Product Description
When she hurts her paw on the fourth day of the race, Akiak can no longer compete in the Iditarod—the famed dogsledding race through 1,151 miles of Alaskan terrain. Her musher has no choice but to leave her behind. The rules say once a dog is dropped from the race, it may not rejoin the team. But ten-year-old lead dog Akiak doesn’t know the rules, and nothing will stop her from catching up to her team. Akiak has never won the race before. Will she be able to help her team win this time? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Akiak
Beautifulartwork. Good book for dog lovers of all ages andall kidsK through 3 but preschoolers might have trouble relating the story to their world.

Great children's story.
My third grader studied/followed the Iditarod in school.This is a great childrens story about an unsung hero of the race.

Akiak is the greatest dog in the whole world!
My four-year-old boy and I love this story.It's a fascinating topic, of course, but Akiak is also a very compelling heroine.I stumble over the village names every time I read it to him but it never stops me from getting chills at the end!

Nice Book
I have all of the Robert J. Blake Books and they are great...my son loves the stories and we live in Alaska.The books really give you a sense of life in remote Alaska yet the are great for Children. Swift is by far the favorite story.

Wonderful artwork
I purchased this primarily for the artwork, which is is top notch(as is the story). ... Read more

Product Description
Paulsen and his team of dogs endured snowstorms, frostbite, dogfights, moose attacks, sleeplessness, and hallucinations in the relentless push to go on. Map and color photographs.
Amazon.com Review
Fueled by a passion for running dogs, Gary Paulsen enteredthe Iditarod--the 1150-mile winter sled-dog race between Anchorage and Nome--in dangerous ignorance and with a fierce determination.Winterdanceis his account of this seventeen-day battle against Nature's worst elements andhis own frailty. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (168)

Winterdance:The Fine Madness of Running the Iditarod
Deeply moving true story about one man's grueling dash across Alaska against all the odds.Full emotional gamut from side-splitting laughter to mournful tears.The book itself is a journey toward a truer sense of self and one's connection with the world.It awakens the innocence in all of us and revitalizes the mystery.

On my desert island list
With so many glowing reviews, I don't know what I can add here, but honestly this book is one that I have returned to over and over again since the first time I read it. I am a voracious reader, especially of Victorian "women's novels" so most people wouldn't associate me with this title. Well too bad. It is one of my all time favorites, I stayed up all night reading it the first time, and it continues to please through multiple re-readings.Most highly recommended.

an inside look at a great competition
This is a great book for anyone wanting to see what the world of running sled dogs is all about.

The Sanity of Fine Madness
It's been a long time since I've laughed so hard trying to read a book.The descriptions of the dogs, their personalities complete with all their quirks pitted against the human and man's desire to challenge themselves was hilarious, but oh, so true.

I still have visions of the dog sled slapping up against tree trunks as the dogs spin their way through the woods chasing a skunk or just the sheer joy of living.

The humor is understated at times and other times it pure hyperbole, but it works to bring the narrative into a cohesive wholeness with it's opposing tensions.

More Than Just a Dog Story
If you love dogs, you absolutely have to read this book.And, if you don't love dogs, you still absolutely have to read this book because it is so rich in its enthusiasm for living life and meeting its challenges that it would be a shame to miss it.Paulsen enters the Iditarod, but the book is much more than his account of the race.His description of preparing for the race is rich in humor and pathos.You'll laugh out loud at some of his exploits, but you'll also feel his passion and love for his dogs.His focus in telling about the race,is not so much on the geography of the race, but on the psychology of the mushers.It's a classic -- both as a dog book and an Alaska book -- and one of the most entertaining reads I've had recently. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (26)

Great book for all children
We ordered this book because we like the Iditarod, but it is a great book for any child.

A very good book
This book was a good book but I think it didn't really tell that much about the Iditarod. It was about a musher and the dogs. She's doing the Iditarod and she goes around mountains and peaks. I would recommend this book because it has good illustrations and is about a lead dog.

Chris at Ashley River EL.
I liked this book because it has excitement.I also liked this book because of the colorful pictures.I liked the part when they were in the iditarod near the finish line.

