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Don Bowers’

I had to make a trip to Fairbanks yesterday, one I'd been dreading but looking forward to for some months. I took 8 of my favorite dogs and gave them as a complete team to a friend who's just getting started in mushing. These dogs were the core of my Iditarod team for the past several years. They've all been in two or three Iditarods just with me, and were in even more with other mushers before I got them.

These dogs have all been trusted companions and friends, loyal to a fault. We've been through experiences together on the trail so intense that I still can't really write about them with any justice. Bear was one of my first four sled dogs. Pullman, May, and Ben were with me when I started my very first Iditarod (and didn't finish it). When I finally made it to Nome a year later, Pullman helped lead us down Front Street, with Bear right behind her. All of them--Pullman, Iron Dog, Bear, Maggie, May, Charlie, Ben, and Lucky--were on my 1997 team. They were so steady and reliable I was able to help a couple of other teams make it to Nome that year, for which I received the Sportsmanship Award--but it was the dogs who really earned it. Most of them went with me on the 1998 race, while Pullman that year led Kim Hanson to Nome as the youngest woman ever to pass under the burled arch in Nome. This year Iron Dog ran in wheel every step of the way to Nome--at 8 years old--pulling hard and still barking with enthusiasm even as we pulled up Front Street after the toughest race I've ever run.

Pullman

Each one of them is a wonderful dog with tremendous character and personality. . However, they're not as young as they once were. Some of them weren't even that young when I got them.. Charlie and Bear are the youngest of the bunch, pushing 8 years old now, and Ben won't see 10 again. They're still excellent sled dogs and have years of running left, but they're just not going to keep up with the fast movers, or make the long hauls for days on end like they used to.

And there's the problem that I and every other Iditarod musher must face sooner or later. Given a choice, I'd prefer to keep all of my old friends around the lot as honored retirees. They could help train puppies and go on occasional fun runs, and I could go enjoy their company and reminisce whenever I want to. Like most mushers, I've always got a house in my yard for any dog that's helped me get to Nome. But that's not always fair to the dogs. They are born athletes with high spirits and there's nothing worse for them than to sit around and watch the other, younger dogs go run. I couldn't keep them around and feel comfortable.

Iron Dog

So, I resigned myself to finding them new homes where they could continue to run and receive the affection and attention that I must now share with my younger dogs. Most mushers would much prefer to do this for their older dogs. It's even better when all of them can go to the same place and continue to run as a team. For a beginning musher, or even an experienced driver who's not going to run races, a team of older Iditarod veterans is ideal. They've all been there, done that, and have seen just about everything. They tend to be more mellow and are fun to be with and can be the best teachers on the trail.

Lucky

I was very fortunate to find a friend who was willing to take all of the dogs. I had some misgivings on the drive up, but I don't any more. It took a couple of months to get everything ready, but the result is worth it. All of the dogs immediately made themselves at home in their spacious new lot, where they are the only sled dogs. They'll be out and running this weekend on sleds, since Fairbanks has more than a foot of snow already. Most importantly, they're going to receive more attention and affection than I could possibly give them. In effect, they get to start a new life and continue running as long as they are able and willing. I wonder how many humans are that lucky.

And it's not as if they are nothing but memories around my place. Their descendants are integral parts of my present and future teams. Maggie has pups and grandpups (which makes them Ben's grandpups and great-grandpups and May's nieces and nephews) scattered all over my lot, most of whom will get a chance to head to Nome in the next few years. Some of Charlie's and Lucky's and Bear's younger cousins and nephews and nieces are around as well. Iron Dog's daughter Lightning has already run on my last three Iditarod teams. And I think I'm going to want Iron Dog to father some more pups next year, which will give me an excuse to make another trip to Fairbanks to see all of the old crew again.

May

I'm just continuing a tradition among mushers. After all, these dogs all came to me from other drivers like Diana Moroney, Bert Hanson, and Steve Adkins who wanted to see them go to a good home and help me get started. Will I miss them? More than anyone can imagine. But I feel better and I know I've done right by my old friends. Now I've got to figure out who to give some more of my good dogs to in a couple of years when they reach their golden age. I hope I'll be as lucky as I was this time.

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