The Iditarod
By the Book Ladies
Carol Jacobson and Caroline Dotson
Special to the Morning News

The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race started in 1973 to honor the brave men and dogs who raced across Alaska in 1925 carrying a life-saving serum to the people of Nome, Alaska who were quarantined with diphtheria. Dr. Curtis Welch diagnosed diphtheria in February 1925 in Nome after several children had died. He telegraphed the Alaska Railroad Hospital in Anchorage asking for serum.

Anchorage to Nome is over 700 miles; in 1925 air transport was sporadic and all available planes had been decommissioned and placed in storage for the winter. Dr. Curtis and the doctors in Anchorage decided that using dog sled teams was the safest, and at that time, the fastest way to transport the serum.

First, the serum was transported from Anchorage to Nenan by train, then was passed from one dog sled team to another over 674 miles until it arrived in Nome six days later.

Twenty different teams helped transport the serum across Alaska. One musher, Leonhard Seppala, traveled a total distance of 260 miles with his team. Both men and dogs suffered frostbite through the historic run and several dogs died to save human lives in Nome.

This year, the Iditarod, often called the Last Great Race, starts on Saturday, March 3, with 83 teams traveling 1,131 miles. The current record for the race is eight days, 22 hours set in 2002. The first race was completed in 20 days.

There are 2,200 miles of winter trails associated with the race. In 1978, President Carter signed the National Historic Trail Bill, which included the Iditarod Trail. It is managed by the Bureau of Land Management.

Dozens of books have been written about the Iditarod. Here is a sampling:

For children:

“Akiak” tells the story of one brave dog who hurts her paw during the race and has to be left behind at one of the checkpoints during the Iditarod. Akiak doesn’t feel hurt and escapes and follows her team to the end of the race. Robert Blake is both the author and illustrator. The illustrations are carefully rendered individual oil paintings. There is no information about whether this is a true story or not. “Akiak: A Tale From the Iditarod” by Robert J. Blake. Puffin Books. New York. 1997.

“Balto” is a Step Into Reading—Reading on Your Own book with simple text and straightforward illustrations. It follows the true story of Balto, a sled dog who led the team that left Nome to meet the team bringing the serum from Anchorage. A year after the famous serum run, the people of New York erected a statue to Balto. “The True Story of Balto” by Natalie Standiford, illustrated by Donald Cook. Random House. New York. 1989.

“The Great Serum Race” is also a children’s picture book but gives more information about the diphtheria crisis and the myriad of mushers who helped get the serum to Nome. Not only does the author tell the story but includes the names of the mushers, the miles each drove and has several photographs of the dogs. The illustrations by Jon Van Zyle are more varied and have more detail than the other two books. “The Great Serum Race: Blazing the Iditarod Trail” by Debbie S. Miller, illustrations by Jon Van Zyle. Walker and Company. New York. 2002

“The Iditarod” is a fact book for children with a brief history of the race, how volunteers help, how the mushers care for their dogs during the race, and includes biographies of the most well known mushers, including Susan Butcher and Joe Redington, the father of the race. Many photos and maps illustrate this handy reference for young people. “The Iditarod: Story of the Last Great Race”. Ian Young. Red Brick Learning. Minnesota. 2003.

For Adults:

Published every year, “The Iditarod Fact Book” includes everything a reader could possibly want to know about the race itself including the history of the race, how it was started, who has won over the last 34 years, suggested packing lists for participants, guidelines for dog equipment, maps, and biographies of the more notable characters involved over the years. Both old black and white and spectacular color photos make this a fascinating read. “Iditarod Fact Book: A Complete Guide to The Last Great Race”. Edited by Tricia Brown. Epicenter Press. Washington. 2006.

“My Lead Dog was a Lesbian” by Brian Patrick O’Donoghue tells the story of his Iditarod run in 1991 with seventeen sled dogs and a huge amount of dumb luck. The title is unfortunate as the story itself is quite interesting, well paced and gives a wonderful inside look at this historic event. “My Lead Dog was a Lesbian.” Brian Patrick O’Donoghue. Vintage Books. New York. 1996.

“Winterdance: The Fine Madness of Running the Iditarod” by Gary Paulson tells the story of his experience running the Iditarod over seventeen grueling days through difficult weather, moose attacks, dog fights, sleeplessness, and hallucinations. The Chicago Tribune calls this, “a stunning wilderness journey of discovery and transformation.” Eight pages of color photos enhance this great story told by one of our favorite young adult writers. “Winterdance” by Gary Paulson. Harvest Book. San Diego. 1994.

The Book Ladies can be reached at 824-5343.