Zuma’s Paw Prints » Official Canine Reporter for the Iditarod

Scotty Allen – Scotland to Nome by Sanka W. Dog

Posted by Sanka 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 by Sanka 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: 2

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

Posted by Sanka 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 by Sanka 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 by Sanka 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 by Sanka 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 by Sanka 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 by Sanka 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

Ivedi – our Local Heroine by Sanka W. Dog

Posted by Sanka in Heroes, Heroines & Idols, Messages to Teachers Date: February 7, 2010

Ivedi, descendant of Granite

Ivedi isn’t as well known as Balto, Togo or Granite but none-the-less, she’s our hero. Locally known heroes like Ivedi are very real and very important. You and your classmates undoubtedly have included famous people on your list of heroes and heroines but don’t forget about folks in your family, community or school who have done great things or lived an exemplary life and are worthy of “hero” status.

Ivedi was born in Susan Butcher’s Trail Breaker Kennel in Fairbanks, Alaska. She was raised and trained by Susan until the age of two. Her bloodlines can be traced back to Granite. Wanting to purchase a dog of good ancestry, our musher called Susan who said, “I have the perfect dog for Just Guts Kennel, her name is Ivedi.” When the time was right, she was bred and then flown to Wisconsin – all by herself in a kennel in the belly of the plane. A few weeks later, Gabe, Holstein, Tundra, Tikchik, Baffin and Morgan were born. Ivedi nurtured and trained those pups along with later arrivals, Mr. Blue, Trego, Bootleg, Bosca, Bill T, and Curly. They all turned into speedy, devoted, dependable, dedicated, handsome sled dogs.

Ivedi didn't need to follow her nose on this trail

It was common for the Just Guts team to go up to northern Minnesota to run and camp out in the Boundary Waters or cross into Canada and camp in the Quetico. Often a bunch of teams would all run and camp out together. On one trip, they ran about 30 miles out across frozen lakes and portages and then set camp up for the night. It began to snow and by morning, their trail was covered. When it was time to head back to the trucks, some of the mushers were uncertain of the direction. All the bays looked the same, all the islands looked the same and all the distant hills looked the same. With snow falling there were no prominent landmarks. The mushers studied their maps and read their compasses and thought they knew the way back but they weren’t certain. They decided to put the Just Guts team with Ivedi in lead up front. Trusting her nose and sense of direction was the right thing to do. Without faltering, she led them back to their vehicles. Who needs a GPS when you have a great leader like Ivedi? Susan would have been proud!

At the age of 14, Ivedi retired from distance running but she continued to train pups like me. She taught me almost everything I know about being an outstanding sled dog and a great leader. Ivedi was the matriarch of the kennel – the alpha dog of our pack. She lived to run. Ivedi earned our respect and admiration because of her work ethic, natural ability, gentle nature, intelligence, athleticism, devotion, and leadership. Faithful friend and sturdy shelter perfectly describe Ivedi, our beloved and hallowed hero. What a dog!

Stay tuned to learn about why we chose DeeDee Jonrowe to be on our list of Heroines. Remember – when you are faced with a problem, be creative and do your best to turn it into a solution.

Born to Run,
Sanka

Comments: 3

Granite & Susan Butcher – Hero & Heroine by Sanka W. Dog

Posted by Sanka in Messages to Teachers, Reading and Writing Date: February 6, 2010

Susan Butcher being interviewed by reporters in Ruby

When speaking of Granite one has to mention Susan, when speaking of Susan one has to include Granite. Without Susan, Granite might have become a house pet. Without Granite, Susan might have been just an ordinary musher. Together they accomplished remarkable feats. That’s why they have both been named to the Just Guts Heroes, Heroines and Idols list. It only seems fitting that our Hero Granite and our Heroine Susan be featured in the same story.

As a puppy, Granite was the smallest of the litter and sickly. Folks advised Susan to give him away. However, right from the beginning Susan believed in the little pup and wanted him to succeed. That’s why she gave him the “strong” name of Granite. When young, Granite didn’t have any confidence. Susan says he was afraid of his own shadow but he worked hard and loved to race.

Granite’s first Iditarod was in 1984. In Iditarod Classics by Lew Freedman, Susan claims she didn’t choose him because of his skill; he was just the right age. During that race Granite got the chance to show her what a great athlete and leader he could be. He soon became Susan’s main leader and was instrumental in Butcher’s ‘86 & ‘87 Iditarod victories. Later that fall Granite became ill and it didn’t look like he would be competing in any more races.

