[AT] Iditarod

[Herb Metz]

The Iditarod, similar to most other special races, certainly requires much 
special training.  We flew to Alaska, free lanced a week, then joined a tour 
group for the return.  Libby Riddles, first female Iditarod winner made a 
couple video presentations aboard ship, then got off.  Very interesting; I 
agree with your conclusions. Herb(GA)


-----Original Message----- 
From: Dean VP
Sent: Tuesday, March 07, 2017 10:41 PM
To: 'Antique tractor email discussion group'
Subject: Re: [AT] ATIS still in Business????

I have a distant relative who is the Secretary and on the board of Directors 
for the Iditarod race.  JoAnn (Van Peursem) Potts.  Last time we were in 
Wasilla .she gave us an inside of the  race tour of several of the 
participants and their dogs. The race is serious biasness and the mushers 
and the dogs are highly trained and tuned for the race.   My first 
impression of how the dogs were treated and housed between races was that 
some people might consider it animal abuse since they are chained to a stake 
for long periods of time. But after finding out how they are trained and 
what was in their special diets I realized they were being treated pretty 
good. The dogs can't wait to be put in front of a sled.  A lot of money is 
spent between races getting the dogs to a peak competitive physical 
condition. Really big spectacle in Alaska.  A big thing.  ]

PS: Antique Tractor reference: There is a large museum in Wasilla, Museum of 
Alaska Transportation & Industry:

  https://www.facebook.com/museumofalaska/

Shown in the Museum are many interesting and different from the lower 48, 
tractors and engines.  Alaskan agriculture, mining and snow tractors have 
different requirements than we are used to herein the Lower 48 so you will 
see name brand antique tractors, that we see at our local antique tractor 
show, configured with special features that we don't often see here in the 
lower 48.  Attached are pictures from the museum and from the home  of 
Iditarod dogs

If you want to see more pictures I took on our Alaska tour:

http://public.fotki.com/deanvp/traveltrips/2001/alaska-tour/