Sunday, December 16, 2007

Gary Paulsen: The “Master Storyteller”, In Public and In Private

Gary Paulsen is one of the most celebrated authors in North America. His many award winning books earned him much recognition amongst countless readers. He is the same passionate, friendly man in private as he is in public. However, Paulsen displays the other side of his daring, blithe self in his record of his experiences on the Iditarod, in his book, Winterdance.

In the public eye, Gary Paulsen is famous and unique. Born on May 17th, 1939, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Paulsen ran the Iditarod (a 1, 180 mile dogsled race through Alaska) two times so far; he bases many of his works on his outdoors adventures. Paulsen’s Hatchet series is loved by countless readers and contributed in the creation of the T.V. show “Flight 29 Down”. His two hundred books and short stories have won numerous honors such as the ALA Best Book Award. Despite all the publicity, fame, and idolization, Paulsen is quite modest about his work and experiences. During interviews or public appearances, Paulsen has an animated presence while talking about his Iditarod journeys. He makes the worst times sound like a breeze, saying, “I ran the Iditarod for fun”. Paulsen’s version of the stories of triumphs or disasters during the difficult race always triggers laughter in the audience. He jokes and never seriously talks about the real dangers on Iditarod. Many seem to get the idea that Gary Paulsen is somewhat an adventurous, wild, carefree person; but that’s not all to this outstanding author.

While many are who they appear to be in public, there’s always a slightly different side to people beyond the media perception. While Gary Paulsen went through a rough childhood (drunken parents; running away from home) that toughened him up, he has a weaker, gentler side. On the race, Paulsen saved a deer from a metal snare, and watched many sunrises and sunsets with his lead dog, Cookie. He spent more time taking care of the dogs than himself. Paulsen also helped out many fellow mushers during bad situations throughout the competition. As much as he jokes about his expedition on the Iditarod, he reveals in Winterdance that after one particularly bad run (through the deadly Rainy Pass, which nearly caused his death), he was "scared...[of just] life. All of it" (18). Paulsen admits that the Iditarod "is, in a word, brutal" (224). It is only in his books that he reveals this kind of emotion and opens up his thoughts. It proves that while he is an enthusiastic, daring adventurer, he is a real person – who, along with the excitement of action, could feel fear, and sympathy towards ones around him.

Matt Campbell, a grade eight student, writes, “Gary Paulsen is the most outrageous and animal-loving author I have ever read. The way he describes animals’ behavior…is so incredible”. It is this kind of connection that draws young readers to his work. And it is in his works that he displays both (the tough and the vulnerable) side of his remarkable personality.

Kelly Ding.



Works Cited

"Gary Paulsen Biography." Scholastics Inc.. 16 Dec 2007

"Gary Paulsen." 15 Dec. 2007. Wikipedia. 16 Dec 2007

Henneman, Heidi. "Extreme author Gary Paulsen pushes writing—and life—to new limits." First Person Book Page. Reviews and Interviews. 16 Dec 2007. .

Hoffman, Brenda. "Gary Paulsen." 11 Dec. 2001. International School Library Media
Centre. 16 Dec 2007 .

Johnson, Jan. "LEARNING ABOUT GARY PAULSEN." Gary Paulsen Biography.
Vandergrift in Young Adult Literature. 16 Dec 2007 .

"Meet Gary Paulsen." Iditarod Race Across Alaska. Scholastics Inc.. 16 Dec 2007

Sunday, December 9, 2007

The Very End.

