Product Description
Essay, with photos, depicting Yukon Quest 1989 as seen by one of the teams. ... Read more

Product Description
It had been six years since newspaper reporter Brian Patrick O'Donoghue mushed to a last place finish in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Yearning to challenge himself anew, he enters the Yukon Quest, a more brutal 1,000-mile run between Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, and Fairbanks, Alaska. With wry humor and diminishing expectations, O'Donoghue shares the trail with Khan, Hobbes, Scrimshaw, Cyclone, and ten other excitable Alaska huskies, plus a diverse collection of rival racers and resident bush rats. The mushers' strategies, dreams and disappointments, the antics of the dogs, and the drama of the race are all part of this punishing personal journey. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Truthful account of one man's Quest
This book tells the story of one man's first experience of the Yukon Quest, and the problems and triumphs he encountered along the way. Very informative for some-one like myself (an armchair musher!)covering aspects which would never occur to me i.e. arranging food drops in advance!

A real page turner, i finished reading the book in one day.

Honest Dogs; Harsh Words
The real problem with this book lies not in his treatment of his dogs, but in his treatment of other mushers.It is odd that he could be so criticalof so many of the other mushers from the back of the pack.While not quitean armchair quarterback, he was definitely throwing some cheap shots fromthe sled runners. I had a suspicion while reading this book that he wassearching for a way to justify his utter lack of speed, instead of justreveling in the moment. While it is nice to hear about a musher that caresdeeply about his dogs (as most do), I felt that he simply did not have therapport with his dogs that most succesful mushers have.

Highly recommended for dog lovers & armchair adventurers.
In Honest Dogs: A Story Of Triumph And Regret From The World's Toughest Sled Dog Race, journalist and family man Brian O'Donoghue shares the story of his experiences upon entering the Yukon Quest Sled Dog Race at the ageof 41. Brian writes with wry humor of sharing the trail with his Alaskanhuskies Khan, Hobbes, Scrimshaw, and Cyclone, as well as a diversecollection of rival racers and resident bush rats. Honest Dogs is a candid,vivid account of a punishing personal journey and relates the strategies,dreams, and disappoints of the contestants, the antics of the furry canineathletes, the sheer drama of the race, and the unworldly wilderness settingin which Brian and his dogs found themselves. Honest Dogs is highlyrecommended reading for armchair adventurers and dog lovers everywhere.

I just loved it!
This is an amazing book!--I had no idea what it takes to compete in a major sled dog race.All those pictures we see of the "romance" of sled dog competitions don't even begin to cover the fatigue (of dogs andpeople), the logistics and the problems.It must be an incredibleexperience to even finish in a race like this. I'm glad the author let meexperience a little bit of it through his book.

A must read for sled dog racing fans
Once in a while you come across a book that you are sorry to see end.Honest dogs was one of those books for me.The chapter on going over american summit was very exciting.When I was in Anchorage for the start ofthis years Iditarod I got to see and pet O'donogue's lead dog"Khan". in person After reading this fine book I want to moveto Two Rivers,Alaska and take up Mushing myself

. ... Read more

Product Description
Ted Mattson tells a quarter-century's worth of tales of the volunteer pilots' exploits above the trail--some funny, some somber--about what happens when a team of rambunctious dogs decides to exit the cabin of a fabric-covered airplane, about landing on sea ice in whiteout conditions, about miracle rescues and tragedies. It's the story of a sidelight to the Iditarod race that can be as exciting and as colorful as the main event. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

These guys are crazy!
This book comes highly recommended!!!

If you enjoy hearing true tales of wild heroics this book is for you.I read it page after page and laughed as the author so vividly drew me into each scene with these crazy Iditarod pilots.

Some of the stories are incredible and it really makes you want to go to Alaska to encounter some of this wild west dog sled fanaticism.

Don't miss this one...it is very enjoyable.Worthy of passing on to someone else after it's read.

The Perfect Gift
I purchased this book for my father, for Father's Day, and it turns out he has a personal connection to one of the book's subjects.I could not have been more pleased!He has been reading it voraciously and enjoying everypage.Dad's are always hard to buy for and it's great to hit the nail onthe head once in awhile.

Pilot's Perspective
I like adventure books, especially those that deal with northern flying.This title clearly fell into that catagory.The autor gave us a perspective of the Iditarod race that only a pilot could.As a pilot whohas flown in Alaska I found all of his flying information to be accurate. But best of all the book was very well written.The author has polishedhis work.The chapters are all very readable and fascinating.I wouldrecommend this book to anyone whose interests run along the same lines asmine do; flying, Alaska, adventure and the Iditarod.My only complaint isa complete lack of pictures.

