Susan Butcher and her dogs - and the Iditarod

Sep 21, 2026

Susan Butcher and her dogs are presented as a remarkable team that conquers extreme conditions in sled-dog racing. The text explains how dogs are trained to pull a sled driven by a musher and emphasizes mutual trust for safety. It describes the Iditarod as a championship race from Anchorage to Nome, covering 1,157 miles across mountains, frozen rivers and seas, and deep snow, while facing severe cold and dangerous wildlife. The narrative also highlights Butcher’s life in Alaska and her progress from early competition to repeated victories.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLifestyle

FormatPDF

Pages16

Reading Time25 min

AccessFree to download

Ordering Options

Susan Butcher and her dogs

Sled-dog racing basics

The Iditarod race and its challenges

Susan Butcher’s life in Alaska

SUS A N BUT CH E R and theIditarod SUSA N BUT CHE R and theIditarod by Michael Sula orfbr6bOTBJIbl Copyright Oby Harcourt Brace &Company Al rights reserved.No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic or mechanical,including photocopy,recording,or any information storage and retrieval system,withoutpermission in writing from the publisher. Requests for permission to makes copies of any part of the work should be mailed:Permissions Department,Harcourt Brace &Company,6277 Sea Harbor Drive,Orlando,FL32887-6777. HARCOURT BRACE and Quill Design is a registered trademark of Harcourt Brace &Company. Printed in the United States of America ISBN 0-15-313990-0 # Ordering Options SBN 0-15-314006-2(Grade 6 Collection)ISBN 0-15-314183-2(package of 5) 123456789100269998 Susan Butcher and her dogs have done someamazing things together.They have climbed the highestmountain in North America.They have survived attacksfrom wild animals.They have braved blizzards andfreezing temperatures.They are most famous,however,for winning the toughest sled-dog race there is—theIditarod—and they've won it four times. 工 Sled-dog racing is one of themost difficult sports there is.Dogs pull a sled driven by aracer,or"musher,"over thesnow.It is crucial that the dogsare well trained and cared for.Human and animal must trusteach other completely.The safetyof the musher and the dogsdepends on it. The challenging Iditarodis the championship of sled-dogracing.The race course covers 1,157 miles from Anchorage toNome,Alaska.Teams must crosstwo mountain ranges,ice-covered rivers and seas,andmiles of snow.Along the way,they must battle freezing temperatures,140-mile-per-hourwinds,and wild animals. To finish an Iditarod,adriver must be strong,determined,and brave. W E 16h应WHrENORTON BAYNOMEmouMTNNLAoBISHOP0H5KEREEKGLRuaySuLTANCR05525L上只GALIRohnRIVERCABINRAINy PASSFINGER LAKE5山ENNALASKAwASILLAEAGLf RVVERkmik(IDITAROD TRAIL0h00ORTH-50uTH RuTE比里 FLIMkoyukPoKT 5AFETY GaLDVINSH/AKToouKNORTONmLAKLEEA↑KALTA6ScuNDAEAGLE OPHIRANVIKSHAGELuKTAKOTNANIkoLAYuKonmCGRRTH IDITAROD ANCHORAGE ·---· ALTERNATE Susan Butcher lives in Eureka,Alaska,with herhusband and about 150 huskies.All year she trains thedogs to run sled races in the winter. Butcher spends most of her time with her dogs.Herface is the first one her dogs see when they are born.Every morning she wakes up at 6 A.M.to feed and exercise them.She knows them well enough to recognizeeach one's distinctive voice. 4 Ever since she was a little girl,Butcher has lovedanimals and the outdoors.At age twenty-one,she movedto Alaska.There she bought three sled-dogs for racing.She was determined to compete in the Iditarod.In 1978,she borrowed some extra sled dogs and entered the race.Although she finished nineteenth,she won some prizemoney.She used it to buy more dogs. 5 The next year,just for fun,Butcher and a sled-dogteam climbed Mt.McKinley.Mt.McKinley is the highestmountain in North America.No one had ever climbed itwith a sled-dog team before. Some of the male mushers acted haughty becauseButcher was a woman.They felt that sled-dog racingwas a sport only for men.But Butcher did not let thisdiscourage her.She raced in the Iditarod every year.She got better and better.

FAQs

What is the role of a musher in sled-dog racing?

A musher drives the sled as the dogs pull it over snow. Finishing safely depends on the musher’s strength, determination, and bravery, and on complete trust between humans and animals.

Why is trust between dogs and the musher crucial?

The safety of the musher and the dogs depends on them trusting each other completely, supported by well-trained and well-cared-for dogs.

How long is the Iditarod course and where does it run?

The race covers 1,157 miles from Anchorage to Nome, Alaska.

Sep 21, 2026

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