Iditarod Puppies
22/06/11 14:10 Filed in: Iditarod
Iditarod Headquarters - Wasilla, Alaska
It’s so much fun to ride in the dog cart at Iditarod Headquarters!
I got to hold these ten day old pups! They are from the ten puppy “tree” litter. Because mushers typically have over 20 dogs in a kennel, when they have a litter, they name them with a theme. It helps them to keep the dogs straight. So, they may be named, Spruce, Birch, Alder, Willow or Aspen, among others. Raymie and Barb haven’t decided who is who yet.
Iditarod veteran, Raymie Reddington’s runs the cart rides. Raymie’s father, Ray Reddinton Sr. is the “Father of the Iditarod”, the person who founded the race. The Iditarod began because Ray loved dogs and mushing and he could foresee that as a sport and a lifestyle mushing was becoming a thing of the past. Four-wheelers and snowmachines were taking over in Alaska’s bush. He decided that a long distance race from Anchorage to Nome to commemorate the diphtheria serum run that saved the City of Nome in 1925 would help revive the sport. Did it ever!
Northern Trail
15/06/11 15:06 Filed in: Iditarod
We always enjoy the opportunity to visit Martin Buser at Happy Trails Kennel on our Northern Trail tour. Martin is in the black t-shirt and his able assistant and Iditarod rookie finisher Magnus who is from Norway is on the left. Besides being a four-time champion of the Iditarod Sled Dog Race, one of the most intriguing endurance races on the planet, he is about the most personable guy I ever met. His tours are warm, funny, engaging and interactive.
But make no mistake, Martin is above all a smart and innovative competitor. In fact, some of the rules of the Iditarod are on the books because of his creativity and smarts on how to go faster. Dog care is paramount to Martin. He has won the coveted Leonhard Seppala Humanitarian Award four times for taking the best care of his dogs along the trail. He has also won the Sportsmanship and Most Inspirational awards.
Martin’s welcome arch symbolizes the famous burled arch which marks the end of the Iditarod in Nome.
Alaska Wildlife - Mukluk the Musk Ox finds her home
13/06/11 18:31 Filed in: Alaska Wildlife
Mukluk being fed at about 3 months of age. Every year Alaskan visitors enjoy the new spring babies at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. The caribou, musk ox, elk, and wood bison all gave birth in the last month.
The center was originally established for the preservation of the wood bison but evolved into a center dedicated to the care or orphaned and injured animals and providing wildlife awareness and education and Alaska’s most visited attraction. Now covering 200 acres, 15 habitats are home to well over 80 animals including brown and black bears, moose, musk-oxen, caribou, coyotes, elk, and birds of prey in addition to the wood bison.
In June 2010, an orphaned baby musk ox named Mukluk was brought to the center. Her mother was killed by a grizzly bear in defense of her life. Oilfield workers found her, contacted Alaska Fish & Game who brought the little one to AWCC. When I first saw her I thought she was a bear, but nothing was right about that, not the color, shape or fur quality. I was delighted to find out she was a musk ox and it has been such a joy watching her grow.
Mukluk was eventually placed in an enclosure across the road from the main herd and initially they showed interest in her, but she showed none in them. That she is bigger, stronger and has sprouted her horn nubs, the decision was made to move her in with the herd.
So, just last week she was moved over. Everyone was so nervous because she had been hand raised and we all wanted to protect her. We humans were convinced she did not know she was a musk ox. Would they accept her or charge her? Would she stand by the fence not wanting to go? What was going to happen? But when she was put into the large enclosure, she took off confidently, just like she knew what she was doing. After a short encounter with Slide, the main male, when she nibbled on his horns, all was well. Now she is happily doing what musk ox do, being a part of a herd.