  • 200 miles straight north - middle - Yukon river - 3 days/2 nights - exposed - freezing winds - 50-60 below + windchill.
  • "It is, in a word, brutal" (224).
  • dogs zoom over ice - dogs happy with cold - Paulsen freezing - shady part of track - has all clothes on - still freezing.
  • stopped - check feet - jogged with dogs.
  • cheeks frost bitten - fingers/toes frozen
  • cold - matches stuck in box wouldn't light, batteries (in clothing) stop working, dog ointment froze.
  • finally arrive - Kaltag - grateful.
  • head - 100 miles - Bering Sea - light track - sunny - met drunk snow machine drivers.
  • One musher had friend set up camps + deliver food - illegal but share pizza with Paulsen.
  • Unalakleet coast - Eskimos - take one musher/family - very hospitable - serve him flown in food - white bread, beans/sauterkraut/grape jelly - ate continuously - still lose 1+ pound/day - save grape jelly for kids.
  • 13 days into race, he "had changed, reformed" (237), gained knowledge - know where's worst wind on hill, where find moose, rhythms - running dogs, etc.
  • eskimo said Paulsen "had become one of the them [(dogs)]" (238).
  • hooked up - left before dawn - easy trail - cross 75 miles - open sea ice - Norton Sound - easy trail - beautiful - towards Koyuk - felt bond - ancient people who rely on sled.
  • run well until Cookie slowed - tail up - signal bad ice - sea ice shift - water spray through - team nearly fell through - Paulsen slipped - tell Cookie to go - dragged on stomach.
  • Eskimo women lose many husbands because of this.
  • Cookie led team back to old ice - huge chunk of ice float away - carrying a musher on it - float back after two days - check in Koyuk (150 miles to Nome).
  • over Topcok Mountain to 2nd last checkpoint - White mountain - very cautious - some people have gone wrong 50 milest o Nome - but couldn't stop now.
  • up Topcok Moutain - wind blow sea water on team - high velocity air - lift Cookie up - floating - Cookie mad - bite Wilson -rough way down mountain - bouncy/rough.
  • check in - snack dogs - 50 miles to Nome.
  • siren set off - jog with dogs - finish - family there - determined to come back + win.
  • finished in 17 days, 14 hours - frozen beard/frost bitten cheeks/toes, torn clothing.
  • Found out - coronary heart disease after collapsing in Boston airport - end of Iditarod.

The Storm and the Murder

  • beg. battle across interior Alaska - starts after McGrath - 700 miles - varied/hard terrain.
  • check in - Ophir - check feet - go.
  • ran weird - saw - running on three foot wide spread - dog poop - dogs poop after feed.
  • run across interior, endless barren tundra, love running as much as dogs, harsh beauty.
  • 180 miles after Ophir - old ghost town - Iditard, then 100 miles to Shageluk - to river ice.
  • 180 miles after Ophir - need extra food/clothing in case - storm.
  • dogs after 10 miles/hour for 4-5 hours, climb/deep snow - 2/3 mile/ hour.
  • frozen poo on sled runners - slow - 30%
  • good weather when start - windstorm by noon - blow sideways - dogs run off track.
  • duck down - wait storm - when woke - 11 other teams there - follow their track.
  • windstorm so big - gunshots - inaudible.
  • mushers cook coffee/feed dogs tog. - one musher share donuts.
  • Paulsen & donut musher - last two teams - go - musher suggest go to Don's Cabin (1/2 way before Iditard checkpoint) - agree.
  • bond between driver + dogs - strong - rely on each other - very close.
  • dogs don't cooperate when driver lose respect/don't listen to dogs' instinct/sick/in heat.
  • donut musher's dogs - badly treated - refuse - get up - musher kick dogs - killed on - kick at liver - Paulsen shocked - report to official - disqualification of musher (212)
  • Iditarod - dogs treated 1st class - vet checks/special food/rules.
  • by Yukon River - Shageluk village close to caribou herd.
  • child come out - hand Paulsen moose chili - ate 6 bowls - 1st hot food since McGrath.
  • Child's father think Iditarod people - crazy, child want to be crazy. (222 - 3).

Friday, December 7, 2007

The Roughest Obstacles.


  • depart "Finger Lake" checkpoint , told to run Happy Canyon when dark - wouldn't want to see it. Paulsen don't understand - took off.

  • while tightening a rope - see half team disappeared - dropped over edge.

  • "s**t" - only reaction - most common reaction of all rookies.

  • huge canyon, frozen river - dogs dropped by pairs - slide all the way down by stomach.

  • Rainy Pass next - heard of horror stories about it.

  • Had to cross - Alaska Range - easy - reached Rainy Pass Lodge (top of mtn.)

  • Volunteer said - cocky Paulsen - up easy, down hard - the "Dazell Gorge" - 20 mile stretch at bottom of R.P.
  • over 200 miles into race.
  • left checkpoint after 6 h rest
  • easy start -then descend - gain speed - ice ledges/protruding rocks appear - no distinct trail - all rough terrain/ tight corners
  • tried to brake - breaking hook broke - too fast - tried roping - lost balance, fell off - dragged along - barely remember - only rocks/ice hitting his head/shoulders - blacked out
  • woke up - one musher hold dogs - one held sled - barely unconscious/aware of what happened.
  • limped to Rohn River checkpoint - begin wonder why enter race - almost died many times - look at dogs - always ready to run - it's their race too - they dont give up, he don't either.
  • "the Burn" - 93 miles -e very few yards - sled wedge - fallen tree - chop tree to free sled.
  • lack of sleep - hallucinate - naked woman/California coast - surf/wife.
  • stopped, fed/rested dogs - then chased after imaginary moose - protect Cookie - don't remember the first part - slept - tied wrist around sled.
  • next day - saw buffalo ice skating.
  • tired physically/mentally - bounce rough ice - anal bleeding - hemorrhoids - pads.
  • daylight gaining 17 minutes/day - running - front 30's/70 teams.
  • check in - McGrath cafe - ate 5 orders - breakfast - chef wouldn't take money - musher.