It is a good book on a subject not easy to record.
Ted acquaints the reader with stories that could only come from being a pilot himself.Having done some flying in the Alaskan bush, I became acquainted with the author and know of his intense love of the subject.Irecommend readers also read "The Eye of the Rainbow", TedMatson's first writing. You will have a greater respect of the Alaskanadventurer. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Winning Strategies- a Winner
I wish I had purchased this bookinstead of some others on mushing I already had. If you are a beginning musher, you will still probably need something like Miki and Julie Collins "Dog Driver", but if youare at all interested in distance mushing (for racing, work, or pleasure),this is a must read. There are some glaring typos and grammatical errorsthrough the text, but I forgive these in favor of the superior content.Also, be prepared for some hyper-competitive threads. Joe didn't get to thetop of the sport by waiting for the right opportunity to come by, butrather made his own opportunities and suggests the reader do also.Interspersed with the practical considerations of distance mushing are someanecdotes that Joe uses well to illustrate his points. These are not onlyentertaining, but enlightening. As far as practical training, feeding, andmanagement advice for distance mushing, this one is hard to beat.

full of dog care facts with humor and common scence , great
THIS WINNING IDITAROD CHAMPION has wriiten an excellent overall care book for the working dog. The title does not clue the reader into the entertaining storiesthat are contained between the cover.I wasparticularly impressed with the author's great sense of humor and hisstory-building abilities. Even more impressive is the fact that Runyan'sbook is Joe's creationand no professional co-authors who might havediluted the real character of the author.It's rather amazing to find areal Will Roger's amoung the ranks of writting mushers. His honestassessment of the sled dog racing scene--how it was and how it hasdeveloped into what it is today, can be appreciated by anyone.The"politically correct bug" never bit Joe and for that this readeris grateful. Joe's willingness to call a spade a spade is evidentthroughout the book.The book is largely on the authors experiences as adog breeder, trainer, and racer, but a good portion is devoted to hisobservations as a commentator on the iditarod trail and can be used for anyworking dogs life. It makes for easy reading as Joe provides valuableinformation in a very entertaining form. ... Read more

Product Description
There's more to the mushing experience than just dogs. Several Alaska mushers also share their thoughts about facing the weather, competition, survival, what drives them, how they do it, and what it's like out there on the trail. ... Read more

Product Description
The Complete Book of Sled Dog Racing! More thorough and reliable than any other source of mushing wisdom. MUSH! is indispensable to anyone who is thinking of becoming active in this exciting sport!· Dog Selection · Equipment · Commands · Where to Run · When to Run · Housing · Driver Training · Puppy Training · Racing Obedience and more! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

good information
Good information, a little out dated in places but equipment changes over time. Good read.

spectacular
This is great and has all sorts of helpful information.Book was in great condition.

Excellent guide
Very informative.It's nice to have the encouragement this book brings to the wanna be driver.One day I'll have my own team of dogs, and expect this guide to be referenced often and well tagged.

Get this Book!
I am a beginner dog sled driver without a mentor.This book answers ALL my question, and provides you with the meaty content that it will take to get you to the next level.If your trying to make a choice between this book and another on dog powered sports; get this one.I have others, this is the best one for the beginner.

A great book for any musher; advanced or amuter
This is a great book for anyone who wants to take mushing seriously. It has designs for harnesses, ganglines, dogsleds, carts, and booties. Overall, it is a great book for anyone to get. ... Read more

Product Description
Photographs combine with lively illustrations and engaging, age-appropriate stories in DK Readers, a multilevel reading program guaranteed to capture children's interest while developing their reading skills and general knowledge.

Snow Dogs! Racers of the North takes readers into the exciting world of dogsled racing, revealing what it takes to be the leader of the pack. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

history of the Iditarod============facts correct
We lived in Wasilla, Ak. for 7 years, and am quite familiar with the Iditarod.This book was well written and lots of good pictures.However, the author left out something very, very important.When he told about the Iditarod, which was organized in1973--------------where is the name of the father of the Iditarod, Joe Redington? It was his idea, and through lots of persistance, talk, money, etc. it became a reality.
Today, his son and grandson are a part.There should be a retraction of some kind.He not only started the race, but helped several young mushers and they would come to his place out on Knik Rd and he trained them, and even made the dogs
available.
I am very disappointed that his name was not mentioned anywhere.
Really enjoyed the book except for that point-------------get your history together before writing.
Thanks-------------Bobbie
gypsyshire@hotmail.com ... Read more

Product Description
Every year, equipped with specialist equipment and a team of huskies, an intrepid group of highly-skilled competitors penetrates a porcelain world. It is winter in the sub-Arctic, a season of extreme cold, storms and 17-hour nights, where the snow underfoot is so crystalline that it chafes like sandpaper. This is the Yukon Territory, the start of the annual Yukon Quest, a 1025-mile dog-sled race which ends in the heart of Alaska. Award-winning journalist John Balzar decides that he too must take part in this epic event, and this book tells the story of his adventures, dramatically depicting the wild country, the extreme cold and the solitary ordeal of the drivers and dogs who commit to the race. ... Read more

Product Description
O'Donoghue tells what happened when he entered the 1991 Iditarod, along with 17 sled dogs with names like Rainy, Harley and Screech. O'Donoghue braved snowstorms, sickening wipeouts, and endured the contempt of more experienced racers. Narrated with icy elan and self deprecating wit, this is a true story of heroism, cussedness, and astonishing dumb luck. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Interesting read
I enjoyed this book about the iditarod and mushing, something I didn't know much about before.I found the book informative and interesting.It wasn't as humorous as I thought it might be (no laugh out loud moments), and the format was a bit confusing - the author flips back and forth to other mushers and other time periods - but it was a quick read and I learned a little about something new (for me).I also know that while I'll stay off the iditarod trail, I might check the race out online this year.It's an interesting sport, for a very special type of person.

