Tales From the Trail

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My job was to catch the postage tags from the machine and make sure they ended up on the right drop bag. (Photo: Courtesy of Debbie Moderow)

February 5—Pre Race

Drop Bags

Drop bags are due on Wednesday morning. This means we only have 48 hours to finish packing!

Drop bags are cloth sacks stuffed to the brim with food and supplies for dogs and their mushers. The bags are dropped by small planes to check points along the trail. Although it takes a lot of careful planning to pack these bags, it is a great relief to know that each day there will be a new drop bag packed with everything we need waiting for us at the check points.

Have you ever gone on a trip and forgotten your toothbrush, pajamas, or something basic like a pair of socks? And then you think to yourself, how could I be so stupid to forget that? When it comes to drop bags, we have to be extra careful not to forget anything, because we will be in remote areas with no easy access to gather new supplies. Dog food and human food fill most of the drop bags, but things like glove liners, clean socks, matches, and charcoal hand-warmers are included.

Today, Mom and I did some last minute shopping and then spent the majority of the day organizing human food and gear bags. Together we made more than 60 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and individually bagged slices of cheese, jerky, and smoked salmon sticks. It was a great relief to seal up the two-gallon plastic bags that contained our food for each day. I have confidence we will not be hungry—and the food is delicious! Homemade meals never taste better than when we are out on the trail.

Tomorrow is going to be a marathon day. The task will be to combine all the dog food, human food, booties, and gear to fit into 33 drop bags. Each bag will weigh between 40 and 50 pounds.

Hannah Moderow is a musher and writer for Scholastic News Online.

Serum Run 2007
Today we made a special visit to veterinarian Susan Whiton, DVM. With the Serum Run only two weeks away, I want to make sure each dog is in perfect health.

Serum Run 2007
On the Shakedown this weekend, I was privileged to take four young pups on their first big mushing field trip. Roo, Abbott, Pokey and Lily took each mile in stride, and proved to be mighty campers. They were eager to learn the ins and outs of long distance mushing, and I think they will be seasoned professionals before long. This is great news, as the upcoming Serum Run is an 18-day field trip!

Serum Run 2007
Sled dogs need new shoes often. Called booties, these black corduroy shoes are used to protect a dogs' paws from cuts and scrapes on icy trails.

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