In the fall of 1987, Granite collapsed on a run. Realizing that Granite was seriously ill, Susan rushed him to a vet where he was diagnosed with a kidney infection that caused a heat stroke. As a result, Granite would have to live with permanent heart, liver, kidney and brain damage – IF he lived at all. Susan stayed with him for every minute of two long scary weeks. Granite showed some improvement but the vet, sure that Granite would not live long, said his racing days were over.

After returning home, he was NOT happy staying behind while the other dogs went out on training runs. With permission from the vet, Susan began taking Granite for short walks then she let Granite run loose with the puppies. Then he began pulling the sled, leading for two-mile puppy runs. Granite continued to improve and wanted to run with the race dogs so finally Susan put him in lead for a 20-mile training run thinking she’d have to put him in the sled after a few miles and carry him home. But no, Granite lead for the entire distance! Later that winter, Susan decided to run Granite in the Portage 250, a short race out of Unalakleet. Nearing the finish, Susan, Granite and their team of two-year-old dogs were in the lead until Rick Swenson passed them. Susan says that Granite didn’t like being in second place. He literally turned on the burners and towed his young teammates down the trail. Worried that Granite was working too hard, Susan stopped the team and waited until Rick was out of sight before continuing on. Still determined to catch and pass Swenson, Granite charged down the trail leaving the young dogs no choice but to keep up. Before long, Granite and team passed Swenson and won the race. At that point Susan knew Granite was back and ready to run in Iditarod where they claimed a third consecutive win. With his remarkable comeback in 1988, Granite was awarded the Lolly Medley Golden Harness Award for being the lead dog making the greatest contribution to the race.

Our Heroine, Susan Butcher is the only woman to win Iditarod multiple times. Setting new time records, she won three consecutive races between 1986 and 1988 and then claimed a fourth victory in 1990. Susan completed her rookie Iditarod in 1978 and then ran every year through 1994. In seventeen races, she finished in the top 10 fifteen times. Susan, along with Iditarod founder, Joe Redington, Sr., have taken their dog teams to the summit of Denali, the highest peak in North America, an accomplishment that’s never been repeated. In her early years of racing, people didn’t think she’d ever have great dogs because she “babied” them. But after she won multiple Iditarods, people changed their tune. Now they said she wins because she takes the best care of her dogs and they take care of her.

In the ’85 Iditarod, Susan and team suffered a devastating set back. An angry moose charged the team. Granite was in the lead and fought the animal to defend his teammates. The moose kicked Granite into a tree and injured several other dogs. Although in the lead, Susan had to withdraw from the race to care for her disabled dogs. They went home and Susan tended to their injuries and nursed the dogs back to health. It was a long hard comeback for the wounded team but with Susan’s tender loving care, they were ready for the 1986 Iditarod.

In 2005, Susan received the shocking news that she had leukemia. She fought the disease with all of the strength and spunk she was known for. Sadly, Susan lost the fight against cancer in August of 2006. While in Ruby during the 2006 Iditarod, Handler met Susan Butcher. Handler asked Susan what she’d like to share with students who follow the race. She replied, “Cancer is a formidable challenge, but it can be beaten. I see heroes everyday who are living proof.” Memories of Susan continue to inspire all those who knew her and those who never had the opportunity.

These stories about Granite were summarized from Granite written by Susan Butcher and David Monson and from an interview with Susan recorded by Lew Freedman in Iditarod Classics. You would enjoy reading those books if you’re interested in learning more about Granite and Susan.

Here are a couple of questions for you to research. Besides Susan and Granite, what other mushers and lead dogs have three consecutive Iditarod victories? Can you name the other mushers who have achieved four Iditarod Championships? Stay tuned for our next story that will feature or Heroines DeeDee Jonrowe, Pam Flowers and Ivedi. When you encounter a barrier, do what Susan and Granite would do, turn it into a hurdle.

