Today was another fun day to share with Ben and Jack. We met up with our guide at Mitch Steavey’s Iditarod
training facility. We were first given
on overview of the course for the race that is held yearly in March. Mitch Steavey won the race in 2004 and 2013
and his son Dallas won in 2012 and 2014.
They are definitely a mussing family. The race is 1049 miles to Nome
requires year rounds training of the dogs and also provided us with the opportunity
to ride in a sled with a musher. Besides
making money for the dog owners, the dogs are being trained while they are
pulling us around. Each team runs about
10 miles on a dirt road through a beautiful forest with us holding on for dear
life. After our ride we visited the
“prep room” where ll of the gear is stored.
We saw the sleds used in the race, their gear, heard about how they
carry food and provisions for the dogs as well as themselves. Our guide told us that he had run his first
race this past year and what an experience it was for him. We also saw the Iditarod first place trophies. Next we got to meet up close and personal 7
puppies that were only 6 days old. We
asked why the mother would let us all hold her puppies and were told “she
trusts us” and watch how she counts the puppies when I put them back.” Sure enough - she watched each one and then
joined them in their house.
Our next stop was the Exit Glacier. This is one of only a few glaciers that you
can actually get up close to. It
required about a 1 ½ mile hike, but was well worth it. Ben and Jack even forged a stream to get
closer, but Bernie and I stayed on dry land and just enjoyed the view.
Dog kennels - the dogs go crazy barking - saying "pick me, pick me"
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