Iditablog.com – Iditarod 2012 News & Coverage

Contrary to popular belief, most sled dogs that run the Iditarod don’t fall into a specific AKC (American Kennel Club) registered breed. Though Siberian Huskies, Alaskan Malamutes and Russian Samoyeds have all been recognized for their heritage and work as sled dogs (and there are a few teams that still do run these dogs), the modern day sled dogs – often haphazardly referred to as huskies – are a much different mix of dog, bred for their behaviors and capabilities instead of their looks.

Now, though not AKC certified, these sled dogs are commonly referred to as Alaskan Sled Dogs, or Alaskan Huskies and do carry a particular genetic pattern. Bred for their desire to run hard, as well as a physique specifically proportioned to pull far more than it weighs, sled dog pedigrees include ancestors from several other breeds. According to Genomeweb.com, Alaskan Sled Dogs are “genetically related to 21 domestic dog breeds, including Alaskan Malamutes, Siberian Huskies, Pointers, Samoyeds, Chow Chows, and Akitas.” There is even evidence that distinguishes the effects of different breeds on a sled dog’s abilities for sprint, endurance and even mental stability.

Many mushers in the Iditarod have spent decades breeding their teams and their top-notch dogs, with many championships noted in their pedigrees, have gone on to produce the sled dogs in other teams. A good sled dog, especially in the circles of career mushers, is a valuable entity and worth its while in stud fees alone. So next time you see a picture of your favorite musher, take a moment to look at his trusty 4-legged friends. You’ll notice they aren’t the white and gray, blue-eyed Siberian Huskies we often assume they are – instead they are often more petite, floppy-eared, of many different colors, but always with a love to run!

Alaskan Sled Dog Slideshow:

By Josh Rogers / Iditablog.com Editor
For the last few days, the Alaskan Yup’ik village of Quinhagak has been overwhelmed with visitors from all over the world, hundreds each hour. Fortunately for the nearly 700 people who live in the remote location, these are digital visitors, viewing a YouTube video that was posted by 5th grade teacher Jim Barthelman. Rapidly approaching 100,000 views just three days after it was uploaded, the video has “gone viral” very naturally, with people sharing it on facebook and twitter. It’s exploded pretty quickly, even by internet standards.

If you haven’t seen the video already, make sure you take a few moments and do so, you can find it embedded at the bottom of this article.

Sure, it’s cute. It’s also funny, and both the timing and editing are impressive. But here’s what I think is so great about it; the video gives a sneak peek into the scenes of daily village life for many Alaskans. It’s not that smash-hit YouTube videos are made every day, nor do 5th graders go around holding up signs with words making up the “hallelujah chorus” – it’s the backdrop, the faces, the scenes that give the true glimpse. If you’ve watched the video and didn’t notice those things, that’s where it really becomes spectacular.

I’ve never lived in a village, but I have had the privilege of spending time in a handful of different villages in the northern Norton Sound region. While each village is very different, and each have their own personality; many of the backgrounds in the Quinhagak video show scenes you’ll find in lots of these often isolated communities sprinkled across Alaska’s landscape. As Iditarod mushers pull into village-based checkpoints next March, looking forward to re-heating dinner at the city hall building, the settings in the video often surround them.

I recognized cheerful kids in their parkas, and friendly old ladies. Wind-blasted paint jobs, buildings up on stilts, and lots of cargo containers; because not everything you need will come on a propeller plane. Hangouts like the local “native store”, school gym, and post office often represent a good portion of the job opportunities. It’s common to see new trucks (or very old ones), snowmachines, and a Polaris 4-wheeler at any moment. Seal-skin hats, frozen rivers, sunny but grey skies, heating-oil tanks, and dog teams might seem out of place elsewhere – but you don’t even have to be in a village, just rural Alaska to have these items in your everyday life. Church pews are constantly in use for more than just Sunday services, there’s always a large rusty thing that hasn’t moved in 40 years, and you’ll always find a campaign sign up somewhere, regardless of how far removed you are from an election.

Forget Sarah Palin’s campouts with “Kate Plus Eight”, if you want to see the heart of Alaska, the real Alaska – you’ve got to fly there, boat there, or catch a ride with a dog musher during the first half of March. Off the roads you’ll find small communities like this one, filled with people who are trying to figure out the balance between a traditional lifestyle with whaling, dried fish, and practices that are centuries old – and a lifestyle which allows them to upload movies to YouTube.

(click here to watch the video)

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Because it’s not all about the Grand Prize…

The first Award of Iditarod 2010 was given out this evening to Jeff King as he arrived at McGrath. There are several other awards given to mushers that arrive to specific checkpoints, there are also a handful of awards that are voted on and given in Nome once the race is over.

Special Iditarod Awards in Order of Presentation along the Trail

These awards are presented twice, once at the checkpoint or finish line and then again at the Musher’s Banquet in Nome. Only noted below are the initial presentation.

McGrath Checkpoint

PenAir Spirit of Alaska Award

• Original “Spirit Mask” presented to the first musher into McGrath
• $500 PenAir credit towards travel or freight shipments also awarded

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