be flying over from Scotland to meet them in Calgary, joining the team as a handler.

You could have some fun with John’s journey by being a Map Quest Agent. Create a route; calculate distance and estimate time from Montana to Wasilla, Alaska. Keep in mind that most of the travelers are canine so their trip won’t be at a human pace. They’ll have to stop at least every 4 hours to “drop” the dogs and they’ll have to feed the dogs and the dogs will need to be exercised. Get a map and go to work. Handler is going to ask John, Colin and Alan about the trip, shipping supplies, preparing food and drop bags and all that important stuff. As soon as she gets that information, I’ll pass it on. Stay tuned.

John Stewart photo by Jeff Schultz

Back at home in Scotland, John’s family maintains their kennel and “sleddog centre” at the foot of the remote Cairngorm Mountains which is considered to be the last wilderness of the United Kingdom. The centre includes Europe’s only Sleddog museum. The museum covers modern events; Iditarod’s Last Great Race and has a section that’s dedicated to the “King of Dog Team Drivers,” Scotty Allan. The centre is located a short distance from Scotty’s birthplace and childhood stomping grounds.

We’ve been in contact with the Stewart family via Internet and asked what role the legendary Scotty has played in John’s mushing career. John has known about Scotty from a very early age. He has often visited the blacksmith forge, now a ruin, where Scotty was brought up. Alan says that Scotty’s whole way of life has influenced John. He’s been brought up with Scotty’s history all around him – he knows all about his life and what type of dog person he must have been and now John’s goal is to reach Scotty’s Alaskan residence, Nome. Heroes plant the seed from which dreams grow and play an important role, inspiring people to achieve their dreams. Now this is really cool – Scotty’s oldest living relative, Lewis Allan has written to John, personally wishing him well and Godspeed on his journey to Nome. Mushers often bring items of inspiration or personal significance along on the trail. Perhaps John will carry this very special letter to Nome.

Check these websites to learn more about John Stewart – www.iditarod.com, www.sled-dogs.co.uk, and www.johnfortheiditarod.com. Stay tuned for more stories about John and his journey to Nome.

Born to Run,
Sanka

Comments: 7

Scotland to Nome – John Stewart by Sanka W. Dog

Posted in: Messages to Teachers, News Date: February 19, 2010

John Stewart, 23 years of age from Scotland, will be running to Nome as a rookie in Iditarod XXXVIII. Having grown up in Scotland, very near to where the king of dog team drivers, Scotty Allan lived, John is thrilled to have the opportunity to travel the trails that made his hero, Scotty, famous. To learn more about the legendary Scotty Allan and his famous lead dog, Baldy, read my previous stories – Scotland to Nome, Scotty Allan and Baldy of Nome – Hero.

John Stewart meets Mark Nordman in Argentina

Since the age of six, John has been around sled dogs. He started out by going on training trips and overnight camping adventures with his father, Alan. At the age of 10, John accompanied his father to remote mountainous Argentina where he helped during races by handling dogs. Now here’s where coincidence takes over. John and Alan met a fellow in Argentina by the name of Mark Nordman. Nordman is the Iditarod Trail Boss. From that moment on, it was young John’s dream to run the Iditarod! So how did John make it to the threshold of accomplishing this great dream?

When he finished school, he lived in Alaska and trained with Egil Ellis. He’s also worked/trained and raced with current Yukon Quest champion Hans Gatt. For the past couple of years, he’s been training and racing dogs out of four-time Iditarod Champion, Doug Swingley’s Montana Kennel. With a great team of Swingley dogs in front of the sled, John has already done well in Montana races this season.

John’s father, Alan took him to the USA, Argentina, Chili and other European countries as a handler for the race team because he was good with dogs, not because John was his son. So to speak, John earned his position as a dog handler because of his talents, not just by inheritance. Now Alan says that John has far more experience with racing than he has and he’s thrilled to switch roles and be a handler for John’s racing activities.

Now that you’ve had a chance to learn a little about Iditarod rookie, John Stewart, I hope you’ll be watching him and cheering him on as he heads to Nome. Handler leaves for the race in just a couple of days. She’ll get to actually meet John and his father. Stay tuned, as I’ll be sharing more about John, his life with dogs and his run to Nome. I also predict that there will be a more recent picture of John and Iditarod Trail Boss, Mark Nordman coming soon.

