Riverboat Discovery -- Fairbanks, Alaska Three and a half hour cruise aboard the authentic sternwheeler Riverboat Discovery III, visit a traditional Athabascan fish camp, and the home and kennels of four time iditarod champion Susan Butcher. http://www.alaskaone.com/discovery/
Extractions: The Binkley family has operated sternwheeler riverboats in Alaska since the Gold Rush of 1898. Captain Jim and Mary Binkley first offered riverboat tours in Fairbanks in 1950 and the business has grown every year since. Their three sons, Skip, Jim Jr., and Johne, are all licensed riverboat captains, and daughter-in-law Judy heads the Discovery Trading Post gift shops. The youngest Binkleys join the crew at age five and continue the family tradition started by their great grandfather, Charlie Binkley. Daily Sailings
Cool Dreams Racing Team - Bill Borden Bill Borden lives in an unusual place for a musher, in Atlanta, GA. Follow his quest to qualify for and run iditarod 2002. http://www.cooldreams.net/
Extractions: March 20 , 2004 Brenda reviews the 32nd Running of The Last Great Race Following the Iditarod this year was an experience that will not be soon forgotten. We snowmachined the trail as far as Finger Lake. We spent three days in Ruby and made many new friends there. What a neat little village Ruby is, in a beautiful place and with such nice people. We were weathered-in in Kaltag, spending two days there where we got to see most of the back-of-the-pack mushers. We flew a looooong way in a small plane, which was sort of new to me and turned out to be a really nice way to travel, thanks to Earl Malpass and his careful flying skills. We did get to Nome, which was not originally planned, but we saw quite a few finishers in the day and a half we spent there. We saw many old friends and made more new ones. Nome is always a favorite place to come back to. We hope you have enjoyed our coverage of the middle to back of the pack folks. We have gotten many requests for copies of photos and will be selling prints soon. Check back with us for information of ordering copies.
Extractions: Tessa King - The Junior Iditarod 2003 With these goals in mind I trained, on the weekends, after basketball practice, and at the kitchen table talking with my Dad. I had to step up and take on a strong leadership role as the months leading into my race approached. As an avid basketball player and determined to maintain a 4.0 grade point average, I had my work cut out for me. Those months taught me a more about time management and self-motivation. Most of my classmates did not even know what my plans were. Therefore, I embarked on the journey nearly unsupported by my peers who were busy with their own lives, which did not include dog mushing. This race placed me in a new situation. It was the first time I felt so totally responsible for my own safety and well-being. Self-reliance took on a whole new meaning. Meeting challenges with only my own resources helped me discover my hidden strengths. I learned so much about myself and gained a new respect for my abilities. My family was impacted similarly. I was the second girl in the family to run and complete the Junior Iditarod, yet they made me feel as if I was the first. They learned more about the person I am and the courage I have inside. They still talk sometimes about how proud of me they are, and every time they mention it I cannot help but smile.
Coming Soon! Tours and air taxi service in Denali National Park and the Talkeetna area. Specializes in climbing expedition support, glacier landings, and iditarod flights. http://www.mckinleyairservice.com/
Extractions: The Web CNN.com Home Page World U.S. Weather ... Special Reports SERVICES Video E-Mail Services CNNtoGO SEARCH Web CNN.com Iditarod Executive Director Stan Hooley shows the route of this year's Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Story Tools RELATED Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) For the first time in the history of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, officials have approved a detour because of a lack of snow on the normal route. The ceremonial start March 1 is still set for Anchorage but probably will be limited to 11 miles unless at least 6 inches of snow is on the ground. Unseasonably warm temperatures have melted much of the snow that's fallen in the area, and the start of the trail is marred by bare ground and spans of open rivers. Under a plan approved Tuesday, the restart will take place at 10 a.m. March 3 on the Chena River about a mile from the Fairbanks International Airport to give mushers time to drive their dog teams to Fairbanks, about 360 miles north of Anchorage. "It's the correct decision in light of the present circumstances," Iditarod President Rick Koch said of the unprecedented detour from the historic restart site in Wasilla. "It will provide a safe race trail for dog and human competitors."