Thursday, December 6, 2007

The First 36 Hours

  • 1st night met another rookie - trail - attacked by moose - dog died, both teams' dogs quiet.
  • Restart after 1st check point - Knick - went well - kissed wife bye - crying - worried - mistakenly reported dead for 2 h on radio later in race.
  • Very soon - sled bumped - rolled - Paulsen dragged on face, clothing packed with snow - unzipping coat - shed snow - trust Cookie - lead way - only time she made mistake.
  • Followed snow machine track of trapper instead of sled marks - went on 60 miles - wrong way - until Cookie stop dead before huge cliff.
  • Turn back - see 27 sleds coming toward them - other teams followed them.
  • All try to turn back - chaos/dog fights.
  • Moose appears - teams turn and run, Paulsen follow, moose attack team behind him - killed lead dog - musher cry.
  • Paulsen offer to help - felt responsible - lead man to moose - drag meat for his dogs to follow, after a few miles - man switch to another dog - went ahead.
  • Wind blow clouds away - reveal huge mountain peaks/valleys - very beautiful.
  • Try - go back on track + nearly missed checkpoint until Cookie made a turn.
  • met volunteer - so tired - couldn't converse right, checked in - finished 100 miles.
  • remained - Skwentna checkpoint - 4 h - rest dogs/check feet/feed/water/mend harness.
  • Dogs awoke - wanting to go - ran - sunshine/clear skies - across rivers/lakes.
  • Most - race -didn't know where he was - just dogs/sled/musher/tracks.
  • dogs - didn't want to rest - kept going.
  • dark: - landlamp/batteries - check dog feet/snack dogs - trust Cookie - lead the way.
  • next checkpoint - trapper's cabin - "Finger Lake" - with other slower mushers.
  • some mushers arguing.
  • a volunteer told Paulsen - extra bale of straw - bed - he can use - after feed/check dogs.
  • check dog feet for "tiny razor snow" cuts while dogs sleep.
  • dogs wake - found his meat pattie thawed into slump (dog chow made of unborn calves).
  • didn't sleep/talk to other people - thought dog.
  • left checkpoint after sunrise. - been going continuely for 36 hours.

Chaos of the Pre-Race.

  • Before start of race - everyone - flustered - last minute checks/details.
  • The plan: all participating mushers + dogs brought to town center Anchorage on 1st saturday of March - leave - two minute intervals.
  • about 12 - 14 hundred dogs.
  • mushers/dogs came 2 days prior - attened meetings - discuss trail, what gears allowed (by rule - require actic sleeping bag, good parka, two day supple - food - dog+musher, candy bars, two day worth - dog booties, first aid kit, spare batteries, axe, snowshoes).
  • Need to travel prepared but light - something Paulsen didn't understand then.
  • Paulsen told "no rookie should start the Burn after dark" - area where trees burnt by forest fire - just after Rohn River checkpoint - 100 miles - falling wood/ashes.
  • Paulsen told - watch out for "suckholes" - frozen whirlpools - some huge.
  • Paulsen ask so many questions - people start to stare.
  • Iditarod - no one to make a trail for you or really help you - at times - all on your own.
  • tradition - night before race - banquet - all mushers must go - lasted untill 3am.
  • Given maps/instructions - starts/directions.
  • Morning of race - rare sunny day - Anchorage, Alaska - admire beauty of mountins with lead dog Cookie - his closest/most trustworthy dog.
  • Start: TV/Media crews, thousands - people and dogs, crammed - Fourth Street.
  • Dogs barking, excited - loud, teams leaving one by one.
  • Switched lead dogs - Cookie switched to Wilson (who has lead and raced before).
  • Dogs too excited - started 2 seconds too soon.
  • Instead of following road out of Anchorage, Wilson refuse to turn - race through city, ripping through yards/garbage cans/roads, couldn't stop - crashed into things - stopped, turned around, tried to find way back on track.
  • Later discussed/laughed about.
  • Cookie sniffed - took shortcut through town - back on track, after 4 1/2 hours - first checkpoint - met by handlers/Ruth.

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

The Long Preparation.