Born to Run,
Sanka

Comments: 1

Scotty Allen – Scotland to Nome by Sanka W. Dog

Posted in: Alaskan History, Messages to Teachers, News Date: February 17, 2010

Clydesdale horses originated in Scotland

Allan Alexander Allan was born in Dundee, Scotland in 1867. The boy became known as Scotty. Growing up, he loved to work with animals. At the very young age of 12, he began vocational training on how to train horses. At the age of 19, he accompanied a beautiful Clydesdale Stallion on a voyage across the Atlantic Ocean and then to a ranch in South Dakota. Once in American, Scotty headed to the west coast where 10 years later, news of gold in the Klondike lured him to the far north.

Like many young men, Scotty left his wife and two, soon to be three children behind with the promise of returning rich or sending for them when he was settled. He didn’t strike it rich in the Klondike. He earned his wages as a teamster, moving supplies over the dangerous trails to the mining camps, first with teams of horses and then by dog team. He became well known in the Dawson area as a top notch dog driver.

News of abundant gold in Nome prompted Scotty to travel the frozen Yukon River, a distance of over 1,200 miles, with his dog team lead by Dubby. Get a map out and compare this trek to the Iditarod race. Scotty didn’t strike it rich prospecting for gold in Nome either so he took a job in a hardware store and focused on training dogs. once settled, he brought his wife and family to Nome.

Nome Kennel Club Patch on Handler's Anorak

In 1907, dog drivers in Nome banded together to form the Nome Kennel Club. The purpose of the organization was to improve the care and breeding of sled dogs. The club sponsored the All Alaska Sweepstakes running from Nome to Candle, a distance of a little more than 400 miles. In the mean time, Scotty acquired Baldy. With Baldy in lead, Scotty placed in the top three a total of eight times – with three victories.

After WWI broke out, Scotty was contacted by the French Military to train drivers and 450 dogs for transporting supplies and wounded soldiers in the mountains between Germany and France. The dogs became famous around the world and many received medals of valor.

Scotty was elected to the Alaska Territorial Legislature and served terms in 1917 and 1919. He and his family moved back to California prior to the 1925 Diphtheria Epidemic. Seeking the best dog trainer, Admiral Richard Byrd sought out Scotty to train the dogs for Byrd’s 1928 Antarctica Expedition.

Scotty, the most famous musher of his time once said, “Dogs are the most intuitive creatures alive. They take the disposition of their driver. That is why I never let my dogs know that I am tired. At the end of the day…, I sing to the little chaps and whistle so they always reach the end of the trail with their tails up and waving.” Murphy and Haigh, share these words in Gold Rush Dogs. Handler says that Iditarod mushers follow his advice today.

Tenor, Thunder and Chaser in the 3 Dog - 3 MIle Race sponsored by the Nome Kennel Club

The Nome Kennel Club still exists and organized the All Alaska Sweepstakes again in 2008. Check the Internet for more information on that – who was the winner, what was the purse, what was the route, how long did it take, are the rules different than Iditarod? When Handler was in Nome, she ran in the 3 Dog – 3 Mile Business Man’s Race (open to men and women amateurs) sponsored by the Nome Kennel Club using dogs and a sled provided by club member, Dempsey Woods.

You can read more about Scotty Allan at www.litsite.org. and in Gold Rush Dogs by Murphy & Haigh. Baldy of Nome by Esther Birdsall Darling includes many stories about Scotty – you can’t talk about Baldy without talking about Scotty.” Make sure to read my earlier story about Baldy of Nome. Here’s a question for you – Did Baldy become famous because of Scotty or did Scotty become famous because of Baldy?

Well, there you have it, some information on a Scott who gained fame in Nome for his ability to train and drive dogs in the best and worst of conditions. Stay tuned for another story about a Scott, John Stewart, who’ll be driving dogs from Anchorage to Nome in Iditarod XXXVIII.

Born to Run,
Sanka

Comments: 5

Virtual Trail Journey (northern) – Nulato at Mile 657 by Sanka W. Dog

Posted in: Along the Trail, Messages to Teachers, Virtual Trail Journey Date: February 14, 2010

Nulato on the Yukon River

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. Because of trade disputes disgruntled natives, not once but twice burned the post to the ground. As contact with the outside world increased through missionaries, explorers and gold prospectors so did disease. Smallpox in 1839 was the first epidemic to wipe out large numbers of the native population followed later by food shortages and measles. Our Lady of Snows, a Roman Catholic school and mission was completed in 1887 and many of the area natives moved into the village. The influence of the mission continues today as most Nulato residents call themselves Roman Catholics. The post office opened in 1897. At the peak of the gold rush, there were 46 steamers that navigated the Yukon. When the river was ice free, a couple of ships each day would stop at Nulato to purchase wood to fire their boilers. The gold was depleted by 1906 and the miners moved on but the Athabascans and missionaries who called Nulato “home” stayed.

