The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, often dubbed "The Last Great Race on Earth," encapsulates the spirit of adventure, resilience, and tradition in the vast Alaskan wilderness. Originating from the heroic Great Serum Run of 1925, the race has evolved into a celebrated annual event that honors both the history of dog sledding and the enduring bond between mushers and their canine companions. First and foremost, the Iditarod is deeply rooted in the remarkable story of the Great Serum Run. In the winter of 1925, a diphtheria outbreak threatened the isolated town of Nome, Alaska. With conventional transportation modes inaccessible due to harsh weather conditions, a relay of brave mushers and their sled dog teams undertook an arduous 674-mile journey …show more content…
Furthermore, understanding the history of the Iditarod sheds light on its evolution into a modern-day testament to tradition and endurance. The inaugural Iditarod race took place in 1973, with mushers traversing approximately 1,000 miles of rugged terrain from Anchorage to Nome. Since then, the race has grown in stature, attracting competitors and spectators from around the world. It serves as a tribute to Alaska's rich heritage of dog sledding and the perseverance of those who call this unforgiving landscape home. In 2024, the Iditarod continues to captivate audiences with its blend of tradition and competition. The race remains a grueling test of physical and mental fortitude, challenging mushers to navigate treacherous trails, endure extreme weather conditions, and forge unbreakable bonds with their canine companions. With each passing year, the Iditarod adapts to new challenges while staying true to its roots, preserving the legacy of the Great Serum Run and honoring the enduring spirit of Alaska's sled dog
During their western voyage, the group notoriously known as the “Donner Party” inevitably became trapped in a snowstorm in the winter of 1846 and 1847. Originally, the group set out for California in search of new opportunities. Figure 1 shows the path that the party followed to arrive in their set destination. After departing from Springfield, Illinois, the Donner’s first stop was in Independence, Missouri where they joined the rest of their traveling companions. The party had then planned on arriving at Fort Bridger to join another expedition, but they were too late and the expedition left without them (Johnson, 1). They left from Fort Bridger on July 31, 1846 using their own navigation skills in hopes of landing at their destination (Diamond, 2). When an unfortunate snowstorm hit, the group was left stranded. To make matters worse, they were split up between Truckee Lake and Alder Creek. They struggled during this time for they had few supplies and a limited food source. Of the 81 person party, only 45 survived the horrendous conditions (Johnson, 1). That number of casualties may seem fairly typical based on the condit...
As Okimasis rides through the snow, dragged by his pack of dogs, he confronts various environmental obstacles. The imagery included throughout the passage illustrates the cutthroat and quick perceptions of the nature surrounding the situation. The sled glides over the “creaking snow” of the “one hundred and fifty miles of low-treed tundra.” The representation of the area allows for clear pictures to develop mentally. At this point in the passage, both Okimasis and the huskies are exhausted. They’ve been drained of
The Kokoda trail is a great achievement for any man to achieve. The Kokoda trail takes 11 days of bush, mud and wild life to complete. It is 96km and runs through the Owen Stanley Range in Papua New Guinea. This would have been a huge task for any man to complete, let alone someone of Fernley’s physical disability. However, Fearnley soldiered on through this jungle only using his arms to pull himself up and over rocks, rough ground and through rivers, creeks and gullies. Therefore he would have to have a lot of strength in his arms to be able to do this. Although he is very strong he still needed to have his friends and family by his side to help him. Four people died on the Kokoda trail even though they had legs so seeing that Fearnley was born without legs, this would have had to be one of his greatest achievements in his life. The Kokoda trail was also the scene of some of Australia’s bloodiest action in world war two. It also cuts through some of the world’s most difficult, rugged and treacherous terrain. Kurt Fernley’s role models that inspired him where the soldiers that fought in the war that were very heroic. Even though that Fernley had no legs and could have caught a tropical disease, such as malaria, because of the boiling hot, humid days and torrential rainfall but this man still soldiered on. Fernley is very brave because this trail is one of the most dangerous treks
Nearly 100 Kansans froze to death during the storm. Neither were the settlers prepared to protect their livestock. Cattle turned their tails to the wind and "drifted" for miles across the open range until they dropped from hunger or exhaustion. Losses were high, up to 75% in some areas, and consequently some large western Kansas cattle companies were bankrupted. Business and rail traffic were paralyzed for weeks. The force of eleven Union Pacific locomotives was unable to "buck" through and cut in the snow near ...
During his first overnight trip alone, a large black bear took interest in his campsite as darkness fell. Already low on energy from a day long hike, he hurriedly grabbed his pack and began running. In his panic Ralston sliced the arch of his foot open, but had no choice but to advance forward, “A glance over my shoulder told me I had no time to spare for first aid” (46). Nevertheless, Ralston happily finished his climb the next day after shaking off the bear and tending to his injury. This is the first of many unfortunate encounters Aron describes in his memoir. On a later expedition, he jumps into the rapid Colorado River only to find that the icy water has restricted his breathing and movement. Luckily, a friend comes to the rescue by throwing him a repelling rope and tugging him to the safety of the river bank. Despite almost drowning, Ralston enjoys the rest of the trip and is still passionate about mountaineering. Even after the incident which causes him to lose his arm, he shows no sign of letting that slow him down. The sheer positivity and selflessness Aron shows during his recovery inspires me to see the good in every outcome, “I was part of a miracle that has touched a great number of people in the world and I wouldn’t trade that for anything, not even to have my hand back”
Have you ever witnessed a dog sled race? Imagine running through 1,049 miles of ice with pure adrenaline coursing through your veins. One of the most famous and prestigious races is the Iditarod Dog Sled Race in Alaska. It covers over 1,000 miles of rough terrain in a frozen tundra. Dogs and their mushers undergo extreme training to get ready for this competition. Although the race is challenging, and some might even say abusive, it is rewarding experience for both the dogs and their mushers. This race is a grand celebration of Alaskan culture that must be continued.
