Iditarod Dreams

The Iditarod makes me cry--especially watching the ending at Front Street in Nome, Alaska. (they show this live on TV in Alaska).
But I do not cry out of sadness for the doggies or something like that. No, I cry because the Iditarod sled dog race--1,000 miles through remote Alaskan wilderness is just so incredible. These mushers don't sleep, get hit by trees, suffer broken bones & illness--some of the most adventurous athletes I have ever seen.
And the craziness of the trail--moose, wolves, half frozen rivers, -40 degree temperatures. It's so wild and primitive. And just about 70 humans a year try this sort of thing.
Compare that to the millions upon millions sitting at their desks , sipping coffee, driving a Honda home after work to watch CSI on TV--that's about as adventurous as most Americans get.
But here is this great sled dog race-- completely wild and difficult. It touches my heart that dreamers everywhere can still pursue this sort of crazy challenge--that everything hasn't been made boring and safe. And one can still dream of a wild and beautiful world.....

Why do Sled Dogs Keep Running???

I know there are quite a few animal groups out there that despise the really long Alaskan sled dog races--like the Yukon Quest and Iditarod. Mostly because these crazy races have dogs running about 1,000 miles in approximately 10 days. The leader's dogs often only sleep about 7 hours per day and run almost 17 daily. That is nuts!

It is true that dogs get injured (but so do almost all the humans), and that their lungs take a toll (as do human marathon racers). And their paws need constant ointment and booties to keep going....so the question is:-- is this some kind of dog abuse?

Some make the claim--"well the dogs didn't volunteer for the race-- the humans make them do it." But I ask: what dog anywhere really has a choice about anything?? (except for one of my nutty dogs that wandered in from the street as a stray, refused to leave and is now our dog!) I mean, does any dog request to be a latch-key dog--left alone in a crate for 9 hours while their owners toil at work??

And then some people keep up the old notion that the dogs are whipped to keep going. Nice try--used to happen (that's the truth) but so many people now watch the race & times have changed that you really couldn't get away with it....

So why do these doggies run like this??? Well I think I have the answer--simply because I have a crazy Alaskan sled dog at home.

She is the weirdest thing ever. Somewhat feral & wild. Obsessed with competition and pack order. She always tries to show off and would never say no to a sprint race . She stays up for days on end if we are on a road trip...always excited about more excitement. We know this crazy animal would run until she dies--it is in her blood.

Not only does she love the spirit of competition, she wants to do whatever the "alpha" wants to do. Not to please him I think, but just to be like him. So as long as the musher is awake and the dogs know what they need to do--they will keep on running...these are not the same dogs you find in the lower 48, they can't be compared.

Worst Week for Alaska Wolves

As long as I have lived in Alaska now, I have never seen such a ridiculously bad week for the Alaskan wolves.
First of all, Denali National Park and various organizations had requested the Alaska Game Board to extend the wolf buffer outside Denali Park. In other words--wolves that are watched (and even radio collared) in Denali would be able to roam outside park boundaries without fear of trapping. But no, the Board of Game voted instead to REDUCE the buffer for the most viewed wolves in Alaska--hence increasing the chance for them to be trapped instead of having a tourist photograph them. The crazy part of this, is the reasons the "so-called-adults" on the Alaska Game Board gave for this decision.
One reason: "Why would someone from New York want to see a wolf that comes right up to a tour bus?" Secondly: "The feds and wildlife organizations have pushed us too far". So in effect they are saying--we will not protect these wolves because:
A) we are too narrow minded to understand city people.
B) out of spite to the Feds.
Next comes the appointment of the new head of Alaska Wildlife conservation--who's only mission is to maximize species for hunting them down--and therefore more wolf shooting (known as predator control).
Lastly, the Alaskan wolves themselves decided--"well hey, everyone hates us this week anyway, so lets do a heinous act to show just how bad-ass we really can be". And they proceeded to eat a lower 48 school teacher that was out jogging in a remote Alaskan village. My condolences to the family. But note to anyone coming to Alaska--you can not jog around predators (or even loose dogs) they have a chase instinct! I wish someone could have warned the poor girl.

The Alaska Department of Wildlife Conservation needs to be contacted, as well as the tour companies (www.Princesslodges.com & www.Graylinealaska.com) two of the biggest with financial stakes in wolf viewing, especially around Denali. They need to lobby the state to protect opportunities for tourists to view wildlife.