This Issue:

Table of Contents

Cover Story

Grades 4-6

The Last Great Race

Vickie An

The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race kicked off in Alaska on March 8. The yearly event honors the state's heritage.

On March 18, with lead dog Larry at the front, Lance Mackey and his dogsled team blazed across the finish line in Nome, Alaska. The Iditarod had a winner. It was a three-peat!

Cheering fans greeted Mackey as he sped to a third straight victory. The musher and his team had trekked for 10 days and 1,150 miles across the frozen Alaska wilderness. Mackey fed treats to his dogs right after the win. "This never gets old," he said of coming in first. His prize is $69,000 and a truck.

Honoring History

The Iditarod takes competitors on a grueling journey. The trail begins in Anchorage and ends in the tiny town of Nome. Teams endure frigid temperatures, whipping winds and other harsh conditions. It can take 10 to 17 days to reach the finish line.

The trail follows a historic path. In 1925, dogsled teams took a similar route to deliver medicine to sick children in Nome. The race is held each year to honor those heroic canines.

Ruff Sledding

This year, 67 teams took part in the race. Each musher leads a team of 12 to 16 dogs. Veterinarians are stationed at many of the checkpoints to ensure the dogs are healthy enough to continue running.

Still, it's a tough road. At least three dogs died this year, fueling the anger of animal-rights groups. They say the race is cruel to dogs. Many Alaskans defend the event as a celebration of state heritage. For Mackey, the dogs are family. He credits them for his wins. "They're superstars," he says.

Next: Women Leaders