Born to Run,
Sanka

Comments: 1

Our Hero – BALDY OF NOME by Sanka W. Dog

Posted by Sanka in Alaskan History, Heroes, Heroines & Idols, Messages to Teachers, Reading and Writing Date: February 5, 2010

Black Jack

Thus far you have met our heroes Martin Buser, Bruce Linton, Balto and Togo. You have read about their great skills, determination and perseverance. Our hero, Baldy of Nome, has accumulated equally impressive accomplishments. Have you noticed that some of our heroes are from current times, some are from the recent past and some are from long ago in the gold rush days of early 1900? I guess the past is important and I’ve learned it’s really fun to learn about the past by studying history. Elders Baffin, Holstein and Tikchik provided a definition of a hero in my last story. For this story, I asked Black Jack to define hero. Black Jack is a big, no nonsense sort of dog. He always gets right to the point. He’s not only a leader, he’s wise and he’s the alpha dog of our kennel. All of the dogs respect Black Jack. When I first came to Just Guts, I knew He’d be a great friend and teacher. According to Black Jack, a hero is a dog (or person) who is respected for incredible accomplishments in adverse conditions. Black Jack also added his B-HOOPS theory. Heroes turn barriers into hurdles, obstacles into opportunities and problems into solutions. Isn’t Black Jack awesome?

Back in the days of the gold rush in Nome, a young boy by the name of Ben had a dog named Baldy. Times were tough for Ben and his family. Often they didn’t know where their next meal would come not to mention food for Baldy. In a great act of personal sacrifice, Ben put Baldy up for sale. Renowned musher, Scotty Allen purchased the homely mutt not so much for the dog’s potential as a racer but because he felt sorry for Ben. As Baldy trained with the other Allen dogs, Scotty saw in him a deep desire to please and excel. During the 1909 All Alaska Sweepstakes, in a blinding storm on hazardous trail, Scotty moved Baldy to lead – exactly where the dog longed to be. Pulling with all his strength, Baldy led the Allen team to their first Sweepstakes Victory. Murphy & Haigh tell us in Gold Rush Dogs, “Baldy proved himself to be a strong, faithful and willing leader.” Altogether, Baldy and Allen earned 3 victories and 5 other top three Sweepstakes finishes along with numerous victories in other races. But wait, it gets better!

It’s the Solomon Derby, a race run from Nome to Solomon and back. Baldy is in lead and the team is making good, if not great time as they near the turn around point of Solomon. Baldy senses that the sled is lighter than usual and notes that Scotty hasn’t been singing and talking to the dogs as he usually does. Baldy, overcome by the feeling that something was wrong, stopped the team and looked back to find that Scotty was missing. Swiftly, Baldy turned the team and sled around and headed back down the trail in search of their missing musher. A short distance back, they found him lying unconscious on the trail, bleeding from a gash in his head. Baldy hovered over his master, licking his face, pawing his chest and barking. It took some time but Scotty finally opened his eyes. It took a great amount of effort for him to crawl into the sled and then in a weak voice he told Baldy to turn around toward Solomon and continue the race. Slowly, everything came back to Scotty – as they were moving speedily along, he had heard something snap – bending over to inspect a runner – BAM, the lights went out. Scotty’s head had collided with an iron trail marker he never saw coming.

With an injured Scotty in the sled, Baldy and the rest of the team made it to the halfway point of Solomon ahead of all the other contestants. Everyone urged the dazed and still bleeding Allen to withdraw from the race. But quit was not a part of Allen’s vocabulary. He simply said, “Baldy and I can make it.” Indeed they did – they raced back Nome and took first place.

You can read about Baldy in Gold Rush Dogs by Murphy and Haigh. For a detailed and exciting story of Baldy’s life, you should read Esther Birdsall Darling’s Baldy of Nome. You can read it online like Black Jack and I did at www.gutenberg.org.

Well, there you it – our hero, Baldy. Wow, what a dog – he saved his musher’s life! Stay tuned for our next hero, Granite. Remember, do your best everyday to turn problems into solutions.

Born to Run,
Sanka

Comments: 3

TOGO – Our Hero! by Sanka W. Dog

Posted by Sanka in Alaskan History, Heroes, Heroines & Idols, Messages to Teachers Date: February 4, 2010

Elder Baffin

Since you’ve read Heroes, Heroines & Idols featuring our heroes Martin Buser, Bruce Linton and Balto, have you created definitions and a list of your own heroes? Have you taken time to define hero? I got together with some of the elder dogs in the kennel, Baffin, Holstein and Tikchik, to come up with the Just Guts definition of hero. Here’s what we came up with.

Because we are dogs, some of our heroes are canine and some are human. We think the same might be true for humans. When Gunner Kaasen came into Nome with the serum in early February of 1925, most certainly his hero was Balto. Heroes possess extraordinary gifts, talents and strength. They are known for their remarkable achievements, outstanding qualities, courageous actions and brave or amazing deeds. They are held in high esteem. A hero might also be called superman, brave man, champion, conqueror or idol. The elder dogs based their definition on a huge thick book called the Miriam-Webster Dictionary. I contributed by doing some research on the computer in the Encarta World English Dictionary.