The Iditarod: Alaska's "Last Great Race" The iditarod. Not all the challenges for iditarod racers are to be found in the Bush. Mushers and their teams must descend this steep http://www.alaskascenes.com/iditarod.html
Extractions: Alaska Scenes Not all the challenges for Iditarod racers are to be found in the Bush. Mushers and their teams must descend this steep hill in Anchorage before leaving the city's streets for its trail system. The race starts on Fourth Avenue in downtown Anchorage on a Saturday morning in early March (in 2004, it started on March 6). Mushers and dog handlers, their teams and equipment, fill Fourth Avenue and adjoining side streets for blocks. Spectators crowd sidewalk barricades, watching as the racers make last-minute adjustments and try to calm dogs that are anxious to get started. Some of the teams will have to wait for hours before it's their turn. A team leaves the starting area every three minutes. The first day's race is just for fun. Mushers carry passengers some of whom are celebrities for this part of the race. But it will be just the mushers and their dogs after the restart on Sunday in Wasilla. (In 2003, because of poor snow conditions, the start was moved hundreds of miles north to Fairbanks; in 2004 it was moved just a few miles north to Willow.) Just as spectators line the streets and trails along the race route through Anchorage, there will be a crowd at the scene of the restart on Sunday. After that, the mushers will see well-wishers only when they pass through the occasional village on their thousand-mile trip to Nome. The number of dogs on a team varies; there may be as many as 20 on a team at the start. When it arrives in Nome a week-and-a-half or so later, there may be only 10 or 12. Mitch Seavey, the winner in 2004, finished the race with eight dogs. Veterinarians periodically check the condition of the dogs along the way, and if they or the musher feels a dog should not continue, it is removed from the team and flown back to Anchorage.
Alaskan Musher Musher G. B. Jones has an iditarod Sled Dog team adjacent to the famous iditarod Sled Dog trail in ALaska. Sight offers frequent journal entries of an Alaskan iditarod musher. http://home.gci.net/~alaskan/alaskan.htm
Iditarod Links - VET . Web Sites for the iditarod. Dr. Sonny King s web site http//www.drsonny.com/. Official iditarod web site http//www.iditarod.com/. http://www.drsonny.com/links.htm
Extractions: The Web CNN.com Home Page World U.S. Weather ... Special Reports SERVICES Video E-Mail Services CNNtoGO SEARCH Web CNN.com A veterinarian gets a lick from a dog during a pre-race check up at Iditarod headquarters in Wasilla, Alaska, last year. Story Tools ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) The weather is so warm in Alaska that organizers of the Iditarod sled dog race are hauling in snow for its ceremonial start, then trucking the dogs north 360 miles to begin their run. The Anchorage-to-Nome course was moved to reduce the risk of the dogs falling through thin ice or slipping on melting snow. The mild winter has left Anchorage with only scattered piles of dirty snow and lots of muddy patches. After Saturday's ceremonial start in Anchorage, the 1,000 dogs will be driven to Fairbanks, where they will set off for real on Monday. Running the course usually takes nine to 12 days. The switch has animal rights activists fuming even more than usual. A race that they say is too long 1,100 miles is now even longer by 70 miles. "The move is simply to ensure that the race goes on, not that animals are not injured or killed," said Amy Rhodes, a spokeswoman for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.
Seward Trailblazers Describes the beginning of the historical iditarod trail which runs from tidewater at Seward to Nome. http://www.geocities.com/sewardtrailblazers/
Extractions: Seward Trailblazers-Where the Iditarod begins! This Seward Trailblazers site is set up to provide information on the original Iditarod Trail that started in Seward and ran north to Nome. In this Index you will find a short history of the Historic Iditarod Trail, the Iditarod trail through Seward, how the trail links to our schools and the trail route to Girdwood. The Seward Trailblazers and the start of the Historic Iditarod Trail The Trailblazers are a group of volunteers that is locating, building and maintaining the historic Iditarod Trail from Seward to Girdwood, Alaska. Working with state, federal and local agencies we have completed the first 12 miles from Seward to the Snow River! Seward Trailblazers The First Trailblazers Walk the Iditarod Trail through Seward. Iditarod Trail links to Schools. Seward is Mile of the Iditarod National Historic Trail! Map of Start of Iditarod Trail Iditarod Trail from Seward to Mile 12 The Seward Centennial Ultra Marathon-One in a Hundred!
Extractions: We are sorry to announce that the adn.com news forums have been shut down. While we've appreciated hearing the views of readers over the past two years, we are no longer willing to spend substantial time policing a relative few sophomoric and hateful individuals. We will continue to try new ways to make our news an interactive experience. We hope to restore the forums, and may well do so as soon as the technology permits us to effectively ban those who cannot conduct themselves civilly. In the meantime, we continue to welcome reader feedback in our letters to the editor section. You can submit a letter using our online form at http://www.adn.com/help/v-letters/ If you have comments for our Web staff or newsroom, please use our online form at http://www.adn.com/help/v-contactform/ We realize that the majority of our forum users are being punished for the actions of a few users. Like many of you, we have been sad to learn that when given the opportunity to speak their minds, some people cannot help but disgrace themselves. The Daily News Web team
Alaskan Musher Training notes and photographs from life on the iditarod Trail in Alaska by iditarod Veteran G. B. Jones. http://www.alaskanmusher.com/
IDITAROD WEBQUEST Dream A DreamReach a Goal. iditarod Webquest. 1. You will need to know some of the history of the iditarod. To help you, here is an iditarod Scavenger Hunt. http://home.insightbb.com/~dbuccola/IDWbquest.htm
Extractions: Dream A DreamReach a Goal Iditarod Webquest by: Dennis Buccola Introduction Task Resources Process ... Teachers' Information Introduction This webquest will take you on a journey to the "Last Great Race on Earth." The Iditarod is the famous dog sled race that takes place in Alaska, beginning on the first Saturday of March. This will be a web adventure soon not to be forgotten. The Task Your class is going to learn as much as they can about the race, Alaska, and the people who live there. The class will be acting as a TV news team to gather information. There will be 5 groups of reporters. Each one will cover on of the following topics: history, geography, art and culture, math and science. A final newscast will be recorded showing the results of your quest. Historians: 1. You will need to know some of the history of the Iditarod. To help you, here is an Iditarod Scavenger Hunt. 2. What are you going to tell the public when they ask about the mushers? You will need to read at least 3 diaries entries and 3 biographies of the mushers of your choice. Write down everything you learn about these successful mushers. What makes them a success? How do they prepare for a race? Geography Reporters: 1. It will be important to learn about the area you will be visiting. Is it mountainous, flat or rough?