AddieatAshley River El.
Ilike thisbook. Thisbook remindsmeofsnow. Thisisacoolbook. Ilikeyou. Thisisveryvery interesting

Virginia@Ashley River El.
I loved this book!If you want a cool {get it? She lives in Alaska} author to come to your scool,get Shelley Gill!I loved Kiana's Iditarod because it told me a lot of things. ... Read more

Product Description
Libby Riddles wanted an adventure. At the age of 16 she left home for the snowy frontiers of Alaska, the Last Frontier. There her love of animals drew her to the sport of sled dog racing. When she entered the Iditarod, the famous marathon from Anchorage to Nome, she was just another Iditarod Nobody. Twelve hundred miles later, having conquered blizzards, extreme cold, and exhaustion, she and her dogs crossed the final stretch of sea ice, miles ahead of the nearest competitor...and suddenly she realised: I will be the first woman to win the Iditarod. This is the story of a courageous woman and her heroic dogs. This is the story of Libby Riddles's adventure. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Gee (Right) On, Libby!
Libby Riddles is the first woman to win the Iditarod sled dog race in 1985.This is her race autobiography.Thru her retelling of the tale, readers learn about the race, the dogs, the weather, and all the little hardships that go along with the Iditarod trail.From an old washing machine in the middle of the trail, moose carcasses, negative 52 degree weather, broken sleds, doggy frostbite, dogs in heat, and even bootie piracy(I mean dog booties), Libby experiences a lot of bad luck and not only lives to tell, but crosses the finish line first, two and a half hours before anyone else.

It was actually her braving a nasty storm and the Northern Winds that got her ahead.She was the only one to dare it and it worked.Wow.Pretty amazing.Libby gives most of the credit to her dogs tho.I really liked learning about the dogs and their different personalities and how she determined who goes where in the line up.

It fails to hit the five star mark due to layout issues more than writing.It is done in a "newspaper" column like format and most of the time, half the page (the inner column) is a complete blank.It makes the book appear twice as long as it is.I wouldn't have minded so much if they had filled in the blank spaces with pictures.Preferrably dog pictures or the pictures that Libby says she took.(Where are the waterfall pictures???)

Nevertheless, a fun and educational read.Gee (Right) on, Libby!

Race Across Alaska
Really interesting book for those who love real life adventures and/or animals. The reader really gets a feel for what the racers go through while on the trail. I actually had a chance to meet the author last year. She had plenty of great stories to tell about her life with her dogs in Alaska.

Exciting and Hysterical Read
I loved this book!Every chapter being the description of one leg of the Iditarod Race, Libby Riddles brings the reader along for a roller coaster ride of excitement, emotion, and a love of dogs.After every chapter I would have to describe in detail what happened to my own dogs' grandparents and relay the anecdotes of her endearing (yet sometimes wild) sled dogs (we have two huskies as well, so I could relate tremendously).The book was really an insider's guide to the Iditarod and sled dog racing culture.I was in awe of how helpful and hospitable the residents of Alaska were towards the racers and their dogs, as well as how helpful the racers were to one another.As soon as I finished it, I wanted to read it again! (And probably will within a year)

an inspiring book
i found this book an amazing story about a womens courage to do something not many women did. do the iditerod. i think that her courage shows through and shows men that girls are just as powerful as they are. even today the world see's women as delicte people who need to be taken care of. but no we are we are strong and powerful and when i read this book i read that message loud and clear.
miss riddles stood out in my mind. i was truly sad to hear of her death. it would have been my dream to meet her and her dogs. when she realized she was going to win i felt excited for her victory and her strentgh. when she died the world lost one amazing women. may she rest in peace.