Elder Hostein

Martin Buser’s run to Nome in 2005 with an injured hand definitely falls into the category of a remarkable achievement. He started the race and was able to finish in 13th place because of his extraordinary strength and his drive to persevere against adversity. How about Bruce Linton with his diabetes? We consider him to be a real superman. People told Bruce he shouldn’t compete in the Boston Marathon, the Ironman Triathlon or the Iditarod because he was diabetic. But because of his strength and courage Bruce was determined to accomplish what he wanted to in life rather than letting his medical condition rule. Both Martin and Bruce have prevailed to achieve their goals against steep odds. Now it’s time to share stories about Togo, another one of our heroes.

Elder Tikchik

Togo wasn’t always the famous Alaskan Siberian husky of the Serum Run. I learned in the books, Gold Rush Dogs by Murphy & Haigh and The Cruelest Miles by Salisbury & Salisbury that Togo was a sickly spoiled pup, hard to handle, difficult and mischievous. Leonhard Seppala actually found a new home for him, not once but twice, and twice Togo returned to where he was born. Finally Seppala gave in and decided to keep Togo. As a young pup, Togo rain along side Seppala’s team as they trained but he was always a nuisance nipping at their ears and tails. Once when Seppala had to make a very lengthy run to a mining camp, he confined Toga in the dog yard. Togo wanted to be with the team so he broke free and ran after the them. When Seppala came out of the roadhouse where he had spent the night, there was Togo waiting next to the sled. There was no way to send the bold eight-month-old puppy home so he was harnessed and put in wheel. Seventy-five miles later, Seppala realized that Togo had behaved better and worked harder than any of the other dogs. Seppala realized there was something special about this persistent, if not spunky puppy. Over time, Togo was promoted to lead, a position he held for 16 years. Seppala had found a great leader in the grown up dependable Togo.

After winning the All Alaska Sweepstakes three times, the Ruby Derby twice and numerous other races, Togo, teammates and Seppala were quite famous in Nome. No wonder they were chosen to head out from Nome, meet the serum and bring it safely to the children. Over the 261 miles from Nome to Shaktoolik and back to Golovin, Togo and team experienced Alaska’s most brutal weather. True air temperatures reached 50 degrees below zero. Winds gusted to 50 miles per hour and created wind chills that were unimaginable. “Blizzard” didn’t adequately describe the winter storm conditions, at zero visibility, Togo had to follow the trail with his nose. After Seppala received the Serum from Henry Ivanoff on Norton Bay outside of Shaktoolik, Togo lead the team on a risky but time-saving short cut across the heaving ice of Norton Bay to Isaac’s Point. With his sixth sense for danger, Togo did what he was famous for. Believing in Togo’s leadership, Seppala turned the team over to him to safely cross the dangerous sea ice.

With Togo in lead, Leonhard Seppala drove 170 miles from Nome to Shaktoolik to meet the serum and then returned 91 miles to Golovin. Altogether, Togo covered 261 miles in the race to save the children of Nome, a far greater distance than any of the other teams in the relay. In The Cruelest Miles, Salisbury describes Togo as a dog that didn’t look like a leader – he was small, about 48 pounds, with a black, brown and grayish coat but he was large when it came to courage, intelligence, speed and dependability. In 1925, at the age of 12, Togo was amazingly “fast, strong and alert.” After all, beauty is only skin deep and it’s not the size of the dog, it’s the size of the heart inside the dog that counts.

Well, there you have it – some great stories about our hero, Togo. What a dog! If you haven’t already done so, read Gold Rush Dogs by Murphy and Haigh and The Cruelest Miles by Salisbury & Salisbury. They are packed full of stories about great dogs and the events that made them great. By the way, if you ever get to Alaska, Togo’s body has been preserved and is on display at Iditarod Headquarters in Wasilla.

Stay tuned for more hero stories and remember the Togo saying – it’s not the size of the dog; it’s the size of the heart inside the dog that counts.

Born to Run,
Sanka

Tagged: Seppala, Serum Run Comments: 1

Heroes, Heroines & Idols by Sanka W. Dog

Posted by Sanka in Alaskan History, Heroes, Heroines & Idols, Messages to Teachers Date: February 2, 2010

Storm Watch Siberians wondering who will watch TV tonight.

