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Hopewell Teen to Compete in Junior Iditarod Dog Sled Race

By: Dawn Pellas

Updated: December 13, 2012

It is the most famous sled dog race in the world, the Iditarod... over 1,000 miles, through Alaska's toughest terrain. It's so popular, there is even a junior version. This year, 15-year-old Taylor Steele of Hopewell will be racing a sled dog team in it.

"I kept watching movies and it just kind of started from there," Taylor explained. " I asked my dad if I could get a dog sled for Christmas and he got me one."

Soon, she had enough dogs for a full team. She traveled to Alaska to learn the ropes of dog sled racing from a professional. Mitch Seavey won the Iditarod back in 2004. Taylor would return home to practice with her local dog team. Then, the following Summer, she went back to Alaska to work with the Seavey family's dog sled tour company. Soon, they agreed she was ready for her own Alaskan sled dog team.

"Mitch offered me an Iditarod team so now I'm racing it," she said.

But, before moving on to Alaska to train with Mitch's team, Taylor would continue training in Hopewell.

"Usually we start out with just 2 mile runs and then we'll increase by 5 miles," she explained. "If you go out for a 30 mile run you're resting for 4 hours and then you take care of the dogs and you cook your food."

On the trail, Taylor is alone with her dog team. It's all preparation for the Junior Iditarod, which requires her to race alone. The training schedule is grueling, so Taylor is Cyber Schooled. She also studies sled dog racing from the professionals, online.

"Just by watching the Iditarod videos and um mushers on facebook and their training schedules... and reading books," she says.

The experience of mushing her own team, drives her towards her goal.

"Its really really peaceful and you see a number of dogs in front of you... just doing what they love to do."

Taylor hopes to run the Iditarod in her senior year of high school. She will try the Junior race February 23-24, 2013.

More about Taylor:
Taylor leaves for Alaska December 13th. She has a website to help fund her trip, which costs thousands of dollars.

You can also follow Taylor's adventures on her blog and on Facebook.

Learn more about the Junior Iditarod on the race website.

Check out Taylor's Junior Iditarod Bio page!

Comments

I've been to Alaska numerous times. I've interacted with sled dogs. And these dogs get more attention than family. They live to pull, and get depressed and lethargic if they don't have the opportunity. What everyone should be doing is supporting to the fullest this young lady who has the initiative to get out and experience life.

Russ R. December 14, 2012 at 11:54 am

Oh My God Margery is this all you do all day long, look for articles concerning sled dogs and try to convince people that this is a cruel sport? I'm pretty sure you tried this with an OH newspaper when they ran an article about Matt Failor running his first Iditarod. Have you ever been to the Iditarod? Have you ever been to any type of dog sledding event? I'm sure if you had you'd have a totally different opinion. I have been to the Iditarod and I can tell you those dogs that run these races are some of the best cared for animals in the world. The musher's first priority is the dogs. To see and hear the excitement in the dogs as they get ready to race is amazing. You can not say these dogs are forced to run once you see them at the starting line. They can't wait to get out there and run. I know Taylor and how much she loves animals and I know if there were the tiniest possibility that what she was doing was not good for the dogs, she would not be doing it. I for one am very proud of her for following her dream. I wish were 30 yrs younger as I'd be joining her. Instead I'll sit back in here in PA and follow her online for now. But I promised her I'd handle for her when she runs her first Iditarod and If I'm able, I will be there on Fourth Ave. in Anchorage to see her off. Good luck Taylor!

Pauline P. December 12, 2012 at 11:46 pm

Also, these people post untrue and grueling stories justs to get attention. Please get the real facts and actually visit a sled dog kennel someday to know the real truth, unlike those who haven't got it yet. God bless America and those who are shamefully putting out info that isn't true. God bless again and I'll be praying for you.

Selena S. December 12, 2012 at 10:59 pm

Hello Margery. What you have done is copied and pasted from another website that has no experience or have ever witnessed sled dog racing. There has not been a dog that has died from the race in over 5 years. There are more race vets now more than ever. Dogs are not beaten or handled in a cruel manner. That's strictly prohibited in the Iditarod rules. Anyone seen doing so is disqualified and banned from ever racing again. Dogs in mushing kennels are vaccinated. Each and every musher I know vaccinates their dogs EVERY year. In fact, it's REQUIRED in the race rules as well. If dogs didn't want to run... why would they? You can not, not matter what you do, make a rope pull. These dogs are these mushers' lives. They live and breathe for these animals to do what they love to do. What you found is wrong information. No one has in the Iditarod within the last 15 years have cruely treated a dog in the iditarod. Ramy Brooks had never beaten his dogs, again strictly prohibited in all races. Whips are prohibited also. Mushers don't starve their dogs. In fact, they eat a higher protein based diet than their own musher. They get fed the top meats, fats, and high protein dog foods that are very expensive. There are mushers out there that make this sport look like something it's not, probably 3% of 110% in the mushing community and they ARE punished but everything in that paragraph you posted is very wrong and untrue. People need to know that. God bless your soul, I'm praying for you to someday actually experience life with sled dogs. You poor thing.

Selena S. December 12, 2012 at 10:52 pm