Iditarod Race Starts Today!

Today is the start of the Iditarod Race to Nome.  It is snowing lightly and 21 degrees, Perfect!

The Iditarod is an annual dog sled race that takes place on the Iditarod Trail between Anchorage, Alaska and Nome, Alaska. The Iditarod pairs  mushers with their sled dogs as they make their way across approximately 1100 miles of some of the roughest, coldest territory in North America. The Iditarod has been called “The Last Great Race on Earth” and it got its start in 1973 with a total winning purse of $25,000.

The Iditarod Trail began as a mail and supply route from the coastal towns of Seward and Knik to the interior mining camps at Flat, Ophir, Ruby and beyond to the west coast communities of Unalakleet, Elim, Golovin, White Mountain and Nome. Mail and supplies went in and gold came out via dog sled.
In 1925 part of the Iditarod Trail became a life saving highway for epidemic-stricken Nome. Diphtheria serum had to be brought in, again by dog sled.

Follow this years Iditarod with Zuma.....
http://iditarodblogs.com/zuma/

                                The Finish @ Nome!

 

Defending champion Lance Mackey, who also has won the Yukon Quest four times.

GO LANCE !!!

Cupcakes!

Ryker had really bad gas, his tummy would rumble and then you'd better run for the hills!  I found out why. The man of the house tells me Ryker counter surfed the Cupcakes. He ate three and then deposited one at the man's feet as he sat at his desk. Nice that he wanted to share : )

 

This is the look of a guilty gassy dog!

 

It's Rondy Time!!!

It's Rondy Time and we just want to share what a fun time we have up here in February!

Fur Rendezvous began in 1935 as a small 3-day sports tournament on Febuary 15, 16, and 17,  featuring skiing, hockey, basketball, boxing and a children's sled dog race down Fourth Avenue. Nearly the entire population of Anchorage turned out for the bonfire and torchlight parade. It was timed to coincide with trappers and miners coming to town with their winter yield of furs and gold for sale.  The intent was to break up the doldrums of winter. Since then, the Fur Rendezvous has earned national and international notoriety, and visitors from throughout the world descend on Anchorage every February.

Some of my favorite activities include:

* The World Champion Sled Dog Races first debuted in 1946 and are considered to be the cornerstone of the festival to this day. Unlike the famous Iditarod, these races are held in town - a great spectator sport highlighting the lighter and faster Alaskan "sprint" dogs.

*  Reindeer races in downtown Anchorage.

* Blanket Toss – Native Alaskans from bush Alaska travel to Anchorage to participate in this and other activities.

* Fur Rondy Snowshoe Softball

* Outhouse Races!!!

* Fur Rondy World Championship Dog Weight Pull

 

 

* Huge Snow Sculpture Carving Contest

                                                February is Cool!

Kong-A-Lichious

Mom put a dried sweet potato in my Kong...I've been workin' for over a week now to get that tater out of there!

                                       Dirty Trick Mom!

At the Dog Park mom pulled another one...she threw my stick up in the tree!  What's up with her?

 

             But I don't want to leave it...it's mine



                The snow here is mighty tasty...

                                See ya next week!

Ryker got balls !

                            RYKER GOT BALLS...

 

SNOWBALLS THAT IS , LOTS OF THEM!

(I have to say this is the first and only time he has collected them like this. He was walking bow-legged and I laughed my self silly! )

Here I am, afraid to come in because I think mom's gonna give me a bath...she was laughing at my snowballs         :(

  

Me and my Shadow...dodo do dodo dodo do do

The Thundering Herd

gotta love those  faces! 

I Love my mom, no matter how busy she gets she always takes time out to make sure I have fun each day. Life is an Adventure!

This week I scored an almost full can of cat food off the counter, slept curled up with a cat (the gray one Kosmo)

Nipped Cleo on the butt. I got in big trouble on that one, it was worth it!

There she is in the cabinet...she looks mad.

 Had another awesome couple days at the Connor's Lake Dog Park.

See ya next week!