Summary:

            Gary Paulsen had a Trap team that he ran often. They were the same dogs that later were in the race with him. Gary’s lead dog was named Cookie, and she was who he trusted to lead him through the Iditarod. Gary was taking his team for a run when a huge storm hit them, and he was lifted in the air by the wind. After Gary found himself on the ground away from the sled, he knew he had to go look for the dogs. The next night, he found a place to sleep and he lit a fire and a wolf came to the campsite. The wolf followed them for days and Gary named her Marge. Marge showed Gary that she could use tools from nature to help her get things that she needed like food. When he got home from his run, Gary knew he wanted to run the Iditarod.

            Gary bought dogs, and dogs were donated. People put up sponsorship donation jars to help Gary with the expenses for the Iditarod. After he had 15 dogs, he started training them. The dogs were so powerful that he had them pull a car. Gary realized that he needed to get close to the dogs. He needed to understand them, be them. When it was time, he drove to Anchorage, Alaska and signed up in the Iditarod. Gary attended the night before dinner that’s mandatory for mushers, otherwise they will be disqualified. When it was Gary’s turn to start, he had a last minute mind change and switched his leader from Cookie to Wilson. Wilson took them way out of the way, through yards and he had to put cookie back in the lead.

            During the race, Gary experienced many things. For example, he experienced sleep deprivation, malnourishment, and the harsh cold of winter. When Gary stopped at checkpoints, he had to spend his time checking the dogs’ feet for microscopic cuts, and cook their food. He didn’t have time to eat or sleep most times. Gary said that the race isn’t about anything but the dogs, so you had to spend all your time tending to the dogs health. Gary experienced storms and dog fights, and even a moose attack.

            At the checkpoint Don’s Cabin Gary witnessed a musher kill one of his dogs. At the checkpoint Eagle River, Gary ate a Ham and Egg breakfast five times in a row. At the end checkpoint, Nome Gary found out that he had heart disease, and he wouldn’t be able to run the Iditarod ever again. Even though Gary Paulsen was an older man, he still managed to finish the Iditarod, while he could.