Today is the start of the 2018 Iditarod. I found just one new to me book this year: The First Iditarod: Mushers' Tales from the 1973 Race, by Helen Hegener. The author did a great job on her research and in tracking down and interviewing the men who ran the first race. At that time there were few trails, and they weren't groomed! The mushers often broke trail as they went along. No straw for dog beds at checkpoints, and they carried everything they thought they'd need. Some had huge freight sleds. As the first team came down the main street of Nome he was handed bells for his lead dog ... there was a law on the books (from 1905) that prohibited any team running in the down town area without them. And while even back then, a red lantern was given to the last team that came in, it was missing, so for that one year, a blue lantern was used. Wonderful tales, and many familiar names as these are the fathers and grandfathers of mushers in the race today.

Reading Hermit With Dog