
7 minute read
PHOTOS BY BELEN WARD
Anchorage and ends in Nome, some 983 miles. Racers and their teams of dogs face blizzard conditions, winds of 90 miles per hour and windchills of 100 degrees below zero.
Land said that when she started in 1973 there were no rules as to how many dogs were in the race, so some people showed up with 20 dogs.
“ en the o cials decided 20 dogs was much power, so they dropped it to 16, and in the last several years, it’s down to 14 dogs, “ Land said. e dogs are monitored throughout, with EKGs, blood workups, and drug testing before the race. During the race, they stop at regular checkpoints where veterinarians look over the dogs and sleds. While racing, Land said she carries bags of frozen meat under her parka to keep her team fed. Sled dogs need to eat 10,000 calories a day when running.
“We have the best veterinarians in the world, and they do lots of research on the diet of a sled dog,” Land said.
Land said much of what the Iditarod veterinarians have learned has changed the modern diet for all dogs.
“In Montana, my dogs are fed a high protein diet, mostly meat from hunters and trappers such as elk, antelope, deer, bu alo, moose, beaver, sh, pork, chicken, and beef,” she said.
Dogs can get injured or tired during the race and the musher will remove them from the team, dropping them o at the next checkpoint. Called “dropping a dog”, the team must continue one dog short. ey can’t add another, and the dog will be own back to its handler once the race is complete.
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Smaller, faster lighter
Mushers prefer slimmer Alaskan Huskies with an Inuit Yupik Athabascan bloodline, which is native to Alaska. ey have a good disposition and make the perfect sled dog, she said. Larger Siberian Huskies and Alaskan Malamutes are too big and heavy and are not as fast. ey are also more likely to have injuries from pounding and sinking in the deeper snow.
Land said she prefers mixed breed dogs, such as her dog Noggin, an Alaskan Huskie-Greyhound mix.
“We also use German Shorthaired Pointers, Labrador Retrievers and hound dog mixes,” she said. “So if you see dogs with big oppy ears, it’s because they have hound dog mix. We don’t care what the dog looks like; they are bred for exceptional health, great endurance and are super intelligent dogs.” ey also breed for disposition and friendliness. e dogs train year around daily, running miles following bikes or four-wheelers; some people use a cart. Each dog they learn likes a particular position but is trained in all positions. e dogs learn by voice command training to turn and stop.
“We can’t hook up 14 dogs together that ght, and you’ll never get anywhere,” she said.
“ e sled dog engine – running 1,000 miles or 200 miles or 20 miles – is based on the dog’s pure joy, love, enthusiasm, the desire to run,” Land said.
Gearing up eir coats are another concern. ey don’t breed dogs with long fur coats but for excellent medium coats
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AUDREY BROOKS Business Manager abrooks@coloradocommunitymedia.com and dense undercoats. ey don’t want the dogs overheating when racing. e race continues from checkpoint to checkpoint, with the teams camping on the trails along the way. If the weather is severe, she digs a hole, lls it with straw and the team – the dogs and Land – sleep in the hole together.
Mushers have to stock up for their dogs, too, packing coats, leggings for deep snow and booties to protect their feet. e dog’s weight forces its feet to splay in the snow. Ice crystals can leave painful cuts in between the pads if the feet are not protected.
It’s grueling for the mushers as well. When the dogs climb up a mountain, the musher must jump o the sled and run up the mountain with the dogs, hopping back on when they head back downhill.
Land said they always wear a rope around their wrist to stay connected to the sled. If they sled crashes or ips – which happens regularly – the wrist strap can be a lifesaver.
“ e rope is my safety,” she said. “If I accidentally let go of the handlebars, I can drag from the rope instead. e golden rule on mushing is never to let go because if you let go the dogs could run o and could get lost. So you want to make sure you hold on at all costs,” Land said.
“During the race, we run for six hours and rest for six hours and the dog are trained for this process,” Land said.
And while wild animals might seem like a concern, they are not.
“Coyotes and elk run away. When the dogs are running, it’s silent so going around the corner and a moose is standing there, I carry a gun to make a big bang to get the animal to run in a di erent direction. But then you have 16 dogs that want to chase a moose, adding to the danger factor,” Land said.
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Walk with a doc
Platte Valley Medical Center’s cardiac rehab team and Walk With
A Doc will host monthly walks with Dr. Christopher Cannon, an interventional cardiologist at Brighton Heart and Vascular Institute. is is a walking program for everyone interested in taking steps for a healthier lifestyle. After a few minutes to learn about a current health topic from the doctor, spend the rest of the hour enjoying a healthy walk and fun conversation. It’s a great way to get out, get active and enjoy all the bene ts that come from walking.