My good friends, the Siberian Huskies from Storm Watch Kennel up there in Wasilla, Alaska just across the road from where I used to live at the Redington’s, have their own television watching room in the musher’s house! With a huge wall television, leather couches and chairs, a really durable floor, a large bucket of treats and big tall bowls of cool fresh water, it’s quite luxurious. Every night a few of the huskies go inside to watch some TV and relax human style with their musher, Wayne Curtis. Wayne and the Sibes seem to agree that American Idol and Heroes are their favorite shows. Down here at Just Guts, we don’t watch much television except for football on Sunday evening but we do talk about our heroes, heroines and idols on other evenings and sunny afternoons when we’re not working.

Our list of Heroes includes Martin Buser, Bruce Linton, Balto, Togo, Baldy of Nome and Granite. Susan Butcher, DeeDee Jonrowe, Pam Flowers and Ivedi have made our list of Heroines. All of these creatures have done miraculous things in the face of adversity and extremely challenging situations. We have some idols too – Jeff King, Rick Swenson and Lance Mackey.

A few days before Iditarod began in 2005, Martin Buser cut part of a finger off in a saw while doing some fancy woodwork project. Unless you’ve had an injury like that, you can’t imagine the pain. Everyone thought Martin would withdraw from the race to let his finger heal but no. Martin said, yes I’m in a lot of PAIN but my dogs have trained hard and they deserve to run this race. It won’t be easy but I’ll endure the pain and do what is necessary to get this team to Nome. I still have one good hand, I’ll figure out how to manage the pain; bootie, feed and care for my dogs; drive the sled; and take care of myself. They ran the race and amazingly finished in 13th place.

Bruce Linton, an Iditarod veteran of three races, is a Type 1 diabetic who needs to inject insulin daily. As a diabetic, Bruce focuses on living life in a healthy way. From experience he knows that exercise is important in keeping his blood sugar in a healthy range. His impressive list of athletic accomplishments includes 12 marathons including 3 Boston finishes, 3 Ironman Triathlons and 3 Iditarods. Bruce is convinced that diabetics can achieve anything as long as they take care of themselves, live a healthy lifestyle and have a positive attitude. Bruce models this belief in his lifestyle and has renamed his kennel – No Limits Dog Sled Kennel. He’s improved his place every year that he’s run Iditarod – 55th to 46th to 28th. Do you suppose he can finish in the top 20 in Iditarod 2010?

You all know about Balto – he was the lead dog of the relay team that delivered the much needed diphtheria anti-toxin to Nome. The weather conditions were horrible between Bluff and Nome but Gunnar Kaasen and the relentless dogs led by Balto covered the final 53 miles delivering the serum to the waiting Dr. Welsh. We read in The Cruelest Miles that after the brave driver handed the serum over to Dr. Welch, he stumbled up to Balto where he collapsed praising his brilliant unstoppable leader.

You and your classmates might consider these questions and activities. What is the difference between a hero, heroine and an idol? Create a list of criteria for each category. Create your own list of heroes, heroines and idols. After you’ve made your list, look for common characteristics they all share. Does it match your list of criteria? Create a list of synonyms for each of the categories – hero, heroine and idle.

To read the biographies of our heroes Martin Buser and Bruce Linton, just go to www.iditarod.com and click on 2010 Iditarod and then choose Musher Listing. Visit www.buserdog.com and www.nolimitssleddogkennel.com to learn more about Martin and Bruce and their preparations for Iditarod 2010. You can learn more about Balto from two of our favorite books – The Cruelest Miles by Salisbury and Gold Rush Dogs by Murphy & Haigh.

Stay tuned for more stories about our heroes, heroines and idles. Remember, in everything do your best and as Bruce Linton would say, there are no limits!

Born to Run,
Sanka

Comments: 0

Something Pink for Dogs

Posted by Libby in Messages to Teachers, Race Coverage Date: January 29, 2010

Libby here!

Doesn’t this look yummy? Oh but this is not something to eat!

This is a special ointment that is made special for the sled dogs!

Each year, a group of Iditarod volunteers meet at Iditarod Headquarters for a very important job! The volunteers mix up a special recipe that can be used on the sled dog’s paws. Dr. Nelson, Chief Veterinarian for the race, provides the recipe and works with the volunteers.

Thanks, volunteers! The jobs you do are so important!

