Aaron was running the Iditarod - on the Yukon River glare ice - no snow on top of smooth ice. There was no way to steer the sled and not much of a way to stop. For a reason unremembered, he had to stop and go up the team - snacking or untangling a dog, perhaps. He stomped on his snow hook, which hardly went into the ice, but he figured would hold the dogs (at this point in the season, the dogs pretty much stop on command and wait until told to go).
As he walked up to his leaders, he slipped and fell, sliding down into a bowl in the ice. He tried crawling out, on his hands and knees, but there was no traction - he was stuck in the well-below-freezing temperatures. With his headlamp he could only hope another team would see him and possibly be able to haul him out. Or so he thought...
He heard a bark and saw Mojo, a dog he'd bought from Charlie Boulding as a wheel dog that had become his main leader, start the team down the river. His heart sank, as he realized his dog team was gone. Or was it?
As he watched, helpless, Mojo turned the team back towards Aaron and brought the team past him, bringing the sled so close to him that he was able to grab on and haul himself onto the runners. Mojo proceeded to turn the team back in the right direction and continued on, as if nothing happened.
This is one of many true stories about beloved lead dogs who run the Iditarod and Yukon Quest. What is special about this story is that the week before the start of the Iditarod, Mojo took Aaron and a 20 dog team on a wild ride OFF the trail and down the railroad tracks towards the highway! Mojo is the grandsire of Moss, (big) Ruger and Remy - dogs on Aaron's team this year.
No comments:
Post a Comment