Tails From the Trail

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Hannah with the students at Sidney C. Huntington School. (Photo: Courtsey of Hannah Moderow)

February 27—Day 10

Galena Layover

It is a sunny day in Galena, with temperatures as high as -10º F. This feels like a heat wave after the cold we have endured over the past week. We’re enjoying the sun while it lasts, as the forecast calls for more cold.

I had a chance to meet with students from the Sidney C. Huntington School. They asked a lot of questions about our trip to Nome, but more exciting, they shared details about their lives in Galena.

The third-grade class is getting excited for the Iditarod to start this Saturday, as they have a hometown musher, Jon Korta, competing in this “Last Great Race on Earth.” They have been following our progress on the Serum Run, but I can only bet they will follow their hometown musher even closer.

A sixth-grade class has been in contact with a school from Eagle River (near the city of Anchorage, Alaska), exchanging stories about their Alaskan lives. They told me how their life in Galena is different from other larger communities in Alaska.

“Here, a lot of people haul water to their homes,” one student said. “We don’t take running water for granted.”

Heat is another difference. “I chop wood, but a lot of the kids from near the city don’t know how to do that,” said another kid.

Although there are indeed many differences, it is also interesting to note that these students were working on computers, studying most of the same subjects as students across the nation. Each community, whether in Alaska or elsewhere, has its own unique characteristics, but school children everywhere share much of the same common interests and studies.

I talked about the original Serum Run in 1925, and asked if any of the sixth-grade students were related to one of the original serum mushers. Several students raised their hands saying they were pretty sure they were. Galena is one of the great Serum Run communities, and though the original mushers are no longer alive, they leave a legacy with their families.

I am headed off to feed the dogs a big meal, and enjoy a group dinner at the Culinary School here in Galena. The hospitality here is phenomenal, and it has been a great day to meet new people.

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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