Racing through Danger

Dogsled drivers, known as mushers, could carry the medicine from Nenana to Nome. But the trail was long and treacherous. One team couldn’t make the journey alone. So Nome’s town officials came up with a daring plan: Twenty teams would work together to deliver the medicine.

The idea was similar to running a relay race. Each musher and dog team would run part of the route and pass the medicine off to the next team. The trip usually took 25 days. But the medicine would last only six days in the cold weather. The mission: Deliver the medicine in time.

The journey began on January 27, 1925. The first team picked up the medicine and ran until they reached the next team. The teams passed the medicine along, getting it closer and closer to Nome.

Finally, on February 1, the last dogsled team got the medicine. It was the middle of the night. And a heavy blizzard had just hit the area. Nome was still 53 miles away. If the medicine was going to get there in time, the dogs would have to run all night long.

Dogsled drivers are called mushers. Mushers could carry the medicine to Nome. But the dogsled trail was long. And it was treacherous. One dogsled team couldn’t do it alone. So Nome’s town officials came up with a plan. Twenty teams would work together to deliver the medicine.

Each dogsled team would run part of the way. Then they would pass the medicine to the next team. The trip usually took 25 days. But the medicine would last only six days in the cold. The mission: Deliver the medicine in time.

The first team started on January 27. The dogsled team picked up the medicine. They ran until they reached the next team. The teams passed the medicine along. They got it closer and closer to Nome.

On February 1, the last team got the medicine. It was the middle of the night. And a heavy blizzard had begun. Nome was still 53 miles away. The dogs would have to run all night to deliver the medicine in time. 

Luckily, Balto knew what to do. He lowered his nose to the ground. As the icy wind blew, he sniffed the snow, trying to pick up the scent of the trail.

Minutes crawled by. If they didn’t find the trail soon, they would freeze to death. Suddenly, Balto started running again, and the other dogs followed. He had found the trail—and saved his team’s life.

Balto led the team for miles. Kaasen had to stop to clear ice and snow from the dogs’ eyes so they wouldn’t freeze shut. Sharp pieces of ice cut the dogs’ paws. Still, the dogs persevered.

About halfway through the trip, Balto stopped running again. Kaasen was confused. What was Balto doing? They were still on the trail with miles to go. Was Balto giving up?

Then Kaasen looked down. Balto’s front paws were in water. The team had been heading onto a frozen river, and Balto had broken through the ice! He had stopped just in time.

Balto had kept the team from falling into the water. He had faced another obstacle and saved his team’s life—again.

But Balto knew what to do. He put his nose to the ground. He sniffed the snow. He tried to find the scent of the trail.

Minutes went by. They needed to find the trail soon. Otherwise, they would freeze to death. Suddenly, Balto started running. The other dogs followed. Balto had found the trail. He had saved his team’s life.

Balto led the team for miles. Kaasen stopped along the way. He cleared snow from the dogs’ eyes. He didn’t want their eyes to freeze shut. Sharp ice cut the dogs’ paws. Still, the dogs persevered.

They made it about halfway through the trip. Then Balto stopped again. Kaasen was confused. What was Balto doing? There were miles to go. Was Balto giving up?

Then Kaasen looked down. Balto’s front paws were in water. The team had run onto a frozen river. And Balto had broken through the ice! He had stopped just in time.

Balto kept the team from falling into the water. He had faced another obstacle. And he saved his team’s life— again. 

Balto kept the team going through icy, frigid winds. He ran with them through snow piled as high as his pointy ears. He led them up slippery hills covered in ice. The dogs had to crawl on their bellies and dig their claws into the ice to keep from sliding back down.

At one point, a fierce blast of wind lifted the dogs and sled into the air. While Kaasen tried to help the team, the medicine dropped into the snow. He searched frantically with his bare hands. Luckily, he found it.

The team raced through the blizzard for hours. There was so much snow in the air, Kaasen couldn’t see the trail. He couldn’t even see the dogs. “I didn’t know where I was,” he said. “I couldn’t even guess.”

Kaasen held on to the sled as the dogs ran and ran. Balto’s paws were cold, sore, and bloody. He was exhausted from the long run. Even though he was tired, Balto would not quit. He led his team all night and into the morning.

Balto kept the team going all night. He kept them going through frigid winds. He ran with them through deep snow. He led them up icy hills. They had to dig their claws into the ice so they wouldn’t slide down.

At one point, a blast of wind lifted the dogs and sled into the air. Kaasen tried to help the team. As he did, the medicine fell into the snow. Kaasen was upset. He searched for it with his bare hands. Luckily, he found the medicine.

The team raced through the blizzard. They ran for hours. The air was filled with snow. Kaasen couldn’t see the trail. He couldn’t even see the dogs. “I didn’t know where I was,” he said. “I couldn’t even guess.”

Kaasen held on to the sled as the dogs ran. Balto’s paws were cold and sore. He was exhausted from the long run. But Balto wouldn’t quit. He led his team all night. He led them into the morning. 

The team persevered through many challenges. They ran through thick snow and ice. At one point, a strong wind lifted the dogs into the air. The medicine dropped into the snow. Luckily, Kaasen found it.

The team ran for hours. Balto was tired from the long run. But he would not quit. He led his team all night and into the morning.

People in Nome woke up to the sound of barking dogs. It was Balto and his team! The medicine had frozen solid. But it would still work. The teams had succeeded. The people of Nome were saved. And Balto was a hero.  

At 5:30 a.m., the people of Nome woke up to the sound of barking dogs.

It was Balto and his team! They had made it. Kaasen knelt next to Balto and gently pulled chunks of ice off his paws. “Fine dog,” he whispered.

The medicine had frozen solid, but it would still work. Balto, and all the teams who had taken part in this incredible trip, had succeeded. The people of Nome were saved. And Balto was a hero. 

It was 5:30 a.m. in Nome. The people there woke up to the sound of barking dogs. It was Balto and his team! They had made it. Kaasen went to Balto. He pulled ice off Balto’s paws. “Fine dog,” he whispered.

The medicine had frozen. But it would still work. The dogsled teams had done it. The people of Nome were saved. And Balto was a hero.