Iditarod Mushers Knife Choice ??

[grouse hunter]

I have been following the IDITAROD sled dog race,and noting the extreme conditions the mushers and dogs must face during their race from Anchorage to Nome got me wondering what the musher's EDC might have been during the race.

All the tests performed by formites are certinly interesting and informative but I'm guessing the use during the 1100 mile race would be a true test of a knives mettle.(pardon the play on words)

I am curious if other formite's share my interest in the matter (or interest in the idatarod for that matter)and I am seriously considering attempting to contact each musher for their personal input as to the knife they used on this race across the "last frontier".

As a fair amount of time would be involved in the undertaking I wanted to present my thoughts to see if enough interest exsisted to go foward with the idea or "scratch"the idea for lack of interest.

GH

 

[.45acp]

It would be interesting to hear the responses from the mushers. IDITAROD drivers are some tough folks. I believe a woman (Susan Bletcher?) has won it as many time as anyone. If there was a place a survival knife HAD to perform that would be the place.

 

[Alberta Ed]

The Yukon Quest from Whitehorse, Yukon to Fairbanks, Alaska, which finished a couple of weeks ago, is reputedly tougher than the Idatarod: a (nearly) two week marathon over several mountain ranges, in -40 temperatures. The race started (conveniently) right in front of my office in downtown Whitehorse, and I had a good chance to look over the 23 teams. The only blades I saw in evidence were Leathermen, worn outside the coveralls for ready access. Makes sense when they have to deal with tackle, swivels, dog harness, sled screws and bolts. They weren't doing any hunting or skinning on the race. There may have been an ax or two tucked away, but most of them were packing stoves to melt snow and cook food for the dogs -- no time to scrounge around, built a messy, smokey fire, etc., etc.