The Iditarod is a gruelling, annual long-distance sled dog race in Alaska, where competitors cover a staggering 1,510 kilometres between Anchorage and Nome, and this year Lennoxville resident, and former Grace Village director, Doug Bowker will be along for the ride.
Bowker left for Alaska on Saturday morning, leaving the comfort of his home and quaint neighbourhood for an adventure of a lifetime in the Alaskan wilderness. He was presented with the opportunity when an old friend broached the idea of Bowker joining his camera crew.
“I won’t be doing the mushing, I’m too much of a wuss and too old to do the mushing. My job will be helping on a camera for what they call the restart, so it’s not the ceremonial start in downtown Anchorage, it’s just outside Anchorage,” he said in a phone interview Friday.
According to a recent Facebook post, Bowker has already completed his first day in Willow, Alaska, about an hour out of Anchorage. The colourful post described over 10 inches of fresh snow, sun, mild temperatures, and the incessant sound of dogs barking in a frenzy.
Bowker told The Record that his friend, Terry Burge, the one who asked him to take a leap of faith and join his camera crew, has been documenting the race for 30 years. Burge is an award-winning videographer, he explained, with years of experience working for ABC News.
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