Terrance Stanley Fox was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba on July 28th, 1958. In 1977 he was diagnosed with a rare form of born cancer. This caused his leg to be amputated. During his recovery, he thought of the idea for Marathon of Hope. He began his run on April 12th, 1980 in Newfoundland. He was a brave man who would take what the world through at him. After 143 days and 5,373 kilometers, the doctor’s had found cancer in his lungs
The Iditarod is a thousand mile dog sled race across Alaska from Anchorage to Nome. It has been coined “The Last Great Race”, and it is known for its adversity. It began in 1973 in an effort to preserve the historic significance of the Iditarod trail. The dogs in the Iditarod are loved and celebrated. However, sled dogs are not only used for racing. Sled dogs played an important role in Alaskan settlement and Alaskan culture. However, the demand and necessity for sled dogs declined after the creation of the snow mobile. Joe Redington helped to revitalize the Alaskan, and therefore American, tradition of dog sledding through his role in the creation of the Iditarod.
I rush toward the mechanical clanking and rattling of the ski lift and collapse into the chair. Exhausted, I use this time to restore my energy. I begin to form the image of the steep route that I plan to attempt on my next run. Its nearly vertical face, large jagged rocks, and rough terrain send shivers down my spine and adrenaline into my veins. I painfully recall my previous attempt, where I did not perform the necessary technique in order to survive the run without a crash. This time,
As the plot unfolds, I feel the story's protagonist falls victim to several factors brought into play at once: his inexperience with the severity of the Klondike winters, his inability to envision the possible consequences of his decision to travel alone in such weather, a series of unfortunate events during his trip, and the misjudgment exercised in his attempts to survive those incidents. Though quick and alert, the man's lack of imagination renders him unable to visualize what might happen to a man traveling without a companion should adverse circumstances arise in such severe weather in an uninhabited landscape. When he indeed finds himself in dire straits as a result of getting wet in the brutal freezing weather, he once again fails to imagine how quickly the cold will threaten his life and consequently misjudges the severity of his situation. His poor judgment causes him to make one mistake after another until he finds himself incapable of extricating himself from his situation. It seems obvious that had he made himself more familiar with the culture of the land and paid attention to the warnings of the old-timer on Sulpher Creek, he might have chosen to delay his trip and live to travel another day. Had he understood the importance of fostering a relationship with the dog, a native Husky with inbred instincts regarding the native climate, the dog would have interacted differently with him, maybe warning him of the danger of the weather through its actions or perhaps providing help, either by sharing its body heat or by going for help. However, instead he held little regard for the dog and the dog reciprocated: "there was no keen intimacy between the dog and the man.
...e of them fell through and got wet. Since both of these situations had consequences, the reader can foreshadow that this expedition is not going to end well for the man. The man not being on the dog’s side and listening to it got him in the last situation. He built his last fire underneath a tree and the snow melted and fell onto the fire and put it out. His ignorance and overconfidence in his survival skills and not trusting the instincts of the dog eventually led him to his death.
Vera Blazevska 12/21/2017 Dr. Davidoff Making Evidence Based Decisions Regarding Phonological Awareness Intervention in Young School-aged Children Phonological Awareness Defined Spoken speech consists of linguistic units that vary in size from larger (sentences, words, syllables) to smaller units (morphemes and phonemes). Typically, these linguistic elements are consciously and effortlessly recognized by adult speakers. In a simplified form, an individual’s ability to analyze spoken language is known as “phonological awareness.” In his book Phonological Awareness. From research to Practice, Gail T. Gillon (2004) defines phonological awareness as “a multi-level skill, typically seen as compromised of syllable awareness, onset-rime awareness,
Going into the first race we had not expected much since Susan and I had never run this type of race. There were so many crucial things that we had to remember. It wasn't just to get out of the blocks and burn up the track; there was a baton involved, a certain amount of steps to take, and even a certain way to hold the baton.
The miles increased each week and before I knew it, the last long run before the marathon was only twenty miles. Then came the marathon, 26.2 miles of runners’ high, pain, agony, and unstable weather.
It was the morning of November 22nd, 1998 and as I sat at the table eating the eggs my mother had made for me I was sure today was the day I was going to get my first Vermont buck. I had packed my bag the night before with all the essentials: 2 quartz of water, sausages, snickers bars, extra gloves, extra socks, extra compass, knife, matches and extra bullets. I was excited and yet tired at the same time. The three-week deer season had taken its toll on me and it was the last week so I knew how importan...