Race Across Alaska: First Woman to Win he Iditarod
Libby Riddlesbrings you on the Iditarod trail with her.You will feel her cold, her fatigue and the fur of her dogs whom she loves above all.This is the ultimate armchair adventure. It's incredible top believe that people actually put themselves through this.A bonus feature of this book is the informaive sidebars.I recommend it with five stars. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (1)

Iditarod Dream
Boys will love this book about a young man racing in the Iditarod Junior Race.I liked it too.The book details the winning boy in the race from practicing for the race, leaving his home the day of the race and the experience of racing.It is very facinating and well written. ... Read more

Product Description
Chris Fuller has taken two decades of leadership experience and combined them with his mushing experience to bring this inspiring work that will have you thinking about leadership in a whole new way. ... Read more

Product Description
Known as the Last Great Race, the Iditarod Sled Dog Race ignites the spirit of adventure in people throughout the world each March. As the Iditarod's official photographer since 1981, Jeff Schultz has documented this amazing combination of frontier spirit, physical endurance, and human-dog connection in a stunningly beautiful and sometimes brutal landscape.In this fascinating new book, we see the best photos from a man who has dedicated himself to this race for twenty-five years. ... Read more

Product Description
Men. And women. Dogs. The thrill of extreme adventure . . . the agony of extreme defeat. These are the elements that make up the famous annual Iditarod Sled Dog Race from Anchorage to Nome. Just in time for the Iditarod’s 30th anniversary, comes this new edition of one of the best-selling books on “the Big Trail.” Sherwonit recounts the history and past three decades of the Iditarod and looks forward to its promising future, while photographer Jeff Schultz provides thrilling new photos, from the arctic landscape to the competitors and the dogs they rely on. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Great, Informative Book
This is a well written, easy to follow book that provides a lot of information about the Iditarod. Beautiful pictures make the reading even more enjoyable. It's broken into chapters so it can be read bit by bit, but it reads like a novel and I read it practically all in one sitting! I would definitely recommend it for anyone looking to learn about The Last Great Race!

A Useful and Informative Book
Iditarod; The Great Race to Nome, is a informative book with abundant and excellent pictures to supplement the text. Iditarod; The Great Race to Nome, provides information about the gold rush, early sled dog races, andhow the Iditarod dog sled race got started and more! It also includestidbits of information about various topics that relate to the Iditarod,such as mushers. Wonderful pictures make the book even more memorable andworth buying. Overall this book is a great and informative book for allages and is a personal recommendation if you need information about theIditarod. ... Read more

Product Description
Dogs of the Iditarod showcases the athleticism of Alaska’s sled dogs, animals capable of maintaining speeds of 12 miles per hour over the 1,100-mile Iditarod trail. The 75 memorable images from renowned photographer Jeff Schultz highlight a number of champion lead dogs and capture the beloved creatures at work, at rest, and at play. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

very pleased
I ordered this book for my 8 year old grand dughter, who was studying the Iditarod in school. she loved the book and even developed a board game to go with it! It was very inspirational for her, and her 6 year old sister loved the pictures.

A look at the dogs who run on the Iditarod
This not a serious book, but shows the dogs at various stages of the Iditarod.Fantastic pictures of these dogs who are ready to run any time...Dogs of the Iditarod

Great for anyone who loves sled dogs
Being partial to sled dogs myself (I am owned by two) I very much enjoyed leafing through this book. I actually bought it as a gift for my brother who adopted an Alaskan Husky last year, but I may have to buy another copy for myself!

Good portraits of the various types of dogs which nowadays run this intense and challenging race. The photos and text give you a glimpse into the world of sled dog racing, yet the book also shows the "gentler" and "calmer" side of these magnificent animals (lets enjoy the quiet times, as we know, calm or slow is not really an important part of their vocabulary!).

If you love sled dogs, get this book, it is worth it.

Highly recommended read for dog lovers everywhere
Filled from cover to cover with glorious full-color photographs, Dogs Of The Iditarod by Anchorage-based professional photographer Jeff Schultz celebrates the canine participants in Alaska's famous Iditarod Sled Dog Race. These dogs' athletic endeavors, their incredible endurance, and their very special bonding with their owners are all showcased in this fantastically visual and highly recommended read for dog lovers everywhere. ... Read more

Product Description
DeeDee Jonrowe loves dogs, and her consuming passion is the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Winter and summer, virtually day and night (even in her dreams!), she and her huskies prepare for the annual race across Alaska. IDITAROD DREAMS is an absorbing, personal account of a year in the life of this remarkable woman living on the edge of the wilderness with her husband, Mike, and enough howling huskies to populate a small town. It is about the special bond between a woman and her dogs and about the astonishing measure of skill and stamina required to compete in the Iditarod. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

