Tag Archives: sled dogs

In Gentler Valleys Roaming

Posted on August 17, 2025 by Helen Hegener

Julie Verrette’s Summer Place Kennel provided a safe haven for retired sled dogs from some of the premier racers in the world, such as four-time Iditarod Champion Susan Butcher and Yukon Quest Champion Aliy Zirkle. Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews, Books, Iditarod, Memoirs, News & Information, Sled Dog Races | Tagged Alaska, Aliy Zirkle, Iditarod, Iditarod Trail, Julie Verrette, sled dog race, sled dogs, Susan Butcher | Leave a comment

Alaskan History, Vol. 4, No 4

Posted on July 22, 2025 by Helen Hegener

Alaskan History Magazine, Vol. 4, No. 4, Alaska’s territorial judge James Wickersham, Rev. George C. F. Pringle, the once self-dumping Lake George, a chapter from Robert Service’s autobiography, a tribute to the sled dogs of pioneer Alaska, and the story of Sergeant William Yanert. Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska History, Alaskan History Magazine, Gold Rush History, News & Information, Sled Dog History | Tagged Bard of the Yukon, James Wickersham, Judge James Wickersham, Lake George, Robert Service, Sgt. Yanert, sled dogs | Leave a comment

In Gentler Valleys Roaming

Posted on July 4, 2025 by Helen Hegener

A new title from Northern Light Media: In Gentler Valleys Roaming A Memoir of Sled Dogs by Julie Verrette With a name inspired by the peaceful refuge in the song by the great Andy Williams, Summer Place Kennel provided a … Continue reading →

Posted in News & Information | Tagged Alaska, Aliy Zirkle, featured, Iditarod, Julie Verrette, mushing, sled dogs, Summer Place Kennel, Susan Butcher, travel, trip-report, writing | Leave a comment

Sled Dogs in America

Posted on October 27, 2024 by Helen Hegener

The important place of sled dogs in American history as portrayed by the sled dog paintings of Veryl Goodnight is the subject of this new book from Northern Light Media: Sled Dogs in America: The Art of Veryl Goodnight, by Veryl Goodnight and Helen Hegener. The historically accurate paintings by the award-winning Colorado artist have elevated the history of sled dogs to an exhibit at the prestigious Smithsonian-associated Western Spirit Museum in Scottsdale, Arizona. Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska History, Books, Gold Rush History, Iditarod, News & Information, Sled Dog History, Sled Dog Races, Transportation | Tagged Alaska, Balto, Helen Hegener, Iditarod Trail, mushing, mushing history, Nome, Northern Light Media, sled dog race, sled dogs, travel, Veryl Goodnight, writing | Leave a comment

Sled Dogs in America

Posted on September 27, 2024 by Helen Hegener

The sled dog paintings of Veryl Goodnight are the subject of this new book from Northern Light Media: Sled Dogs in America: The Art of Veryl Goodnight, by Veryl Goodnight and Helen Hegener. Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Gold Rush History, News & Information, Sled Dog History | Tagged Alaska, Arctic, art, Denali National Park, gold rush, Helen Hegener, huskies, Iditarod, Iditarod Trail, Jack London, Klondike, mushing, Northern Light Media, paintings, Serum Run, sled dogs, The Call of the Wild, Veryl Goodnight, Western Spirit Museum | Leave a comment

Arizona Museum Exhibit

Posted on April 24, 2024 by Helen Hegener

For the past fifteen years the Colorado artist Veryl Goodnight has sought to capture the spirit of sled dogs in her paintings and sculpture. Now those painting are being readied for an exhibit at Western Spirit, Scottsdale, Arizona’s Museum of the West, opening in July. Continue reading →

Posted in News & Information, Sled Dog History, Western History | Tagged Alaska, dogs, Helen Hegener, mushing, mushing history, Northern Light Media, Sled Dog History, sled dogs, travel, Veryl Goodnight, Western Spirit Museum | Leave a comment

Review: History of Sled Dogs

Posted on March 11, 2024 by Helen Hegener

The March, 2024 issue of Alaska magazine includes a very nice review by Alaskan writer and book critic David A. James, who writes about Northern Light Media’s 2023 book, The History of Sled Dogs in North America, by Helen Hegener. From the review: … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska History, Book Reviews, Books, Gold Rush History, News & Information, Newsletter, Sled Dog History | Tagged David A. James, Helen Hegener, mushing, mushing history, Northern Light Media, sled dogs | Leave a comment

Adventures on the Iditarod Trail

Posted on December 4, 2023 by Helen Hegener

Adventures on the Iditarod Trail: Fast Dogs, Freezing Mushers and the Alaska Wild, by Lew Freedman, features engaging interviews with mushers from several decades of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. In his introduction, Lew Freedman writes, “March in Alaska belongs to the Iditarod. The throwback nature of the event in a hurry-up world, the romance of the wilderness, the challenge of conquering the elements, all figure into why the Iditarod is so popular.” Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska History, Books, Iditarod, News & Information, Sled Dog History, Sled Dog Races | Tagged Alaska, Anna and Kristy Berington, Bob Chlupach, Brent Sass, Bruce Lee, Burt Bomhoff, Cindy Abbott, Dave Monson, Dick Mackey, Frank Teasley, Iditarod, Iditarod Trail, Jeff King, Jessie Holmes, Joe May, John Baker, Last Great Race, Lew Freedman, Libby Riddles, Martin Buser, Mille Porsild, mushing, mushing history, Nicholas Petit, Northern Light Media, Ramey Smyth, Raymie Redington, Richard Burmeister, Ritchie Diehl, Rod Perry, sled dog race, sled dogs, Sonny Lindner, Susan Whiton, Vern Halter | Leave a comment

Ordering Books

Posted on September 14, 2023 by Helen Hegener

Books by Alaskan author Helen Hegener, including The History of Sled Dogs in North America, The Alaska Railroad, Alaskan Roadhouses, The First Iditarod, The Matanuska Colony Project and many more. Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska History, Alaska Railroad, Book Reviews, Books, Colony Barns, Explorers, Gold Rush History, Iditarod, Matanuska Colony, Matanuska Valley, Roadhouses, Sled Dog History, Sled Dog Races, Yukon Quest | Tagged Alaska, Alaska History, Alaska Railroad, All Alaska Sweepstakes, barns, gold rush, Helen Hegener, Iditarod, Iditarod Trail, Klondike gold rush, Matanuska Colony, mushing history, Nome, Northern Light Media, Revenue Cutter Service, Roadhouses, sled dogs, Yukon Quest | Leave a comment

A News Spot about Hope ’91

Posted on May 6, 2023 by Helen Hegener

The book about the Hope ‘91 sled dog race is in the final stages, the proofing copies are next, and after both Jon and I have had time to thoroughly proofread the book, I’ll make any changes or corrections we … Continue reading →