Iditarod: The Great Race to Nome

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. Now, 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.

This richly illustrated book chronicles the origins of the Iditarod trail and traces today's route from Anchorage to Nome.

Library Journal

The annual (since 1973) Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, a grueling 1100 miles from Anchorage to Nome, is probably the best-known Alaskan sporting event. This profusely illustrated (80 color, 20 black-and-white photos) volume commemorates this grueling test of dogs and drivers. The short text gives a brief history of the Iditarod Trail, famous for the 1925 diphtheria serum run to Nome, and then describes the race route with highlights of the hazards facing participants and some of the exciting race finishes. This book is for browsing, sports, Arctic, and women's studies (the Iditarod is one event where women compete on equal terms with men) collections in public libraries. --J.F. Husband, Framingham State Coll., Mass.

Sherwonit is an outdoors/nature writer.

Schultz is the official iditarod photographer.

Susan Butcher and David Monson were married for twenty-one years. Together they raised and trained the dogs of Trail Breaker Kennel and achieved many vicotires in major sled dog races around the world. Susan won the Iditarod four times and finished in the top ten fifteen times. Granite was her lead dog for many of these races. She took a dog team to the summit of Denali, the highest peak in North America-this feat has never been repeated. David won the Yukon Quest in 1988 and he and Susan ran the Iditarod together three times. In August 2006, Susan died of leukemia. David lives in Fairbanks, Alaska, with their daughters, Tekla and Chisana. The three of them continue Susan's legacy of raising and training sled dogs, many of which are descendants of Granite. Sarah Douglas moved to Alaska in 1989 to work as a river guide and instantly felt that she had found her true home. She has been exploring the Great Land by kayak, dogsled, skis, and on foot ever since. The mountains, rivers, people wild creatures, and open spaces of the north provide endless inspiration for her artwork. Sarah makes hand-colored linoleum block prints that she hopes convey joy, timelessness, simplicity and peace.