Target Teacher on the Trail at Nulato Checkpoint

Currently there are two Nulato town sites that nearly 300 residents call home. Those living at the old town site haul water from the village well or the church and use honey buckets and outhouses. Houses located in the new town site have piped water and sewer so the residents enjoy bathroom and kitchen plumbing. Nulato has a school, a store and a clinic. They have diesel-generated electricity and like most bush villages, they are connected to the outside world by telephone, television and Internet. Most people living in Nulato are of Athabascan descent and live a subsistence lifestyle. Food sources include salmon, moose, bear, small game and berries. Many families still travel to fish camps during the summer. Trapping in the winter provides some extra income for some families. Some residents have year around jobs with the city, tribe, school, clinic and store. During the summer, some folks work at construction, fish processing and fire fighting. The village has a newly renovated airport otherwise the river is the number one mode of local travel. Boats, skiffs and barges are common between May and October when it’s ice free then snowmachines, ATVs and other vehicles take over when it becomes an ice road.

The best way to describe the weather at Nulato is to copy and past from Ruby and Galena. Average highs in the summer are in the lower 70’s and average lows in the winter are below zero. Extreme cold often settles in the area for days on end. The hottest temperature ever recorded in Nulato is 90 and the lowest is a frigid 55 below and that doesn’t include wind chill. Average precipitation of nearly 16 inches includes over 6 feet of snow.

Icy Yukon Highway complete with wind, drifts, overflow, rough ice and open water

From Galena to Nulato and then to Kaltag, teams continue on down the icy Yukon. The run can be frigid and windy and will include the usual river hazards – overflow, rough ice, drifts and open water. It’s best not to venture off the trail. About halfway to Nulato, mushers and dogs welcome a change in scenery as the Nulato Hills, a mountain range to the west, rise to 1,000 feet in elevation on the right shore of the river.

Well there you have it, information about the village and people of Nulato and the trail between Galena and Kaltag. This completes the Virtual Trail Journey series that began last year. Now you can find detailed information about ALL the checkpoints from Anchorage to Nome – southern and northern routes. All of the Virtual Trail Journey stories are in Zuma’s blog under “Sanka’s Posts.” The villages and villagers along the trail are far more than just Iditarod checkpoints and fans. Folks living in the checkpoint villages are historically unique; their ancestors have survived famines, disease, violence and other hard times. Looking forward to the future, the villagers will adapt to an ever-changing lifestyle by combining wisdom and practical advice from their elders with the skills and knowledge obtained through education.

Stay tuned for my next story about Nome’s mushing phenom, Scotty Allen whose lead dog was Baldy of Nome.

Born to Run,
Sanka

Moose forage along the Yukon near Nulato

Comments: 1

Virtual Trail Journey (northern) – Galena at Mile 605 by Sanka W. Dog

Posted in: Along the Trail, Explore Alaska, Messages to Teachers, Virtual Trail Journey Date: February 13, 2010

Resting teams and checkpoint for a Cessna 180

Resting teams and checkpoint from a Cessna 180

The first town site of Galena was established in 1918 near a native fish camp called Henry’s Point, one of many fish camps located on the Yukon River. Athabascans in the area were nomadic living in spring, winter, fall and summer camps dictated by where and how the wild game was migrating. The town became important as a supply and transportation hub for the lead ore mines. Athabascans living a few miles up river at Louden moved down to Galena to harvest and sell wood to the steamboats for fuel and also hauled freight for the mining companies. The first school opened in the mid 1920’s followed by a post office in 1932.

Military installments built during WWII and later sparked growth in the area. Devastating floods prompted the residents to move their town to a higher dryer location about a mile away from the first town site. Some houses in the new town have piped water and sewer, a few others use honey buckets but the majority use a flush/haul system. Water is supplied from wells. The village operates a landfill. Galena derived its named from the mineral found with lead and silver ore.

Currently, Galena is a town of over 700 people and serves as the transportation, government and commercial center for the western Interior. While some folks still rely on a subsistence lifestyle, most are employed in government, transportation, health care, education, retail, construction or fire fighting jobs. In 1993, one of the Air Force bases closed and shortly thereafter was reopened by the Galena School District as the Galena Interior Learning Academy, a secondary residential vocational school. This school is for students, grades 9 thru 12, who don’t have access to a high school where they live and who desire a topnotch educational experience. Students completing their education at GILA leave with a high school diploma and vocational certification in areas such as Culinary Arts, Cosmetology, Technology, Small Engines or Fire Fighting. The K-12 school in Galena is named after revered Athabascan Elder, Sydney Huntington. He has served on the local school board for many years and believes that education is extremely important for today’s youth. Without educating village youths, there will be no future for the villages of the people. He encourages people in the villages to become educated and move beyond subsistence living. Handler was fortunate to leave Galena with an autographed copy of Shadows on the Koyukuk by Huntington. In the book, Sydney shares stories of his childhood – a simpler but very difficult life.

