Oh Jodi, what fun that must have been!,,.love the pics.

Jodi that is STUNNING!!!!

What a fantastic opportunity for you, coming from hot Cal to be able to be part of the very beautiful and cold Alaska.

I love the snow, the scenery and the dogs! Wonderful photography.

Were the dogs friendly, as in they weren't just working dogs where you aren't allowed to interact with them?

Jodi, your pictures are always so colorful, clear and crisp. I always enjoy looking at them. I loved your video!!

My frst thought was..."Go Pro". :0) The sound of the sled in the snow, the dogs barking....

It's beautiful scenery! Thanks for sharing your experience!

Lucky you actually riding in a dogsled. A few years ago we went on an Alaskan cruise, one of the offboard ship excursions was to visit a dogsled lot. No snow so the dogs pulled us up the mountain on a sled w/wheels-we were told that was good practice/exercise for the dogs. I hugged & kissed all those dogs & none of them growled or barked at me. Loved Alaska & enjoyed the dogs to no end. Have pics of me sitting on the ground covered up with dogs.

Oh Jodi...What a fantastic photo journal. Magnificent photography of a simply majestic trip. Thanks are not quite enough... Many thanks. Nanny

BTW...it did bring back memories of my Alaska tour and those dogs at Jeff ? place. Too, too wonderful.

Beautiful! What a wonderful opportunity. I would love to do that some day.

Jodi, what an opportunity Vern Halter gave you as you already are exclaiming.

Thank you for your pictures. I want to do that. Don't know if I would have the Vern Halter experience but they do ask for volunteers.

The pictures answer so many questions about the dogs and their life. They are so psyched aren't they.

Again, I thank you for taking me "there" with you. What a priviledge. Good to know it is not impossible to witness such an event.

Wow, Jodi, what a magnificent video!! It looks like so much fun and such gorgeous scenery!! Those dogs must be so strong to pull three people!!

Your music was perfect for the setting too. I love it.

What a dream come true. Lucky you!!

Thanks everyone. I was so excited to finally be able to post high quality versions of my videos. I sent the link to kennel Vern Halter. During the week I will post other short videos I created during that trip.

Jasdip: the dogs, at least at Vern's kennel are well socialized right from birth and very friendly. They do scrap among each other because each dog has its own hierarchy not only in the canine world but also when pulling sleds. There is always a lead dog with anywhere from 5-15 dogs behind him. The lead dog is an exceptional decision maker and will steer the sled away from thin ice, and other dangers of the trail. The other dogs often struggle to get to a higher rank in the pull line and will jump over each other to the point that all of the harnesses are terribly tangled and it takes several people to get it all straightened out.

Nicole: someday I may actually put together a video of live footage I took at the official start of the race. You can feel and hear the excitement in the dogs.

Nanny: you're probably referring to Jeff King, he's well known in the Iditarod world as a racer, inventor and writer. Cabellas Sporting Goods store carries Jeff King designs. I've read his book Cold Hands, Warm Heart. He is a better musher than writer, but it's still interesting. I have several photos of him and his dogs as they took off from the block at the official start.

Ellie: yes, the dogs are incredibly psyched! While waiting to start the race there is a handler for each of the 16 dogs so that they won't take off down the trail without anyone on the sled. Alaska huskies are not a breed per say but a list of attributes that suit the race mentality. They are generally medium size, a good eater (important on the trail to not be finicky), powerful and smart with a drive to run. They come in many colors and points but all have that incredible drive to run in them.

Murraysmom: three people are really not that difficult for the dogs. The sled usually has to be weighted down by something to stay solid on the ground as the dogs go wild flying down the trail.

The sled I rode on had a basket in front for someone to sit in, a middle area for the kennel's driver and a back area for another rider. I sat in the basket for about an hour when the other person riding with me (who had done this before) offered me her spot on the back rails for the ride of my life. Go back and take a look at how thin the sled rails are. I was amazed, especially because Vern had given me a pair of his cold weather boots (along with his Iditarod jumpsuit and gloves). The boots were big enough for me to wear over my own cold weather boots. Meaning the boots were several times wider than the rails.

If anyone wants to get a personal and humorous view of what it's like to train for and race in the Iditarod, I highly recommend Winterdance by Gary Paulsen. He's best known for children's books like Hatchet, but took some time off writing to race the Iditarod. I laughed so hard in parts and was amazed in others by what these racers go through, and particularly Gary who kind of took bonding with his dog to the extreme (and paid for it :-)

Jodi-

Jodi, BEAUTIFUL! I watched them all! Loved your music choices too.

You look so warm and cozy. What a wonderful experience that must have been. I love the music, too.

Nice, thanks for sharing.
I to read Winterdance by Gary Paulsen and enjoyed his experience.

Those are great -- I shared them with my folks!

Thanks Petaloid, please send them my regards when you next talk to them. I wish they still lived close by.

Jodi-