No match for Paulsen
Every once in a while we go up to Ely, MN, and spend a day or so dogsledding.So, prior to this year's trip, I bought a few books on the Iditarod and mushing in general.

With the Iditarod in the news right now (especially with the legally blind woman competing this year) I figured I'd learn more about that particular grueling race.This was the first book I got, as the title caught my eye and the reviews were good.

About 1/3 the way into the book, the jumping around between the various mushers and their stories started to get annoying.While I was interested in the various stories, interspersing them in a sort of "time line" format along with O'Donoghue's own experiences was not something I, myself, particularly enjoyed.There were other things about his writing style that seemed to indicate the book was written for his associates and the people with whom he raced, rather than the public at large.As a reporter, it made sense that O'Donoghue would toss in some short human interest stories of the other mushers.But he also had a few nicknames and references that seemed to be for the benefit of those in the know.

Then I made the mistake of picking up Gary Paulsen's Winterdance before I had finished this one.What a huge difference!

I reluctantly came back to My Lead Dog Was A Lesbian and am still trying to finish it.After Paulsen, it just isn't the same.Not to mention his overuse of the word "lesbian" as an adjective, almost as if he felt it necessary to justify the title of the book.OK, the dog was "confused".We get that.But halfway through the book I started noticing he was referring to her as "the little lesbian" or "the lesbian" more often than anything else (like "my lead dog" or her name), and once that sort of thing is noticed, you know, it then just sort of jumps off the page at you.So it's gotten to the point where, when I read that description of his lead dog my eyes roll and I tend to flinch.Gahhh not another one!

I'm still stuck somewhere in the middle of the Iditarod with "O'D" and just can't quite bring myself to pick it back up.He doesn't convey anywhere near the appreciation or love of the dogs that Paulsen does, and it is, after all, all about the dogs.Or should be.

If you want objective, dry facts and figures, this is your book.If you want the soul of mushing, read Paulsen.

A must read
I thought the book was well written - I read at every opportunity, even my lunch time at work!I'm from South Africa, where winter day temperatures hover around 15 deg C (59 F) and I've seen snow maybe twice in my life, but this story was written in such a way that I'm burning to try mushing myself!Imagine that!I've ordered other books on mushing which, I'm hoping, will convince me that I shouldn't be so crazy.

Well worth the read and keep it on your bookshelf for future reading.

a lot safer than taking on the iditarod yourself
This is far from the best-written non-fiction book I have ever read.The journalist's experience writing in the shorter form of articles shows through in the disjointed feel of much of the narrative.This is still well worth the read if you have any interest in Alaska, mushing, or man's working relationship with dogs.Even without those interests you may well find the book enjoyable.
At the beginning I was first overcome by the romantic notion of this amazing race, and reading through his preparations deluded myself with the fantasy of doing such a thing myself (a real joke considering how much I dislike even camping).Once the race gets underway, my most common thought was "these people are ...insane!"It was terrific and I really wanted to know how it would turn out for each and every one of them.
The title can provide for some fun too.The other day I overheard from another room Child A ask, "What is a lesbian?" Child B responded, "It is a type of dog."After much laughter I had to call them in and correct it, although I had fun imagining the kind of conversation this could cause in public at one point if they were both left with their misconception.
Since you are on this page, and reading these reviews, you are probably interested enough in the subject that reading this book would be a positive experience for you.

I'll Just Read About It, Thanks.
Of the Iditarod books I've read this has to rank as one of the best. Apparently a good sense of humor and a high appreciation of irony is a necessary component of being a Musher. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Couldn't put Mary's book down.....
Mary's writing takes you along for the ride!Wonderful insight to the people, the villages, the Iditarod trail, and the landscape. She makes you feel like you are there. 1st woman to finish the Iditarod race. Her description of the experience is great.

Her special bond with her Black Labrador lead dog "Cabbage" is inspiring.

My Husband & I both read the book & are still talking about it!
You'll like this book!

Mary's writing puts you on the sled , on the trail... !
Inspiring and accurate in its well selected detail,Mary Shields offers an insight into Alaska wilderness and the travels with dogs that each of us can 'feel' as we travel 'with' her.Having visited her at her home, andhaving reread this book, would like to see her do a SEQUEL now!Thanks,Mary!Very, very inspiring... makes you feel you, too, can meet suchchallenges. ... Read more