Dogs with window seats for the trip home form Galena

The climate in Galena isn’t much different than Ruby including the extreme temperature differences. Average July high temperatures are in the low 70’s while average lows in January range for 10 to well below zero. During the winter and often during Iditarod, the area experiences long stretches of bitter cold. Temperature extremes recorded in Galena are 64 below and 92 above. Annual precipitation is close to 13 inches including about 5 feet of snow.

Galena is a regional transportation hub for the surrounding villages. The airport accommodates planes with landing wheels and skies. Barges navigate the river from mid-may through mid-October. Autos, trucks, snowmachines, skiffs and ATVs are used for local travel. During the winter, frozen rivers are used as highways to neighboring villages. Speaking of transportation, Edgar Nollner of Galena was the serum runner who received the medicine from Billy McCarty, Sr. at Whiskey Creek and carried it 24 miles to Galena.

From Ruby, teams run down the Yukon all the way to Galena. Some leaders are spooked by the wind swept wide-open space on the mile to two-mile wide river. It’s important to stay on the well-marked trail to avoid thin ice, overflow and open stretches of water.

Well there you have it – some information about the Alaskan town of Galena. Thanks to my friend, Target Teacher on the Trail, Jane Blaile for sharing her pictures. Stay tuned for my next story about Nulato. Remember, in everything, do you best every day.

Born to Run,
Sanka

Galena Checkpoint in the old Community Hall downtown

Changing sled runners for the run down river

Comments: 3

Virtual Trail Journey (northern) – Ruby at Mile 553 by Sanka W. Dog

Posted in: Along the Trail, Explore Alaska, Messages to Teachers, Virtual Trail Journey Date: February 12, 2010

Pat McCarty, serum runner's son

The village of Ruby is the first checkpoint of the northern route that’s situated on the mighty Yukon River. The Millennium Hotel, race headquarters in Anchorage, honors the first musher arriving with a delicious seven-course meal prepared by the Millennium’s Executive Chef. In the corner of the rustic checkpoint upon a little stage, the musher and a quest are seated at a table adorned with fresh flowers, crystal glasses, fine china and silver candlesticks. The menu is far from ordinary musher cuisine. In 2008, Lance Mackey was the first to arrive in Ruby. For appetizers, he enjoyed chicken and mushroom terrine then potato bisque with shrimp ravioli. For the main course Lance devoured halibut and a beef filet stuffed with king crab, asparagus and blue cheese. For desert, Lance enjoyed raspberry crepes. Dessert was followed by an after dinner mint of 5,000 freshly minted one dollar bills presented in a gold pan. Being an athlete, I’m not a table food kind of dog but that halibut and beef filet sounds delicious. Perhaps you’d like to know what was served in Anvik last year or what’s on the menu in Ruby for this year. You can read more about the First to the Yukon Award at the Iditarod website under the sponsor section.

Snowshoes by Native Alaskan George Alberts

Ruby is a village with a population of about 200. Gold was first discovered in the nearby creeks in 1907. Ruby was established as a supply hub for the prospectors. Steamers had easy access to the area via the Yukon River that runs 1,875 miles from its headwaters in the Yukon Territory all the way to the Bering Sea. During the peak of the gold rush, the village grew to 2,000 residents. The town was named after the red stones found along the riverbanks that the prospectors thought were rubies.

Most residents are descendants of Koyukon Athabascans. The Athabascans were nomadic and followed wild game with the changing seasons to hunt and put food on the table. Still today, the people of Ruby depend upon wild Salmon, whitefish, moose, bear, ptarmigan, waterfowl and berries as food sources in their subsistence lifestyle.

"Up on the house top..."

This area of Alaska is known for its extreme temperatures. Average July temperatures are in the 70’s. January Temperatures average from 10 above to well below zero. It’s not uncommon for the thermometer to drop to forty below zero and stay there for many days in a row during the long winter. The coldest temperature ever recorded in Ruby is minus 53 and the hottest is 98 above. On average, 17 inches of precipitation fall in Ruby including over 5 feet of snow. The Yukon River is open for navigation and fishing from the middle of May to the middle of October.

