Siberian Huskies and the Growth of Dog Sledding
Unlike the breed's fate in Russia, the Siberian husky was taking
hold in Alaska. Dog sledding had become not only a means of
transportation, but also a popular sport for the adventurers who
had journeyed north in search of gold. Local races quickly evolved
into large events with numerous entries.
The first sled driver to gain notoriety on the sled dog circuit
using Siberian Huskies was a Norwegian named Leonhard Seppala, who
had emigrated to Alaska early in the twentieth century. He
inherited a well-trained team of huskies that had originally been
scheduled to drive explorer Roald Amundsen to the North Pole. When
the expedition was canceled due to the outbreak of World War I,
the dogs were placed with Seppala. Over the next few years his
Siberian Husky teams beat all comers in races throughout the
Northwest.
In January 1925, Seppala and his huskies earned a place in
history. That winter, and epidemic of diphtheria broke out in Nome
and local doctors did not have adequate supplies of the required
diphtheria serum. In a race against time. Seppala and his team
headed into some of the most treacherous sections of Alaska's
wilderness. A relay team comprised of 15 sleds and dogs was sent
north with the serum to meet Seppala, as the world waited. On the
day Seppala met up with the relay team (after mushing nearly 170
miles) he had already traveled more than 40 miles in blizzard
conditions; he retrieved the serum and immediately headed back to
Nome, posting another 40 miles before resting briefly. His team of
20 dogs amassed nearly 350 miles in this journey. The teams from
the south ran relays of approximately 50 miles each and
contributed greatly to the success of this mission.
News reports of the feats of Seppala's dogs brought great acclaim
to the breed. It created a demand for Siberian Huskies, especially
by sledding enthusiasts in New England. Because the breeders in
Alaska were unable to fill the request, they received, many
interested fanciers imported dogs directly from Siberia. These
proved to be the last substantial imports before the breed
disappeared in its homeland.
This, along with the simple commemoration of the uses of the
Iditarod trail, is the origin of the Iditarod sled dog race |
Dog Sledding
Seppala & Togo
The headlines
Balto Statue
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