The Iditarod Trail Story
An historic trail, a serum run and a world-famous sled dog race.
The map above shows the route of the Iditarod Sled Dog Race.
Native Alaskans were using the Iditarod Trail, long before the arrival of European explorers in the 1800s.
Then the discovery of gold in Turnagain Arm and further north, created a need for the trail.
In 1908, the Alaska Railroad Commission sent Walter Goodwin and a crew of nine to find a route through Alaska. Goodwin and his team marked the original Iditarod for those who would follow.
The Iditarod Trail connected the northern village of Nome to the southern town of Seward. The trail was used for mail delivery, by gold prospectors, settlers, and travelers.
BONUS
Take a closer look at the Iditarod Trail and discover.
The Diphtheria Outbreak
In 1925, Nome was facing an epidemic and many of the children were sick with diphtheria.
The only medicine that could stop the outbreak was in Anchorage, Alaska.
However, the only aircraft that could deliver the serum fast enough had a frozen engine.
In the photo above is a sled dog team on the 1925 Iditarod Trail.
The “Great Race of Mercy”
It was decided that sled dog teams could be used to get the much-needed medication to Nome. So, 25 sled dog mushers set out to do a “serum Run”.
Relay teams were used to deliver the medicine a total of 674 miles from Nenana to Nome.
The Great Race of Mercy was successful, saving hundreds of lives.
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48 Years Later
In the photo above is Joe Redington Sr.
A sled dog racer named Joe Redington Sr. had an idea. He got together with some others, including Dorothy Page, to set up a race.
While Joe Redington Sr. is considered the “Father of the Iditarod” race, his wife Vi had this to say:
“Originally, we most certainly did not think of our race of the race trail in any connection whatsoever with the famous Nenana to Nome serum run. We had no intention to connect the two.”
Race co-founder Dorothy Page described Redington’s idea as remembering the 25 mushers who made the serum run. The musher they chose to honor was Leonhard Seppala.
Dorothy Page said this:
“Seppala was picked to represent all the mushers. He passed away in 1967”.
In the photo above is Leonhard Seppala with his dog team.
The Iditarod Sled Dog Race
The first race was in 1973. It was a way to celebrate the memory of Leonhard Seppala, one of the 25 mushers who participated in the serum run, also known as the “Great Race of Mercy”.
BONUS
Take a look at the Iditarod Race History and enjoy.
Balto, another Iditarod Hero
In the photo above is Balto (the dog) with his serum run musher, Gunnar Kaasen
Balto was a Siberian Husky and sled dog of Leonhard Seppala.
As with many events in history, the story of Balto and the 1925 serum run is a little fuzzy (no pun intended).
But for purposes of this edition of Alaska Stories, we’ll go with the Balto was a hero story.
The media has taken to Balto and created a hero. Balto was made even more famous in the 1995 animated movie, “Balto” and “Balto II”.
The Iditarod Trail
In 1978, the United States Congress designated the Iditarod Trail as a National Historic Trail.
A Final Word
Today’s Iditarod Trail race is a long, difficult one, that enjoys a world-wide following.
But let’s not forget that the original serum run over the Iditarod Trail was a life-saving event. And the mushers that made that run, deserve to be remembered.
Connect with Mike and Mary
Have you ever had a ride on a dog sled?
Mike of Alaska Stories has. Once when he was about 10 years old, and once when he was making a TV documentary about sled dog mushers.
Mike remembers:
“It was an incredible experience. Because the sled is low to the ground, when you’re a passenger, it feels like you are going much faster. And all the musher is standing on are those two, thin runners. Can you imagine doing that for nearly 700 miles?”
Do you have a comment about this Iditarod Trail, story?
You can also reply to this email, or you can Contact Us right here to say, “I saw the movie, “Balto”.
We hope you’ve enjoyed this adventure on the Iditarod Trail.
Until next time
Mike and Mary
Alaska Stories
“Mush you Huskies”
Worked with Dick Macky in 1973 and he told me on the first Iditarod race it was so cold a bottle of vodka he had was slushy.