Alaskan Ironmen, Ironwomen and Dogs

March 10, 2014

Alaska hosted its two marquee events of the year, and both of them were dog sled races. The first one being known as the "Toughest" race on the planet, the Yukon Quest. It's a 1000 mile trek along the Klondike Gold Rush mail and transportation trail established in the 1800s. It takes place in the harshest of winter conditions on a rugged trail. The other showcase is the Iditarod, billed as "The Last Great Race on Earth," the most popular sporting event in Alaska, which starts in Anchorage and ends in Nome, also a 1000 miler.

Who are the real Ironmen and women who do this? The majority of the competitors are Alaskans, but these events do attract an international field. A lot of the participants belong to families who competed throughout the generations. Both men and women have entered these races. The Iditarod received significant attention outside of Alaska when a woman won the event. In 1985 Libby Riddles, a long shot, won, and Susan Butcher did it three times.

Of course, let's not forget the super dogs who can handle the endeavor. Your pooch at home is not ready for anything like this. Can you even imagine driving a sled of dogs in the dead of winter for a thousand miles? The last time I checked, the Iron Man Competition is a Triathlon that ends in one day. These races go on for over a week. This sport also has no actual downtime; if you are not training, you are tending and developing a team.

The majority of people think that the sled dogs would be a big furry Husky-type breed. Through the years of cross-breeding, the modern racing dogs are mixed and bred for speed, tough feet, endurance, good attitude, and most importantly, the desire to run. Each team is composed of twelve to sixteen dogs, and no more can be added during the race. There is a minimum of six that must cross the finish line. The dogs are well looked over and are examined at every checkpoint.

Both races contain checkpoints about every two hundred miles where some provisions are supplied, and veterinarians check the dogs. The musher and his team are sledding along frozen rivers, and mountain ranges through isolated villages. Temperatures commonly drop to -60 F, and winds can reach 50 miles an hour or more at higher elevations. Aside from the weather conditions and the dogs' well-being, the mushers must break through mental and body fatigue. Maintaining focus without drifting off into a sleep deprivation state can be dangerous.

This year, the Yukon Quest was won by Allen Moore, who crossed the finish line at Takhina Hot Springs in the early morning. His time was 8 days, 14 hours, and 21 minutes which made it a consecutive victory. When you talk to Moore, he gives a lot of credit to his lead dog Quito. She was the recipient of the Golden Harness Award and a custom-made golden-colored harness and some fresh steaks. Moore was quoted as saying, "But mainly we have good dogs right now, and they're hard to come by, just like any basketball or football squad. Once you can assemble those pieces, you will be a pretty good team for a few years. "

This year's Iditarod champ is Dallas Seavy, with his time of 8 days, 13 hours, and 6 minutes. It was a challenging year for the event because of dangerous weather and injuries to mushers and dogs. The lack of snowfall and icy conditions made it difficult maneuvering.

The race began on March 2nd with 69 teams, and 53 finished. As the finishers crossed the line in Nome, temperatures were below zero degrees. The Iditarod winner received $50,000 and a new truck. After that, the 29 other sledders receive prizes decreasing in size.

The history of these races is storied and exciting to read about as well. Most people only know slight references to these races and the culture that surrounds them. Take time to research, and you will find yourself intrigued and curious to see the events every winter in Alaska.