2012 Iditarod Start in Anchorage
08/03/12 16:59 Filed in: Iditarod Sled Dog Race
John and I went to downtown Anchorage to enjoy the ceremonial start of the 40th running of the Iditarod Sled Dog Race. It was a bark-fest as Fourth Avenue and the side streets were lined with teams preparing to make their way to the starting line. Click here to have a listen. Sound of Iditarod 40
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.