The Snowmachine and the Dog

The big news in the world of sled dog racing is Lance Mackeys recent encounter with a snow machine near Nome, Alaska. (In Alaska snow mobiles are called snow machines) His most prized racing pooch, Zorro, has been seriously injured.
The obvious issue is how and when to mandate limitations of snow machine use near sled dog races and this is causing some spirited arguments. In effect: who owns the trails- the local residents on their machines or the "visiting mushers". Then all sorts of venom gets spewed about drunks, racing, common courtesy, safety, etc...Obviously at least attention has been brought to this issue. Some defend the locals right to zoom around in the middle of the night (Mackeys dog was hit around midnight) But where in the world are they going that is so important at that time & why can't the sled dogs take temporary priority?? In my opinion, nighttime use is the primary concern.
The other interesting topic that stems from this controversy is why do so many people become so concerned over an injured sled dog?? Here in Alaska it was front page news, so of course some sour-pusses needed to point out that everyone cries over a dog, but ignores all the suffering of human kind blah, blah....
So I put some thought into this. It is no secret that people often have more sympathy towards animals than humans, so what gives? I have two theories.
One is that animals are perceived as innocent victims, subject to all of our "top of the food chain" nonsense, so we naturally throw some additional empathy their way.
Second theory: there are BILLIONS of human beings on this earth. Just too many for our little heads to even begin and sympathize with. Meanwhile, so many animals are rare and in limited supply. Like in Alaska: 8,000 wolves vs. 600,000 residents, which is more interesting from a rarity point of view? Same goes for whales or sled dogs, just not that many around, which increases our interest. Again, these are just my theories...

That Pesky Oil Addiction

A few days ago, I saw an interview on PBS with the head of Shell Oil. His predictable spin was also sprinkled with quasi-green statements, such as "It will be a slow process to ween Americans from their addiction to oil". I can't guarantee if he used the word "addiction", but it was something similar. Yet I just couldn't believe he was suggesting that he somehow wanted Americans to use less oil ?!? This from the man who stated in the same interview, that there would be mass Urban riots if domestic oil drilling isn't increased soon....
So I thought more about this oil addiction we all have. It's not as if the obvious pusher of our consumption problem wasn't big oil themselves. They have made sure that the American public really wouldn't know where to begin without oil--I mean petroleum is in our plastics, gasoline, heating oil and even moisturizers. Not to mention the fuel requirements needed to ship all our classy Wal-Mart supplies from China & our frequent flights to Disneyland.
I'm just as guilty as anyone, and feel sick to my stomach thinking--how could I reduce oil consumption personally?? In Alaska, public transportation is looked upon as socialist, and nobody wants to fund it. Thus unless you go by dogsled, I'm doomed to the car. Even walking is pretty difficult when many walking paths are run over with crazy ATV traffic.
Next there's the heat question: we have switched to half time wood heat, but I'm not sure if chopping down 50 year old birch trees for fuel is really any kind of solution. And our personal geographical situation makes wind & solar impossible .
So here's my personal "To Do list" (challenge) to reduce oil consumption.
1- Eliminate plastics in packaging, housewares, etc... (not too hard since we prefer glass anyway)
2- Don't buy domestic items with petroleum, like synthetic moisturizers or even synthetic fibers.
3- Our next car should be a hybrid SUV
4- Buy local when possible, especially produce and other food.
5- Stick to a small house, look into gas heat (is that any better in the long run...?)
6- Advocate for more bus/rail options and real sidewalks.

Yikes! Even this ideal list isn't a perfect solution, but I don't know if there is a twelve step plan out there??

The Riches of the River

At the risk of sounding overly sentimental, I feel the need to muse about my river. Our family lives on a magnificent glacial river, that actually turns wicked and grey all summer long, but for the rest of the year is a beautiful greenish blue, with rocky outcroppings.
This river provides little ponds, that make three ice skating rings right in front of our home. I can't think of a greater luxury than private ice skating with mountain and river views.

Yet, when city folks visit us, their closed-minded view of wealth only sees our old dilapidated house--the sagging roof, one tiny bathroom, and crooked doors. They assume we are somehow suffering, or haven't made it professionally. But I know that so often these folks in their perfect 3 bathroom house are quite depressed or bored. They don't even know why--because they've "made it"after all.

In the meantime, I will continue to appreciate the beauty I have--the woods, abundant berries, and river sand bars. These riches can't be bought at your local mall, making them the most valuable of all...........

