Mrs. OVD's Iditarod Adventure
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Emmaline's Excellent Iditarod Adventure

Check here for Emmaline's daily journal entry about her adventures in Alaska.

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Thursday's Q & A

3/1/2013

25 Comments

 
From Mrs. OVD--You are all asking some very good questions!  Some of you are asking questions about things that we already answered either in the video, the blog posts, or other Q & A posts, so we won't be answering them again--sorry!  We will address some of the new questions, though.

This Q & A will all be answered by Mrs. OVD.  We got home from the Mushers' Banquet at 11:00 P.M., and we have to get up at 6:30 A.M., so Emmaline is in bed.  I, on the other hand, am foolishly doing all of this work at 1:00 A.M.!  Hope you appreciate it!  ; )


Q:  What is your favorite memory that you will savor for the rest of your life?
A:  I'm pretty sure Emmaline will always treasure meeting each and every musher tonight and getting their autographs (me too)!

Q:  How did you get to see the dogs of the Iditarod?
A:  I am attending the Iditarod Teachers Conference.  One of the parts of the conference was to go on a field trip to four-time Iditarod Champion Martin Buser's kennel.  Not only did I get to go, but I was able to take Emmaline and her dad along as well.  Another way that we saw the dogs was by going to the vet check.  Anybody can go to that.

Q:  Do sled dogs have to be huskies or Malamutes?
A:  Most sled dogs are Alaskan huskies.  These are not pure bred--the are a mix of all types of dogs that have traits that are good for running in snow.  Some of the traits are warmer coats, strong feet, healthy joints, and the ability to run.  Sled dogs are not bred for their looks, so that is why most of them don't look like the dogs of Snow Dogs.  Those dogs are pure-bred Siberian huskies.  Sibes have very thick coats, and while a few mushers do run teams of Sibes, they run much more slowly that Alaskan huskies.  Malamutes are quite large dogs and were used throughout history for pulling mail and supply sleds throughout Alaska.  They are not used for racing.

Q:  Are the dogs uncomfortable in their dog boxes on the back of the dog trucks? 
A:  NO!  These boxes may look small to you, but they are basically the size of a kennel that you might put your dog in for a trip.  They go pretty far back into the dog box, and they have straw for a comfortable bed.  So there is no need to feel bad for the dogs--they're nice and comfy!

Q:  How many people can enter the race?
A:  There is no limit to the number of mushers who can enter the race.  This year there are 67, and that is pretty average.

Q:  How many dogs do you have to have?
A:  Iditarod mushers start with 16 dogs.  Throughout the race, they can drop dogs at checkpoints.  Dropping a dog means leaving it at a checkpoint where it is then flown to either Anchorage or Nome to be taken care of until the musher gets to Nome.  Dogs are dropped if they are sore or tired or just don't feel like running any more.  Just like people get sore playing sports, dogs do too.  Fortunately, there are vets at every checkpoint to help the musher check out their dogs.  I want to assure you that the dog care is the most important thing to everybody in this race.  The dogs love to run, and the mushers love their dogs so very much!  Mushers must finish the race with at least 5 dogs.

Q:  Were the moose cows or bulls?
A:  Some of each

Q:  One student thought Lance Mackey looked old, but that was OK because he just tells the dogs what to do.
A:  First of all, mushers don't only tell the dogs what to do.  They must be in excellent shape themselves because they run up hills, kick and pole to help move the sled, and move and bend with the sled to get it to stay upright.  Being a musher is VERY physical.  Also, Lance has been through a lot.  He had throat cancer several years ago and underwent major surgery as well as chemo and radiation.  He still suffers pain from the radiation, which is a big problem while in the cold.  Also, he doesn't have his salivary glands (which make spit) any more, so he must constantly drink water in order to swallow or eat.  Despite the terrible shape his body is in, he went on to win the Yukon Quest (1,000 mile race)  four years in a row and the Iditarod four years in a row.  Two of those years, he won both races in the same year, just weeks apart.  So, yes, Lance may look a little rough and older (even though he's not much older than me), but he has overcome so much by perseverance and hard work.  He is my hero!

Q:  How far is Alaska from Wisconsin?
A:  About 3,500 miles

Q:  Do you have to have an even amount of dogs on a team?
A:  Generally, mushers start with an even number, but as the race goes on, they can drop them, and dogs can run without a partner.  Dogs also get moved around on a team as needed.

Q:  Is it true that most huskies have bright blue eyes?
A:  Siberian huskies tend to have blue eyes or a mix of colors.  Some Alaskan huskies can have blue eyes if they inherit the gene for them, but most that I have seen don't.

Q:  How many hours did it take to get to Alaska?
A:  7

25 Comments
Jaxon
2/28/2013 11:43:53 pm

Hi Emmaline I am at home today not at school.
how are you doing?
I saw your news thing.
are you going to buy more things there

Reply
Mrs. Jakel
3/1/2013 11:04:19 am

Hi honey...it was a very busy day at school today and hard to fit everything in when it is a 2 o'clock dismissal. We talked about you a lot today and many of your girlfriends are missing you dearly! Keep having fun and I can't wait to hear what you did today!

Reply
Kelsie Dollevoet
3/1/2013 12:06:32 pm

Emmaline,
Did you get anyone a singuture for anyone? Did you get a booty yet? I cant wait to hear you And see you because I miss you. BTW I am getting braces on next Friday. Please keep me posted, Kelsie D

Reply
Mrs Jakel
3/1/2013 09:57:56 pm

Have fun today...wow it is going to be exciting for you! I can't wait to hear and see everything about it! Miss you!