If you lived in Ruby, you’d have the convenience of two stores. One is a general store, selling mostly food, other household essentials and some

The Ruby Mall

hardware. The second store is an evening only store that sells snacks, candy, chips, ice cream goodies, pop, juice and milk and rents movies. You might own a pair of Athabascan snow shoes made by Native Alaskan George Alberts. Only a few houses have wells and septic systems. Most families carry water to their houses from the washeteria and most houses are without septic system and use an outhouse. The village has electricity and connects to the outside world via dish and satellite. There is one school that has 35 students K thru 12. People and supplies arrive in or leave Ruby by airplane or barge. To get around the village or down the only maintained outlying road to Long Creek Mine, a person would use a truck, snowmachine, ATV or riverboat.

Emmitt Peters - 1975 Rookie of the Year - 1975 Iditarod Champion

Handler said being in Ruby is like a living history lesson. She met Emmitt Peters also known as the Yukon Fox. Emmitt won Iditarod in 1975, the same year he won rookie of the year honors. Of the 14 races he’s run, he finished in the top five in each of his first five races and in the top 10 a total of seven times. No wonder he is referred to as the Yukon Fox. When handler visited the evening/movie store and met the owner, Pat McCarty, she learned that back in 1925, his father, Billy McCarty, Sr., was the Serum Runner who transported the precious medicine from Ruby to Whiskey Creek a distance of 28 miles. When Susan Butcher flew into the checkpoint, another page of mushing history came to life. She was receiving treatment for leukemia but was strong enough to visit a few checkpoints. Her friends were thrilled to see her, especially DeeDee Jonrowe who shared a special bond with Susan through Iditarod and in their common fight against cancer.

DeeDee & Susan visit in Ruby

The checkpoint in Ruby is located in the community center that sits high on a hill over looking the mighty Yukon River – actually the whole village is situated on a hill sloping down toward the river with most homes having a breathtaking view of the river. You can see some great pictures of Ruby through an image search of Google. Mushers are very happy to see Ruby as it marks the end of the longest distance, 112 miles, between checkpoints. Most of the trial from Cripple follows a very dilapidated supply route that connected the mining districts to the steamboat landing in Ruby during the gold rush. When approaching Ruby, mushers will no doubt see signs of welcome created and posted by the school kids. Once in the checkpoint, the mushers will be greeted by children seeking autographs. Teams are required to take an eight-hour rest somewhere on the Yukon. Dogs will get better rest on the river than out on the coast so it’s best to rest while there is peace, quiet and great hospitality.

Well, there you have it, lots of information about the village of Ruby and the people who call the river town home. Stay tuned for my next report on Galena. Remember – in everything, do your best everyday.

Born to Run,
Sanka

Comments: 2

Virtual Trail Journey (northern) – Cripple at Mile 441 by Sanka W. Dog

Posted in: Along the Trail, Explore Alaska, Messages to Teachers, Virtual Trail Journey Date: February 10, 2010

Northern route - Cripple - a maze of tents

With the year being 2010, the race will take the even year northern route. When the drivers and teams reach Ophir, they’ll take a right and head north to Cripple. The distance from Ophir to Cripple is 59 miles. The total distance from Ophir to Kaltag, where the two trails rejoin on the northern route is 317 miles. The distance from Ophir to Kaltag using the southern route is 328 miles. As handler was explaining this to us, I asked why they didn’t run the trail from Ophir straight to Kaltag. This is what I learned.

Having Iditarod come through your village requires an enormous amount of work but on the other hand, it provides a lot of excitement. So to ease the burden on the villagers and spread the thrill around, two routes were created. That’s a lesson in sharing on a very large scale! Another reason is that it provides variety for the mushers as they plan their strategies, buck the winds, endure the elements and absorb the scenery. Finally, the race has to be at least 1000 miles long. Going straight from Ophir to Kaltag would shorten the route by 150 miles and have you looked at the map? There is nothing, absolutely nothing, between Ophir and Kaltag. By using the northern and southern routes, the trail goes through established villages.

Tropical Paradise of Cripple

The trail from Ophir to Cripple runs along the Innoko River. It’s mostly woods with a few open areas but best of all, it’s pretty flat without any tricky sections but it’s possible for even experienced trail veterans to take a wrong turn. Handler told us this story about DeeDee Jonrowe and Paul Gebhardt from 2008, the last time the race went north. Gebhardt and five other mushers left Ophir before DeeDee. She passed a few teams resting along the trail but did not pass Paul. At one point she noticed there were no tracks in front of her on the trail and she wondered where he was or how long ago he had gone through so that his tracks had dissapeared. When she arrived in Cripple, DeeDee received an enthusiastic greeting and congratulations. As the first musher to reach the half-way point, she was presented with the GCI Dorothy Page Halfway Award of $3,000 in gold nuggets. Jonrowe was dumbfounded! How could I be first, come on, where’s Paul Gebhardt? A short time later, Paul arrived in Cripple, very glad to be there. This run from Ophir had been the worst run of his life and might have taken him out of the winner’s circle – he’d carried a dog in the sled, got soaked in the wet snow, ran into overflow and had gotten lost!