Iditarod Dog Days are Ending

The top ten mushers of the Iditarod sled dog race have already crossed the finish line in Nome today. So the last great race is coming to an end, although it will take many more days for the final dog teams to wrap it up.
I am blessed that in Alaska they show about an hour of news coverage (twice this time!) of the crowds in Nome waiting for the mushers, the final sprint to victory and then interviews with the winner. As I do every year, I sat glued to the TV as the crowds cheered Lance Mackey, the governor made the ceremonial congratulatory phone call and the media jumped up and down. Meanwhile, the dogs looked pretty joyous as well and Mackey's dogs kept licking the frozen snot off his whiskers during the interviews--good stuff.
I wondered to myself-- why in the world does watching this race, and the excitement it creates, such an incredible experience for me???
So I have come to the conclusion that this great sled dog race (the one so many animal groups actually hates) represents everything I love about Alaska and why I am here. So many Alaskans come here for jobs, family or marriage, but we came here for Alaska alone. I wanted to see adventure and unique experiences and that's what the Iditarod is.
From the beginning in Anchorage when they squeeze over 1,000 dogs into downtown, to the news reports from quirky and remote Native villages, to reliving the drama of the hazards that I read about years ago in "Winterdance".
It is so very unique and Alaska's own.
I don't know why I can't enjoy what the masses do, why do I only seek the other? How come I hate Sam's Club and CSI and block buster movies?? Why don't I care about Steve Madden shoes, Applebees or Gucci bags?
This bizarre and crazy sled dog race is simply my version of the Super bowl. May they mush on!

Who Can be a Pregnant Governor?

I really have no choice but to comment on the most interesting piece of Alaskan news--well besides the Iditarod that is. As all the inhabitants of the great North know by now, the governor is with child, at 44 years, and nobody even knew!
It shocked me like it did everyone else, and then I immediately began following the message boards to see what other Alaskans or poser-Alaskans had to say about this tid-bit. Fortunately most folks are kind and simply wish the family well. Yet, the hate-mongers have to get their venom out too, and it is always such a surprise. From these message Boards I have learned that Palin is secretly a liberal (?) , pregnant women can't be taken seriously and that Senator Obama loves Osama. Whatever that has to do with pregnant Palin I don't know.
I wish I didn't know the disturbing thoughts of my fellow citizens, but alas I ventured forth and received.
But enough about the idiots. I feel sorry for our Republican Governor. I didn't vote for her, but I certainly can empathize that she is stuck between a rock and a hard place. No matter what she does now she will be criticized. Too much baby in the office- not a serious worker, too much time working sans baby--then she is a bad mother! Poor woman. And it is interesting to note that most of this criticism will probably come from her own party. I hope she just has the opportunity to hide out and work from home without anyone even knowing what's going on. In my opinion, she is already amazing to be 7 months pregnant, flying all over the country and giving speeches, holding on to a stressful job, yet looking calm & rested.

IDITAROD 2008 - Off They Go!!

Every year we sincerely enjoy watching the Iditarod mushers launch off for their adventure into the great Alaskan Wilderness. This year an unprecedented amount of mushers have begun the race: 96 teams. Also I noticed an increase in the amount of Europeans competing with representatives from Germany, England, Norway, Belgium and Italy.
Of course with the excitement of Iditarod comes the complaints of the naysayers. I just did a quick Google search to read up on some of the doomsayers impressions of this sport and what I found was utterly amazing. Comments like all mushers beat their dogs, the dogs are dragged to their death and even made into mittens!! Incredible stuff.
I can only imagine that the Iditarod critics have never seen the race in person. The crazy way the dogs leap with joy to begin running, the obsessive veterinary care, or the HUGE public outcry when a musher gets caught hurting a dog. Maybe sled dogging years ago was a more brutal sport, but these days great care is taken to keep it humane.
Off the top of my head, here are just a few of the positives this race brings:
1- Interest in an outdoor sport, with minimal environmental impact. Just come to Alaska and see how many people love to "tear shit up" on ATV's and snowmachines and you'll be begging for more dog teams.
2- History and tradition. The Iditarod keeps the public interested and financially supporting an ancient arctic tradition. It is a great experience for the youths in small villages with a proud history.
3- The only gender and age neutral sport I know of. The humans are incredible athletes when they run Iditarod, and they literally run. Many mushers spend most of the race running behind or in front of the sleds to motivate the dogs. And I have never seen a more varied pool of human athletes, where 18 year old boys compete in the same competition as 62 year old women and vice versa!
4- Mushers are dog lovers and some dogs just love to run. I'm sorry, but why is keeping an obese cock-a-poodle on a couch more humane than running a dog through the snow?

I just wish the energies of the anti-sled dog people could be used for better things. So many nations treat dogs much worse that the Unites States or so many dogs are euthanized daily in this country. Even worse, what about the treatment of pigs, waiting to become bacon? They are about as smart as dogs, but not many people care about the poor pig.