Iditarod dog sled musher and husky tell their stories – Sentinel and Enterprise

CLINTON — Have you ever wondered what it feels like to ride the runners behind a team of dogs, steering a loaded sled through mountainous terrain, crossing the vast Alaskan tundra, hugging the shoreline of the great Bering Sea? What does it take to care for a team of Alaskan huskies?

Could your dog be a sled dog, too?

Musher Karen Land will answer these questions and others when she and Noggin, her Alaskan husky, visit the Bigelow Free Public Library, located at 54 Walnut St., from 6 until 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 19.

Land is a writer, public speaker, and three-time participant in the 1000-mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race as well as many other sprint and endurance races in Alaska, Canada, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, and Maine.

Since 2000, Land has traveled to nearly every state with her Iditarod dog sled, mushing gear, Arctic clothing, and beloved dogs, giving over a thousand school and public library presentations.

“I enjoy giving presentations about dog mushing because I love promoting an active lifestyle shared with our dogs,” said Land. “One of the best parts about giving these talks is also talking with folks about their dogs and pets, and hearing their stories about the animals that have changed their lives and made their lives better.”

Land states she is concerned about how climate change is impacting the health of all animals and she believes the sport of dog mushing is a way to share the changes she has witnessed over the years.

“Even with the warm weather and lack of snow, dog mushing is still thriving through new events such as dryland mushing,” she said. “There are still so many ways to have fun with our dogs, keeping all of us happy and healthy.”

For more information on this presentation, or other library events, visit bigelowlibrary.org or call 978-365-4160.