  • Much preparation for the big race - starts months before even going to Alaska.
  • Barely get any sleep - so much preparation/training - early mornings/late nights.
  • old truck donated - 1960 Chevy, half rotted, mechanic friend rebuilt it, use steel cafeteria trays - for floor, with other donated/given objects.
  • Finally, truck packed with "rookie bulge" - supplies + extra everything - food/sleeping bags/etc.
  • Trailer hooked to truck, 20 dogs ready.
  • Ruth worried "drive carefully" (108) - drive from Minnesota to Canada to Alaska.
  • Yukon (could be -60 Celsius) - need to scrape ice off inside of car.
  • Drive took 8 days, re-adjusting load, stopping every 4-5 hours - rest dogs, fix broken tires.
  • Got to Alaska, truck falling apart, take off rope - door fell down.
  • Everyone - nice/hospitable, didn't laugh - pathetic equipment.
  • Race - all about dogs, every 1/2 hour - check feet, pad, toe, toe nail, toe web, ankle, irritation, wound, teeth, coat, rub shoulder - for every dog.
  • traveled north - camped with other Iditarod mushers (in training).
  • late Dec. - race starts 1st Sunday of march. - ask many for advice - feeding/snow dog boots, what the race is like. - hard to describe - sections, checkpoints, winds, colds, ice, deaths, good and bad - no exact description/word.
  • "outrageous, perhaps. Staggering. Insane. Altering " (113).
  • Some say - temp. drop below -65, froze off toes, sled breaking, dragging supplies back.
  • Got attacked by other teams' lead dog - ask musher why keep that dog - tight tug - sled dog - all that matters - the tug, their strength in pulling their harness.
  • Race - dogs snacked/booties put on/nurtured/rested every hour, fed meals every 4 hours, harness fixed, sled repaired, if injured - flown back - Anchorage.
  • Food - flown in, dropped @ 18 checkpoints, with replacement gear, booties, spare harness, diff. dog foods. Paulsen ship 60 pounds - turkey gizzards - each checkpoint
  • hundreds - booties sewn, vet check before race - health/illegal drug usage.
  • Dogs/sled/supplies - every screw/harness hook checked, tightened/re-ightened.
  • other musher told him - wear dogs out a bit, so - more control of team in Anchorage, then rest, then let them run full energy.

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Training Disasters

  • Continued training dogs - listened to advices of sprint mushers.
  • Said dogs only fed grain products - keep system clean, and built wheelbarrow rigs - for sprint practice.
  • Sprint practice - only speed, no endurance/strength.
  • The sprint mushers didn't understand the real strength/toughness of sled dogs.
  • Napoleon said morale - important in troops.
  • Same with sled dogs - gains strength, confidence, knowledge with practice, know the rewards of running well.
  • Diff. between trained and untrained dog - great.
  • With light gear sled - 4 to 5 dogs is good, on heavier ones 7 to 8 is good, if more dogs, musher have no control.
  • Dogs: Typhoon, Cookie, Yogi, Max, Storm, Steven, Bill, Devil, Murphy, Ortho, Big Mac, Raven, Byron.
  • After new dogs added to original seven, team lost gentleness, during first twenty runs, team extremely hard to control, wife said Paulsen look like "A big doggie toy" (75).
  • Packed supplies - harnessed dogs to rig, went for a run, dogs flew like the wind, but made turns good. Paulsen forgot to lean in, thrown upside down with rig, clothes ripped, supplies flew off. Stayed upside down for four miles.
  • Female dog in heat - all males fighting, worst run ever, but wife said it was the best.
  • The next few runs all like that, rig broke everytime.
  • Dragged on the ground again, with matches in pocket, they lit, wife laughed hard.
  • Saw in newspaper - dogs pulling car - got idea - went to junkyard, got old English Ford - heavier than the 120 pound rig.
  • Went well, had more control, did fall off anymore, all was good until ran into a skunk.
  • Skunk attack lead dog Cookie, Devil try to pry it off her, Paulsen try to stop fight, got sprayed in face.
  • Hit second skunk a mile later, got sprayed again.
  • Third skunk a mile later.
  • Six skunks that night, sprayed by 5
  • Wife said he stank too much, sleep with dogs in kennel.
  • Slept beside Devil, tail wagged, dogs started growling and howling - a song, Paulsen joins.
  • Stayed with dogs for a few nights, when moved back to house, dogs cry, wanted him to stay.
  • Next run - first snow, dogs - acted like team. Devil trips, almost ran over by sled until Murphy bit his harness and haul him up.
  • Sled tripped over ditch, Paulsen's leg hooked on sled, dragged for miles, bruised ribs, got cuts, didn't stop until team almost crashed into a deer.
  • Dogs never got tired, wife jokes - biggest trouble is to stop them at the finish line in Nome.