‘Taking No Chances’ e 17th Judicial District Attorney’s O ce and e Link, a community resource and assessment center in ornton, are o ering free, 10-week programs to families of Adams county teenagers to help develop personal and interpersonal drug-resistance skills.
Sessions are from 5:30 to 6;30 p.m. Wednesdays. Call 720-292-2811.
Boards/commissions’ openings
Commerce City has openings for several of its boards and commissions, including the city’s cultural council, the housing authority and the Derby review board.
Visit https://www.c3gov.com/ Home/Components/Form/Form /70316b05422c448492c51da0f0e0 fd86/ to sign up.
Legal self-help clinic e Access to Justice Committee hosts a free, legal self-help clinic from 2 to 3:30 p.m. the rst Tuesday of every month. e program is for those who don’t have legal representation and need help navigating through legal issues.

Volunteer attorneys are available to discuss such topics as family law, civil litigation, property and probate law. Call 303-405-3298 and ask for the Legal Self-Help Clinic at least 24 hours in advance.
Help for vets
Quali ed Listeners, a veteran and family resource hub serving northern Colorado and southern Wyoming, has a number of power chairs, power scooters and electric wheelchairs available.
To nd the closest facility to you visit www.va.gov/ nd-locations.
Quali ed Listeners also need volunteers to drive veterans to and from appointments, run errands for veterans who cannot get out, handyman services, help administer veteran and family resource guide inventory in local libraries and veterans to be trained to become quali ed listeners. Call 720-600-0860.
COVID-19 testing
Here’s where you can receive a test for COVID-19:
Brighton Advanced Urgent Care, 2801 Purcell St. Call 303-659-9700 or visit https://advurgent.com/locations/brighton/
Brighton Salud, 1860 Egbert St. Testing is available on Tuesday, ursday and Friday. Visit https:// www.saludclinic.org/covid-testing
Fort Lupton Salud, 1115 Second St. Testing is available on Tuesday and ursday. Call 303-697-2583 or visit https://www.saludclinic.org/ covid-testing online.
Mental health
Community Reach Center offers in-person intake assessments from 8 a.m. to noon Tuesdays at the Brighton Learning and Resource Campus, 1850 E. Egbert St. in Brighton. Call Community Reach Center at 303-853-3500.
For walk-in intake, bring an ID and insurance information. For those who would prefer to complete the intake forms and schedule an appointment, the intake forms are available online at www.communityreachcenter.org. ere will be a short screening for u-like symptoms before the entrance to the center to ensure safety and wellness for everyone.
Anyone feeling unsafe or suicidal should call Colorado Crisis Services at 1-844-493-8255, text 38255, or visit the Behavioral Health Urgent Care (BHUC) Center at 2551 W. 84th Ave., Westminster.
Warm Line up and running ose feeling unsafe or suicidal should call Colorado Crisis Services (1-844-493-8255) or text 38255 or visit the Behavioral Urgent Care
Community Reach Center is o ering a Warm Line (303-280-6602) for those who want to talk to mentalhealth professionals about anxiety, lack of sleep and strained relationships, among other topics. e professionals can facilitate referrals to other programs for assistance.
A press statement said the line is not for crisis intervention.
Center, 2551 W. 84th Ave., Westminster.

Also, the center’s COVID-19 Heroes Program is set up to assist healthcare workers during the pandemic. ose who live or work in Adams County can receive up to six free counseling sessions. Use the Warm Line for support and free counseling.
Brighton’s community intake location is at 1850 E. Egbert St., on the second oor. It’s open from 8 a.m. to noon Tuesdays.
Food distribution
27J Schools have free grab-andgo meals for youngsters up to age 18. Drive-by or walk up between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at Vikan Middle School, 879 Jessup St., Overland Trail Middle School, 455 N. 19th Ave., and at immig Elementary School, 11453 Oswego St. Food for Hope is the sponsor.
St. Augustine food pantry, 129 S. Sixth Ave., o ers food Tuesdays and ursdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for Brighton residents who love between Quebec St. and Cavanaugh Road and between Weld County Road 4 1/2 and 96th Ave. Chapel Hill Church, 10 Chapel Hill Drive, Brighton, hands out one box of food per family the second and fourth Wednesdays from 4 to 5:30 p.m. and alternating Saturdays at 9:30 a.m.
Calvary Chapel Brighton Food Pantry, 103 E. Bridge St., Brighton. Open from 4 to 6 p.m. on the second and fourth Mondays of the month. Community Baptist Church Food Pantry, 15559 Weld County Road 2, Brighton. Open from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesdays.