Sled dogs come in all shapes, sizes and colors. Some are large and some are small. Some have tall ears, others have floppy ears. Some have blue eyes while some have brown eyes. Some have one eye that’s blue and one eye that’s brown! Some look like a wolf, some […]
Category Archives: Explore Alaska
Criteria for Dogs
Libby Here!
Ms. Thompson’s class asked, “Is there criteria for the dogs?” Criteria is a set of characteristics or traits that need to be met.
Yes. There is a set of criteria for the dogs. The dogs have to be healthy and have passed their medical exams that are given right before the […]
The Jr. Iditarod Begins!
Hello Boys and Girls,
I can hardly wait! The Jr. Iditarod begins tomorrow!
Each year, the Jr. Iditarod is held the weekend before the start of Iditarod. This year, twenty one mushers have entered the race. These mushers arrived at headquarters on Friday evening for an important meeting. They learned about the trail, […]
Do Sled Dogs Wear Booties to Prevent Frostbite? By Sanka W. Dog
I’ve seen pictures of Iditarod dogs wearing booties while on the trail. What is this about? My musher and handler wear big boots out in the dog yard during the winter. Do Iditarod dogs wear booties to keep their feet warm and prevent frostbite like my humans do?I decided to ask Iditarod’s Chief […]
Your Family Tree, My Family Tree by Sanka W. Dog
Bothers, sisters, parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, great-grandparents and great-great-grandparents - some folks are very interested in genealogy and can trace their roots back to ancestors who came to America on the Mayflower and some even further back than that. People get a sense of who they are from their lineage. Dogs have roots […]
What’cha Snacking On?
Libby here!
“When do the dogs get fed?” asked Ms. Thompson’s students.
I’m glad Zuma sent me that question to answer.
Sled dogs get fed when they are hungry!
Sled dogs eat and they eat nutritious meals and snacks so that they have the energy to run the race. Eating nutritious meals also helps the dogs stay healthy.
Not […]
It is Iditarod Season!
Hello Boys and Girls,
It is hard to believe that the 2008 Iditarod race will soon begin. The race always begins on the first Saturday in March and it ends when the last musher reaches Nome. This year, the race starts on March 1. The restart is the following day, March 2. As […]
Rookies at School!
Hello Boys and Girls,
Did you know that rookie mushers have to go to Iditarod School?
Each year, rookie mushers have to attend special meetings and classes in Alaska so that they learn all they need to know to be ready to start the race in downtown Anchorage on the first Saturday in March. Dog care, training […]
Alaska Day: North to the Future
Hello Boys and Girls,
The Iditarod offices will be closed tomorrow, Thursday October 18. In Alaska, many businesses don’t close for Columbus Day so that they can celebrate Alaska Day instead. Alaska Day is the anniversary of the formal transfer of the territory and the raising of the U.S. flag at Sitka on October 18, […]
Hatcher Pass (Part 2): Winter’s Coming!
Hello Boys and Girls,
Here are some more pictures from Hatcher Pass and the Wasilla area showing how the snow is moving closer to us. Winter “walks” down the mountains over a period of a few weeks. On the upper peaks, it is quite thick already. Everyone is rushing to get winter tires […]
Hatcher Pass (Part 1): History & Use
Hello Boys and Girls,
I promised to tell you about Hatcher Pass which is near Wasilla. It is a place in the Talkeetna Mountains that a lot of locals and visitors go to explore, hike, and take pictures of some really neat views of the mountains. Hatcher Pass is also the location of the […]
Summer’s End (Act 2): Termination Dust
Hello Boys and Girls,
If you were here in Alaska right now, you would hear humans discussing “termination dust.” You might ask, “What is termination dust anyway?” The dictionary tells us that termination means, “the end, close or conclusion,” of something. Dust is defined as 1) “earth or other matter in fine, dry particles,” […]
Summer’s End (Act 1)
Hello Boys and Girls,
On September 21, summer officially ended according to human calendars. I think it might have ended a little earlier than that here in Alaska. I began to notice the leaves on the trees turning color by the last week of August. I love the leaves in the fall. They turn several […]
Alaska State Fair (Take 4)
Hello Boys and Girls,
This is the final report on what I did and saw at the Alaska State Fair. These are my very favorite demonstrations. They are all about dogs and I know you love that subject too which is why I have saved it for last. I can put a lot […]
Alaska State Fair (Take 3)
Hello Boys and Girls,
There is so much to tell about the Fair that I have to split it up between several reports. I really had a blast and if you get a chance to go to a state fair where you live, don’t miss it. It is loads of fun.
We stopped by the antique […]