She Lives Her Dream
How many of us are able to say that we are living our dream?I believe Dee Dee Jonrowe is doing just that!My opinion of an athlete is not one who wins an important event, but the one who is consistent time after time, year in and year out.Dee Dee Jonrowe and her dogs exemplify this.She has a passion for her dogs, racing, and life.Her story is extraordinary, and I believe after reading this book, that she is as well.I hope she continues to race and promote her passion for this sport.Congratulations to Dee Dee Jonrowe(Miss Consistency)for your fourth place finish in the 2006 Iditarod!!!

A one-eye opener into suffering of dogs in Iditarod
Although the book is an eye opener about the Iditarod, Jonrowe should have told us more about the suffering the dogs endure. She does tell us that mushers sleep on their sled while the dogs race. And, during the race DeeDee says numerous accidents happen-- mushers hit trees and bounce off rocks. But she doesn't give enough details. The reader is never told that dogs die in the race, that they develop ulcers, lung damage, anemia, rupture discs, paralyis,pneumonia and viral diseases.

Great book, very inspiring...
I have read this book, found it most inspiring, and learned so much from DeeDee Jonrowe.. This book has been an example in 'endurance' for me for every day living.... There should be more books like this one..DeeDee is a special person who loves her dogs.Once you open the cover, it's impossible to lay it down till you read the last page.... Worth reading, and learning from... how she cares for the dogs, loves them, as they ARE her best friends..And after traveling to Alaska and visiting in Denali Nat. Park, seeing the dogs there, I realized just how MUCH the dogs love to run. It's their life.. a life they love.There is so much to learn from the dogs and the 'mushers'.And this book takes you to the 'real experience' of running with the dogs. Quite inspiring. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to know the truth, and how it 'really is'.. An excellent book.!!!

DeeDee Jonrowe's tale of her passion... sleddogs
I have had the pleasure of meeting DeeDee on many occasions and I can say without hesitation she is one of the most respected women in mushing and in her community.Her book is all about her passion, her sleddogs, her best friends, and her adventure with them... her love for these wonderful dogs, her committment to them, and to mushing.She is one of the most amazing, strong, honest and intelligent women I have ever met... read this book, it's worth much more than it's cost.You will feel as if you have just taken a trip down the Iditarod trail with your own team of amazing huskies... what a pleasure to be able to share this through DeeDee.I can't say enough about her or her book... just trust this and other reviews and don't miss this book...

A Testament to the Partnership Between a Musher and her Dogs
I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the incredible relationship between mushers and their dogs.Many animal lovers dream of a job where you can really spend time with your pets, mushers live that every day.As a person interested in animal welfare, I am familiar with the concerns that have been raised about the Iditarod.However, I've actually seen the race myself, and it is crystal clear that what makes those dogs run is the love of the sport itself, and an incredible devotion to the "Lead Dog" who just happens to be human.It is also clear that a love for the dogs is the primary motivation for the mushers.The life of an Iditarod musher is not easy, in fact, it appears that the "dog's life" is the easy one here!I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning more about sled dog racing or life in Alaska. ... Read more

Product Description
FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

disappointing
I bought this to read aloud to my class at school as we learned about the Iditarod.They were not impressed and neither was I.They had the mystery figured out way before the end and couldn't believe the kids hadn't figured it out themselves.The ending was rather anti-climatic. The villain claiming he did it all to get money for his sick sister was a lame attempt to justify what he did.The premise is good, real kids having adventures in real places, it would be nice if it was really believable.

The Mystery on Alaska's Iditarod Trail
I think it is wonderful that Carole Marsh uses real kids and real places in her mysteries. She creates wonderful mind pictures with her many detailed discriptions. As a result it is easy to imagine you are there a part of the action and the story.

Kids Book
Good read-aloud for younger kids and read-alone for older kids.

Great for Homeschoolers!
My son is ten and really enjoyed this book.I picked it up because he has really enjoyed the huskies on Nintendogs, and I thought he might like this tale.He did!We will be reading more of these mysteries!

