Biel Xperience

Siegfried, Theodor Heine (1921)

Balto and the Cumberland Twins, 1925. Happy 100th Anniversary of Balto’s Run to Nome.

Balto, a jet black Siberian Husky and sled dog in Alaska, was a national hero and media figure in the 1920s for helping to deliver serum for a lethal diphtheria outbreak in Nome, Alaska, that put the entire city under quarantine. Every step of the way was covered by the press, and the race to cure the quarantined city and its children was a media phenomenon and cultural moment. After becoming a celebrity, Balto did vaudeville and even motion pictures.

Balto is currently on display at the Cleveland Museum.

In 1925, in response to a diphtheria epidemic, the first batch of 300,240 units of diphtheria serum was delivered by train from Anchorage to Nenana, Alaska. Having judged that the serum could not be delivered by plane as both planes in Nome at the time were open cockpit only and thus had to remain grounded. It was decided that the only other method of delivery available was that of the sled dog teams as the closest the serum could be brought by train was Nenana and the closest port to receive it by ship was iced over. With a relay of 20 teams assembled, each team would baton pass the antitoxin across the snow and ice covered Seward-to-Nome Trail (known also as the Iditarod Trail) a staggering 674 miles (1,085 km) to Nome. Amazingly, in just five and a half days, the “Great Race of Mercy” was completed and the lifesaving serum was delivered to Nome. While the lead dog of the 53-mile final leg, Balto, would become famous for his role in the run, many argue that it was Seppala and his Siberian Husky lead dog, Togo, who were the true saviors of the day. All told, the 12-year-old Togo and 47 year-old-Seppala traversed an astounding 264 miles, compared to an average of 31 miles each for the other teams.

Togo and Seppala ran 170 miles (270 km) east from Nome to just outside Shaktoolik, where they met the serum relay coming the other way on January 31. After the handoff, they returned another 91 miles (146 km) to Golovin where they passed the serum to Charlie Olsen's team, having run over 261 miles (420 km) altogether across some of the most dangerous and treacherous parts of the run. The team traveled 260 miles (420 km) from Nome in three days. The temperature was estimated at −30 °F (−34 °C), and the gale force winds causing a wind chill of −85 °F (−65 °C).

With temperatures hovering around -30 degrees, Seppala and his dogs made incredible time in their mad dash east, covering over 170 miles in just three days. All the while, the outbreak worsened back in Nome. Officials decided to add more teams to the relay, unbeknownst to Seppala. After cutting across the treacherously frozen Norton Sound to save time and distance, Seppala miraculously ran right into the team of Henry Ivanoff, one of the relay’s late additions, which was carrying the serum westward. The two teams nearly missed each other on the trail, but, thanks in part to the dogs, the connection was made. Naturally, it then fell to Seppala and Togo to bring the serum back towards Nome. On the return trip across the Sound, the team became stranded on an ice floe. The quick-thinking Seppala tied a lead to Togo, his only hope, and tossed the dog across five feet of water. Togo attempted to pull the floe supporting the sled, but the line snapped. Amazingly, the once-in-a-lifetime lead dog had the wherewithal to snatch the line from the water, roll it around his shoulders like a harness, and eventually pull his team to safety.

All told, it was honestly a harrowing journey for all the teams. An incredible feat of strength, intelligence, and stamina for all involved. I'll leave here the sources I pulled this all from and shittily pasted together. For those who wanna take a deeper dive on your own from here.