Drag Sledding at the Iditarod

I learned something new the other day.  There is a Ceremonial Start to the Iditarod which is about 12 miles long.  The mushers have riders in their sleds instead of gear. Many years ago, the Ceremonial start added drag sledders. Drag sledders are a second musher and team for each musher/sled transporting a person. They were added for safety reasons in case there is an issue with the main sled and team.  The rider, who is a person that generally is not used to mushing, won't be stuck out in conditions that they aren't used to or prepared for.

Jeanne and one of her dogs in the yard

My friend Jeanne used to live in Montana and was an active musher. The Iditarod was a dream of hers.  But a back injury has put he mushing days in jeopardy.  That is until friend, Martin Koenig, called and asked her to mush the drag sled for the ceremonial start of the 2016 Iditarod.

Jeanne and team racing in Oregon

On Saturday, March 5th, Jeanne will be in Anchorage, Alaska with Martin's spare sled and team.  She will be mushing on the groomed 12 mile ceremonial start in the drag sled.  The next morning she will be assisting Martin get his team to take off from the start shoot in Willow, Alaska. When we lift our dreams to God, he honors us by finding ways although sometimes unconventional to make those dreams come true.  After all, dreams are the prayers of the heart.