Carole Marsh uses real kids in her book.As far as a work of fiction, there is not that much imagination, but the stories are VERY real, and very educational.The dialog between the kids is excellent, and that is what keeps the real interest going.

As a parent, I so appreciate how she includes maps and educational tidbits.There's a scavenger hunt at the end that can be photocopied.

I did this book as a read aloud.It was not so thick as to be cumbersome.I gave my child a copy of the scavenger hunt.He enjoyed 'finding' the items and checking them off his list.

We turned this book into a unit study and it was FUN!I did not get one word of complaint, and my son would always want to do another chapter, even when I was busy.Therefore, we finished this book QUICK!

I hope they will let me pass on this tidbit - in addition to the book, there are great pictures and educational worksheets on math and many other academic subjects over at http://www.iditarod.com

Here's the link to the worksheets and lessons - they go LIKE A DREAM with this book and are free:
http://www.iditarod.com/4-1-1.html

Enjoy! ... Read more

Product Description
This is a colorful collection of annual posters from the official artist of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Included are stories about how each of the first 30 posters came to be created, and the stories they tell about the race. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

For anyone who has ever thrilled to an Iditarod event
Jon Van Zyle's Iditarod Memories, Alaskan artist Jon Van Zyle has captured the twenty-five years of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race year by year with his commemorative posters celebrating the triumph, heroes, historic tales, and spirit of this classic dog sledding event. With true-life Iditarod stories by Jona Van Zyle, this 64-page book is a fitting memorial testament and celebration of human and canine endurance, courage, perseverance, and accomplishment, as well as "must" reading for anyone who has ever thrilled to an Iditarod event.

An artist who loves his subject
This small-format lavishly-illustrated book accomplishes everything it attempts. The posters are reproduced nicely, although in postcard size. To readers with questions about the actual canine work of a race, this book explains quite a lot. Siberian huskies are the stars of "the last great race," and there are many modern-day improvements to their lot - food-warmers, airlifted straw drops (for their sleeping comfort) and more. The Van Zyles' dogs are varied and gorgeous. Jon Van Zyle is a handsome bearded man who appears - with great success -in some of the posters. Jona Van Zyle offers a wealth of information.The drawings are romantic and even heroic - without being kitschy. For example, the piercing blue eyes of a Siberian husky are actually hauntingly beautiful in real life - and a Van Zyle painting might confirms that. A great look at beautiful, hardworking dogs by two people who love them. ... Read more

Product Description
The IDITAROD FACT BOOK is jam-packed with fascinating facts and figures about the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Updated following the 2006 race, this handy guide includes facts on race champions, volunteers, sleds and gear, checkpoints, mushersÂ’ clothing, the expense of running the race, inherent dangers on the trail, entry requirements, food for the dogs and drivers, race history, pronunciations, mandatory layovers, love for the dogs, mountain passes and weather, strategies, vet care, full text of the official rules, and more.

Included are 20 b&w photos by official Iditarod photographer Jeff Schultz and many illustrations by official Iditarod artist Jon Van Zyle, a member of the Iditarod Hall of Fame. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

easy reading
The book is in an orderly format.Easy to read & is good for just skipping around & reading the facts at a glance then you can go back & read it in order if that is your style.

There is no 'story' just titled and accurate facts interesting enough for the veteran Iditarod fan or the newcomer. I wished I'd purchased this book years ago.

Good basic info on Iditarod.
This book is good for beginners, but don't be fooled it is packed with history a good information.

