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

Tags: Iditarod, Sled Dogs, Anchorage

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!

Tags: Iditarod, Sled Dogs, Wasilla, Cart Ride, Puppies