Martin Buser wears Hawaiian attire and enjoys the paradise of Cripple

Today, Cripple, population zero, isn’t a village; it’s only a place on the Innoko River in the former Iditarod Mining District. The checkpoint takes its name from an old steamboat landing located nearby on the river. During the Gold Rush between 1908 and 1925, $35 million in gold, including some of the largest nuggets ever mined were taken from the area. It’s always a guess as to exactly where the checkpoint will be located. It’s dependent upon overflow and other surface conditions. Generally, it’ll be somewhere near the Poorman airstrip. Don Bowers in Trail Notes mentions that abandoned buildings, trucks and bulldozers still sit near the airstrip. The Cripple checkpoint is a maze of tents amongst inflatable palm trees where mushers either experience frigid cold in extreme winter gear or enjoy sunny warmth while wearing Hawaiian attire.

Well, there you have it – some information about the trail running north out of Ophir and the Cripple checkpoint. You can read about all of the checkpoints in my earlier Virtual Trail Journey series. Stay tuned for my story about Ruby. Remember, in everything to your best every day.

Born to Run,
Sanka

Comments: 4

Jeff King, Rick Swenson & Lance Mackey – Idols by Sanka W. Dog

Posted in: Heroes, Heroines & Idols, Messages to Teachers Date: February 9, 2010

I left it up to Smoke, the youngest dog at Just Guts to determine the difference between an idol and hero. It was a tough job because often the two words are used interchangeably. But Smoke, who is very bright, came up with a good answer. An idol is a shining example, a superstar, a celebrity or a favorite. Here’s a little information about our idols.

Make-a-Wish Iditarider in Jeff King's Sled

At the age of 51, four-time Iditarod champion, Jeff King, was the oldest guy to ever win the race. That tells us that experience can provide the winning edge. King is recognized as the winningest musher in the world. But there’s something else you should know about Jeff. Every year, the Iditarider in his sled for the ceremonial start is a terminally ill child selected through the Make-a-Wish Foundation. One of those children gave Jeff a good luck penny at the start of the race in 1996. Jeff and team ran a very fast time that year and won. Cancer eventually took the child’s life but Jeff and the family still correspond and he always carries the penny on the trail. Learn more about Jeff at www.huskyhomestead.com.

Ceremonial Start - Rick Swenson

While there are mushers with four Iditarod victories (Jeff King, Martin Buser, Doug Swingley and Susan Butcher), Rick Swenson stands alone at the top of the list with five. He’s an excellent musher with a good line of dogs but perhaps it’s his attitude that’s allowed him to achieve what others still dream of. Here’s some wisdom from Rick that comes from a story in Iditarod Classics by Lew Friedman. Rick says that weather is a part of Iditarod. If you’re prepared and have the attitude of having a good time in storms, the situation isn’t negative. If you don’t make the best of traveling in nasty adverse conditions, you’re never going to be an Iditarod champion. Swenson is an advocate of P.M.A. (Positive Mental Attitude).

The Mackey Family of Champions

When it comes to winning Sled Dogs Races, Lance Mackey has accomplished what no other musher has done and what has been considered an impossible achievement. He’s won the 1,000 mile Yukon Quest and the 1,049 mile Iditarod with many of the same dogs in the same year. He’s done this not once, but twice! He’s won Yukon Quest back to back four times. He’s won Iditarod back to back 3 times, a feat shared only with Susan Butcher and Doug Swingley. Mushing is a way of life for Lance but his career nearly came to an end because of throat cancer. It was tough to comeback from the extensive surgery and radiation treatments. Appropriately he’s named his kennel “Comeback Kennel.” Lance is a superstitious fellow. His father won his 6th attempt at Iditarod wearing bib #13. His brother won his 6th attempt at Iditarod wearing bib #13. The year of Lance’s 6th attempt, he camped at Iditarod Headquarters for a whole week before signup so that he could have first choice of stating positions. Of course, he chose bib #13 and was the first to reach Nome. Lance’s dogs are more than his life, they are family. The Mackeys bring their dogs into the house. One night when it was time to go to bed, Lance found Larry, his celebrated lead dog, sprawled out on his side of the bed. Lance slept on the floor that night saying that Larry deserved the comfort of a soft bed as much if not more than he did.

Smoke says an idol is a celebrity...

This story completes the series about Heroes, Heroines and Idols. These dogs and people are all genuinely worthy of our respect and admiration. We can learn a lot from them. On the flip side, people learn a lot about us and our personal values through the heroes we choose.

