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An 1167
mile journey on foot through the harsh Alaskan wilderness following
the route of the 1925 dog sled relay that saved the town of Nome
from a diphtheria epidemic.
On January
20, 1925, a radio signal went out, flashing for miles across the
frozen tundra: Nome calling... Nome calling...
We have an outbreak of diphtheria... No Serum... Urgently need
help... Nome calling... Nome
calling...
And so
started one of the most exciting journeys in history which gripped
the world and made heroes of the men and dogs who risked everything
to get the serum to Nome.
Today the
Iditarod is called the "Last Great Race on Earth" as man and animal
pit themselves against wild Alaska in a tribute to her
past.
It is not
just a dog sled race, it is a race in which unique men and women
compete. Mushers enter from all walks of life. Fishermen, lawyers,
doctors, miners, artists, natives, Canadians, Swiss, French and
others; men and women each with their own story, each with their
own reasons for going the distance.
What made my
journey different was that I travelled the distance on foot, there
were no legions of volunteers supporting me or worrying about my
whereabouts. Nor was I racing for the $750,000 prize money
for the first musher to Nome in the sled
race. Dragging all my equipment on a sled I battled
temperatures of -40 degrees, 70 mph winds, total whiteouts,
blizzards and wild animals. | 