Iditarod Musher And Sled Dog Visit New Rochelle

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — A famed dog sled racer will offer local straphangers a rare chance to better appreciate an age-old form of transportation and share the unique relationship with the animals that helped to build a culture.

Karen Land is a three-time participant in the 1,049-mile Iditarod Sled Dog Race across Alaska. Noggin the Alaskan husky and Chloe the corgi-spring mix will join her at the New Rochelle Public Library on Sunday, April 3, at 2 p.m.

Land will share her love of mushing, an ancient form of dog-powered transportation dating back over 3,000 years and she will speak about her experience training for the Iditarod, an event steeped in Indigenous subsistence cultures, mining and Alaskan state history. The Iditarod, billed as "The Last Great Race," was conceived in the 1970s when the popularity of snowmobiles for winter travel threatened to make dog mushing obsolete.

Along with the Iditarod, other races in Alaska, Canada, Norway, Greenland and Russia continue to keep the sled dog lifestyle alive across the world.

Since 2000, Land has visited almost every state sharing her love of the sport. In addition to meeting her dogs, attendees will also have the chance see Land's sled and gear. Animal lovers, winter sport enthusiasts and those with a curiosity about a way of life preserved through a storied and sometimes grueling completion won't want to miss this chance to have their questions answered by an expert in the uncommon and epic annual spectacle.

The special event will take place in the Ossie Davis Theater and is most appropriate for children in pre-K and up, and adults of all ages. Register in advance here.