Stay tuned for more of Sanka’s stories and in the mean time ponder what Lance Mackey says, “Can’t is a word that I don’t want to understand. I always try to do my very best, I many not always finish number one, but it will always be the best I can do.” How do Lance’s words from his biography at www.mackeyscomebackkennel.com apply to you?

Born to Run,
Sanka

Comments: 7

Pam Flowers – Heroine by Sanka W. Dog

Posted in: Heroes, Heroines & Idols, Messages to Teachers Date: February 8, 2010

Pam Flower, Author and Adventurer

Pam Flowers is a small quiet woman who considers herself a loner. Her idea of fun is to travel with her dogs in lonely desolate places. This may or may not sound like fun to you but Pam’s adventures captivate the interests of adults and children alike.

After graduating from college, Pam held a good job as a respiratory therapist. She lived in a big city and worked in a big hospital. Pam was unhappy and dreamed of spending time in snow covered isolated places. She left her job and moved to Alaska intending to raise dogs and travel solo into the hinterlands.

Pam’s most extensive and dangerous expedition was traveling solo from Barrow, Alaska to Repulse Bay in Nunavut Territory, Canada, as distance of 2,500 miles along the entire Arctic Coast of Alaska and Canada. Pam left Barrow with eight dogs in February of 1993. After many distressing incidents including polar bears, melting sea ice and a lost dog, Pam and the eight dogs reached Repulse Bay eleven months later. This was the first and longest solo dog sled trek by a woman in recorded history. You can read a detailed account of the adventure in Pam’s book, Alone Across the Arctic – One Woman’s Epic Journey by Dog Team.

Pam’s most recent expedition was a through hike on the 2,175-mile Appalachian Trail with one-year-old Ellie, her black lab. The trek took the better part of the 2008-2009 school year. Pam is currently writing a book called Ellie’s Long Walk to tell of their experiences along the trail. I can’t wait to get a copy for our Just Guts Library.

Is that a polar bear by my sled?

Pam has traveled to the Magnetic North Pole by dog sled on two occasions, one being the first documented solo journey by a woman over the 325-mile route from Resolute Bay to the Pole. It must have been exciting to stand at the pole looking at a compass that was pointing straight down. Pam has run the Iditarod. She’s logged thousands of miles between Kotzebue and Kaktovik and on the North Slope solo with her dogs. Pam attempted a solo dog sled trek to the geographic North Pole but early break up of the sea ice put an end to all expeditions to the pole that year.

Pam has amazing skill when it comes to training dogs. She has two rules in her kennel, no fighting and no stealing another dog’s food – if you want more food I’ll give you more but you must not steal. Pam spends a lot of time, energy and effort in making sure that her dogs understand what she expects of them. Pam had her work cut out for her when training little Ellie for the Appalachian through hike. As a puppy, Ellie had enough energy for half a dozen dogs. She tried to please Pam but a good share of the time she couldn’t resist fun and games, especially with other dogs. When Ellie saw another dog on a training run, she’d charge up to the dog hoping to play. One day Ellie’s actions caught Pam off guard and she was knocked face first into the ground ending up with a wrist injury, black eyes and broken glasses. Would Ellie ever learn to behave for the long through hike? Lesser trainers would have labeled the dog a delinquent and given up on her but Pam sought a solution for the problem. For several days, she withheld affection from Ellie, giving her food and water but rarely speaking to her except in a very stern voice. Ellie began to get the picture. This was the turning point for her it was hard but from then on she did her very best to obey Pam to earn her approval, friendship and trust.

Pam has authored two other must read books about her dogs, Douggie and Anna. In Douggie – Sled Dog Hero you’ll read the story of a playful mischievous pup that, under Pam’s tutoring turned into a stellar lead dog. Big Enough Anna is the story of a little dog that was determined to succeed and became one of eight dogs to travel the entire Arctic Coast. You can learn more about Pam’s adventures and order books at www.pamflowers.com.

Thanks to my friend Pam who gave us these pictures. Stay tuned for our next story about idols. Try to decide how an idol is different than a hero. In the mean time, take Pam’s advice – look at a problem as a solution waiting to happen.

Born to Run,
Sanka

Comments: 3

DeeDee Jonrowe – Heroine by Sanka W. Dog

Posted in: Heroes, Heroines & Idols, Messages to Teachers Date: February 8, 2010

The heroes and heroines that have been featured in these stories thus far are made of some pretty tough stuff. The same is true for DeeDee Jonrowe. Have you created a definition for heroine? How is a heroine different from a hero? If you’ve done your research, you’ll realize they are the same except hero refers to a male and heroine refers to a female. Some sources say that hero is a gender-neutral term so it’s okay to bestow the honor of “hero” upon a woman. That’s what I’ll do.