Just the facts Ma'am.
If you're a facts junkie this is the book for you. Every race, every racer. Great reference or bet settler. Greg ... Read more

Product Description
Describes the annual dog sled race from Anchorage to Nome, Alaska, and the life of the woman who was the first person to win it for three consecutive years. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Susan Butcher
I read Susan Butcher and the Iditarod Trial.I thought this book was good but it took a few chapters to get into the story.This book was about a lady called Susan Butcher,she was a dogsledder.She was the first woman to become a dogsledder. After a few more years two more women started.The Iditarod Trial was the toughest race of all dogsledding races,...

full of competitive excitement
STE'PHANE PRIBBLE

Hi, have you ever read a terrific book, have you ever just loved a book so much? Well, I know I have , and the name of it is Susan Butcher and the Iditarod Trail. I love this book because it's about Alaska, and I love Alaska. The book is about a women named Susan Howlet Butcher. It's about how she trained for the Iditarod. The reason I like this book is because it teaches people how to train for the Iditarod, and in my future, I want to be a musher. In my future days I hope to meet Susan. The book also tells me how to get started, and when is the right time to turn corners, or things like that. The book also helps me on concentration and how to adapt and what to do when I'm on the trail.See there are lots of reasons I love this book.
In, conclusion I still wonder to this day where Susan really is. But now the only way I can talk to her is on email, and on the email she still helps me with problems I have and how to get ready for the Iditarod.

HAPPY TRAILS,

GREAT BOOK FOR BALTO FANS OR JUST HUSKY FANS!!!
THIS BOOK HAS GREAT FACTS ABOUT THE REAL BALTO ..I THOUGHT THE MOVIE WAS THE TRUTH ..HEY THE OVIE BALTO WAS GOOD BUT THE TRUE STORY IS A LOT DIFFERNT.... I LOVE BOTH VERSOINS! AND SUSAN AND HER DOGS WINNING STREAK! NO DOUBT THE BEST IDITAROD BOOK! ... Read more

Product Description
Meet rugged, independent, determined, and hard-working Joe Redington, Father of the Iditarod, a man who found his destiny in Alaska. In an inspirational biography, Lew Freedman chronicles Redington's birth on the Chisholm Trail and his boyhood in the Depression -- homeless, motherless, roaming the country looking for work. Alaska was his rebirth in 1948. On his own piece of dirt, a man could raise a family, hunt, fish, run dogs, and stand up for what he believed. Redington helped rescue Alaska dog mushing from extinction, creating a legacy in a thrilling thousand-mile race across Alaska, the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Book does justice
Even an non-dog mushing fan from Anchorage can acknowledge the huge contributions Joe Reddington made for our great state. This biography by Lew Freedman does great justice to a great Alaskan, tracing his path from the lower 48 states up to Alaska and his family life, adventures and achievements while in Alaska. Reddington have been acknowledge founder of the famous Iditarod Race to Nome, one dog mushing race every Alaskan virtually follow even if he/she isn't a fan.

The book appears to be well written and the author was probably well supported by the family members of Joe Reddington in writing this book. This make the author very sympathic toward his subject. While that itself is no great crime, like all student of history, I would like to know Joe Reddington bit more readily then his public image. Like all human beings, Joe Reddington had his moments of greatness and his flaws. I would like to have read more on his failings as well as his accomplishments. But nevertheless, the book does justice to the man and his accomplishments.

(4.5) Honoring a true Alaskan hero.
Joe Redington, Sr., may not have been an Alaskan by birth, but any resident of the state would agree that he was, and remains, a symbol of the Alaskan spirit. Born and raised in Oklahoma, Redington always had a fascination with the rugged far-north, and read every book on Alaska he could get his hands on. In 1948, at the age of 31, he finally made the decision to pack up his family and move there. They homesteaded in Knik, off the Parks Highway, on the northwestern side of Knik Arm, and that's how Redington got involved with sled dogs. Mushing was an effective way to get from place to place, and Knik Kennels was born. By chance, the property opened directly onto the historic Iditarod trail, which by that time was in poor shape owing to disuse. Redington cleared a section of the trail for his own use, and soon became caught up in the route's historical significance. The famed 1925 "Serum Run" had followed that trail when there was no other means of rushing life-saving medication to diptheria-stricken Nome.

