/ 2007 Archived Material / Trail Tidbits 6

Target Iditarod Teacher on the Trail^™ Trail Tidbits 6

by Kim Slade

Iditarod 2007!

Today the streets of Anchorage filled with thousands of people all coming to watch the 2007 running of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.  The first Saturday in March is the celebratory start of the Iditarod and is a time where many can come downtown to view the teams up close.  Mushers are in relaxed moods, so they are willing to talk and sign autographs.  This year eighty-two teams signed up to give fans a show.  For many it was not their first trip to the race.  I spoke with a couple that has been coming for thirteen years to see their favorite mushers and the dogs! 

 I meet many people and dogs on the streets (See below to see the different breeds).  The primary dog of the Iditarod is the Alaskan husky.  These dogs have been breed to be excellent long distance runners.  Their bodies are relatively small and although muscular, they typically weigh about 45-50 pounds - unlike the Siberian husky that can weigh twenty pounds more.  As you may be able to see from the pictures below, the Alaskan huskies do not have a very thick undercoat of fur.  Alaskan huskies also come in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes.

 Hike!

Thanks to Wells Fargo, I was fortunate enough to ride as an Idita-rider and rode in the sled of musher Matt Rossi.  He, his wife Paula, and their handlers went out of their way to make this an unbelievable experience!  I got to met the team, stand on the runners of the sled for pictures, and find out more about the sport. 

 As I settled in my seat - made up in the basket (where the gear is normally stored), tears came to my eyes as I realized what I was about to do.  It was a very emotional time, so I recorded it – that way I can reflect back again and again and relive those precious moments.  As we headed off down the trail, the fans shouted and cheered for Matt, - wishing him luck and congratulating him.  One thing I noticed as we went through the city, the dogs seemed to take a while to find their rhythm, but once we were along the ski and sled dog trails of the city’s parks, they found a comfortable pace.  Mushing on, I also noticed the sound of the sled changed as the snow conditions changed.  It was very quiet and extremely serene. 

 Thank you to Matt Rossi and his dedicated team of dogs!  This was a beautiful experience I have tucked it inside my heart and will remember always!

 Where is Jack?

As Jack continues to follow along the trail with me, he too is getting to experience some amazing things.  He found out today that it costs about $1.00 to $1.50 per dog, per day when feeding a kennel of dogs.  Help him figure out how much that would be for a kennel of 40 dogs for the entire year.