Reply
Kelsie Dollevoet
3/2/2013 03:48:50 am

Emmaline,
Did you get any bootys yet? Hope you did. I am watching the mushers live it is awesome.

Reply
Kelsie Dollevoet
3/2/2013 10:54:29 am

Emmaline,
I hope you had an awesome day. Did you get any bootys yet. Hope you did. I miss you so much I cant stop thinking about you. I am so happy for you though. I think you derserve this vaction because you work hard in school. I really want to hear your voice again because I miss how you would help me and talk to me and be a good friend to me. I hope you feel that way to. Keep me posted,
Kelsie Dollevoet

Reply
Kelsie Dollevoet
3/3/2013 12:30:29 am

Dear Emmaline,
Did you get any bootys yet? Hope you did. Keep me posted Kelsie D

Reply
Charli
3/4/2013 03:06:41 am

You didn't have to do all that at 1:00 a.m.! You diserve to get some sleep! Hope you guess get back safely!

Reply
Eli Beardsley
3/4/2013 03:08:47 am

How has you great adventure been I hope it has been a trip of a life time it looks like a awesome I still would like to tag alonge.

Reply
Kelsie Dollevoet
3/4/2013 03:10:53 am

Emmaline,
Did you get any bootys? How was it watching all the mushers. I hope you had an amazing time. Don't you just love all the bright colors on the bootys. I do. I hope you had the most memorial time of your life, Kelsie D

Reply
Damon Loker
3/4/2013 03:12:30 am

I think that the cerimonial start is pretty sweet! How do you know all the mushers names? You should be a Ididarod teacher, maybe you could make a book I'll be your manager. We miss you alot, will you be back for PACE? If you aren't that would stink, (for the girls.)

Reply
Eli Beardsley
3/4/2013 03:12:50 am

I mean your.

Reply
Aaron
3/4/2013 03:20:43 am

wow Jaxon morgan she can be there anytime she its there vacaion

Reply
Jaxon Morgan
3/4/2013 03:22:41 am

I want to try there fun dip of aaron

Reply
Jaxon Morgan
3/4/2013 03:13:04 am

Dear Emmaline,
how are you doing today?
WHEN ARE YOU COMEING BACK!!!
and what food do you like there and do they have icecream and
fun dip? if they do have fun dip can you get me some?
and how do you drive a musher dogs or some thing?

Reply
Jane
3/4/2013 03:13:43 am

Hey Emmaline, who is your favorite musher? Are there any mushers that you are tracking and you want to win? I am tracking Dallas Seavey, like I do every year. once again please get me a signed bootie, I would really appreciate that. So we are entered in a regional contest on SumDog and we are in second place! Are the dogs they use to race just Siberian or Alaskan huskeys or are there different breeds of dogs? You super awesome friend who misses you, Jane

Reply
Khai
3/4/2013 03:13:59 am

How do you know who's in first place? A list or something.Were are you now? How many animals do you think you've seen? I hope you get back by tomorrow. Your friend, Khai.

Reply
Charli
3/4/2013 03:15:35 am

When I was done watching the new video I was wondering why were there a bunch of people running?

Reply
Michael Van Dehy
3/4/2013 03:17:35 am

Thanks for the reply. Wow you most be a mazed that you got to see the ididitarod do you know you will be telling us about your eventer dering social studies. I hope you hade fun at Alaska.

Reply
Will Witter
3/4/2013 03:18:18 am

Hi Emmaline. How sad is it to leave Alaska after all the fun you've had.

Reply
Kaitlyn Vanden Wyngaard
3/4/2013 03:18:54 am

Hey Emmaline,
Do you want to come back or do you want to stay in Alaska. Thanks again for replying to all the questions. How exciting was Alaska? If you have to say how Alaska was what would you do 1-10. Are you about ready to come back or do you still want to stay in Alaska. When you come back I have a felling that you are going to fall off your chair with all the questions that they did not ask about in the responses.I bet that this is the best trip you ever went to. isn t it? Do you like the Beds in the Bed in Breakfast better than the ones at your house. Would you wish to live in Alaska or Wisconsin? Do you miss us?(Dont tell Mrs. Jakel if you do) Did you memorize all the names of the mushers?
Your Friend,
Kaitlyn

Reply
Jaxon morgan
3/4/2013 03:20:07 am

I liked all the videos on there

Reply
Kaitlyn VW
3/4/2013 03:22:13 am

Hey Emmaline,
Are you getting booties for the whole class?(Mrs. Jakel of course)
Your Friend,
Kaitlyn

Reply
Mrs. Slowey's Class
3/4/2013 03:29:29 am

Dear Emmaline and Mrs. OVD,
Thank you so very much for sharing your blog and videos with us! It certainly looks like you had a lot of fun and learned a bunch!
We can not wait to see you and hear all about your dog-gone fun trip!
We have so many questions to ask you this week when you get home.
Good luck with your travels! We are thinking of you and your safe journey home!
Your friends in Mrs. Slowey's Class

Reply
Mrs. Jakel
3/4/2013 04:35:42 am

Hope your flight home was smooth and uneventful!!! Today we looked at the Iditarod Insider and checked out the GPS tracker...wow it is so full of information!! Do the musher have to bring their own tent to rest in or do they have places at the checkpoints for them to sleep? What an ultimate vacation for your family! We can't wait to see you and hear more!!!

Reply



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    Emmaline is a 4th grader who was born to a mom who is obsessed with the Iditarod (which makes her obsessed too)!

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