Redington decided it was high time the trail be restored and brought back into regular use, proposing a 1,000-mile dogsled race from Anchorage to Nome. Everyone thought he was nuts. But the first Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race was held in March of 1973, on a shoestring budget, but a resounding success nonetheless. The first few years of the race's existence were rocky at best, but this was Redington's baby, and he nursed it along with unwaivering confidence and energy. Today it is an internationally famous sporting event, with mushers arriving each spring from all over the globe to compete. Though Redington himself never won the race (he participated in it almost every year), not having time enough left to properly train his dogs after all the effort he expended in organization of the event, he did help many eventual Iditarod champions get their footing. Two such notable figures are five-time winner Rick Swenson and four-time winner Susan Butcher. In addition, Redington, along with Susan Butcher and Ray Genet, brought the first dog team to the peak of Mount McKinley in 1979. In 1993 he organized the first Iditarod Challenge, an opportunity to follow the trail for fun rather than competition, with Redington as guide. He also participated in a special dogsledding trial at the 1994 Olympics in Norway.

The title "Father of the Iditarod" has been applied to Joe Redington for years, and he has engraven himself upon the hearts of all Alaskans. I grew up in Anchorage and he was always a household name. He was an amazing man. Redington had unquenchable enthusiasm for everything he did, and never let age slow him down. He ran his last Iditarod in 1997, at the age of 80. When he was diagnosed with cancer of the esophagus in 1998, he fought it with the same determination and confidence that he had exhibited when fighting for the creation of the Iditarod, and he beat it. He even got back to mushing, though he would not compete again, and eventually the cancer returned and claimed his life in 1999.

This book does every possible justice to the pioneering man who revived dogsled mushing as a popular competitive sport. It is a delightful read, descriptive and engaging. Even a reader not familiar with Alaska or dog mushing will be able to capture the essence of it here. The book is also filled with great black-and-white photos of Redington, his family and fellow mushers, his dogs, and other images that bring the story to life. My one criticism would be a lack of sufficient editting. There are a few too many typos that should have been caught, and hence I don't feel quite right about giving an unconditional five-star rating. It also appears as if the very end of Chapter 18 may have been cut off, as it leaves off with what appears to be the beginning of a new sentence, but when the reader flips to the next page, it is the beginning of the next chapter. Other than this, however, the book flows very nicely and is easy to read. I would highly recommend it to just about anyone, Alaskan or not, and regardless of experience with dogs or mushing. A thoroughly delightful book!

Thank you Joe Redington!
I was so pleased with this book that I felt compelled to encourage more people to read it. It offers the history of the Iditarod Sled Dog Race which is interesting enough, but more than that, it is the story of one man who gave everything he had to Alaska and dog mushers everywhere. If you are looking for an inspirational read, this is it!

Father of the Iditarod: The Joe Redington story.
As I read through this account of the roots of "The great race" I was all the while planning my next trip to Alaska. To be included in this was an attempt to me "The Man" so convinced was I that Joe would not only pull through his illness he would live for ever. I am now sure Joe will live for ever, not only in the hearts of the Dog sledding fraternity but amongst all who possess a sense of adventure. Read this book and live the greatest adventure race on this planet.

Father of the Iditarod
This book was an intense view into the life and times of the creator of the Iditarod.It takes you back years into the past for a view of what it was like to live in a time when living in the wilderness was rough andtough.This book helps to preserve the memories of days old andcommemorate the legend who devoted his life to his dream of "The LastGreat Race" - "The Iditarod Sled Dog Race" ... Read more

Product Description

The winner of Alaska's world-famous Iditarod -- a grueling, eleven-hundred-mile dog sled race across a frigid Arctic wilderness---takes home a $250,000 purse.

But this year, the prize is survival.

Only the toughest and the most able come to compete in this annual torturous test of endurance, skill, and courage. Now, suddenly and inexplicably, the top Iditarod contestants are dying one by one in bizarre and gruesome ways. Jessie Arnold, Alaska's premier female "musher," fears she may be the next intended victim, but nothing is going to prevent her from aggressively pursuing the glory and the rewards that victory brings.

Dedicated State Trooper Alex Jensen is determined to track down the murderer before more innocent blood stains the pristine Alaskan snow. But Jensen's hunt is leading him into the frozen heart of the perilous wild that Jessie Arnold knows so well -- a merciless place far from any vestige of civilization, where nature can kill as fast as a bullet...and only the Arctic night can hear your final screams.