Plettner Kennels, Alaska - Kennel Services - Beginner & Advanced Mushing Program iditarod training facility, with information regarding kennels, and training. iditarod 2000 featured four Plettner teams, among them Lynda's husband, Dan, and Fedor, a Russian adventurer known internationally for his various undertakings. http://www.plettner-kennels.com/
Alaska Public Radio Network THE iditarod TRAIL SLED DOG RACE. THE LAST GREAT RACE The iditarod which is known as the Last Great Race, consists of a sled dog race from Anchorage to Nome. http://www.aprn.org/index.cfm?x=836
The Iditarod In Room 012 Although similar in style to other sites that list links and info regarding the iditarod, this site distinguishes itself by looking into native lore and customs and boom towns in Alaska. http://www.staffnet.com/hbogucki/aemes/activity/iditarod/iditarod.htm
Extractions: Take a look at the Official 2004 Musher List for this year or visit the Official Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race Home Page for up-to-date information. Several years ago I purchased the 1997 Edition of the Classroom Information Packet for Teachers for our class and it included some really nice items including Official 1997 Iditarod Boosters Buttons , four videos of previous years race (start in Anchorage, restart from Wasilla, race video, and the finish in Nome), dog booties and harness (for a small husky size dog), a cachet dated March 3, 1990
The Iditarod Learning Expedition Lesson Plans For Educators The iditarod Learning Expedition Lesson Plans for Educators. The iditarod Learning Expedition contains five activities. The activities http://www.cobleskill.edu/schools/mcs/es/plans.htm
Extractions: The Iditarod Learning Expedition Lesson Plans for Educators The Iditarod Learning Expedition contains five activities. The activities include several subject areas; The lessons for these activities are detailed here. Lesson 1: Checking In Grade Level/Subject: Appropriate for grades 4-7/Math Overview: In order to aid students' understanding of the difference between mean, median, and mode, students will learn these terms as they are applied to the distance between checkpoints along the Iditarod Trail. Purpose: The purpose of this activity is to enable students to understand the difference between mean, median, and mode, and enable them to find these figures. Objectives: As a result of this activity, students will: Define mean, median, mode, and range. Be able to calculate the mean of a set of numbers. Be able to determine the mode and median of a set of numbers. Resources/Materials: Internet access with a graphical web browser.
Dancing With Dogs Asked to explain what drew her to Alaska and the iditarod, a Florida teacher wrote this essay before her first visit, capturing much of the wonder and awe children feel for the same topics. http://sunhusky.com/Dancing
Extractions: Feb. 12, 2000 To Those Who Ask, "Why? Since discovering that I'm going to Alaska in March to see the Iditarod Sled Dog Race, people keep coming up to me to ask, "Why?" Simple question, right? Wrong. I thought I knew, for the excitement of the race, but as I heard those empty words come out of my mouth, I realized, no, that isn't it. Maybe itÂ’s or the sheer joy of being surrounded by dogs and dogs and more dogs? Getting closer, but still doesn't answer the question of why I, a person who openly admits to hating to fly, am going to get on an airplane and not only fly across the continent, but into a world very different from my comfortable Central Florida setting.Me, who has little cold weather clothing and lives to go barefoot, voluntarily visiting an environment where snow and ice reign. Oh, my, God, I'm going to Alaska! Ask the children, however, why they enjoy studying the Iditarod and you'll get a quick, direct answer: Because it's cool! You know, they may be right.Man vs. Nature in its most primitive form, with nothing save the dog team and the few items on a sled between musher and death by, well, whatever. Living in Florida, they're astonished to learn that it's the moose, not the wolf or bear, that strikes fear in the hearts of most mushers.Yet, the children are just as fascinated to learn what dog booties are made of and how in heaven's name you teach a dog to gee and haw.When they heard recently that a musher had been missing for days, their conversations ranged from "What did he have with him to eat?" to, "Why don't they carry flares?"
