When I asked my friend, Mike Preis, why he decided to try dog sledding, he replied, “One word — winterdance,” and I replied, “Isn’t that two words?” He chuckled and said, “No, it is the name of a book by Gary Paulsen, entitled Winterdance: The Fine Madness of Running the Iditarod.” Paulsen’s experience training dogs to run the Iditarod race was interesting, funny, intriguing, and moving, culminating a great bonding between man and beast.
While watching TV one night, Mike saw a program on adventure travel about dog sledding in Minnesota. He decided to do an Internet search to gather more information before calling. When he discovered the Alaska trip, he thought that would be more exciting and more fitting. Since he had lived in Alaska for 16 years, he had “serious” frequent flyer miles that he was able to cash in to pay for the airline trip—it was serendipity!
As soon as arrangements were confirmed, Mike was off to Champaign Surplus with his list in hand to secure supplies and gear for the trip. When he arrived in Nome, he was met at the airport by the tour guides. That evening the new group met the returning group for dinner. As they discussed their various reasons for making the trek, one common thread was there; they had all read Winterdance.
Although they saw a fabulous display of Northern Lights as they made their way on the trail, it was all about the dogs. Each person was assigned a team of dogs, which looked nothing like the Huskies we normally see in movies about the Iditarod racing; they look like mongrels and are bred to run. They bark wildly as the sleds are being hooked up (reminding this southerner of horses in the starting gate at Churchill Downs), leaping and straining against the harnesses, eager to get going. According to Mike, the most compelling part of the trip was the dogs and their passion for the sport—much like the humans behind the sleds.
I asked Mike if he would do this again, and he said, “Yes, in a heartbeat, but perhaps in a different location, such as the Yukon or Scandinavia.” When I asked what his message would be to you, the readers, he said, “Don’t put off your bucket list--whatever it is--and don’t limit yourself to what you have already experienced. Be realistic about your physical abilities, but don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. Don’t be afraid to experience something extraordinary and new--you just might love it and be inspired for life!”
Mike Preis is a 63 year old professor in the College of Business. He lives in Champaign and invites you to contact him at mpreis@uiuc.edu if you would like more information about visiting Alaska and/or the dog sled tour.
You can view photos from the tour by clicking here.
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Written by: Marjorie Williams, RE/MAX Choice-Champaign,
broker@MarjWilliams.com
www.MarjWilliams.com