Customer Reviews (24)

Disappointing
The only redeeming feature here is the detailed description of the Iditarod race.That admittedly interesting aspect must be what made this book an award-winner, for I sure can't see any other reasons.The plot is predictable (even laughable), the characters cardboard, the dialogue wooden, the "romance" sophomoric, and the detective does very little actual detecting.My journey through Sue Henry's work ends here at the first checkpoint.

Nice to have an Alaska Mystery
I enjoyed this book because of the Iditarod race setting.However, I also find it hard to believe the book won awards.I had trouble keeping the names straight.A list of the characters at the front that I could have referred to would probably have been a big help.

Shortly before reading this book I had watched the 2008 race on NGC (I think it was NGC).This book helped fill-in much of the information about the race that was missing in the TV series.The TV series made it seem much easier than it is.

It was a pleasant and interesting book, but it isn't a book I couldn't put down.Still, I will probably continue reading the series since I bought six of the Alaska Mysteries at the same time.Perhaps the other books will be "page turners".

Fantastic Mystery
Sue Henry has done a superb job of bringing Alaska to those of us down here in the lower 48 States, with a mystery spin.

cold blooded killer running across Alaska
I picked up this book with the hope of finding a new author for a mystery series I could enjoy.I was not very impressed with the character development, though, so I doubt I will stick with the series.

That said, this book was entertaining in that it took me to places I have never been, and to an event I knew little about except for vaguely remembering it featured on ABC's Wide World of Sports many years ago.The drama of identifying the killer was a bit weaker than I thought it would be, and the motive for the killings was very weak.But it was a fun ride through the snow.

Can't believe this won awards
Info about the race was interesting, but as a mystery, it was clunky and labored. ... Read more

Product Description
The 1200 mile dogsled race across Alaska from Anchorage to Nome. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Rural Alaska - A World Apart
I am actually living for the summer in one of the towns (Elim) that is along the Iditarod race trail. In this book, Tim Jones chronicles the 1979 race which he followed by small prop plane. His book gives an excellent combination of suspenseful race details, villiage histories, and quirky biographies of the people associated with this great race. Fascinating reading for anyone on the "outside," as Alaskans call the people of the lower 48. Expose yourself to a different world and read this never dull book. I found myself racing to the finish just like the participants - on little sleep, exhausted, but exhilarated.

Working together
This was an excellant book. There is a real love between the musher and his dogs. The book had warmth, excitement and peril. It is amazing the number of people involved in this race. There is more than one story inthis book.I want to read it again.

Working together
This was an excellant book. There is a real love between the musher and his dogs. The book had warmth, excitement and peril. It is amazing the number of people involved in this race. There is more than one story inthis book.I want to read it again. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Great Overview of the Entire Race
Includes the history of the Iditarod & Dog Mushing, Founding Mother & Father, Race Preparation & Training, Volunteers & Staff, Race Rules, Iditarod Dogs, A Musher's Gear, Tracking The Iditarod, Trail Description, Out on The Trail - Strategies & Ploys, Inside Information, Statistics & More.

Every Detail
After having just read Gary Paulsen's book Winterdance, I was anxious to learn more about the iditarod race and this book answered every question I could have dreamed up and more including history of mushing and the race, how mushers and dogs prepare for the race, what kind of equiptment they carry, and descriptions of the trail itself.It also has a very large bibliography which gave me a list of other books I would like to read.

Great Book!
This is a great book.The training section helped me with ideas for my dogs, as did the parts on equipment and feeding. ... Read more

Product Description
Blow by blow accounts of one young man's two Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race runs. Takes the reader down the trail through the author's eyes, ears, legs, and hands. Primary focus tries to stay on the incredible Alaskan Husky sled dogs who pull the author across the wild breadth of Alaska. As handler for his uncle, four time Iditarod champion Martin Buser, Chapoton goes from rookie to Iditarod finisher, then does it again the following year. Dog lovers and adventure fans will enjoy this fast paced easy read. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A good read
My son ran the Iditarod twice, in 1993 and 1994.This is the story of his adventures, told in his words.Folks who have known him and read it say that it's like having him talking to you.It's a view of the Iditarod not seen from the polished views of veterans. ... Read more