Sled Dog Steals the Spotlight

A little bit of Alaska visited on Wednesday.

Borage, a lean and handsome Alaskan Husky, was visiting the library with his “musher” Karen Land. A long line of schoolchildren came to meet the sled dog in person.

Land is a veteran participant in the Iditarod, the well-known Anchorage-to-Nome dog sled race.  The 1,000-mile race commemorates the 1925 trek by sled dogs carrying serum to Nome, saving the children there from a diphtheria outbreak in 1925.

Land’s journey to Iditarod started in Indianapolis where, as a college student, she adopted Kirby, a stray Catahoula hound. He was such a “spaz,” she said, that she was constantly searching for ways to tire him out. They hiked and camped, and she found that she loved being outdoors.

“Kirby got me addicted to hiking and in really great shape,” said Land.

Kirby and Land hiked the Appalachian Trail. Along the way, she read Gary Paulsen’s book, Winter’s Dance, The Fine Madness of Running the Iditarod, about sled dogs and mushing.

“It seemed way cooler than hiking the Appalachian Trail,” she said.  

In graduate school, Land worked on a documentary about a rookie dog sledder and met veterinarian Terry Atkins, who has raced Iditarod 21 times. He invited her to become a dog handler, so she left school, traveled to Montana and worked with him for six years.

During Land’s talk, Borage worked the room, getting his ears and belly stroked, sniffing pockets and purses for treats. Though surrounded by adoring children, he was very laid back.  When he had enough attention, he moved back through the crowd and found a place near Land to lie down. He even caught a quick nap.

Land talked at length about preparing the dogs and herself for the big race.  Prior to racing in Iditarod, mushers need to log 750 qualifying miles in other races.

“We need to prove that we are capable of taking care of our dog team in adverse conditions,” said Land.

Just the logistics of shipping enough food and clothing (for the dogs – booties, belly protectors, ear snuggies and coats) to Alaska is significant. The dogs need 10,000 calories a day when racing - which comes in all forms, including a stinky concoction called "Beaver Stew", that the dogs love.

Land's sled was in the room and she demonstrated how lightweight it is (when not fully loaded).

Land described hitching the dogs to the sled, which first requires hitching the sled to something really secure. Even a half-team of ready to go sled dogs can pull a truck down the road.

Area resident (and dog lover) Katie Eldridge was in the audience. Eldridge had just returned from Alaska, having worked as an Iditarod volunteer at this year’s race. She and Land talked for a little while and compared notes. Land gave credit to the hundreds of volunteers who make the race possible, who assist with logistics, dog care and much more along the way.

Borage’s demeanor and Land’s easy, engaging storytelling  had the audience in their paws/hands for the whole two hours. As the library was closing, people were still asking questions and posing for pictures with Borage. 

Being the pro he is, he was happy to sit and smile. 

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