DeeDee and Volt have a heart to heart chat.

When it comes to Iditarod, DeeDee Jonrowe is like the energizer bunny – she just keeps on going. We’ve elected DeeDee to hero status because of that, because she’s a cancer survivor, because of her popularity as a musher and because she is renowned for her excellent dog care. The 2010 race will be her 28th trip to Nome. In all of those runs, DeeDee has finished in the top 10 fourteen times, placing 2nd three times. She has the fastest time for a woman in the history of Iditarod. We’ve heard many DeeDee stories from our handler. Here are a few of our favorites that show her determination, energy and perseverance.

In the fall of 1996, DeeDee was in a terrible car wreck. She and her husband suffered life-threatening injuries and her grandmother was killed. It was 20 below and they were trapped in the mangled car for a long time until workers arrived with the jaws-of-life to cut them out. It took DeeDee and her husband months to recover from their injuries. In the mean time, friends trained her dogs and had them ready for her – if she was ready to run Iditarod. She was ready and she crossed the finish line in 4th place. What a woman!

In the summer of 2002, DeeDee was diagnosed with breast cancer. She underwent extensive surgery and received her last dose of chemotherapy in January, just a few weeks before the race. Similar to 1997, friends trained her dogs so they’d be ready – if she was ready to run. She was ready and with nothing less than monumental determination, DeeDee arrived in Nome in 18th place. While her body was mending, she ran the race to heal her mind and spirit. The astounding beauty.,the rugged trail, the support of the volunteers, the encouragement from the villagers and the unconditional love she and her dogs share played a significant role in restoring her health. It’s not surprising that DeeDee was chosen by fellow Iditarod competitors to receive The Most Inspirational Musher Award for her courageous run to Nome in 2003.

DeeDee awaits the start of Iditarod 2005

Handler saw DeeDee in action at the start of Iditarod 2005. Ten minutes before her start time, she was just sitting around talking with folks. The gangline was laid out and the sled was packed but there were no dogs or harnesses in sight. DeeDee didn’t even have her anorak on. Most other teams had been hooked up 15 or 20 minutes before their start time. Didn’t DeeDee know it was her turn to go? With just two minutes remaining, DeeDee stood up and pulled her anorak on and from out of nowhere came sixteen handlers, each holding a harness. They went to a specific door on the dog box, brought a dog out, harnessed it and hooked it to the gangline. In just 20 seconds, the dogs were harnessed, DeeDee was dressed and standing on the runners ready to head to the starting chute. Her dogs didn’t experience any of the pre-race stress that other dogs experience from being harnessed too early. This amazing demonstration of confidence, organization and dog management is so DeeDee.

The list of awards that DeeDee has received is was too long to cover. As a sled dog, a few really stand out in my mind. She’s received the Leonhard Seppala Humanitarian Award for excellence in dog care, the Best-cared for Team Award, the Best Dog Care Award and (I like this one) the Dog’s Best Friend Award. DeeDee is one of the founding members of Mush with P.R.I.D.E. That’s an organization that sets standards for all aspects of sled dog care. We’re planning to read her book, Iditarod Dreams. You can read more about DeeDee in Lew Freedman’s Iditarod Classics and at www.deedeejonrowe.com.

DeeDee could write volumes about excellent dog care, the value of teamwork, being a survivor, perseverance and overcoming adversity. Standing at just 5’2” she shows everyone that it’s not the size of the person, it’s what’s on the inside that counts.

Born to Run,
Sanka

Comments: 5

K-9 Reporter: Sanka

King Stories by Sanka W. Dog

Bully Bosca by Sanka W. Dog

Where’s Bib Number One? by Sanka W. Dog

Differential by Sanka W. Dog

Scotland to Nome – John Stewart’s Mentors

Scotland to Nome – More about John Stewart by Sanka W. Dog

Scotland to Nome – John Stewart by Sanka W. Dog

Scotty Allen – Scotland to Nome by Sanka W. Dog

Virtual Trail Journey (northern) – Nulato at Mile 657 by Sanka W. Dog

Virtual Trail Journey (northern) – Galena at Mile 605 by Sanka W. Dog

Virtual Trail Journey (northern) – Ruby at Mile 553 by Sanka W. Dog

Virtual Trail Journey (northern) – Cripple at Mile 441 by Sanka W. Dog

Jeff King, Rick Swenson & Lance Mackey – Idols by Sanka W. Dog

Pam Flowers – Heroine by Sanka W. Dog

DeeDee Jonrowe – Heroine by Sanka W. Dog

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