The snow dogs are racing.

Iditarod!

The great dog sled race across Alaska has reached Mile 592 at Eagle Island, Alaska. Starting in Anchorage, the track travels 998 miles to its end in Nome. Musher Martin Buser was the first out of Eagle Island at 2:41 am this morning. The racers are called “Mushers” – likely because they are always yelling “Mush! Mush!” to their dogs to keep the sleds push push pushing through the Alaskan snow, slush and mush.

Martin is originally from Switzerland, has lived in Alaska for over 30 years and became a U.S. citizen in 2002. He and his wife and two sons hail from Big Lake, where Martin runs Happy Trails Kennel. Sled dogs are important to Martin, and he races to show that his dogs are the best at what they and he do best – mush. Martin Buser has completed 29 Iditarod’s and won four with his teams of dogs. The “team” is Martin Buser and his sled dogs. He starts with 16 dogs, and 6 must be on the towline at the finish line. An author once described Martin’s dogs as “eternal children.” That may explain why they work so well together and run so often to first. Good luck, Team.

In second place out of Eagle Lake this morning at 5:51 am was Aliy Zirkle. Aliy was born in New Hampshire. She moved to Alaska in 1990 where she went to work for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Aliy lists her occupation as “dog musher,” has finished 11 Iditarod’s, and was second last year. “Mush on, Aliy, this may be your year.”

The word “Iditarod” may derive from an Alaskan native word for “far distant place.” I think the mushers and their sled dogs would echo that feeling on the long and lonely march to Nome.

God speed and finish well.

Whatever the place,

You are winners.

Iditarod!

Grandpa Jim