Today the 2018 Iditarod Teacher on the Trail finalists participated in a host of trainings at The Lakefront Anchorage, A Millennium Hotel, which serves as the race headquarters during the race. Trainings such as these are designed for the estimated 1,800 volunteers of the Iditarod. It is here that “Hoosier hospitality” was more than evident.
Musher Aliy Zirkle has said that “There’s only one Indianapolis 500 and only one Iditarod.” Clearly, Hoosiers are interested in both. You see, at this afternoon’s race communications, or comms, training, Hoosiers were well-represented. After quick introductions, we learned that, outside of the state of Alaska, there are 19 other states with Iditarod representation. Of these states, there were more volunteers from Indiana than from any other. Clearly, this would make “Finney,” a resident of Indiana and the first Iditarod Teacher on the Trail, proud.
We also attended dog handler training. Handlers play a crucial role in helping mushers control their eager dog teams on their way to the start lines. Five-time Iditarod finisher Wayne Curtis, who brought in his own team of Siberian Huskies to help the handlers practice before the ceremonial start on Saturday, said the following:
“The most important thing is that you’re physically fit because you’ll likely end up running quite a few blocks through the snow and slush that they bring in on the trucks.” In groups of eight– one handler per dog– we practiced moving the team around the hotel’s parking lot, starting and stopping at the musher’s commands. Curtis rode behind on his sled, assessing our progress and offering bits of advice. Perhaps lead dog handler, Rae Deley, explained the details of becoming a dog handler for Iditarod best by saying,
“It’s a lot of work.”
“It’s a lot of fun.”
“It’s a lot of responsibility.”
Click here to view Rae Deley’s video on becoming a handler.