Monday, December 3, 2007

The Deer and the Devils

  • After Marge left, the rest of the "first long run was full of small wonders, little miracles" (47).
  • A chickadee stayed on rim of coat hood for half day, peeking/eating meat scraps.
  • Came upon - snared deer - 4th day.
  • Snare traps - cable loops - only tighten - animal caught - stangle itself to death.
  • Paulsen has turned a trapper in.
  • Saw doe, tied dogs, cut snare, deer fell to his lap, gained conscious, look up curiously, didn't struggle/thrash while he petted her.
  • Stood up, watched, walked away calmly.
  • Continued run - thought/perceived the world differently.
  • Went home, wife Ruth said he's different - he agree - say he saw things from the way the dog saw them.
  • Consider entering Iditarod.
  • Drove to Canada with wife - got three new dogs - Devil, Ortho, Murphy - mutts.
  • Halfway to home, Devil and Ortho chewed up cage.
  • Paulsen rode in back of pick up with dogs, Devil, Ortho calmed down, stared.
  • Wife said it'll be fine, as soon as she said that, dogs started fighting, playfully/seriously.
  • First atttempt - put together - Iditarod team - need strong dogs - run long distance without injuring self - extremely rare.
  • Had good team, good leaders/runners, but not enough, need 8/9 more.
  • Looked everywhere, good dogs, but not good enough.
  • Found Canadian dogs - have no good connection with people, but could run.
  • Hooked a bike with dogs - classical way of home training.
  • Ran great until Canadian dogs saw a hare, not used to it, dragged the whole team off track, Paulsen thrown off bike, followed team into swamp and many miles.
  • Lost them, exhausted, went home, wife told him lead dog Cookie brought them back hours ago, and Canadian dogs were friendlier.
  • Dogs back home, but Paulsen has numerous bug bites from the swamp.

Dog Sledding - From Need to Passion

  • By the "unexpected storm", Gary Paulsen - running dogs for almost a year
  • Took two years to get to professional level.
  • Started to Colorado, family headed north - find cheap place to live - settled in shack of northern woods of Minnesota.
  • Didn't have transportation until given him four dogs and broken sled - relied on for hunting/getting firewood, etc.
  • Spent a lot of time with dogs - got interested - the group work/ways/system of animals
  • Talked to ex-cowboy from Montana - said that his cows - when needed to go to river to get water, one cow stayed behind cowboy automatically babysit calves, different cow each time - work out a system.
  • One day - Paulsen ran dogs across frozen terrain/river, saw a beaver bobbing along on frozen river.
  • Dogs race after it, Paulsen try to stop them - beavers can fight fierce - strong bite.
  • Couldn't stop dogs, wanted to shoot beaver before fight starts.
  • Dogs got there, just sat and stared at beaver while beaver bared teeth and hissed.
  • Dogs observed, beaver gave an evil look and bobbed away.
  • Stopped at Norway pines to camp - made fire, dogs made their own grass/dirt bed.
  • Woke at night - check on dogs - had 9 dogs instead of 8, saw one was a coyote - made friends with his dogs.
  • Coyote - female with lame foot - Paulsen felt sorry for her, fed her meat.
  • Followed them everywhere, for couple months, did everything dogs did, mated with a sled dog - Typhoon.
  • One run - turned other direction and departed.
  • Paulsen stayed in that area - in case she had troubles with hunter - sad when she left.

The Unexpected Storm

  • Gary Paulsen takes his "problem dogs" (the younger, less experienced, bad-tempered members of his dog team) to a run up a mountain trail.
  • He is training three months before his second Iditarod race (an annual competition that starts in Anchorage and finishes in Nome - 1, 151 miles through some of the most beautiful land in Alaska).
  • The run started well, the dogs were excited, and ran well.
  • They're headed for the end of the mountainous Alaska Range
  • Paulsen had a headache, and became a little groggy.
  • One of his dogs - Cracker is distressed - signalling storm (he smells it).
  • Passes forest, could have stayed and made shelter, but because of headache, didn't think straight, kept going.
  • Storm got worse - trail almost closed - horrible sleet - could barely see the dogs in front of him.
  • Mainly relied on lead dog - tiny female "Duberry".
  • Wind blew him off the sled, tumbling down hill (wind speed need to be 150 - 200 miles / hour) to do that.
  • Hit a snow covered rock ledge, stopped tumbling, stayed there.
  • Saw sled almost right in front of him - the sled anchor hooked onto a rock.
  • Got the sled and dogs, made shelter under the rock ledge
  • Took out sleeping bag/blankets, dogs snuggled close - fell asleep.
  • Woke up - storm over, fed dogs, headed back
  • Realised by close he was - to death , was "scared...[of just] life. All of it" (18).
  • Could have quit, not nothing stops his passion.