Just Spinning de ‘tails’,

Libby

Comments: 27

Community Challenge- Shared Gifts

Posted by Gypsy in Community Challenge Project, Community Service, Messages to Teachers Date: January 18, 2010

shared gifts 002

Hi Boys and Girls,

I sure have been busy this weekend. It started on Friday when my humans said I needed a bath. They said I smelled like a dog. Well DUH! I don’t understand why humans want us to smell like them and not like we should. Anyway, my human told me that I was going to a special event on Saturday and that little humans would be hugging me and giving me belly rubs so I needed to smell good (meaning not like a dog). Well I’ll do just about anything for a belly rub so I went and took a bath. I have to admit I looked better as my fur was really soft and fluffy.

What a great time we had on Saturday. The event was a fund raiser for a group called Shared Gifts. Shared gifts is an organization that helps individuals (children and adults) with special needs, learn how to love, care and ride retired, elderly, or once abused horses. Marcia Evans has run the 4H Easy Riders Program for the past 40 years and The Merrimack Valley Equestrian Special Olympics program for the past 20 years. The money raised on Saturday goes to support these 2 very worthy causes. The main fund raiser for this year was a raffle. You will never guess what the grand prize was– A 6 day trip to Alaska for the Iditarod. Can you believe that??? Iditarod musher Judy Currier donated her frequent flyer airline mileage for the plane tickets. That was really nice of her. The winner will stay in Alaska at a Bed and Breakfast and will attend the Mushers Banquet the Start and Restart. Now that’s a prize! The raffle drawing was the last thing that took place. Before that there were a couple of other organizations there raising money, there were a few demonstrations and/or talks, and there was an I-kid-a-rod.

The New Hampshire Special Olympics had a table. They were representing the High School Penguin Plunge to be held February

6th. A Penguin Plunge is where humans jump in a lake, the ocean or another body of water when it’s freezing cold. The humans usually form teams and family and friends give them money to do this. The money collected goes to the organization- in this case- NH Special Olympics. I think it’s a pretty unique way to raise money. Good luck to everyone participating on Feb. 6th.

shared gifts 019 One of the favorite groups at this event was Peace and Paws. Peace and Paws is a non profit organization dedicated to finding loving homes for abandoned and homeless pets. It is run by Melissa and Bo who started the organization after adopting a dog for their family. Each dog is placed in foster care first. After an application and introduction process the dogs are placed in their forever home. Peace and Paws brought several of their adoptable dogs with them. They were such nice dogs. I wanted my humans to take all of them home with us. My humans seem to think the 10 dogs we have are enough! You can get more information about Peace and Paws by going to: www.peaceandpaws.org I sure hope the new fur friends I made found good forever homes due to this event.

There were several outside events going on also. It was such a beautiful sunny day that the outside events were a

big success. One group had a display on Chinook dogs. A Chinook is the New Hampshire state dog. The Chinook is one of the few breeds that was bred in America-(in New Hampshire) in the early 1900’s. It was bred for it’s intelligence and for being a good sled dog. For more information about this breed you can go to: www.chinook.org. I was able to meet two Chinooks at the event. They were having a great time greeting the participants and getting big hugs from the children.

The Hopkinton High School Interact Club put on an I-Kid-a-Rod. They used sleds that were made out of heavy corrugated cardboard. The cardboard sleds were attached to a regular wooden childrens sled. Then stuffed dogs were placed in the sleds along with equipment for the race. The children were to pull the sleds (just like us dogs do) to a variety of checkpoints. At each checkpoint the children had to do something- check for equipment, check booties, have the vets check them etc. It was so much fun. Has your class or school ever had an I-Kid-a-Rod?

My humans, my grandma Lyra and I, set up a sled with all the lines, had our dog truck open for viewing, and gave a small presentation. For me that was the best part of the day. I love teaching humans about dog sledding. The little humans were my size and they gave me lots of kisses, hugs, and BELLY RUBS!!!!! I made some new doggie friends also. Then I got some special treats! I can’t think of a better way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

Congratulations to Mary who put on this event. She has worked very hard the past few weeks to make sure this event was a success. Congratulations also to the winner of the raffle. I know you will have a great time up in Alaska.

That’s it for now. I hope this has given some of you ideas about what you could do for the Community Challenge Zuma has told you about.

Happy Trails,
Gypsy

Comments: 3

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

Ivedi – our Local Heroine by Sanka W. Dog

Granite & Susan Butcher – Hero & Heroine by Sanka W. Dog

Our Hero – BALDY OF NOME by Sanka W. Dog

TOGO – Our Hero! by Sanka W. Dog

Heroes, Heroines & Idols by Sanka W. Dog

Something Pink for Dogs

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