In the winter of 1925 Nome, Alaska faced a crisis too terrible to imagine—an outbreak of diphtheria—putting it’s 10,000 residents, including its children, in life threatening danger. Although the disease was treatable with antitoxin, the medication was 674 miles away in Anchorage. Bush planes with open cockpits and water cooled engines were unable to fly in the winter. Therefore the board of health unanimously opted to transport the diphtheria antitoxin by dogsled relay to save the small town of Nome and its surrounding communities. The relay consisting of 20 mushers and 150 sled dogs reached Nome in 5 1/2 days. Both mushers and sled dogs were portrayed as heroes. Balto, the lead dog on the final leg of the relay, became a canine celebrity, and his statues are famous tourist attractions in both Central Park and Anchorage.
Dog sled was the primary means of transportation and communication in subarctic communities around the world before reliable aircrafts and snowmobiles took over in the 1960s driving sled dogs almost into extinction. However, in 1973 Jo Reddington organized the Last Great Race on Earth, also known as the Iditarod, to commemorate and preserve the historical significance of the sled dog.
This cache is placed as a remembrance of a Siberian Husky sled dog team that lived nearby. Although these canine ambassadors were not involved in the Serum Run, they spent many hours educating children in nearby schools about the history of their ancestors and the responsibilities of pet ownership; as well as giving dog sled rides, tail wags, and sloppy kisses.
Although the cache is located on private property, owners know about the cache. Please park along the road and don't worry about trespassing.
Be sure to look up and DOWN while looking for clues EVEN if they don’t seem obvious.
Congrats to Sharlie15 for FTF!