WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 7

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 7:

     Overcast & cool this morning.  Drove over to Wasilla to go to the Iditarod Headquarters and Museum.  As implied in the name, this is where all the administrative work of this legendry race takes place.  A few paid staff, and hundreds of volunteers – everyone from pilots to vets.

     And they have a very nice little museum.  We saw two excellent films, and learned a great deal about the Iditarod race.  It was organized and begun in 1973 by Joe Redington, a guy who had true Alaskan character – tough, inventive, master of a lot of trades, determined.   He wanted to honor and continue the tradition of the importance that mush dogs had played in Alaskan history – especially in the interior.  One of the more dramatic examples was back in the 1920’s, when teams of these dogs had played a crucial role in helping save young lives in Nome.  A diphtheria outbreak had hit there, and children’s lives depended on receiving the antitoxin serum quickly.  Before the days of bush planes or snowmobiles, the only way there was to deliver the medicine was by dog sled.  Teams of mushers and their dogs (20 and 150, respectively, “raced” (not literally) over the 675 miles to get the medicine to this remote outpost.  They did it in 5 ½ days.   

     So Mr. Redington did what it took to re-establish the old historic trail and organize the first race.

 

      And it’s become a world class event since then – in recent years there have been about 70 competing mushers and their dog teams, with about 25% of those being from outside of Alaska.  This year, five were from Finland.  We learned that these dogs are doing what they were born to do and love doing – run!  It’s not a chore nor any mistreatment of them at all. 

 

 

     Proof of that was when we went outside to get a ride on a wagon pulled by a team of the dogs.  There were 10 of them – 5 pairs, all hitched up.  As soon as we hopped up into the wagon, they knew what was coming, and they got so excited – tails wagging, barking, saying, “Let’s go, Let’s go!” Like Pappy when he knows that he’s about to go on a walk. 

 

       These were dogs who had come in 6^th in last year’s Iditarod race.  And the musher was no other than the founder’s son – Raymie Redington, who’s competed in the race 13 times and from whose kennel these dogs came.                                                                        

 

Even though the trail was only ¼ of a mile long, and of course no snow, the dogs ran their hearts out and gave us a great fun ride!  And we were told that this exercise helps keep them in condition.

     We also got to see some little puppies, whom guests are free to pick up and cuddle, but after being played with and handled by several kids, they were worn out when it was our turn!  These pups will go for a high price, as they come from the Redington line and are highly valued.

 

 

      This was a really nice, fun, relaxing day to spend an afternoon – and free, except for the $10 ticket each for the wagon ride.  

 

      Then we hit the Wasilla WalMart to stock up and get some Rx’s refilled.  It’s been a long time since we’ve shopped in civilization – almost seemed like sensory overload.   Also succumbed to the McDonald’s there – we haven’t eaten at one since we’ve been in Alaska, I don’t think.